About the Course

Foundations of Psychology

Psychology, the science of behavior and mental processes, systematically explores phenomena as diverse as phantom limbs, sleep paralysis, false memories, and the bystander effect. This course explores major content domains in modern psychology, from the biological to the behavioral. You and your classmates will learn what constitutes an effective research design and analyze primitive and modern theories, and examine important topics in the field, including sensation and perception, social psychology, learning, memory, personality, and abnormal psychology. Each topic enables you to evaluate human thought and action through a different lens, continually demonstrating the interdisciplinary nature of psychology. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to pose incisive questions and express sophisticated hypotheses around your own theories of human behavior.

Typical Class Size: 16-18
 

Course Overview

This course is

ungraded.

Summer Dates & Locations

Registration deadline:

After May 9, 2025, registration is available upon request pending eligibility and seat availability. To request placement, email [email protected] after submitting a program application.

Session One

Image of the Ursinus College campus
Collegeville, Pennsylvania
-
Residential cost: $7,259
Commuter cost: $6,459
Image of Roger Williams University
Bristol, Rhode Island
-
Residential cost: $7,259
Commuter cost: $6,459
image of the Loyola Marymount University campus
Los Angeles, California
-
Residential cost: $7,501
Commuter cost: $6,701
image of the Skidmore College campus
Saratoga Springs, New York
-
Residential cost: $7,259
Commuter cost: $6,459

Session Two

Image of the Ursinus College campus
Collegeville, Pennsylvania
-
Residential cost: $7,259
Commuter cost: $6,459
Image of Roger Williams University
Bristol, Rhode Island
-
Residential cost: $7,259
Commuter cost: $6,459
image of the Loyola Marymount University campus
Los Angeles, California
-
Residential cost: $7,501
Commuter cost: $6,701
image of the Skidmore College campus
Saratoga Springs, New York
-
Residential cost: $7,259
Commuter cost: $6,459

Testing and Prerequisites

  Math Verbal
Required Level Not required CTY-Level
Check your eligibility using existing test scores If you do not have existing test scores:

Students must achieve qualifying scores on an advanced assessment to be eligible for CTY programs. If you don’t have qualifying scores, you have several different testing options. We’ll help you find the right option for your situation.

Sign up for Testing Learn More

Cost and Financial Aid

  • Tuition
    • Varies
  • Application fee
    • Nonrefundable Application Fee - $55 (Waived for financial aid applicants)
    • Nonrefundable International Fee - $250 (outside US only)

Financial Aid is available
We are committed to serving all talented youth regardless of financial circumstances. Financial assistance is available based on need.

Learn More

Course Materials

Students should bring basic school supplies like pens, notebooks, and folders to their summer program. You will be notified of any additional items needed before the course begins. All other materials will be provided by CTY.
 

Sample Reading

These titles have been featured in past sessions of the course, and may be included this summer. CTY provides students with all texts; no purchase is required.

  • Exploring Psychology, David Myers
  • Forty Studies That Changed Psychology, Roger Hock

About History and Social Science at CTY

Enhance your critical thinking skills

Expand your ability to reason through difficult problems by taking one of our philosophy or logic classes. Learn how to craft strong and clear arguments in Big Questions, or explore the techniques of logic that lawyers, doctors, and mathematicians utilize to be successful in their fields in Logic: Principles of Reasoning.

Explore social justice in action

Develop knowledge and skills that will help you address issues of systemic inequality throughout the world. Engage the historical and legal challenges different populations face in Great Cases and Laws and Orders.

Meet our instructors and staff