2025 summer in-person courses are open for enrollment!
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- Academic Explorations
- CTY-Level
- Science and Engineering
Advanced Topics in Physics: Special Relativity
If a woman travels to a nearby star system at close to the speed of light, she will return much younger than her twin sister, who stayed home. This is just one of the discoveries revealed by Albert ...
Sessions:
Johns Hopkins University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Academic Explorations
- CTY-Level
- Science and Engineering
Anatomy and Physiology
One look at classic anatomical sketches such as Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, created from the artist’s meticulous observations of dissected cadavers, can inspire a deep interest in the body and ...
Sessions:
Ursinus College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Intensive Studies
- Advanced CTY-Level
- Science and Engineering
Astrophysics
When the sun runs out of fuel, will it explode in a giant supernova or fade into a white dwarf? Does every galaxy revolve around a supermassive black hole? Will the universe keep expanding or ...
Sessions:
Johns Hopkins University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Young Students Day
- CTY-Level
- Science and Engineering
Be a Scientist!
What can astronomers learn from black holes? How do engineers decide on the best bridge designs? How do marine biologists know that dolphins are smart? Learn how scientists answer big questions and ...
Sessions:
Mirman School:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Young Students Day
- CTY-Level
- Language Arts
Behind the Mask: Superheroes Revealed
BAM! POW! ZAP! Everyone knows Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, and Captain America, but superheroes can come in many shapes and sizes. Must a superhero fight crime? Is Elsa from Frozen a superhero—and what ...
Sessions:
The Gilman School:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Speyer School:
Jun 29-Jul 18
,
Jul 20-Aug 08
- Young Students Day
- CTY-Level
- Language Arts
Being a Reader, Becoming a Writer
If you love to read, write, and talk about books, this is the course for you. In this course, you'll join a literary community and develop our vocabulary, close-reading, and critical thinking skills ...
Sessions:
Speyer School:
Jun 29-Jul 18
,
Jul 20-Aug 08
- Young Students Residential
- CTY-Level
- History and Social Science
Big Questions
What is justice? What is beauty? What is the right thing to do? What is real? How can I be sure of what I know? This philosophy class will cultivate and refine your critical thinking skills by asking ...
Sessions:
Ursinus College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Academic Explorations
- CTY-Level
- Science and Engineering
Biotechnology
The Human Genome Project has sequenced all of the approximately 20,000 genes in human DNA. How did scientists gather this information? Can it help cure congenital diseases or cancer? What ethical ...
Sessions:
Dickinson College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Academic Explorations
- CTY-Level
- Science and Engineering
Chemistry in Society
From artificial sweeteners in diet soft drinks to batteries in electric cars, chemistry is integral to our everyday lives. This course investigates chemistry as a means to solving real-world problems ...
Sessions:
Loyola Marymount University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Dickinson College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Skidmore College:
Jun 29-Jul 18
,
Jul 20-Aug 08
- Young Students Day
- CTY-Level
- Science and Engineering
Cloudy with a Chance of a Science
Would a boat made of bread and peanut butter actually float? Could one tree be recycled into sweaters and bicycle seat covers? Could a pancake as big as a city block flatten a school? Children’s books ...
Sessions:
Mirman School:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
The Gilman School:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Speyer School:
Jun 29-Jul 18
,
Jul 20-Aug 08
- Intensive Studies
- Advanced CTY-Level
- History and Social Science
Cognitive Psychology
While you read this sentence, your eyes alone are transmitting approximately 10 million pieces of data per second to your brain. Nevertheless, your attention remains focused on these words, you ...
Sessions:
Loyola Marymount University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
Dickinson College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Skidmore College:
Jun 29-Jul 18
,
Jul 20-Aug 08
UC-Santa Cruz:
Jul 20-Aug 08
- Academic Explorations
- CTY-Level
- Language Arts
Crafting the Essay
This immersive and collaborative course will introduce you to great essayists including Annie Dillard, Charles Simic, and Richard Rodriguez, and help you find your own distinctive narrative voice. You ...
Sessions:
Dickinson College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
Roger Williams University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
UC-Santa Cruz:
Jun 29-Jul 18
Skidmore College:
Jun 29-Jul 18
Loyola Marymount University:
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Intensive Studies
- Advanced CTY-Level
- Mathematics
Cryptology
Cryptology is the study of the codes and ciphers used to create secret writing. This math course explores many early techniques in cryptology, such as cipher wheels, the Caesar shift, polyalphabetic ...
Sessions:
Loyola Marymount University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Dickinson College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Johns Hopkins University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Roger Williams University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Skidmore College:
Jul 20-Aug 08
- Young Students Residential
- CTY-Level
- Science and Engineering
Crystals and Polymers
Why do some plastic containers melt in the microwave while others don’t? What makes Silly Putty stretchy? How are packing peanuts made? Chemicals are key to answering these questions, and in this ...
Sessions:
Ursinus College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Young Students Residential
- CTY-Level
- Mathematics
Data and Chance
Your new friend at CTY teaches you a dice game. If you roll a 4, you win and the game ends. If your friend rolls a 5, they win and the game ends. You take turns rolling until one person wins. If you ...
Sessions:
Mirman School:
Jun 22-Jul 11
The Gilman School:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Intensive Studies
- Advanced CTY-Level
- Computer Science and Technology
Data Structures and Algorithms
We know that computers are great problem solvers, but there is human work that must be done before computers can work their magic: first, it is necessary to formalize the problem within a mathematical ...
Sessions:
Dickinson College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Discovery Sampler
- Emerging
- Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Engineering
Decoding Our World
How do we see, perceive, and describe the world around us? We can use mathematics to measure, calculate, and find patterns. We can use technology to expand what we see and observe. And we can tell ...
Sessions:
Mirman School:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Speyer School:
Jun 29-Jul 18
,
Jul 20-Aug 08
- Intensive Studies
- Advanced CTY-Level
- Science and Engineering
Electrical Engineering
The first transistor, created at Bell Laboratories in 1947, was about 4 centimeters in size. Today, millions of transistors fit on a single computer processor chip—about the size of a postage stamp ...
Sessions:
Loyola Marymount University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Ursinus College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Academic Explorations
- CTY-Level
- Science and Engineering
Epidemiology
From Covid-19 to HIV to malaria, infectious diseases remain one of the world’s leading causes of death. How do scientists compile and use statistics to combat outbreaks? In this course, you and your ...
Sessions:
Johns Hopkins University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Young Students Residential
- CTY-Level
- Science and Engineering
Examining the Evidence
How can an abandoned car, devoid of license plates, help detectives solve a jewel heist? How can a single strand of hair keep a man from going to jail? In this course, you will uncover the answers to ...
Sessions:
Loyola Marymount University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Ursinus College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Roger Williams University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Mirman School:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
The Gilman School:
Jun 22-Jul 11
Speyer School:
Jun 29-Jul 18
,
Jul 20-Aug 08
- Intensive Studies
- Advanced CTY-Level
- History and Social Science
Exploring Ethics
We all face ethical choices. How do we know what is “good” or “bad,” or “right” or “wrong”? Are there standards of ethics by which we can judge people or their actions? In this course, you'll reflect ...
Sessions:
Loyola Marymount University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
Dickinson College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Intensive Studies
- Advanced CTY-Level
- Science and Engineering
Fast-Paced High School Biology
This course covers material ordinarily included in a year-long introductory course in high school biology, typically a prerequisite for AP® or IB Biology. We’ll begin with the smallest unit, the atom ...
Sessions:
Loyola Marymount University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Dickinson College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Skidmore College:
Jun 29-Jul 18
,
Jul 20-Aug 08
- Intensive Studies
- Advanced CTY-Level
- Science and Engineering
Fast-Paced High School Chemistry
This course covers material normally included in a year-long introductory course in high school chemistry, which is usually a prerequisite for AP® or IB Chemistry. It explores physical and chemical ...
Sessions:
Loyola Marymount University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Roger Williams University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Intensive Studies
- Advanced CTY-Level
- Science and Engineering
Fast-Paced High School Physics
This course covers material typically included in a year-long, algebra-based introductory course in high school physics, a usual prerequisite for advanced physics courses like AP® Physics 1, or IB ...
Sessions:
Dickinson College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Loyola Marymount University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Academic Explorations
- CTY-Level
- Language Arts
Fiction and Poetry
Saul Bellow said, "A writer is a reader moved to emulation.” This course draws inspiration from the published works, journals, and drafts of writers such as Alice Munro, John Updike, Rita Dove, and Li ...
Sessions:
Skidmore College:
Jun 29-Jul 18
Dickinson College:
Jul 13-Aug 01
UC-Santa Cruz:
Jul 20-Aug 08
- Academic Explorations
- CTY-Level
- Computer Science and Technology
Foundations of Programming
This course explores methods of computer programming—the algorithmic aspects of computer science and the theoretical constructs common to all high-level programming languages. You and your classmates ...
Sessions:
Dickinson College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Skidmore College:
Jun 29-Jul 18
,
Jul 20-Aug 08
- Academic Explorations
- CTY-Level
- History and Social Science
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 ...
Sessions:
Ursinus College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Roger Williams University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Loyola Marymount University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Skidmore College:
Jun 29-Jul 18
,
Jul 20-Aug 08
- Intensive Studies
- Advanced CTY-Level
- Computer Science and Technology
Fundamentals of Computer Science
This course introduces students to three major areas of the computer science discipline: theory and algorithms, hardware systems, and software systems. In the theoretical component of the course, you ...
Sessions:
Loyola Marymount University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Ursinus College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Roger Williams University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Intensive Studies
- Advanced CTY-Level
- Mathematics
Fundamentals of Microeconomics
How much are you willing to pay for ice cream on a hot summer day? Who is responsible for the cost of pollution? Is there such a thing as a perfectly competitive market? Microeconomics provides ...
Sessions:
Roger Williams University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Johns Hopkins University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
UC-Santa Cruz:
Jun 29-Jul 18
Skidmore College:
Jun 29-Jul 18
,
Jul 20-Aug 08
- Academic Explorations
- CTY-Level
- Mathematics
Game Theory and Economics
IBM founder Thomas J. Watson once said, “Business is a game—the greatest game in the world if you know how to play it.” In today’s global marketplace, understanding game theory—the branch of ...
Sessions:
Ursinus College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Young Students Day
- CTY-Level
- Mathematics
Geometry and Spatial Sense
Spatial understanding is necessary for interpreting, understanding, and appreciating our inherently geometric world. Many everyday tasks such as designing a treehouse, solving a jigsaw puzzle, or ...
Sessions:
Mirman School:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
The Gilman School:
Jun 22-Jul 11
Speyer School:
Jun 29-Jul 18
,
Jul 20-Aug 08
- Academic Explorations
- CTY-Level
- History and Social Science
Global Politics: Human Rights and Justice
More than 920 million people are undernourished worldwide, despite the fact that there is more than enough food for everyone. Numerous countries rank national interests above global concerns, leading ...
Sessions:
Johns Hopkins University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Academic Explorations
- CTY-Level
- History and Social Science
Great Cases: American Legal History
Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes stated that the law is both a mirror and a motor for society. Landmark cases frequently have an impact well beyond the courtroom, reflecting deeper truths ...
Sessions:
Dickinson College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
UC-Santa Cruz:
Jun 29-Jul 18
,
Jul 20-Aug 08
- Academic Explorations
- CTY-Level
- History and Social Science
Human Nature and Technology
This philosophy course explores questions of human nature in light of recent technological breakthroughs in communication, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and modern warfare. You will consider ...
Sessions:
Johns Hopkins University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Young Students Residential
- CTY-Level
- Mathematics
Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
Reasoning, logic, and critical thinking are the building blocks of intellectual inquiry. This course will help develop your skills in these areas through problem-solving and exposure to a wide range ...
Sessions:
Roger Williams University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Loyola Marymount University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
UC-Santa Cruz:
Jun 29-Jul 18
,
Jul 20-Aug 08
Speyer School:
Jun 29-Jul 18
,
Jul 20-Aug 08
Mirman School:
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Intensive Studies
- Advanced CTY-Level
- History and Social Science
International Politics
Why do states fight, and what makes them cooperate? World affairs in the 21st century have raised new questions about international politics and revisited complicated old ones. Where the field once ...
Sessions:
Roger Williams University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Loyola Marymount University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Skidmore College:
Jun 29-Jul 18
,
Jul 20-Aug 08
- Academic Explorations
- CTY-Level
- Science and Engineering
Introduction to Astronomy
In the 17th century, Galileo looked into the sky with a simple pair of lenses and saw the moons of Jupiter. Modern times have had similarly profound discoveries. This course investigates light, optics ...
Sessions:
Roger Williams University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
UC-Santa Cruz:
Jun 29-Jul 18
,
Jul 20-Aug 08
- Young Students Residential
- CTY-Level
- Computer Science and Technology
Introduction to Robotics
In the field of robotics, computer science and engineering interface to create interdependent systems that can perform a variety of tasks, from manufacturing microchips to exploring Mars. In this ...
Sessions:
Ursinus College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Roger Williams University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Loyola Marymount University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
The Gilman School:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
UC-Santa Cruz:
Jun 29-Jul 18
,
Jul 20-Aug 08
Speyer School:
Jun 29-Jul 18
,
Jul 20-Aug 08
- Intensive Studies
- Advanced CTY-Level
- Science and Engineering
Introduction to the Biomedical Sciences
This course is an introduction to human biology and the science of medicine, drawing upon basic biological and chemical concepts to explore the intricate anatomical and physiological mechanisms ...
Sessions:
Dickinson College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Roger Williams University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Loyola Marymount University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Young Students Day
- CTY-Level
- Science and Engineering
Inventions
Did you know the idea for the microwave all started with a candy bar? Inventor Percy Spencer was standing in front of a magnetron when he noticed his chocolate treat was melting in his pocket. When ...
Sessions:
Mirman School:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
The Gilman School:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Academic Explorations
- CTY-Level
- Science and Engineering
Investigations in Engineering
Engineering is an art that requires ingenuity, the ability to understand the components of a problem, facility in design, and the capacity to find creative solutions. This course introduces you to the ...
Sessions:
Johns Hopkins University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Intensive Studies
- Advanced CTY-Level
- History and Social Science
Laws and Orders: Legal Systems Around the World
Significant legal differences among countries still exist, despite the spread of global culture. For example, what is considered free speech in one country may land a person in jail in another country ...
Sessions:
Loyola Marymount University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Johns Hopkins University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Academic Explorations
- CTY-Level
- History and Social Science
Linguistics: The Science of Language
From the 280-character limit on the social media site X to the 1,400-page literary powerhouse that is War and Peace, language is an essential part of the human experience. As an ever-growing field of ...
Sessions:
Ursinus College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Skidmore College:
Jun 29-Jul 18
,
Jul 20-Aug 08
- Intensive Studies
- Advanced CTY-Level
- History and Social Science
Logic: Principles of Reasoning
Lawyers, doctors, and mathematicians use logic while building arguments, diagnosing diseases, and proving theorems. This course explores the techniques of logic while developing your analytical ...
Sessions:
Dickinson College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Roger Williams University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Loyola Marymount University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
UC-Santa Cruz:
Jul 20-Aug 08
- Intensive Studies
- Advanced CTY-Level
- Mathematics
Macroeconomics and the Global Economy
What are the key indicators of an economy’s performance? How do governments craft policies that promote economic growth? What does it mean for a country to have a trade deficit? Analyzing economies at ...
Sessions:
Ursinus College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Roger Williams University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Loyola Marymount University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Young Students Residential
- CTY-Level
- Science and Engineering
Marine Ecology
Ninety-four percent of life on Earth is aquatic, yet we have only explored 5 percent of the planet's oceans. Marine ecologists aim to reduce this knowledge gap while using biology, chemistry, physics ...
Sessions:
Roger Williams University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Loyola Marymount University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
- Intensive Studies
- Advanced CTY-Level
- Mathematics
Mathematical Logic
Have you ever wondered what real mathematicians spend their time doing? This course will teach you the art of proving and disproving conjectures, and techniques for writing formal proofs and ...
Sessions:
Dickinson College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
UC-Santa Cruz:
Jun 29-Jul 18
- Young Students Day
- CTY-Level
- Mathematics
Mathematical Problem Solving
Can five 20-by-18-foot carpets lying flat with no overlap fit in a 40-by-50-foot room? Can you measure 2 liters of water correctly using only a 4-liter pitcher and a 3-liter pitcher? How many ...
Sessions:
Speyer School:
Jun 29-Jul 18
,
Jul 20-Aug 08
- Young Students Residential
- CTY-Level
- History and Social Science
Model United Nations and Advanced Geography
Countries addressing a global challenge like climate change, weapons proliferation, or the coronavirus pandemic often present their concerns to the United Nations. The ways in which the U.N. tackles ...
Sessions:
Roger Williams University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Loyola Marymount University:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01
Speyer School:
Jun 29-Jul 18
,
Jul 20-Aug 08
- Intensive Studies
- Advanced CTY-Level
- Mathematics
Number Theory
Called "The Queen of Mathematics" by the great mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss, number theory is the study of the natural number system from which all others are derived. Despite the simplicity of ...
Sessions:
Dickinson College:
Jun 22-Jul 11
,
Jul 13-Aug 01