About the Course

Be the Doctor: Dilemmas, Diseases, and Diagnoses

Doctors constantly face urgent, life-changing, and lifesaving decisions that fundamentally alter the course of a patient’s life. Along the way, they also encounter ethical dilemmas.

In this course, you’ll learn about the anatomy and physiology of various body systems, methods of diagnosis and treatment for different diseases and disorders, and medical ethics. In class, you’ll work in small groups to explore, analyze, and diagnose case studies, just like medical students and doctors. For example, you might act as a gastroenterologist and examine a case study about the digestive system. Another case study might involve a surgical procedure gone wrong, and the medical ethics involved. You’ll also have the chance to apply your newfound medical knowledge and write your own case studies.

At the end of the course, you’ll have a deeper understanding and appreciation of medicine and how doctors improve and save lives.

Time commitment:2.5-3.5 hours per week (1.5 hours of class time, 1-2 hours of independent work). Course will include 6 sessions over 6 weeks.

About Advanced Enrichment Courses
These courses offer above-grade-level material presented in a novel context, explored with other advanced learners, and guided by a CTY educator and help prepare students for higher-order thinking and college-style academic challenges.

Course Overview

This course is

ungraded.

Classes

Register for an Online course by selecting an open class below. If no open classes are listed, then course enrollment is currently closed. Note: You will need to have an active CTY Account to complete registration through MyCTY

 

This course is not open for enrollment at this time. Please check back later.

Testing and Prerequisites

  Math Verbal
Required Level CTY-Level and 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 - $15 (Waived for financial aid applicants)
    • Nonrefundable International Fee - $20 (outside US only)

CTY Financial Aid Availability for Online Programs

Academic Year 2025-26 (Course start dates July 1, 2025- June 30, 2026): Financial Aid funding is currently available for all eligible students while funding lasts. If interested in applying for financial aid, please select a course with start date of July 1, 2025, or later.

Learn More

Course Materials

Please acquire all course materials by the course start date, unless noted as perishable. Items marked as “perishable” should not be acquired until the student needs them in the course. If you have questions about these materials or difficulty locating them, please contact [email protected].
 

Families will be notified by email of any required materials one week prior to the course start date. 

Technical Requirements

This course requires a computer with high-speed Internet access and an up-to-date web browser such as Chrome or Firefox. You must be able to communicate with the instructor via email. Visit the Technical Requirements and Support page for more details.

About Science and Engineering at CTY

Our Science and Engineering courses bring a variety of science topics to life. By introducing topics not covered in standard science curricula, we build and reinforce your science knowledge. All courses support critical thinking, problem solving, and reasoning, and encourage a hands-on approach to learning about Earth, space, life sciences, chemistry, and the physical world. Guided by expert CTY science educators, you’ll perform hands-on experiments using common household objects, and participate in dynamic group discussions.

Engage with Science Enrichment Courses

In Introduction to Crime Scene Investigation, you’ll review the fascinating history of forensics, crime-scene evaluation, and the crime lab. You’ll learn the skills, equipment, and technology used to analyze physical evidence while reinforcing your understanding of the scientific process.