15 Psychology Summer Programs for High School Students in California
If you’re a high school student interested in psychology, participating in summer psychology programs is a great way to explore the field, work on projects, and gain practical skills. Many summer programs also offer the option to take college-level classes, design experiments, or work on your own research projects. You’ll also have the chance to learn from and network with mentors in the field as well as your peers.
In California, many top colleges and organizations offer psychology summer programs for high school students. These programs often incorporate application-based or experiential learning and offer scholarships, making them an accessible option. Some of them are offered virtually or in person.
In this blog, we’ve narrowed down the top 15 psychology summer programs for high school students in California.
15 Psychology Summer Programs for High School Students in California
1. UCLA Brain Research Institute NeuroCamp
Location: UCLA Brain Research Institute, Berkeley, CA
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: 15-20 students
Dates: 1 week in the summer
Application Deadline: April 27
Eligibility: High school students; Preference given to students from the local LA area
NeuroCamp is a free introductory summer program for high school students interested in studying neuroscience. During the program, you’ll learn fundamental concepts of neuroscience and basic lab techniques in subjects including Molecular Neurobiology, Neurophysiology, and Neuroanatomy. Mentors will also help you with college exploration and info on career pathways in Neuroscience. The program includes practical experiments, lectures, and networking with peers. Previous participants have engaged in lab work, including brain and spinal cord dissections.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program (financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program designed for motivated high school students. During the program, you will spend around eight weeks working with high-growth start-ups across various industries, including technology, deep tech, AI/ML, mental health, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. The start-ups involved are typically high-growth companies, with many raising over one million dollars. As an intern, you will collaborate closely with your managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present your work to the company. You can apply here!
3. Child Mind Institute Youth Mental Health Academy
Location: Los Angeles, San Diego, and the San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; Paid
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: 14 months, including summer
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: California high school students with an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher
The Youth Mental Health Academy is a 14-month community-based program for high school students from California. The program delves into mental health science through project-based learning, mentorship, and a paid internship experience. It includes five weeks of lectures and activity-based learning by mental health professionals. You’ll stay engaged through the school year with monthly workshops and check-ins with your mentors. During your second summer in the program, you’ll gain practical experience working as an intern in a mental health-related field. The capstone project requires you to work on a research paper in a mental health area of your choice.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; Financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.3 (at least)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a comprehensive research initiative for high school students that provides in-depth one-on-one research opportunities across a wide variety of subject areas. As a participant, you will be paired with a Ph.D. mentor, who will collaborate with you on an independent research project and offer guidance. You can choose from topics like psychology, physics, economics, data science, international relations, and more. Upon completion of the 12-week program, you will have developed a standalone research paper.
5. Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Virtual: $1,595; On-campus: $2,895; Scholarships available
Acceptance Rate: 12%
Dates: Multiple 10-day sessions between June and August
Application Deadline: December 15 – March 1
Eligibility: Current high school students & graduating seniors (14-18)
The Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) offered by Stanford University is a two-week summer program for high school students interested in exploring the intersection of neuroscience, psychiatry, and psychology. Through seminars and lectures, you’ll learn about neuroscience principles such as clinical neuropsychiatry, neuroscience research, psychiatric epidemiology, and behavioral and social sciences. You’ll also get introduced to various career pathways in medicine, science, and psychology. For your capstone project, you will work on a collaborative project where you will develop innovative solutions to community-based psychiatry and neuroscience-related issues. You’ll then present it in front of peers, families, and program faculty.
6. UC Berkeley Pre-college Scholars Program: Psychology Summer Courses
Location: University of California, Berkeley, CA
Cost: Varies by program type; Scholarships are offered for a few program types
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Varies by program
Application Deadline: February 3 – March 10 (residential + non-credit); February 18 – June 2 (virtual+ commuter)
Eligibility: Rising 10th or 11th graders (16+) with a GPA of 3.0; International students
UC Berkley offers a pre-college summer program where high school students get to experience college-level classes. The program is offered in four different tracks: commuter, residential, non-credit, and virtual. As a participant, you can choose from several different courses, including General Psychology, Introduction to How the Brain Works, Emotional Intelligence, and Stress & Coping. All classes are taught by UC Berkley faculty. The residential program offers orientation sessions, networking opportunities, activities, and excursions. You’ll receive mentorship and explore various career pathways within psychology.
7. UCLA Psychology & Neuroscience
Location: UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Residential: $5,998; Commuter: $3,298
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Session 1: June 22 – July 4; Session 2: July 6 – July 18; Session 3: July 20 – August 1
Application Deadline: Varies; See here
Eligibility: High school students with a 3.0 GPA; International students may apply; More details here
UCLA offers a two-week summer program for students who are interested in Psychology and Neuroscience. The course dives deep into both subjects to explain how the brain and mind function. You’ll learn through designing your psychology experiments and participating in practical neurology workshops that include brain anatomy and neuroscience demonstrations. The course includes interactions, mentoring sessions, and guest lectures conducted by clinical psychologists, neurologists, and neuroscience researchers. You will also get to explore various pathways in mental health through field trips and workshops.
8. UCLA Neuroscience High School Scholars Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: June 15 – July 23
Application Deadline: December 8 – February 9
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
The UCLA Neuroscience High School Scholars Program offers you the chance to explore neuroscience through interactive and hands-on experiences. Over six weeks, you will be introduced to various concepts related to Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementias. You will attend live seminars and engage with guest speakers from varied backgrounds in psychology and medicine. You’ll also get to participate in “Neurology Grand Rounds,” during which clinicians and researchers will present and speak about current and relevant topics in neurology. Aside from that, you’ll join a journal club where you will analyze neuroscience literature and take part in virtual lab activities. You will also be expected to work on a final capstone research project, where you explore a topic of your interest and then present your findings.
9. UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Cost: $4,975 (commuter); $11,874 (residential); Limited scholarships available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application Deadline: December 15 – March 17; Rolling
Eligibility: High school students in 10th or 11th grade with a minimum GPA of 3.80
The Research Mentorship Program is a summer research program for high school students at the University of California, Santa Barbara. As a participant, you will be paired with a UCSB faculty member and will conduct a research project in the field of your interest, such as Psychology, Neuroscience, and Sociology. You’ll also receive mentorship from faculty members and graduate students, learn about research techniques, and get insight into research-based opportunities. You will be expected to present your research experience and findings at the end-of-program symposium.
10. The Lawrence UC Berkeley Psychology of Wellbeing
Location: UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Cost: $1,465; Financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 23 – 27
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school entering grades 10-12
The Lawrence at UC Berkeley offers a summer teen research program where students learn through a practical, research-based approach. You will experience college life, conduct lab experiments, and explore diverse STEM career paths. The psychology of well-being track offers an experiment-based approach to learning, where you’ll conduct your own psychology research study. You will enhance your data analysis skills and develop well-being strategies with mentors. The program includes lectures, guest speakers, lab tours, and project presentations.
11. UCSB Summer Research Academies
Location: UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
Cost: Commuter: $2,775; Residential: $8,774; Limited scholarships available
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: June 25 – July 25
Application Deadline: December 15 – March 31
Eligibility: High school students
UC Santa Barbara's Summer Research Academies offer a project-based research program for high school students. You will select a university course and develop a research project under the mentorship of a faculty member. If you’re interested in conducting psychology-based research, you can opt for the “Hate Speech: Examining Rhetoric, Influence, and Social Harm in the Digital Age” track. All tracks are multidisciplinary, and this particular track combines Psychology, Media Studies, Political Activism, Data Science, and Communication. You’ll have the opportunity to sharpen your communication and professional skills by working on college-level research, networking with like-minded peers, and presenting your findings at a capstone seminar.
12. USC Psychological Science and Society
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Residential: $11,347; Commuter: $7,812; $65 nonrefundable application fee
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 15 – July 12
Application Deadline: May 2 (domestic); March 14 (international)
Eligibility: High school students (domestic & international); Must have completed at least 9th grade by the program start
The University of Southern California offers a four-week immersive university experience for high school students in a field of their interest. The course includes collaborative work, guest speakers, field trips, and a final project. The Psychological Science and Society track explores psychological theories, their real-world applications, and experiential-based learning activities. Topics covered include cognition, intelligence, learning, mind-body connection, therapy, and personality. You’ll work on your own research project during the program and explore different career pathways in psychology while also gaining insight into how to pursue them.
13. USC The Brain: Introduction to Neuroscience
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Residential: $11,347; Commuter: $7,812; $65 nonrefundable application fee
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 15 – July 12
Application Deadline: May 2 (domestic); March 14 (international)
Eligibility: High school students (domestic & international); Must have completed at least 9th grade by the program start
USC offers a summer program where high school students can choose to study a subject area of their choice. The program takes place over four weeks, and you will be attending classes for five to six hours per day. The Introduction to Neuroscience track explores the intersection of health care, psychology, and the behavioral sciences. Topics of study covered include normal and abnormal function, brain structure, neuroethics, and neurologic dysfunction. You’ll also explore the various diseases and disorders that affect the brain in youth and old age. The program includes lab work, experiential activities, lab visits, and a capstone project.
14. UCLA Summer Sessions: Bruin Ascent Summer Experience (BASE)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: June 24 – August 2
Application Deadline: February 15 – April 15
Eligibility: Current 10th or 11th graders in California from economically under-resourced communities; Must have a minimum GPA of 3.5
UCLA Bruin Ascent Summer Experience (BASE) is a 6-week online scholarship program for high school students. During the program, you’ll choose a UCLA summer course, be paired with a UCLA undergraduate student mentor, and participate in co-curricular workshops that focus on both academic and personal development. You can opt for the ‘Neuroscience 20: Intro to Neuroscience Methods’ track, during which you will explore pathways in medicine, healthcare, and psychology.
15. UCLA Summer Sessions
Location: UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Varies based on program; Financial support for California high school students under certain income thresholds
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Varies based on program
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students (15+)
UCLA offers a summer course program where high school students can opt to study subjects they are interested in while earning college credit. The psychology courses you can choose are Introductory Psychology and Introductory to Cognitive Science. Both courses take place over 6 weeks, and you will be attending in person and learning from UCLA faculty members. If you are interested in studying psychology in college, you will get a glimpse of what you can expect to learn and how the college-level psychology curriculum is designed.
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