UMass Amherst Summer Pre-College Programs

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Learn about Summer Pre-College opportunities at UMass Amherst. Our residential and online pre-college programs are designed to give you a preview of the UMass student experience, including college-level academics and being part of a learning community of high school students from all across the U.S. and the world. Our programs feature faculty-led courses, state-of-the-art facilities, and the #1 campus dining in the U.S., as ranked by the Princeton Review.

Residential Programs @ UMass Amherst

Animation and Hollywood VFX in Adobe After Effects

In this two-week course high school students will learn and master the secrets to Adobe After Effects, the industry standard for creating digital character animation, motion graphics, and Hollywood visual effects. 

Anthropometrics, Body Image & Nutrition

In this dynamic and hands-on two-week Nutrition course, high school students will dive deep into the topic of body image discrepancies, with a focus on anthropometrics—the science of body measurements—and how body image perception influences and is influenced by nutrition and cultural norms.

Antibiotic Resistance: A Global Health Crisis

In this two-week course-based research experience, high school students will join the Department of Microbiology to work on research projects to discover new antibiotics. 

Big Picture of Mathematics

In this two-week pre-college course high school students will join the Mathematics & Statistics Department to explore the excitement of mathematical thinking, and to learn how mathematics is used to understand the world around us.

Botanical Breakthroughs: Exploring Biochemical Properties of Plants

This two-week biochemistry program will utilize multiple resources at UMass Amherst to explore how plant-derived products are used to cure diseases. It is a great opportunity for students interested in pursuing a career in medicine, the pharmaceutical industry, plant biology, or anyone curious about plants, drug design, and plant-derived products. 

Building & Construction Technology: BuildingLab

The BCT BuildingLab is a two-week immersive pre-college program for high school students interested in exploring building construction, sustainability, engineering, architecture, and technology-related career paths.

BuildingLabThe Building & Construction Technology: SustainabilityLab

is a two-week course for high school students dedicated to investigating Sustainability in the Built Environment.

College Application Intensive 

The College Application Intensive is a comprehensive week-long intensive dedicated to understanding and preparing for the college application process. A range of key topics will be covered, including an exploration of personal strengths and interests; college majors and career paths; admissions strategy; essay writing; and standardized test prep.

Discovering Mathematics

This two-week pre-college course will introduce high school students to the use of computing in mathematics to explore mathematical problems containing rich behaviors and including unsolved problems at the edge of research.

Economy, Culture, Power

This two-week Anthropology course for high school students explores the relationship between culture, economy, and well-being. Students interested in social change and community development are invited to join.

Entrepreneurship: Becoming a Game-Changer

This two-week course for high school students will guide you to see that entrepreneurship is everywhere and for everyone.

Energy Without Borders

In this two-week research-based course for high school students, you will use hands-on research methods to investigate the links between climate change, the green energy transition, and access to resilient infrastructure, and envision new solutions to existing inequities.

Equine Science

This two-week program allows high school students to explore what it takes to succeed in the horse industry, and in doing so, challenge themselves to become better horsemen and future leaders in the equine profession.  

Everyday Magic: Chemistry & Its Environmental Impact

This two-week pre-college lab course provides high school students with a college-level introduction to matter's physical and chemical behavior in the general and organic chemistry fields.

Hospitality & Tourism Management Leadership Academy 

This two-week program provides a platform for talented and driven high school students to learn core business foundations and experience all of the amazing opportunities behind the business of hospitality.

Introduction to Ceramics

This two-week Art course is designed for high school students to develop skills in handbuilding, throwing, and surface design while building a portfolio for college admissions.

Introduction to Play-by-Play Broadcasting

In this two-week pre-college Journalism course high school students will learn how to do play-by-play (PXP) broadcasting from the experts.

Introduction to Programming in Python

This two-week computer science course for high school students will introduce you to the programming language Python. Build skills, learn to write programs, and complete a final coding project.

Isenberg Business Ethics Academy - In Person and Online

In this two-week program for high school students, you will study the fundamentals of law and ethics in business decision-making and gain hands-on case competition practice.

Kinesiology: Pathway to the Medical Professions

This two-week course for high school students introduces you to the key areas of kinesiology, including physiology, biomechanics, and neuroscience.  

Math Puzzles for Computer Science

In this two-week course high school students will engage daily in solving different types of mathematical puzzles that relate to foundational concepts in computer science.

Modern Astronomy

This two-week program for high school students allows you to learn the fundamentals of observational astronomy and astrophysics through real-world data. 

Pre-Veterinary Medicine

The two-week Pre-Veterinary Medicine program introduces students to the field of veterinary medicine.

Painting & Portfolio Preparation

This two-week course is designed for high school students to develop skills in watercolor and acrylic painting while building a portfolio for college admissions. Students will learn essential techniques in both mediums, including layering, blending, and textural effects, alongside principles of color theory, composition, and design

Programming for Aspiring Scientists: Python with Applications to Physics

- In person and Online

This two-week course for high school students lets you become proficient in the programming language Python while solving a variety of problems in physics.

Psychology of the Human-Animal Bond

This 2-week course offers the unique opportunity for students to delve into the psychology of the human-animal bond.

Reading and Writing the Graphic Novel

This two-week course for high school students introduces you to graphic novels, including consideration of the history, narrative structure, aesthetics, and genres of the medium, as well as how to create your own works. 

SAT & ACT Test Prep Immersion

This weeklong in-person test prep immersion workshop helps high school students gear up for the SAT and ACT exams in a short timeframe. Gain a comprehensive understanding of all question types and boost your performance through full-length practice tests.

Social Media & Society

This two-week course for high school students uses social media platforms to introduce you to sociology as a discipline and a way of thinking about your social world.

Sports Broadcasting

In this two-week program for high school students, you will learn the basics of sports broadcasting in our state-of-the-art broadcast studio with experienced UMass Amherst Journalism faculty as your teachers.

Sport Management & Leadership Academy -

In Person and Online 

This two-week program for high school students helps you learn practical sport management applications and industry insights to build your career. 

Sport Performance

This 2-week program provides a dynamic, hands-on opportunity for individuals aspiring to enhance their athletic performance or explore a career in sports performance.

Summer Design Academy

Residential @ UMass Amherst, Residential @ Mount Ida Campus, Online

The UMass Amherst Summer Design Academy provides an opportunity for high school students interested in architecture, landscape architecture, urban or interior design to learn more about these professions and experience the kinds of activities that take place in a university design program.

Summer Engineering Institute

The two-week Summer Engineering Institute is a multi-faceted program that allows high school students to explore how engineers envision creative, practical solutions that benefit the everyday lives of people and the communities in which they live.

Write for Your Life

In this two-week course, high school students will learn how to write in a variety of genres, including editorials, literary and visual analyses, creative writing pieces, technical writing pieces, and the college admissions essay.

Writing Journalistic Stories About Social Issues

In this 2-week course for high school students, you will learn the basics of journalistic writing and will work on several social issues-related stories of your choice. You will learn to interview people, locate useful data online, and write engaging anecdotes and descriptions. 

2025 Program Start Dates

• Session 1: June 29
• Session 2: July 13
• Session 3: July 27

Program fees vary by length of program as well as format. Please visit our website for more information!