Summer Pre-College Residential Programs at UMass Amherst
Residential pre-college programs at UMass combine all the major elements of college, including great academics, living in a residence hall, and eating in our award-winning dining commons. Of course, it takes a little help to adjust to life on a college campus, so we have live-in program assistants who are specially trained to help you get used to a new environment. We have lots of fun events in the evenings and on weekends that help you connect with other pre-college students.
This intensive two-week laboratory course will immerse high school students in the fascinating world of microbiology through authentic scientific investigation.
July 26 - August 8, 2026
The Building & Construction Technology: Sustainable Building Lab is a two-week course for high school students dedicated to investigating sustainability in the built environment. It is about designing, building, and exploring the future of the built environment through a variety of hands-on activities and excursions.
July 12 - 25, 2026
The two-week History program offers high school students a focused introduction to understanding the Middle East beyond the headlines by pairing historical perspective with critical media analysis.
July 26 – August 8, 2026
The two-week Biostatistics and Epidemiology Lab program serves as an introduction to epidemiology for students interested in public health, biostatistics or data science.
June 28 - July 11, 2026
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.
June 28 - July 11, 2026
Step into the dynamic world of business analytics with this hands-on, two-week course designed for high school students eager to explore how data drives modern business decisions. In today’s fast-paced economy, companies rely heavily on data to innovate, compete, and grow making data analysis one of the hottest, most in-demand skills across industries worldwide.
July 26 - August 8, 2026
This two–week interactive course introduces motivated high-school students to the concept of service-learning. The program draws from the the oldest and largest civic engagement program at UMass Amherst, the Boltwood Project, and offers a hands-on introduction to being an effective ally for people with intellectual and physically diverse abilities.
July 26 - August 8, 2026
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
July 26 - August 8, 2026
This two-week course for high school students will guide you to see that entrepreneurship is everywhere and for everyone.
July 12 - 25, 2026
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.
July 12 - 25, 2026
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.
July 26 – August 8, 2026
This two-week, hands-on course introduces high school students to the methods of visual analysis and curatorial thinking central to the study of the history of art and architecture.
June 28 - July 11, 2026
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.
July 12 – 25, 2026
In this two–week course high school students will explore ancient Greek history, mythology, art, architecture, drama, and the archeology and literature that informs us on these topics.
June 28 - July 11, 2026
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.
June 28 – July 11, 2026
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.
July 26 - Aug 8, 2026
This two-week course for high school students introduces you to the key areas of kinesiology, including physiology, biomechanics, and neuroscience.
June 28 - July 11, 2026
This two week course will introduce students to the academic field of Legal Studies. Legal Studies is an interdisciplinary, liberal arts based examination of how law operates on the ground and in practice, beyond the words of legislation or court decisions.
June 28 - July 11, 2026
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.
July 12 – 25, 2026
This two-week program for high school students allows you to learn the fundamentals of observational astronomy and astrophysics through real-world data.
July 26 – August 8, 2026
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.
June 28 – July 11, 2026
This two-week course for motivated high school students curious about technology and its real-world impact blends short lectures, guided explorations and daily lab projects to help students understand what AI is and how to use it responsibly and effectively.
July 26 - August 8, 2026
The two-week Pre-Veterinary Medicine program introduces students to the field of veterinary medicine.
June 28 - July 11, 2026
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.
In person: June 28 - July 11, 2026
Online: June 29 - July 10, 2026
Question Everything is a mind-expanding residential summer program for high school students, offered by the UMass Amherst Department of Philosophy. Explore exciting philosophical issues in a fun and supportive environment.
July 19 - August 8, 2026
This two-week course for high school students introduces the world of reading, writing, publishing and selling graphic novels, covering the history, creation, and worldwide success of these diverse books.
June 28 – July 11, 2026
This two–week hands-on course introduces high school students to the foundations of science communication. Students will learn how to critically read and interpret scientific papers, evaluate visuals, and translate complex findings into compelling narratives aimed at a broad public audience.
June 28 - July 11, 2026
This two-week program for high school students helps you learn practical sport management applications and industry insights to build your career.
In Person: July 12 – 25, 2026
Online: July 13 - 24, 2026
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.
July 12 - 25, 2026
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.
June 28 – July 11, 2026
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.
Residential @ UMass Amherst: June 28 - July 18, 2026
Residential @ Charles River Campus: June 28 - July 18, 2026
Online: July 13 - 31, 2026
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.
July 12 - 25, 2026
This two-week program will expose high school students to intellectual, cultural, spiritual and philosophical aspects of indigenous West African culture.
July 26 – August 8, 2026
In this two-week course, high school students will craft editorials, produce literary and visual analyses, dabble with creative works, take a crack at technical writing pieces, and tackle the college admissions essay. We will approach writing as a lifelong skill, one that is playful, pleasurable, and above all, communal.
June 28 - July 11, 2026