11 Kinesiology Summer Programs for High School Students
Kinesiology, the study of human body movement, is a great field to explore if you have an interest in sports science, physical therapy, exercise physiology, and related disciplines. Participating in a Kinesiology summer program will be an amazing opportunity to dive deeper into the fundamentals of human anatomy, biomechanics, and the principles of designing effective physical activity programs. If you are thinking about pursuing a career in the health sciences, physical education, or sports management, these programs will be especially beneficial.
These programs are also great additions to your CV or college applications that can significantly enhance your profile. It demonstrates proactiveness and can also serve as a great talking point in a Statement of Purpose (SOP) for college admissions. If you hope to gain a competitive edge in the college application process, or aim to pursue a career in Kinesiology and related fields, these summer programs are definitely opportunities to consider!
Cost: $3,636 Residential and $2,167 Commuter
Location: UMass Amherst Campus
Application Deadline: May 1, 2024
Program Dates: June 30 - July 13, 2024
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores to seniors
At the UMass Amherst Kinesiology: Pathway to the Medical Professions Pre-College program, you will experience a two week course that covers Kinesiology—a foundational discipline that encompasses physiology, metabolism, biomechanics, and more—and sets you up for various medical careers such as nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and physician assistant. The curriculum is structured to balance short, introductory lectures with extensive hands-on lab experiments.
You will dive deeper into the anatomy and functionality of muscles and bones, assess and understand their personal fitness levels through practical testing, and develop tailored fitness plans. The program emphasizes experiential learning through training and mobility workshops used by healthcare professionals, offering insights into nutritional applications for sports and performance. Notably, the program includes field trips to off-site locations, allowing you to conduct experiments and tests within the community, thereby applying theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility:
You must be currently enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall of 2023.
Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. (Note. Students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines for each of the four yearly cohorts.
Program Dates: Vary based on cohort.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students, across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler.
The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as medicine, life sciences, and more. You can find more details about the application here!
Location: Virtual
Application Date: May 21, 2024 for the summer cohort, and September 25, 2024 for the fall cohort
Program Dates:
Summer seminar - June 24, 2024 - September 2, 2024
Fall seminar - October 23, 2024 - February 19, 2025
Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! It is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers a choice between quantitative and qualitative research!
Once you select a particular subject track and type of research you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar (from a top university) who will mentor you throughout your research journey. You’ll work to create a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields, under the guidance of a top scholar. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student, as well as detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects and on college applications. Apply here!
Cost: $4,342 for residential and $3,542 for commuter (out-of-state)
Location: Rutgers New Brunswick campus
Application Deadline: May 1, 2024
Program Dates: July 21-July 27, 2024
Eligibility: Applicants must be aged 16-18, Minimum 3.0 grade point average, English language proficiency
The Rutgers Pre-College Physical Therapy Summer Academy is a great opportunity for you to explore physical therapy, representative of their Exercise Science major, which serves as an ideal preparatory track for Rutgers' prestigious Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Graduate Program. The program includes exclusive tours of the Functional Human Anatomy Labs and visits to the Rutgers DPT Graduate Program Campus.
The academy also offers an overview of the essential undergraduate coursework that you would take if you pursue kinesiology. Engaging directly with professionals in the field and current DPT students, you will benefit from firsthand knowledge and experiences. You will also earn 1.5 college credits upon completion of the academy, credited towards the 01:377:144 Foundations of Kinesiology and Health course. This unique combination of academic learning, professional engagement, and college credit makes the Rutgers Physical Therapy Summer Academy a great opportunity to explore.
Cost: $9,057
Location: UMiami Campus
Application Deadline: April 1, 2024
Program Dates: June 29 - July 19, 2024
Eligibility: Current sophomore or junior in high school graduating and entering college in 2025 or 2026, Grade point average of at least 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale)
The University of Miami Summer Scholars Program in Sports Medicine, particularly its courses in KIN 105: Introduction to Athletic Training and KIN 110: Foundations in Exercise Physiology and Nutrition Science, offers you the opportunity to explore the practical and theoretical aspects of sports medicine. Taught by distinguished faculty members, including Dr. Magda Aldousany and Dr. Kysha Harriell from the School of Education and Human Development's Department of Kinesiology & Sport Sciences, you will learn about identifying and treating basic sport injuries, understanding the role of nutrition, biomechanics, and training in sport performance, and exploring the foundations of exercise physiology and nutrition science.
You will not only learn about the prevention and management of sport-related injuries through techniques like athletic taping or bracing but also gain practical experience in exercise prescription and understanding the nutritional needs for health, longevity, and performance enhancement. The program facilitates direct application of classroom ideas to real-world scenarios. With 3 credit hours available for each course, you will have the opportunity to earn college credits while gaining invaluable insights and skills in sports medicine.
Cost: $50
Location: NSU Broken Arrow Education Building
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: July 24 - July 25
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible
Northeastern State University (NSU) offers a Kinesiology summer camp that serves as a great introduction to the science of human movement for high school students. This program invites you to explore various aspects of kinesiology, including nutrition, biomechanics, strength and conditioning, sports injury care and prevention, and rehabilitation sciences. Led by NSU professors who are experts in the fields, the camp will definitely be a valuable learning experience.
As a participant, you will dive into workshops that will deepen your appreciation for the science behind sport and movement and also illuminate the breadth of career opportunities available in health and fitness, athletic training, physical therapy, and more. The camp emphasizes hands-on laboratory experiments and activities, offering insights into exercise testing and program design tailored to athletes.
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: January 2024
Program dates: 8 weeks from end of June to Mid August
Eligibility: Must be a high school junior or senior in the 2022-2023 school year (i.e. 11th or 12th grade at the time of application) OR a full-time CC student (within first three years of CC)
Stanford's STEM Summer Internship is a great way for you to explore kinesiology in an environment that promotes research. This program is tailored to leverage your existing interests and strengths while introducing you to a broad spectrum of new areas, including but not limited to information and communication science, engineering, the arts, linguistics, psychology, biology, neuroscience, computer science, technology, philosophy, and design. You will engage in various projects, benefiting from the mentorship of Stanford Compression Forum's students, faculty, and staff, as well as its affiliated organizations.
The internship aims to provide early exposure to cutting-edge research within an academic setting, highlighting the diversity of research topics pursued in engineering and the crucial integration of humanities and the human element in STEM research. Among past projects, students have explored innovative areas such as Behavior Cloning (BC) of Human Policy via Logged Data, bridging gaps in Generative AI for Audio Generation, and designing efficient recombination processes through Classical and Quantum Algorithms.
Cost: $599
Location: Boston
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: July 22 – 26, 2024 or July 29 – August 2, 2024
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible
The Boston Leadership Academy's Intro to Sports Medicine program offers a one-week immersion designed specifically for high school students passionate about the intersection of medicine and sports. Under the guidance of Dr. Jeff Robin, a respected educator with a rich background in biochemistry, molecular biology, and medicine, you will explore the cutting-edge medical techniques and practices that keep elite athletes performing at their best. The curriculum covers a broad spectrum of topics, including physical therapy, surgery, orthopedics, and concussion research, providing students with a comprehensive overview of the field of sports medicine.
Throughout the week, you will learn about rehabilitation techniques and performance enhancement strategies. This program is an excellent fit for students with a dual interest in the sciences and athletics, aiming to offer insights into how medical methods are applied to improve athletic performance, aid recovery, and prevent injuries.
Cost: $2,000
Location: Online
Application Deadline:
Program Dates: Monday, July 1 - Friday, July 26, 2024
Eligibility: Incoming 11th and 12th grade students
The UCSD Research Scholars Sports Medicine Summer Academy is a great way for you to explore sports medicine, tailored for high school students with an interest in kinesiology. This comprehensive program covers a wide range of topics, including the anatomy and pathology of sports injuries, the epidemiology of musculoskeletal conditions, injury prevention strategies, current trends in concussion research, exercise science, nutrition, and the mental health aspects of sports. Through lectures, discussion sessions, problem and case-based group learning exercises, and independent research projects, you will understand sports medicine's core principles and practices.
As a student in this academy, you will not only expand your knowledge of musculoskeletal anatomy and physiology but also develop an awareness of common sports injuries and their treatments. One of the program's highlights includes engaging in student-led research projects, complementing theoretical learning. Guided by nationally acclaimed faculty, the UCSD Sports Medicine Summer Academy is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in clinical sports medicine.
Cost: $3000
Location: Wake Forest Campus
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: Week of June 16 – 21 and July 14 – 19
Eligibility: 9th to 12th grade students
The Wake Forest Summer Immersion Sports Medicine Institute offers a great opportunity to learn about medical care practices for athletes. Under Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Surgeons, Dr. Gary Poehling and Dr. Nicholas Trasolini, along with a host of experienced orthopedic medical professionals, trainers, coaches, and athletes, you will gain firsthand insight into the sports medicine field. This immersive program covers a wide array of topics, including concussions, athletic training and physical therapy, knee and shoulder injuries, pediatric sports medicine, and the latest in prosthetic design, biologics, and regenerative medicine.
What sets this institute apart are the hands-on experiences it offers, allowing students to apply what they learn in real-world settings. Participants will have the chance to visit the WFU Pitching Biomechanics Lab and WFU Athletic Training Facilities, engage in surgical skills labs in a mock OR setting, and learn techniques for splinting, casting, ankle taping, and suturing. Additionally, a guided cadaveric surgical anatomy lab provides a unique, in-depth look at the human body from a surgical perspective.
Cost: $649
Location: The University of Texas Campus
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: June 14-17, 2024
Eligibility: Students aged 12-18
The UT Longhorns Sports Medicine Camp, hosted by Texas Athletics Sport Medicine on the iconic Forty Acres of The University of Texas, combines science and Athletic Training. This camp caters to students of all experience levels, from novices to those with prior exposure to athletic training, by providing both basic and advanced curriculums. You will learn about the basics of anatomy, cutting-edge taping techniques, injury evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, and emergency management.
Upon registration, you will be asked about your experience level to tailor the camp sessions to your needs, allowing you to switch between basic and advanced sessions based on your comfort and prior knowledge. Notable sessions include Taping Labs, Concussions Lectures, and specific injury lectures/labs such as those focusing on ankle and knee injuries, along with C-spine introduction and management.
Bonus - Veritas AI’s AI + Medicine Program: Veritas AI is an AI program for ambitious high school students, founded and run by Harvard graduate students. In the AI + Medicine program, students learn how AI is used in the healthcare and medical industry. Students get a chance to work on real-world projects using AI & ML models to diagnose diseases, sharpen medical scans, and explain their outcomes to aid doctors and patients. Here is the program brochure and the application form!
One other option - Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you would like to further enhance your applications by doing research in STEM and related fields, you should also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students.
Jessica attends Harvard University where she studies Neuroscience and Computer Science as a Coca-Cola, Elks, and Albert Shankar Scholar. She is passionate about educational equity and hopes to one day combine this with her academic interests via social entrepreneurship. Outside of academics, she enjoys taking walks, listening to music, and running her jewelry business!
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