8 Urban Planning Internships for High School Students
If you're a high school student with an interest in urban planning and design, an internship can help you explore potential career paths, build professional connections, and gain practical experience in the field. Early involvement in urban planning will highlight your dedication, giving you an edge in the admissions process for programs in architecture, environmental science, or public policy.
Participating in real-world urban planning projects will allow you to develop practical skills beyond what you learn in class. Through internships, you can explore various areas within the field such as design, public policy, or community development which will help you make informed decisions about your future studies and career. An internship in urban planning will demonstrate initiative and commitment, emphasizing your interest in shaping communities, which can enhance your college applications.
Here’s our curated list of 8 urban planning internships and programs for high school students!
Location: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Free for all accepted participants. Students will receive a stipend after the program.
Dates: July 15–July 19, 2024; TBA for 2025
Application Deadline: Applications for the 2025 program will open in the spring of 2025.
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12, as well as recent high school graduates, who live or attend school in one of the seven counties of northeastern Illinois (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties) are eligible to apply.
The Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) Program, offered by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), is a free summer leadership program designed for high school students in northeastern Illinois. The program will introduce you to the basics of urban planning and its effects on both local communities and larger regions. Through interactive sessions led by experts in the field, you will engage with important topics like public transportation, housing, environmental protection, and sustainability. FLIP will also help you explore various career paths in urban planning, public policy, environmental planning, and community development.
The program provides hands-on experience through activities and projects that address real-world planning challenges faced by northeastern Illinois. You will develop valuable leadership, communication, and community advocacy skills, while also enhancing your resumes. The program is fully funded, covering meals, public transportation, and even offering a stipend along with a letter of recommendation upon completion. Participating in FLIP will allow you to explore urban planning as a potential college major or career while connecting with peers and professionals who share similar interests.
Location: Opportunities are available across local architecture firms in Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Interns receive a stipend.
Dates: July 8–August 16, 2024; TBA for 2025
Application Deadline: Dates for 2025 are yet to be announced.
Eligibility: Boston public high school students in grades 9–12 can apply.
The Architecture/Design High School Internship, organized by the BSA and BSA Foundation in collaboration with the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC), is a six-week immersive program that offers Boston public school students practical experience in architecture through placements at local firms.
This internship provides students with diverse insights into the architecture profession, emphasizing career exploration and professional development. Through a partnership with the Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program, participants receive paid opportunities and meaningful exposure to the architectural field. By working with eight local firms, students take part in practical projects and participate in site visits. During the program, you will develop skills in drawing, presentation, and 3D modeling, while also gaining a broader understanding of architecture. Additionally, the program helps you build essential soft skills such as time management, teamwork, and personal growth.
Location: Boston Architectural College, Boston, MA
Cost:
Base price (without credit): $3,600
Base price (6 college credits): $4,000
Dates: June 24–August 9, 2024; TBA for 2025
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until seats are full.
Eligibility: All high school students entering grades 9–12 can enroll.
The Urban Design and Planning Pre-College Fellowship at Boston Architectural College is an in-depth program for high school students interested in careers in urban design and planning. This fellowship provides an immersive experience, combining the hands-on learning of the Summer Academy Program with an advanced curriculum focused on urban design and planning. You will examine how urban design can tackle key societal challenges, such as climate change, social justice, and public health. The fellowship offers professional mentorship, industry insights, and the chance to work directly on projects that impact cities and neighborhoods.
A central aspect of the program is its practical component, where you’ll engage in hands-on urban design projects, creating both virtual and digitally fabricated models. These real-world projects will allow you to apply your design skills in developing sustainable urban solutions, preparing you for future careers in the field. The program also includes field trips, civic service learning, and a final showcase where you’ll get to present your work to urban design professionals and city officials. This provides a valuable opportunity to gain practical experience and establish connections within the industry.
Location: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WICost/Stipend: No cost; Participants will receive a stipend along with MPS internship credit. Dates: June 3–June 14, 2024; TBA for 2025 Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until seats are full. Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors attending a Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) high school are eligible to apply.
The UW-Milwaukee Design & Build Camp is a free, two-week summer program that offers MPS high school students the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning in urban design, engineering, and construction. Guided by UWM faculty, teaching assistants, and STEM professionals, you will gain practical experience in how these fields are applied in real-world environments. A key aspect of the camp is the opportunity for you to design, engineer, and construct a project focused on improving a Milwaukee neighborhood, giving you the chance to see the tangible outcomes of your efforts.
In addition to technical skills, the program includes sessions on college and career readiness, helping you prepare for future academic and professional paths. Students who complete the program with at least 80% attendance and active participation will receive a stipend and earn internship credit through Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). The UW-Milwaukee Design & Build Camp provides a valuable opportunity for students interested in architecture, engineering, or urban development to gain practical experience while contributing to their community.
Location: UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Cost: Domestic students: $4,938 | International students: $7,818 + a $75 application fee. The embARC housing fee is $5,200 which includes housing, meals, extracurricular activities, health insurance, and on-site assistance.
Dates: July 7–August 1, 2025
Application Deadline: The 2025 program applications will open in mid-December 2024.
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old by June 30, 2025, and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher are eligible to apply.
The embARC Summer Design Academy at UC Berkeley provides high school students with an in-depth experience in architecture, urban design, and sustainable city planning. Hosted on the UC Berkeley campus, this four-week, college-level course allows participants to explore environmental and urban design through a series of challenging assignments, field trips throughout the Bay Area, and hands-on projects. A key feature of the program is a design/build project for a local nonprofit, allowing students to make a real-world impact while developing skills in sketching, drafting, and model-building. No prior design experience is necessary to participate.
This program will help you build a strong design portfolio, gain insights into public policy issues, and explore architecture and urban design as potential career options. Under the guidance of UC Berkeley faculty and industry professionals, you’ll collaborate on projects, learn about sustainable placemaking, and address real-world urban planning challenges. The program concludes with a UC Berkeley transcript and a certificate of completion, offering valuable preparation for college applications and future studies in environmental design.
Location: New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: There is no cost to participate; students are paid $16 per hour for 30 hours a week during the six-week internship.
Dates: Vary based on the intern's placement and assignment, with a duration of six weeks occurring between June and August. Dates TBA for 2025.
Application Deadline: March 8, 2024; TBA for 2025
Eligibility: New York City public high school students who are eligible to work in the United States and are available for the six-week duration of the program may apply. The student's school GPA will be taken into account.
The SCA Summer Internship Program (SIP) offers talented NYC public high school students a six-week paid internship with various SCA departments and business partner companies across New York City. The program aims to introduce students to careers in multiple industries, including architecture, engineering, construction management, urban planning, information technology, business, and public administration. Interns will gain a diverse experience in civil engineering along with career mentoring.
Throughout the program, you will spend four days a week with your internship host and attend educational programming on the remaining day. Assignments will differ based on the company or department and the student's skill set. You will also have the opportunity to participate in various workshops, a design challenge, and panel discussions. This internship is an in-person position, with standard hours running from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Before the start of the program, a 10-hour OSHA construction safety course will be offered to students based on their assignments. Additionally, you will need to submit a signed parent consent form before participating in any construction site visits. You can view the current job postings here.
Location: Opportunities are available in over 20 cities across the U.S.
Cost: Varies for each city; limited financial aid is available.
Dates: Different dates between June and August. Weekend boot camps during the school year are also available in some cities. Dates TBA for 2025.
Application Deadline: Varies according to city. Please note that each city has its own Project Pipeline website, which can be found through a simple Google search.
Eligibility: Students of color enrolled in grades 6 to 12 are eligible to apply.
The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) started Project Pipeline in 2006 to empower students to implement change in their respective communities using architecture and urban design. More than 20 cities have hosted Project Pipeline camps, and a formalized curriculum has been in place since 2012.
Selected students will engage in activities such as drawing, model building, research and diagrammatic analysis, interviews, and site visits. They will also gain an understanding of the connection between architecture and their daily lives, culture, history, and society. Further, the camps will allow students to interact closely with architects and designers who will guide them with their projects and career interests. By the end of the program, students should develop a well-planned project that tackles an issue in their communities.
Location: Chicago Architecture Center, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Free for all accepted participants; students earn a stipend.
Dates: This program runs for three semesters - Summer (6 weeks), Fall (6 hours for 14 Saturdays), and Spring (6 hours for 16 Saturdays). The 6-week summer program starts in May (the exact dates for 2025 are not specified).
Application Deadline: March 31, 2024; TBA for 2025
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors attending high school in the city of Chicago are eligible to apply.
Chicago Architecture Center’s Teen Fellows program offers youth from the city of Chicago an opportunity to develop foundational skills in architecture. As a participant, you will attend college courses at Harold Washington College, earning dual credits with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and City Colleges of Chicago. You will explore Chicago’s built environment and its evolution over time, work with physical models using various materials, create design projects addressing local challenges, and build personal portfolios. Additionally, you will develop digital designs using software such as SketchUp, AutoCAD, Rhinoceros, Revit, Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop. The program includes visits to architecture firms and architecturally significant sites, as well as the opportunity to participate in a paid summer internship at a local architecture or design firm.
While the program spans three semesters, it begins with a six-week summer session and can be completed alongside your school commitments during the other two semesters. You will receive a stipend through CAC’s partnership with After School Matters (ASM) to help cover personal expenses, such as lunch and transportation, during the program. CAC also offers teen programs specifically aimed at increasing access for girls and students from populations that have historically been underrepresented in architecture, construction, engineering, and design.
One other option - the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, you could also consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs 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. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.