Pursue a Career Pathway
Students who select a career pathway course will come away with fresh perspectives on a field of work they might want to pursue. In each course, students explore an academic topic in depth while working on projects that are mirrored in the real world.
Guests in the classroom will both advise students and provide insights on their own career paths. Throughout the course students will reflect on what they have learned about their skills, interests, and future goals. At the end of a course, students will come away energized about possible areas of study as well as potential career paths, and will have built valuable team-building and leadership skills.
Career Pathway courses are capped at between 15-25 students.
2023 Career Pathway Courses
Animal Transgenesis: A Laboratory Primer on Genetics
This course opens up the possibilities of making novel scientific discoveries, and generating data that can be used by practicing scientists. In this lab-based class, you will be introduced to modern molecular biology methods using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Students will learn DNA primer design, will isolate genomic DNA, and perform standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and inverse PCR. Scientists will visit the class to discuss their own genetics projects and career paths as well.
Becoming a Brain Scientist: Neuroscience and Psychology Research
This course is an introduction to how psychologists and neuroscientists formulate hypotheses, design experiments, and collect and analyze data. Each student is matched with a research mentor in a Harvard laboratory. Students meet weekly as a group to explore topics of interest to researchers in biological science, neuroscience, and psychology.
Basic Journalism in the Digital Age
This course provides a thorough introduction to reporting, writing, and the ethics of journalism. Throughout the course, you will shadow a practicing journalist, and learn how to recognize good stories, gather facts through in-person interviews, and develop sources. You will experience a variety of styles through the writing of news, feature, and opinion articles. Throughout the course, journalists will visit the class to discuss their own projects and career paths.
Tackling Real World Problems Through Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Explore the wider applications of chemistry and chemical biology. Students will research real-world problems such as the contamination of water sources or the status of current legislation related to environmental chemistry or pharmacology. Guest speakers include research associates, CEOs, and advocates whose work demonstrates the intersection of chemistry with the wider world.
Introduction to Entrepreneurship
Do you have an idea for a startup? This course is designed to teach fundamental principles and best practices for creating and scaling a successful entrepreneurial venture. The course is highly experiential and action-based. Students form teams around common interests. As a team, you will walk through the venture creation process step by step, culminating in a pitch to angel investors and venture capitalists.
Problem Solving and Project Design
In this course, students work on real-world problems that do not have obvious solutions. As part of a project team, students are matched with a client that has a difficult challenge. The project team analyzes the challenge and designs a solution to present to the client. The course provides students with the ability to understand how an entire system works; how a change in one part affects the rest, and how a “big picture” perspective can assist in problem-solving.
Start-Ups from the Perspective of Business and IP Law
This course introduces students to the intersection of start-ups and intellectual property (IP) law. Students gain experience in presenting “shark tank” pitches, writing a contract, performing business analysis, preparing and conducting depositions, and constructing a legal argument. Upon completion, students are able to perform legal research relevant to start-ups during their funding and growth periods.
Focused Areas of Study
Delve into a topic you are passionate about by taking one or two courses in these specially-designed clusters. Maybe you are committed to human rights but aren’t sure how that would translate to a college major, or you know you are interested in medicine but you’d like to explore issues of health through multiple academic lenses.
These courses will help you explore the possibilities of academic study at the college level. In fact, 89% of past attendees said the courses they completed at Harvard helped them identify what they wanted to study in college.
Computer Science and Engineering
Have you always been fascinated by backend website development? Put your coding capabilities to the test this summer in game development and animation courses, learn more about the future of augmented reality.
Learn more about studying Computer Science and Engineering at Harvard.
Justice, Ethics, and Human Rights
Are you passionate about justice and human rights? This summer, explore your inner humanitarian in courses that cover global justice, human ethics, and environmental ethics.
Learn more about studying justice, ethics, and human rights at Harvard.
Economics, Finance, and Public Policy
Are you fascinated by the forces that shape our world and drive traditional public leadership? This summer, develop your financial and business savvy while honing your critical thinking and strategic planning skills.
Learn more about studying economics, finance, and public policy at Harvard.
Medical Sciences and Ethics
This summer, take a deep dive into courses that introduce you to topics in the health sciences. You can study stem cell regeneration or examine the roots and impact of past—and current—epidemics.
Learn more about studying medical sciences and ethics at Harvard.
Psychology and Neuroscience
Curious about what makes people tick? This summer, uncover the mysteries of the mind in these interdisciplinary courses on mind, brain, and behavior.
Learn more about studying psychology and neuroscience at Harvard.
Summer Seminars
Summer Seminars, inspired by Harvard College’s renowned freshman seminars, are small classes for advanced high school students and undergraduate students to advance their researching and writing skills. Students can consult with and learn from Harvard instructors in a small-group or one-to-one format that lets them dig deep into a subject and build valuable expertise.
- Advice to Young Leaders
- Big Ideas, Great Thinkers
- Human Evolution
- Politics and Governance in the Global South
- The Psychology of Cults
Browse Courses by Topic
Arts, Writing, and the Humanities
Computer Science, Math, and Engineering
Foreign Languages and Literatures
Sciences
Study of Societies, Past and Present
Learn from Harvard Professors
Our courses are taught by Harvard faculty who teach the same courses to Harvard College students during the academic year or by visiting scholars who hail from respected institutions around the world.
Enjoy a Flexible Schedule
Whether you choose to enroll in one or two courses, you will have some flexibility to schedule your days. Classes are held in the mornings, afternoons, or evenings.
The program spans seven weeks, and most courses meet for six weeks, with a final exam, paper, or project during the seventh week.
Earn College Credit
At the completion of the program, you may request a transcript listing your coursework, grades, and number of credits earned.
Choosing the Right Courses for You
We can help you choose courses that will match your interests and goals. Connect with us after admission, and we’ll advise you every step of the way.
Our office is open Monday – Friday, 9 am to 5 pm EST. Contact us or email us to set up an advising appointment.
