Northwestern Pre-College Online Program: Summer Program Spotlight
February 16, 2026
As a high school student, it can be difficult to find programs that offer innovative, fresh perspectives on popular topics. However, unique subject matter is just one piece of the puzzle. For a course to be truly impactful, it should be created and taught by an expert instructor with professional experience in the field. Wondering where you might find such an elusive combination? Enter Northwestern鈥檚 , which provides challenging courses that invite high school students into the essence of Northwestern鈥檚 academic community, renowned for its cutting-edge research and collaborative atmosphere. Let鈥檚 get to it!
Note: This is a sponsored post written on behalf of Northwestern鈥檚 Pre-College Online Program. We have independently (and enthusiastically) recommended their offerings to our clients for many years. Our site only partners with programs that bring significant value to students and the material in this blog is 100% the genuine opinion of 国产第一福利影院草草.听
What is the Northwestern Pre-College Online Program?
It鈥檚 never too early to start engaging with your academic interests, or determining what your interests are by exploring potential majors and careers across a number of fields and specialties. Accordingly, the Northwestern provides a space for deep yet flexible engagement through specialized courses in law, medicine, business, engineering, and psychology. In each course, you鈥檒l immerse yourself in an engaging subject, complete special projects that test your new skills, and build your knowledge of the current professional landscape. Since Northwestern instructors develop and teach the curriculum, you can be assured of a high-quality experience.
With all courses running year-round in both two-week and four-week sessions, it鈥檚 easy to find one that fits into your schedule. No matter when you enroll in your course, though, you can plan on several constants. Firstly, every course will command 20-30 hours of your time; this includes asynchronous, dynamic video instruction from Northwestern instructors as well as all activities and projects. Moreover, all courses offer an excellent blend of independence and structure, allowing you to view lectures and complete assignments at your own pace. As long as you fulfill all requirements by the end of your course鈥檚 session, you鈥檒l earn a Certificate of Completion.
Open to students aged 13 and up from any location, Northwestern鈥檚 Pre-College Online Program is also one of the most inclusive available. Each course鈥檚 cohort hails from a range of perspectives and backgrounds, so you鈥檒l likely find at least a few like-minded peers who help push your interests even further.
What type of courses does the Northwestern Pre-College Online Program offer?
are currently on the docket:
Artificial Intelligence: Navigating the AI-Powered Future
Are you ready to explore the intelligent systems reshaping every industry? This course is designed for anyone who interacts with AI, from future developers to curious users. You will understand core concepts, learning how machines recognize patterns and generate content. Explore no-code tools to build prototypes and gain practical skills. Learn from experts, explore diverse career paths, and develop the tools to apply this technology responsibly.
Business: Innovation, Strategies, and Success
If you hope that Shark Tank is in your future, don鈥檛 miss this opportunity to dive into business strategy, product development, and product management. In addition to teaching the essential elements of a strong business, this course pulls back the curtain on marketing, sales, operations, and supply chain management.
Business of Sports: Beyond the Field
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of a professional sports team? If so, this course will be a stellar fit. You鈥檒l dive into how data and technology are driving recruitment strategies, roster decisions, and front-office management while learning the fundamentals of revenue generation and sports ownership. The latest trends and career opportunities will also be discussed.听
Engineering: Solving Problems Through Design
Before undertaking a grueling engineering curriculum, one of the best moves you can make鈥攐utside of taking rigorous high school STEM courses鈥攊s to spend time learning how to think like an engineer. Accordingly, this course will familiarize you with how mechanical, civil, materials, and biomedical engineers use the design process to solve problems.
Finance: Think Like an Investor
Curious about the world of finance? In this course, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the financial industry, from economic foundations to investment strategies and financial analysis. You will explore the intricacies of private equity, learn how to evaluate market trends, and analyze real-world case studies. Plus, you鈥檒l hear from industry experts with extensive experience in the field. Discover your potential in the financial world and prepare for your academic future.
Law: From Interview to Argument
In this course, you鈥檒l have the unique opportunity to follow a hypothetical client from their first interview to the courtroom. Along the way, you鈥檒l develop skills in legal research, writing, and communication, emerging with a strong understanding of what it takes to support a client and successfully argue a case.
Medical Research: Evaluating Claims and Facts
These days, medical research is cited constantly, from news articles to social media posts. However, it鈥檚 important to evaluate whether that research was conducted ethically and responsibly before accepting it as fact. During this course, you鈥檒l learn from MDs and PhDs as you become a critical and strategic consumer of medical research.
Medicine: The Journey to Saving Lives
What should you do when a patient exhibits chest pain, stomach pain, confusion, or shortness of breath? During this course, you鈥檒l explore the ins and outs of emergency medicine, one of the fastest-paced, most demanding specialties. Discover how the emergency department functions as part of the overall hospital and follow multiple patients鈥 triage, testing, and diagnosis journeys.
Physiology: Understanding the Body’s Systems
Curious about the intricate workings of the human body? This online course takes you on an exciting journey through the human body, exploring the functions of vital organs like the kidneys, lungs, heart, and pancreas. You鈥檒l analyze real-world patient scenarios, discover the clinical applications of physiological principles, and hear from actual clinicians in the field. Learn how medical interventions address dysfunctions and gain a comprehensive understanding of human health and disease.
Psychology: Inside Diagnosis and Treatment
Curious about a career in clinical psychology? This course is for you. In it, you鈥檒l learn about the assessment and diagnostic process, treatment methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and different mental health disorders. You鈥檒l also hear directly from professionals in the field, including psychologists, social workers, and family therapists.
What is a Northwestern Pre-College Online course like?
Once your course kicks off, you鈥檒l dive into your first set of modules. Video lessons that have been pre-recorded by your instructor serve as the foundation of each module, supplemented by various assignments and activities that test and reinforce your understanding along the way. Moreover, expert mentors will be available to answer questions, guide you through difficult subject matter, and help you develop your Final Capstone project, one of the most important requirements of each course.
Think of your Final Capstone project as a compilation of your new knowledge and demonstration of your skills. Essentially, it鈥檚 your opportunity to apply everything you鈥檝e been working on to an area of special interest, laying the groundwork for future exploration in a class at school, a formal research program or internship, an extracurricular activity, or even a personal project. Your Final Capstone can also serve as an example of academic engagement and intellectual curiosity on your college applications.
What might your Final Capstone project look like? Here are a few examples:
In Business of Sports: Beyond the Field, you鈥檒l create your own expansion franchise and design strategies for everything from business operations to scouting.
In Engineering: Solving Problems Through Design, you鈥檒l use the design process to create a solution for a problem of your choice, including a plan for testing your ideas.
Medical Research: Evaluating Claims and Facts will give you the opportunity to dissect a medical claim presented by either traditional or social media. You鈥檒l use reliable, published research as a comparison tool before rewriting the original claim to be more accurate
Who will teach my Northwestern Pre-College Online course?
Teaching quality is a critical element of any good course, which is why Northwestern Pre-College Online courses are created and taught by experienced Northwestern instructors, all of whom carry advanced degrees and relevant professional expertise. Moreover, instructors build their experience and insight into each video lesson, ensuring that course content is 100% unique, engaging, and thoughtfully curated. Expert mentors, who provide additional guidance and support, round out each course鈥檚 instructional team.
For example, Professor Maurine J. Berens, a faculty member in the Communication and Legal Reasoning department at Northwestern Law, instructs Law: From Interview to Argument. In addition to being a trained mediator, Professor Berens was a former public defender and senior staff attorney at a nonprofit.
Interested in Psychology: Inside Diagnosis and Treatment? You鈥檒l learn from Dr. Alissa Levy Chung, an Associate Professor of Instruction and Associate Director of Clinical Training at the School of Education and Social Policy. She has also worked as a licensed clinical psychologist for over twenty years.
Business: Innovation, Strategies, and Success is led by Professor Joseph Patton, an Executive Education Lecturer and Senior Associate Director of Career Advising & Education at the Kellogg School of Management. Prior to teaching at Northwestern, he was a former VP at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
How many courses can I take?
If you鈥檙e struggling to narrow down which course to take, kiss your decision paralysis goodbye鈥攜ou can take as many as you want! Of course, you鈥檒l want to ensure that you have the time and space to be successful, so keep the projected 20-30-hour commitment in mind when building out your schedule.
Whether you鈥檙e hoping for depth in a particular subject or simply want a low-pressure way to explore multiple topics, combining courses is the way to go. Set on majoring in psychology? Psychology: Inside Diagnosis and Treatment and Medical Research: Evaluating Claims and Facts will cultivate essential clinical and critical thinking skills. Business-minded? Build analytical prowess and gain industry insight through courses like Business: Innovation, Strategies, and Success and Business of Sports: Beyond the Field. Not sure about your future career path, but know you鈥檙e a hands-on person who loves a good challenge? We鈥檇 recommend Engineering: Solving Problems Through Design and Law: From Interview to Argument.
How much does the Northwestern Pre-College Online Program cost?
Whether you opt for a two-week or a four-week Northwestern course, each costs $1,895. Regardless of course length, you鈥檒l benefit from the same course materials and assignments.
Have demonstrated financial need? You may also be eligible for a scholarship to participate in Northwestern鈥檚 Pre-College Online Program. After submitting your application, click 鈥淎pply for a need-based scholarship鈥 on the confirmation page to request a scholarship.
How do I apply to the Northwestern Pre-College Online Program?
To apply, you鈥檒l need to provide basic personal information as well as a brief personal statement via essay or video that discusses why you wish to enroll in your program of choice. The application deadline varies depending on the program, but you can typically submit an application until a week before each program鈥檚 start date.
Final Thoughts 鈥 Northwestern Pre-College Online Program
Your interests and curiosities are worth exploring, and there鈥檚 no better (or simpler) way to do that than through Northwestern鈥檚 . With its asynchronous learning model, innovative courses, and expertly designed curriculum, Northwestern is committed to helping high school students uncover new possibilities.
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