Cost
- Daytime/non-residential: $595; $100 deposit due at time of registration
- Residential (on-campus room and board included): $1,395; $100 deposit due at time of registration
Date and Time
July 9–15 (residential), July 10–14 (daytime/non-residential)
Students have the option to live on campus while attending this program (residential) or commute from home each day (non-residential). The residential program will run from Sunday, July 9–Saturday, July 15, and will include evening and weekend activities. The non-residential program will be held from Monday, July 10–Friday, July 14, from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. each day.
Program Registration
Applications are viewed on a rolling basis, and seats in the program are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Location
Mies Campus
Program Overview
The Psychology summer program is designed for high school students who want a glimpse into how psychology is a science. Learners will get a good idea of what the study of psychology is like at the collegiate level, how it can enhance the learner’s understanding of themselves, and some idea of how it feels to be a therapist. The week is split into five themes: introduction day; multicultural psychology day; psychology research and technology day; introduction to psychotherapy day; and careers and admissions day. During multicultural day, students will learn about the rich Black cultural history of Illinois Tech’s neighborhood, Bronzeville, and the psychology of gentrification and ways a local organization, BuildBronzeville, combats gentrification by visiting its headquarters, Incubator, as well as Boxville and the community garden. Another day is dedicated to each learner creating and conducting their own research project. Learners also get a chance to roleplay counselor and client on introduction to psychotherapy day.
Learning Objectives:
- Appreciate the study of psychology as a science (and an art form)
- Learn about:
- Careers in psychology and applications of psychology to other parts of your life
- Multicultural and ethical issues in clinical psychology
- Stigma of mental illness and ways to eliminate it
Example activities:
- An ice cream and gentrification activity
- A trip to Boxville on 51st Street
- Conducting a psychology study, analyze the results with Jamovi software, and presenting the research findings to class
- Performing counseling micro-skills on a partner
- Psychology career panel: hear from an array of different psychology professionals
Eligibility and Program Requirements
Rising 10th–12th graders (ages 14–17); students must be at least 15 years old to stay on campus
Sample Schedule
8 a.m.: Breakfast (only for residential students)
9 a.m.–noon: Instruction
Noon–1 p.m.: Lunch
1–5 p.m.: Instruction
5–6 p.m.: Activities and downtime with Illinois Tech summer interns (only for residential students)
6–7 p.m.: Dinner (only for residential students)
7–10 p.m.: Activities and downtime with Illinois Tech summer interns (only for residential students)
10 p.m.: Residential hall check-in for the night (only for residential students)
Sample weekend activities: A beach day at Lake Michigan, visiting Navy Pier, visiting Millennium Park, taking in a Chicago White Sox game, and more! (only for residential students)
Sample weekday activities: Game night, bowling at Illinois Tech’s The Bog, and gaming at the Esports arena (only for residential students)
Program Instructor
Madeline Oppenheim is a Ph.D. student in rehabilitation counseling education at Illinois Tech, and former a master’s student in the university’s rehabilitation and mental health counseling program. She previously received a masters degree from King’s College London in early intervention in psychosis. Oppenheim’s current research interests include stigma of mental illness and health equity. She spends her free time engaged in various forms of visual art, yoga, and obeying the demands of her two cats.
Questions?
Questions about the application process? Email them to precollege@iit.edu.