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The Honors College Summer Institute

Pre-College Courses in Historic ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø

Make the city of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø your classroom while learning the skills you need to become a leader.

The Honors College Summer Institute

Students explore the International African American Museum in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø.
The exterior of the International African American Museum in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø.
Students explore the biodiversity of the lowcountry.
The gateway entrance to Porter's Lodge.
Students explore the International African American Museum in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø.
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Pre-college courses for intellectually curious high school students looking to explore, expand your skillset and make a difference in your community.

Hands-On Exploration

Make ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø your summer classroom. Conduct field research at the Grice Marine Laboratory. Visit vital historic landmarks. Meet with artistic performers and healthcare practictioners. Experience the world firsthand so you can learn more about it.

Taught by College Faculty

All Summer Institute courses are offered in-person on our beautiful downtown campus, where you’ll work directly with expert ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø faculty.

Cultivate your Curiosity

This summer, enhance your skills with the Honors College Summer Institute and lay the foundation to become a changemaker in your community.

Honors College Summer Institute Courses - 2025

Discover the pre-college course that aligns best with your future goals. Apply by May 1 to ensure your spot is secure!
  • Out of Class, Into ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø

    June 23 – June 28, 2025
    9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. daily
    Course Fee: $500
    Instructor: , Department of History

    The history of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø can teach us lessons of the past and help us map a better future. Find out how with a pre-college course from the Honors College Summer Institute.

    Become a Part of the City's History
    To bring about change in your community, first you have to understand your community’s history. This place-based course will guide you through the little-known but crucial turning points in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s history.
    A Unique Way to Experience ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
    The class will visit locations that have defined the city’s complex past, and discover how ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s history has shaped its present. You’ll interact with the city through faculty-led excursions, on-site lectures, and readings that explore the issues still reverberating in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø to this day.
    Make an Impact on our Community

    This summer, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s history comes to life to help you shape the communities of the future.

     

  • Healing in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø with Art and Medicine

    *Registration for Healing in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø with Art and Medicine has hit capacity!

    If you're interested in the course, you can email Honors@cofc.edu to request a spot on a waitlist. And be sure to consider our other Summer Instistute courses as an alternative!

    June 24 – June 26, 2025
    10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. daily
    Course Fee: $400
    Instructor: Dr. Kathleen Béres Rogers, Department of English and Director of the Program in Medical Humanities

    Explore ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø's arts scene and discover a city molded by medicine.

    A Unique Approach to Examining Medicine

    In this class you’ll mix medicine with the arts. Explore the way we use art to interpret the human body, treat illness, and improve modern medicine to better understand how healthcare is evolving in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø.

    The Stories Shaping ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s Health

    You’ll meet with ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø faculty, artistic performers, and healthcare practitioners to learn about the ways art has molded the city and its approach to healthcare.

    Help Improve Healthcare Outcomes

    This summer, you can shape the future of our community's health by infusing new ideas and technologies in the field of medicine.

     

  • Saving ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s Ecosystems

    *Registration for Saving ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø's Ecosystems has hit capacity!

    If you're interested in the course, you can email Honors@cofc.edu to request a spot on a waitlist. And be sure to consider our other Summer Instistute courses as an alternative!

     

    July 7 - July 11, 2025
    9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily
    Course Fee: $700
    Instructor: Dr. Chris Freeman, Department of Biology

    A pre-college course for those who dream of saving the planet, but aren’t quite sure where to begin.

    Calling All Aspiring Scientists

    There is so much more to ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø than hospitality. Beyond the fancy hotels and world-class restaurants you’ll find a vibrant ecosystem of biodiverse organisms that have been supporting life in the lowcountry for millennia.

    This course is your access to the biodiversity of the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø-area lowcountry, and connects you with the tools and skills you'll need to help make sure it survives for centuries to come.

    Experience Our Ecosystem Firsthand

    The class is structured around daily field trips to the , Stono Preserve, local salt marshes and other impacted areas in and around ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø.

    You'll learn how local organisms are supporting the lowcountry’s unique ecosystems, how humans are impacting these ecosystems, and what can be done to help us coexist with all our biodiverse neighbors.

    Venture off the Beaten Path

    This summer, you can gain real-world field experience, sharpen your advocacy skills, and help preserve the lowcountry for future generations.

     

  • How to Apply
    How to Apply

    Applying for the Honors College Summer Institute is a simple, two-step process!

    1. Complete .
      • All of our summer institute courses use the same application form. In completing the form, you'll indicate which course(s) you'd like to participate in.
      • *May 6 Update: Registration for Saving ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø's Ecosystems and Healing in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø with Art and Medicine have both hit capacity! A limited number of seats remain available in Out of Class, Into ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø.
    2. .
      • After completing your application form, you'll be asked to submit your nonrefundable $100 deposit through the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø MarketPlace, a separate, secure transaction platform.

    Once we've received your completed application form and deposit, we'll follow up with a confirmation email about your enrollment status within one week of receiving both application items. This email, sent from honors@cofc.edu, will contain a complete timeline, checklist, and instructions for remaining payment and paperwork.

    The application portal will automatically email you a copy of your application, which you should keep for your records.

    Who is Eligible
    The Honors College Summer Institute is open to high school students of all backgrounds who will be entering their sophomore, junior, or senior year in the fall.
    Program Cost

    Tuition for Out of Class, Into ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø is $500.
    Tuition for Healing in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø with Art and Medicine is $400.
    Tuition for Saving ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s Ecosystems is $700.

    Tuition for each course covers the cost of instruction and required materials. The Honors College Summer Institute does not provide overnight housing. Students/families are responsible for arranging their own accommodations and for transportation to/from campus at the start and end of each class meeting.

    *A limited number of $100 scholarships are available to students to help offset tuition costs. Scholarship eligibility is determined as part of the initial application process. Students who are awarded scholarships will be notified as such by May 1st.

    Deadlines 

    The priority application deadline for all programs is May 1, 2025. Applications will be accepted after that date if space remains open in a particular class.

    You're encouraged to apply as early as possible by and submitting . This deposit is applied to your full enrollment cost.

    Refund Policy

    Students who do not participate in the Institute forfeit their $100 deposit. Students who pay the full amount and decide to withdraw before June 1 are eligible to recoup the remaining balance from their payment. Students who withdraw after June 1 are eligible to recoup their remaining balance in the event of hospitalization or death of an immediate family member. All other withdrawals, including student dismissal, are ineligible for refunds.

    For additional information on the application process, please contact Honors@cofc.edu.