Applications Open! Enroll for Summer 2027 at 2026 Tuition Pricing Until Sept 30
Investigate how minds and social situations shape behavior in this 2-week program for middle school students on Georgetown University’s campus.
Course Description
Why do people remember some things, follow a group, or react differently in the same situation? Students explore foundational psychology through questions about thought, behavior, and social influence. They learn how psychologists develop theories and use research methods to study experiences that may feel familiar but are not always simple to explain.
The course moves through neuroscience, learning and motivation, memory and cognition, social psychology, and health and well-being. Discussions and activities help students compare how the brain, past experience, goals, identity, and the surrounding situation may influence what a person notices or does.
Students practice reading psychological claims carefully and connecting them to evidence. Rather than diagnosing themselves or others, they focus on concepts, research findings, and respectful discussion. By the end, they have a broader vocabulary for asking good questions about the mind and recognizing how context can shape behavior.
This two-week course takes place at Georgetown University. The course is available to residential and commuter students. Beyond class, students connect focused academic exploration with campus life, growing confidence and independence, and clearer direction about interests students may want to explore next. The program is developed by Georgetown University and offered in partnership with Summer Discovery.
What Will You Do?
• Explore how psychologists develop and test explanations
• Examine basic links between the brain and behavior
• Compare learning, motivation, memory, and cognition
• Discuss how social situations and groups influence people
• Connect psychological concepts to health and well-being
• Evaluate an age-appropriate psychological claim using evidence
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Describe foundational psychological concepts related to mind and behavior
• Explain how individual and social factors can influence an outcome
• Evaluate a psychological claim by asking how it was studied
Students leave with a stronger vocabulary for psychology and a more evidence-focused way to think about behavior and social influence.
Why Social Psychology Skills Matter?
Social psychology helps students see that behavior is influenced by both individuals and situations. Understanding attention, memory, motivation, and group influence can make everyday patterns easier to examine without jumping to conclusions.
Learning how psychologists conduct research adds a protective habit: students ask how a claim was tested and whether the evidence supports it. This foundation strengthens science literacy, empathy, and thoughtful participation in group projects, online spaces, and school communities. Together, the work reinforces careful reasoning and the ability to revise a conclusion when new evidence changes the picture.
Who Should Attend?
This course is for middle school students who have completed 6th, 7th, or 8th grade and are curious about the brain, learning, memory, motivation, identity, or why people behave differently in groups. It fits students who enjoy asking questions about everyday experiences.
Participants should be ready to discuss examples respectfully, consider more than one explanation, and learn how research supports a claim. The course is educational rather than clinical, and students are not expected to share personal experiences.
Why Georgetown University?
Summer Discovery at Georgetown gives middle-school students a memorable place to learn, have fun, and experience campus life in Washington, D.C. The historic campus sits near embassies, institutions, and public conversations that make the wider world feel close, even when the course itself is not connected to government or policy.
Summer Discovery combines active academics with friendships, campus activities, clear routines, and support as students navigate a new environment. Students can try unfamiliar subjects, share ideas with peers, and build confidence through a structured summer experience. For families, Summer Discovery offers an engaging balance of learning and fun, with the community and guidance younger students need as they develop independence and discover what they may want to explore next.
The program is developed by Georgetown in partnership with Summer Discovery.
Summer Discovery Certificate of Completion
After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification completion for your accomplishment.
*This is a preview, not what you will receive