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Analyze behavior through psychological research in this 2-week program for high school students on Georgetown University’s campus.
Rated 4.1 out of 5 for assignments and class activities by students who took this course in 2026.
Course Description
A convincing explanation of someone’s behavior can still be wrong. Look at the research and discover what supports the story.
In this course you will explore psychology’s history and major perspectives, then investigate how psychologists turn questions about behavior into research. Comparing theories gives you different ways to explain the same experience.
Trace the biological side of behavior through nerve signals, chemical processes, and the central and peripheral nervous systems. Connect those ideas with development, learning, motivation, emotion, memory, cognition, personality, and social interaction. Examples and activities ask you to check an appealing explanation against evidence.
Compare observational, correlational, experimental, and quasi-experimental studies, asking what each method can tell you and where it falls short. Discussion and feedback help you sharpen your research critiques. The challenge is to explain why a study supports a claim, or why the answer is still uncertain.
This two-week course takes place at Georgetown University. The course is available to residential and commuter students. The program is developed by Georgetown University and offered in partnership with Summer Discovery.
What You Will Do
• Compare historical and current perspectives in psychology
• Examine neural, physiological, and chemical bases of behavior
• Analyze learning, motivation, emotion, memory, and cognition
• Explore development, personality, and social interaction
• Compare observational, correlational, experimental, and quasi-experimental methods
• Critique psychological studies for strengths, limits, and conclusions
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Differentiate major psychological perspectives and fields of study
• Compare research methods and evaluate the limits of a study
• Explain behavior using biological, cognitive, developmental, and social evidence
You’ll leave with your research critiques and a certificate of completion.
Why Psychology Skills Matter
Psychology helps students examine familiar experiences without assuming that intuition is always accurate. Learning research methods makes it possible to evaluate how a study was designed, what variables were measured, and whether a conclusion goes beyond the evidence.
Understanding biological, cognitive, developmental, and social perspectives also teaches students to compare explanations at different levels. That flexibility supports critical reading, ethical reasoning, and clearer communication in science, education, healthcare, policy, marketing, and everyday decision-making.
Who Should Attend?
For students who have completed 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade.
If you find yourself wondering why people remember, react, or make choices differently, psychology gives you ways to investigate. Interests in mental health, neuroscience, development, or research can all lead into this course. You’ll discuss studies, compare theories, and test intuitive explanations against evidence. Come ready to question a conclusion and hear how someone else reads the same findings.
Recommended by More Than 4 out of 5 Students
Based on students surveyed in 2026 about Summer Discovery High School programs at Georgetown University campus.
Your Summer at Georgetown University
Studying on Georgetown University’s campus gives high-school students the opportunity to explore an academic interest while experiencing campus life in Washington, D.C. Its historic campus and surrounding neighborhood sit near embassies, institutions, and organizations that shape national and international conversations, giving the summer a distinctive sense of place.
Students learn alongside peers with similar interests, navigate a new environment, and gain independence through everyday choices and responsibilities. Time outside class helps students experience the broader rhythm of university life while considering what subjects, communities, and possible directions feel right for them. For families, the program offers a combination of substantive academic exploration, personal growth, and clearer insight into what a student may want to study or pursue next.