Courses for High School and Pre-College Students

Get a Head Start on College

Registration for summer 2024 classes is closed.

Summer Session is the Perfect Fit for High School and Pre-College Students

This summer, maintain your learning momentum and strengthen your academic resume by taking a Summer Session course at Merrimack. Earn college credit while exploring a new subject, or challenge yourself by taking a tough subject pass/fail. Whatever your interests, you will find a class that meets your goals and schedule. 

  • Enhance your college application.
  • Earn college credit – or study pass/fail.
  • Choose from a number of courses across more than a dozen subjects.
  • Learn from experienced faculty.
  • Most classes are online – study from home, or anywhere!
  • Merrimack’s Academic Success Center provides a wide range of opportunities to help enhance your academic performance.

Course Format

Most summer session courses are online and asynchronous. Please review course details to determine if your course is offered on-campus; online and asynchronous; or online and synchronous. Unsure about what these modalities mean? Here’s a summary:

  • On-campus – At least part of the coursework must be completed in person on Merrimack’s campus in North Andover, MA. All courses with an on-campus component involve either labs or experiential learning.
  • Online and Asynchronous – Online course materials can be accessed and completed at any time within the parameters set by your professor. There’s no real-time interaction. Students complete the work when their schedule allows, keeping in mind due dates set by faculty.
  • Online and Synchronous - Online, live classes that meet on a specific day and time with the faculty (specific day/time are noted on the course).

  • Summer Schedule & Cost

    • Summer 1 Session: May 20-June 28
    • Summer 2 Session: July 8-Aug. 16
    • Summer 3 Session: May 20-Aug. 16
    • Summer 8 (math classes): May 20-July 19
    Regardless of length, the majority of Merrimack summer courses are four credits and $456 per credit ($1824 per four-credit course).

    All Summer Courses Available to High School and Pre-College Students

    NumberNameSectionCreditFormatInstructorDateDescription
    BIO1106CHuman BiologyOA4Online - AsynchronousDave MacLaren7/08/2024-8/16/2024An introduction to the structure and function of human body at the level of cells, tissues organs and organ systems. A special emphasis is placed on the functions of the nervous and endocrine systems and their role in homeostasis and the integration and regulation of the functions of the other tissues and organs. The course will also consider molecular, Mendelian and population genetics. This course is designed primarily for students who intend to major or are majoring in psychology. Prerequisite: none. Not open to BIO/HSC majors. Satisfies a Mathematics/Science distribution requirement. Fulfills a STEM requirement in LS Core.
    PSY1000CIntroduction to PsychologyOB4Online - AsynchronousLauri Kurdziel7/08/2024-8/16/2024Provides a general overview of the wide-ranging field of psychology. Students will explore major concepts and issues in the study of human thinking, feeling, and acting. These include biological foundations of behavior and experience, how people learn and develop, how individuals perceive the world, individual differences in behavior, social influence and social relations, the difference between normative and non-normative behavior, and approaches to therapy. This course is a prerequisite for all other courses in psychology. Satisfies a Social Science distribution requirement. Fulfills a SOSC requirement in LS core.
    POL1100CPolitics of the USOA4Online - AsynchronousMary McHugh7/08/2024-8/16/2024An introduction to the American political system, this course examines (1) the Constitutional basis of American politics, (2) the national institutions that are involved in decision-making and public debate (for example, the Presidency and the bureaucracy, the Federal Courts, the Congress, political parties, the media), (3) issues that Americans argue about (rights and liberties, economic benefits, foreign policy), and the processes by which those arguments are conducted and resolved (campaigns and elections, administrative action, legislation, lobbying, publicity). Satisfies a Social Science distribution requirement. Fulfills a SOSC requirement and X in LS Core.
    WGS3300CUS Women's HistoryOA4Online - AsynchronousKatherine Leonard7/08/2024-8/16/2024An examination of the history of women in America. It will include history prior to colonization, beyond and to the present. A look at women's roles in US Society and the intersection of class, culture and ethnicity in shaping women's historical experiences across time. The course will examine the transformations and continuities in women's lives as well as the political, social, economic and cultural factors that inspired, infused or inhibited women's changing roles. This class also explores the ways in which race, class and ethnicity have operated to unite and divide disparate groups of women. Satisfies a Humanities distribution requirement. Fulfills H and D in LS Core.
    HIS1106CU.S. History IOB4Online - AsynchronousCharlotte Richard7/08/2024-8/16/2024U.S. History I: From Pre-Contact through the Civil War and Reconstruction This course offers an introduction to American history from the beginning of European expansion through the Civil War and Reconstruction. Drawing upon the methods and insights of social, political, and cultural history, the class lectures and discussions will explore a range of topics, including: the colonial encounter, labor systems, racial formation, the movement for independence and the formation of the American Republic, religion and reform movements, the democratic and market Revolutions, the transformation of gender roles, and the causes and consequences of the Civil War and Reconstruction. Satisfies a Humanities distribution requirement. Fulfills H in LS Core.
    PHL1000CIntroduction to PhilosophyOB4Online - AsynchronousKaplan Hasanoglu7/08/2024-8/16/2024A first course in philosophy focusing on classic questions that have stirred the perennial human quest for wisdom. We will explore such questions as: Are humans free or determined? How do the mind and body interact? Is ethics just relative to each person or society? Should there be any limits to the political freedom of citizens? Does God exist? The course will introduce students to the methods and culture of philosophy: sympathetic understanding, critical analysis, fair argumentation, and a persistent desire to know the truth whatever it is. The focus and questions covered will be determined by each instructor. Fulfills PHL in LS Core.
    SOC1000CThe Sociological ImaginationOA4Online - AsynchronousShahram Shadbash7/08/2024-8/16/2024The objectives of this introductory course are: (1) to cultivate the sociological perspective by acquainting students with basic sociological theories, methods, concepts and findings; (2) to use the basic concepts and principles of sociology to examine the various sectors of social life; and, (3) to develop an awareness of how and why social forces influence the experiences of everyday life. The course usually begins with a brief review of sociology's historical origin, its major theoretical perspectives and its various research methodologies. The nature of culture, social interaction, group dynamics, bureaucracy, socialization, deviance, crime, urbanization, collective behavior, and social change are some of the topics studied. The course also explores some of the institutions of society, such as the family, the political economy, religion, education, and the medical system. A central focus of the course is understanding the nature of social inequality as it exists in the United States and across the globe in terms of age, gender, race, and social class. Satisfies a Social Science distribution requirement. Fulfills a SOSC requirement in LS Core.
    POL3600CSelected Topics in Political Science: Youth to Power Activism & ResearchOA4On Campus, Monday through Thursday 9am-12pmDr. Kirstie Lynn Dobbs7/08/2024-8/16/2024As a young person, have you ever wondered how you could change your community? Have you ever felt powerless to make a difference but at the same time felt inspired by emerging youth leaders like Greta Thunberg for climate change and the scores of young people who marched in the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020? Many young people today and throughout history are challenging existing power structures to pursue a more equitable, fair, and just world. In this course, students will gain a deeper understanding of youth activism worldwide and how to bridge activism with policy-making through the power of research. Please contact Dr. Kirstie Dobbs for more information.
    MUS1320CHistory of Rock and RollOC4Online - AsynchronousAndrew Cote7/8/2024-8/16/2024This course covers the history of rock music in Western culture, focusing mainly on British and American contributions to the style. It begins with an overview of the musics that were predecessors of rock, including early blues, jazz and rhythm and blues, continues through the birth of rock 'n' roll in the 1950, and traces developments throughout the second half of the 20th century and beyond, culminating in a review of current trends. Fulfills AL and X in LS Core.

    New On-Campus Class for High Schoolers Starts This Summer

    POL3600C Selected Topics in Political Science: Youth to Power Activism & Research

    This class is not offered online and meets in person on the Merrimack campus. Class is offered July 8-Aug 16, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m.-noon.

    As a young person, have you ever wondered how you could change your community? Have you ever felt powerless to make a difference but at the same time felt inspired by emerging youth leaders like Greta Thunberg for climate change and the scores of young people who marched in the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020? Many young people today and throughout history are challenging existing power structures to pursue a more equitable, fair, and just world.

    In this course, you will gain a deeper understanding of youth activism worldwide and how to bridge activism with policy-making through the power of research. Please contact Dr. Kirstie Dobbs for more information.

    NEW