Cornell’s One Course Summer Institute June 15–July 2

Cornell College is excited to host the One Course Summer Institute from June 15 to July 2. This institute offers high school students the chance to take a class of their choice and earn college credit.

Student sit outside during a class of One Course Summer Institute 2024 This year, Cornell professors will be offering nine compelling courses. 

"We can't wait to see what the next group of OCSI scholars will achieve in these courses," said OCSI organizer and Lecturer in the Department of Kinesiology Frannie Malone. "Working with our Cornell professors, we’ve put together a variety of classes so students can explore< a topic that sparks their interest. These courses will challenge and inspire them."

Online registration is open now.  Rising juniors or seniors by June 2025, or 2025 high school graduates, are eligible for the 2.5-week program. Students will learn alongside peers from across the country, discover the distinctive One Course At A Time schedule, and explore what life is like on our Hilltop campus.

Students will also:

  • Earn 3 college credit hours (can be applied to Cornell or another college)
  • Participate in college prep workshops
  • Earn a $2,000 Cornell scholarship, awarded $500 annually 
  • Enjoy campus activities and outings with peers
  • Live on campus and get a feel for a residence hall and Hilltop dining

Cornell Associate Professor of Psychology Steven Neese teaches courses in neuroscience during the academic year and has taught the OCSI course 17 Day Later: Zombies, Brains, and Basic Neuroscience since the summer of 2019. The course focuses on using Hollywood “slow zombies” to understand the living brain. By the end of the program, students say, “I can do this!”

“Students learn all about how to organize notes for college-level work, how to integrate readings and data from class activities to develop critical thinking skills, and also learn how to balance work and fun on a college campus,” Neese said. “Overall, students will learn that, with a little bit of adjustment, college success can be theirs!”

Full list of classes:

  • 17 Days Later: Zombies, Brains, and Basic Neuroscience
  • Programming Apps in Python
  • Video Games and Storytelling
  • Reinventing the Camera: Photography & Fabrication
  • Chemistry and the Kitchen: Should We Be Wearing Goggles?
  • Movement by the Numbers: Fitness, Sport Skills, & Statistics
  • Musical Theatre: Study and Performance
  • The Secret Lives of Cells
  • From Math to Money: Understanding Personal Finance

Registration for OCSI is open through June 1, 2025.

Questions about the registration process? Please email the program director at ocsi@cornellcollege.edu