Arts and Sciences Summer Exploration Program
The Arts and Sciences Summer Exploration Program offers middle and high school students one-week intensive academic enrichment courses intended to introduce them to new areas of study or allow them to engage more deeply in content they already have an interest in. In-person classes meet from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and are taught by Ohio State faculty, staff, and graduate students. Teaching is active, hands-on, and encourages participants to engage with the instructional team and their peers. These courses are not for grades or credit and are designed for self-motivated learners.
Eligibility for summer 2027 is based on a participant’s grade level for the 2027–2028 school year. Students entering 7th–9th grades in the fall of 2027 are eligible for middle school courses. Students entering 10th–12th grades in the fall of 2027 are eligible for high school courses.
If you have questions about this program, please contact ExploreASC@osu.edu or call Courtney Price at (614) 292-8208.
Check back in early January 2027 for a list of summer 2027 courses and a link to the registration form. We invite you to sign up for updates to receive information about our programs and be alerted when the when future application windows open.
Looking for more options? Check out other summer youth programs offered by departments in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Course list will be available in January 2027
Application and deadline
If a participant requires an accommodation such as interpretation to participate in this program, please contact the program at ExploreASC@osu.edu or 614-292-8208. Requests should be made as soon as possible. Requests made two weeks before the first day of a course will generally allow us to provide seamless access, but the university will make every effort to meet requests made after this date. We invite you to sign up for updates to receive information about our programs and be alerted when the when future application windows open.
Tips for submitting an application
- When you click on the Apply Now button, you will be taken to the application system.
- If this is the first time you are applying to our program, you will need to register to create a free account. This option is available on the bottom left of the log in box.
- Once registered, you can login and submit your application.
- Please note that applications should be completed by a parent/legal guardian.
- You will receive an email confirming that your application has been submitted.
- You can submit multiple applications from the same account. After submitting the first application, click on the home icon in the upper right corner.
- All applications you have submitted will be visible from the home screen. To submit an additional application, click the carrot next to Options on the upper right corner of application text box. Select Apply Again from the dropdown menu.
Costs and aid
The program fee for the Arts and Sciences Summer Exploration 2026 program is $550 per one-week course, which includes all course materials and activities, lunch, and snacks.
- Sibling discount: A 10% discount on the program fee will be applied to the registration of the second + child from the same household.
- Limited need-based financial assistance may be available in the form of partial support. Financial assistance can be requested on the program application.
Payment deadlines
Applicants have one week to accept their offer of admission to the program and pay the program fee. All payments must be made through the applicant portal. Once an offer is accepted and payment made, the parent or legal guardian must submit emergency contact and medical information, as well as signed Policy Acknowledgement and Consent forms no later than May 15, 2027.
Refund Policy
The Arts and Sciences Summer Exploration Program recognizes that sometimes plans change. Participants may request a refund of the program fee by emailing ExploreASC@osu.edu according to the following schedule:
- On or before May 1, 2027: 100% of program fee paid
- May 2 – May 15, 2027: 50% of program fee paid
- On or after May 16, 2027: No refund of program fee paid
Program Details
While plans for each course may differ slightly, the daily schedule follows this general model:
- Drop off 8:15 - 8:45 a.m.
- Morning session 9:00 - 11:30 a.m.
- Travel to lunch 11:30 - 11:45 a.m.
- Lunch at Traditions 11:45 - 12:45 p.m.
- Travel time 12:30 - 12:45 p.m.
- On campus activity 12:45 – 1:45 p.m.
- Afternoon session 2:00-3:45 p.m.
- Travel to pick-up location 3:45 - 4 p.m.
- Pick up 4:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Participants will always be escorted between pick-up/drop-off, their assigned classroom, the dining hall, and the on-campus activity by program staff. Additional information about the program will be emailed to participants and families, as needed, closer to the start of the program.
Lunch will be provided daily at the Traditions at Scott dining hall and will be supervised by program staff. Traditions provides a wide variety of food options that meet the most common dietary needs and restrictions, including halal, gluten-free and vegetarian. However, kosher dining is not supported during summer term.
The pick-up and drop-off location for students is the 15-minute loading zone outside of Bricker Hall. Please drop your child off from the eastbound lane of Annie and John Glenn Avenue. The drop-off/pick-up location will be marked with a sign, and program staff will be present to check students in and out of the program.
If you are using a navigation system for directions, enter the following address: 120 Annie and John Glenn Avenue.
Please do not park in the drop-off/pick-up lane. If you need to park, or your child is driving themselves to and from the program, the closest surface lot parking is at the Ohio Stadium. The closest garage parking is Tuttle Garage. You can learn more about parking at Ohio State, including hourly rates, on the CampusParc website.
The image above shows the ideal route to the drop off and pick up location.
For those riding COTA, the closest bus stops to the drop-off/pick-up location are N. High Street & E. 15th Avenue and N. High Street & W. 18th. See the COTA website for more information.
The first day of the program will kick-off with a brief orientation session. At 8:45 a.m. program staff will walk the students to the orientation location. At the orientation, students will receive a program t-shirt and lanyard, the program staff will be introduced, and the daily schedule will be reviewed. After orientation, students will be escorted to their classrooms and the morning session will begin.
What to Wear
Participants should wear comfortable clothing appropriate for the classroom, as well as for a range of temperatures. For most courses, participants will spend most of the day inside air-conditioned classrooms. However, we will be walking between the drop-off/pick-up location, classrooms, campus locations and the dining hall. Dressing in layers and wearing comfortable walking shoes is recommended. Any course specific requirements are listed in the course description.
Friday What to Wear
Each Friday on the last day of classes, we will take pictures of each class cohort. We encourage participants to wear their Arts & Sciences Summer Exploration t-shirt on Friday for this event!
Daily Packing List
- Cell phone and charger (optional)
- Personal academic supplies, such as pens/pencils, notebook, and backpack.
- Any special academic materials needed for courses beyond this basic list will be provided by the program.
- Snacks and water: Participants should bring a refillable water bottle every day. While the program will provide an afternoon snack, participants are allowed to bring their own snacks. However, we request that, for the safety of participants with nut allergies, no snacks containing nuts be brought to the program.
- Personal medications in their original labeled containers (if taken during the day)
- Sunscreen and umbrella or rain jacket (optional)
Shortly after an applicant accepts their offer of admission, the parent or legal guardian will receive an email from DocuSign with links to program policy and consent forms. These forms must be reviewed and signed by May 15, 2027.