JSA's Stern Civics Immersion Program, a three-week summer session, is built to engage high school students with the most pressing issues facing today's democracy, learning directly from decision makers who shape public policy.

Non-credit

Residential

Online, live

Accepts International Students

Financial Aid

Junior State of America’s Civics Immersion Program is designed to engage high school students with the most pressing issues facing our democracy today, challenging them to look beyond differences and focus on solution-oriented action. Participants gain a complete understanding of critical issues directly from the decision-makers who shape public policy and apply lessons learned to generate ideas for direct action in their communities.

Previous courses include Environmental Justice, Global Poverty, Inequality and Justice, and Design Thinking for Community Problem Solving. In addition to the primary course of study each summer, all students will take a supplementary course: Argumentation and Use of Evidence.

Students who participate in our Civics Immersion program will:
1 - Be better equipped to participate in government at the national, state, and local levels.
2 - Be able to lead and participate in civil conversations with people from different backgrounds and perspectives.
3 - Learn and demonstrate effective 21st-century leadership skills.
4 - Be ready to address current and future political, economic, and social issues facing the world.
5 - Be better suited to succeed in secondary and post-secondary education environments.
6 - Develop and hone essential critical thinking skills.

Stern Civics Immersion In-Person Courses:
Campaigns & Elections: The Politics of Change in America facilitated by: David McCuan
Global Poverty, Inequality, & Justice facilitated by: Azamat Sakiev
Global Conflict facilitated by: Stephen Magu
Democracy & Social Media facilitated by: Andrea McClanahan
Argumentation & Use of Evidence facilitated by: Thomas Arndt

Stern Civics Immersion Virtual Program:
Classes will be held daily from 12 - 4pm PT, Monday - Friday

In-Person Program

Jul 07 - Jul 27

3 weeks

Residential

5295 USD

Virtual Program

Jul 10 - Jul 28

3 weeks

Online

695 USD

Tuition includes room and board on the university campus or at the program hotel, all JSA planned extracurricular activities, and all instructional materials.

Financial Aid

Junior State of America is committed to making its programs accessible to all who are interested. Scholarship opportunities are available for all of our summer programs. Students can apply for scholarships as part of their program application.