The Honors College Summer Institute
Pre-College Courses in Historic Charleston
Test drive the college experience with the city of Charleston as your classroom.
Classes You Can Get Excited About
All of our Summer Institute courses are offered in-person on our beautiful downtown campus. You’ll work directly with College of Charleston faculty teaching topics they're passionate about. They'll introduce you to the people, resources, and opportunities available to College of Charleston students.
But the learning isn't limited to campus. You can conduct field research at the Grice Marine Laboratory. Sample Gullah Geechee cuisine. Meet with local artists and community leaders. With Summer Institute, you get to test drive college and experience the city, all in a single week.
Register for Summer Institute2026 Honors College Summer Institute Courses
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Exploring Charleston’s Ecosystems
June 22 - June 26, 2026
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily
Course Fee: $700
Instructor: Chris Freeman, Department of BiologyDiscover the Wild Side of Charleston
From wetlands and carnivorous plant bogs to pine forests, salt marshes, and beaches, this immersive, field-based course takes you into some of the most biologically rich ecosystems in coastal South Carolina.
Experience Our Ecosystem Firsthand
Over the course of an action-packed week, you'll...
- Practice scientific observation and data collection.
- Learn how plants and animals are adapted to their environments.
- Understand how ecosystems provide services such as clean water, food, and coastal protection.
- Build confidence working outdoors in real research settings.
Venture off the Beaten Path
This course is perfect for students who love the outdoors, are curious about how nature works, and want to experience field science while exploring the Lowcountry's ecosystems.
If that sounds like you, spend your summer exploring Charleston's ecosystems with the Honors College Summer Institute.
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Savor the Story: Food, Culture & Charleston
July 6 – July 10, 2026
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. daily
Course Fee: $500 (daily lunch experiences are included)
Instructor: Salvatore Musumeci, Honors CollegeCurious Eaters & Cultural Explorers
Every dish has a story. Every flavor carries memory, migration, and meaning — and we've designed this course for curious students ready to dig into the rich, layered history behind what we eat and why it matters. Through daily readings, discussions, and real encounters with food, culture, and identity, this course offers a fresh way to think about history, community, and the city of Charleston.
Experience Charleston Through Its Food
You'll taste and explore cuisines that have shaped one of America's most distinctive food cities — from the soulful, deeply rooted flavors of Gullah Geechee cooking, to the many outside influences woven into Charleston's past, to the broader bounty of Lowcountry ingredients that have fed and defined this region for centuries. Along the way, our shared meals and readings will let the food tell the story — no textbook required.More Than a Meal
Food isn't just sustenance. Each meal we eat in this course is enriched by readings and interdisciplinary conversations that illuminate how food connects to race, resilience, colonialism, agriculture, and pride. By the end of our time together, you'll come away seeing your plate — and the city of Charleston — in a whole new way.
Come hungry. Leave inspired.
This summer, explore the history and heart of the Lowcountry one bite at a time with the Honors College Summer Institute.
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I’m Right, and You’re Wrong! Who Decides What Is True in the 21st Century?
July 13 – July 17, 2026
9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. daily
Course Fee: $350
Instructor:Bryan Ganaway, Honors CollegeEveryone is an Expert (Apparently)
Every day we’re surrounded by claims—on TikTok, in science labs, in history books, in politics, and even around the dinner table. But how do we actually know what’s true? And who gets to decide?
You Do!
In this course you’ll identify the systems people use to decide they are always right and everyone else is always wrong.
You'll examine the ways humans have tried to make sense of the world, through religion, philosophy, science, social science, and today’s digital information ecosystem.
You'll debate real-world examples, test out different ways of knowing, and uncover how ideas get labeled “true,” “false,” “useful,” or “dangerous.” And you’ll also look at what happens when these systems collide—and what that means for the world you’re inheriting.
A Class for Deep Thinkers
If you love big questions, lively discussion, and understanding how people think, spend your summer with the Honors College Summer Institute.
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Community Action Lab
July 20 – July 24, 2026
9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. daily
Course Fee: $350
Instructor:Sydney Conrad, Honors CollegeRoll Up Your Sleeves and Make a Difference
Join a hands-on advocacy course designed for students who care about their communities. You’ll learn what community advocacy looks like in practice, try it out with local partners, and build a personal plan to keep giving back long after the course ends.
What You’ll Do
- Interactive workshops: Short, energetic sessions on topics like identifying community needs, effective communication, organizing events, and ethical advocacy—all using games, role-plays, and small-team problem solving.
- Field visits: Guided trips to connect with local organizations and take part in hands-on tasks.
- Personal reflection: Space and time for reflective activities to help you connect your values and strengths to real action.
What You’ll Gain
- Practical skills: Project planning, public speaking, communication, and collaboration.
- A plan to continue: A personalized action plan and resources to keep you engaged after the course.
- Connections: Relationships with community leaders, peers, and mentors.
The Perfect Class for Future Changemakers
If you’re curious, care about people or place, and want to try advocacy without any pressure, this is the class for you. No experience required — just energy, an open mind, and the willingness to show up!
This summer, explore what matters to you, test your ideas in the real world, and have a blast while doing it with the Honors College Summer Institute.
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Creative Writing for Storytellers
July 20 – July 24, 2026
1:00 - 4:30 p.m. daily
Course Fee: $350
Instructor:Nick Plasmati, Honors CollegeThis summer, the College of Charleston becomes the College of Creativity for high school writers looking to explore the art of storytelling.
Calling All Creative Writers
We all have stories to tell, which is why we’ve designed this class for writers of all interests looking to develop their storytelling skills.
With daily writing exercises, guided craft discussions, workshop activities, and personalized feedback, this class offers an aspiring writer everything you need to thrive!
Experience the World through Storytelling
You’ll hear directly from writing professionals about the skills they use to succeed in a world where words matter more than ever.
You’ll also get a sneak peek of the college experience, with class writing activities that incorporate the College’s Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, Mace Brown Museum of Natural History, Addlestone Library, and more.
And we’ll cap things off with a class reading where you’ll share your work with your new writing community.
Share Your Story
This summer, explore your creativity and expand your wordplay in a welcoming, supportive environment. Share your story with the Honors College Summer Institute.
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How to Register
How to Register
Registering for the Honors College Summer Institute is a simple, two-step process!
- REGISTRATION: Complete the Summer Institute Registration Form.
- PAYMENT: Submit your $100 deposit.
All of our summer institute courses use the same registration form. In completing the form, you'll indicate which course(s) you'd like to participate in.
After completing your form, you'll be asked to submit your nonrefundable $100 deposit through the College of Charleston MarketPlace, a separate, secure transaction platform.
Once we've received your completed registration form and deposit, we'll follow up with a confirmation email about your enrollment status within one week of receiving both items. This email, sent from honors@charleston.edu, will contain a complete timeline, checklist, and instructions for remaining payment and paperwork.
The portal will automatically email you a copy of your registration, which you should keep for your records.
Who is Eligible
The Honors College Summer Institute is open to high school students of all backgrounds who will be entering their sophomore, junior, or senior year in the fall.Program Cost
Tuition for Exploring Charleston’s Ecosystems is $700.
Tuition for Savor the Story: Food, Culture & Charleston is $500.
Tuition for all other courses is $350.
Tuition for each course covers the cost of instruction and required materials. The Honors College Summer Institute does not provide overnight housing. Students/families are responsible for arranging their own accommodations and for transportation to/from campus at the start and end of each class meeting.
Scholarships
*A limited number of $100 scholarships are available to students to help offset tuition costs. Scholarship eligibility is determined as part of the initial registration process. Students who are awarded scholarships will be notified as such by May 1st.
Deadlines
The priority deadline for all programs is May 22, 2026. Registration will be accepted after that date if space remains open in a particular class.
You're encouraged to apply as early as possible by completing your registration form and submitting a nonrefundable deposit of $100. This deposit is applied to your full enrollment cost.
Refund Policy
Students who do not participate in the Institute forfeit their $100 deposit. Students who pay the full amount and decide to withdraw before June 1 are eligible to recoup the remaining balance from their payment. Students who withdraw after June 1 are eligible to recoup their remaining balance in the event of hospitalization or death of an immediate family member. All other withdrawals, including student dismissal, are ineligible for refunds.
For additional information on the registration process, please contact honors@charleston.edu.