Who Is Eligible?

High school students anywhere in the world (grades 9–12) are welcome to participate in this summer program. No experience is required, just a passion for design. Our students are aspiring artists, architects, interior designers, engineers, industrial designers, computer game creators, landscape designers, and more.

Program Details

For 50 years, the BAC's Summer Academy has been a cornerstone of hands-on design education for high school students. The program, available as on-campus experience, or synchronous online format, empowers participants to work individually and collaboratively in small teams of 8 to 10, fostering the development of fundamental Design Skills. Through design challenges, students delve into Ideation, Sketching, Drawing, Digital Design, Digital Fabrication, Model Making, and Presentation Skills throughout the Summer Academy programs.

This year, Summer Academy introduces the addition of three Focus Areas: Architecture, Interior Architecture, or Landscape Architecture. Participants can choose between Not For Credit (NFC), or Credit Bearing Option (CBO), earning 3 College Credit Hours with the latter.

On-campus students engage in a studio-like setting, tackling real-world design challenges with lectures, hands-on feedback from practicing design professionals, design and making exercises, workshops, site visits, digital fabrication, and more. The experience concludes with a final presentation and digital portfolio, with all essential materials, and tools provided on campus.

Online students engage in a virtual studio-like experience via Zoom, addressing real-world design challenges with lectures, individual feedback from practicing design professionals, design exercises, workshops, virtual site visits, digital fabrication, and more. All essential materials, technology access, and tools are provided in a mailed kit at the beginning of Summer Academy. To fully participate, online students require a Windows or Mac computer with stable, high-speed internet access, and a webcam.

Program Dates: July 1-August 2, 2024*

Program Times: Online Track 9AM-12:30PM EDT | Onsite Track 1-4:30PM EDT

Format: Students can participate on-campus or online!

Tuition:
Base Price, credit bearing (3 college credits): $2,000
Base Price, not for credit: $1,800

Registration Deadline: June 3, 2024

*Due to the holiday, the BAC is closed July 4-5, 2024.

Urban Design and Planning Pre-College Fellowship

The Urban Design and Planning Pre-College Fellowship is for high school students* who are curious about careers in urban planning and design. This pre-college program introduces students to urban planning and design with leading professionals and peers in the Boston area and beyond.

As an add-on to Summer Academy, students are jointly enrolled in two, on-campus programs that together are designed to support and enhance student learning— the Summer Academy program plus Urban Design and Planning Curriculum:

• Urban Design and Planning Pre-College Fellowship: This pre-professional fellowship program prepares students for urban planning and urban design professional practice.
• Summer Academy Design Program: This hands-on program is designed for high school students who are curious about design or may be interested in starting a career in architecture, interior design, and landscape design.

Program Duration: June 24th - Aug 9th 2024** | 10AM-4PM EDT 

Format: Students who can attend daily, in-person at the BAC (this program is not offered online or in a hybrid format) 

Tuition for Both Programs:
Base Price, credit bearing (6 college credits): $4,000
Base Price, not for credit: $3,600

Registration Deadline: June 3, 2024

*The BAC does not issue I-20s for a student visa for our summer program. Therefore, international students are not eligible for the Urban Design and Planning module. Please contact Admissions if you have any questions regarding your eligibility.

**Due to the holiday, the BAC is closed July 4-5, 2024.