15 Medical Courses for High School Students
Medical courses can be a strong option if you’re a high school student interested in exploring topics related to healthcare, biology, and disease. They allow you to study advanced concepts while building skills in analysis, research, and scientific reasoning. You can also gain a clearer understanding of different areas within medicine and how they connect to potential academic and career paths.
How are medical courses different from other programs in high school?
Medical courses are typically more structured than short-term programs, following a defined curriculum with specific learning goals and assessments. You might study topics such as anatomy, neuroscience, genetics, or disease pathology while analyzing case studies and scientific material. This structure helps you build a deeper understanding of medical concepts as you prepare for more advanced study.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 medical courses for high school students.
If you’re looking for free online programs, check out our blog here.
1. Veritas Deep Dive: AI + Medicine
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Dates: Multiple 10-week courses throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies depending on cohort. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: Students must have completed the Veritas AI Scholars program or have a background in coding. The program is open to students from grades 8-12.
Veritas Deep Dive: AI + Medicine lets you explore how AI is transforming healthcare. You work one-on-one with a mentor from a top university to build a personalized project that uses machine learning to solve real medical problems. You might train models to detect diseases, improve medical imaging, or explain results in ways that help doctors and patients. You learn how AI tools work and how to apply them in real-world healthcare settings.
2. Johns Hopkins University: Be the Doctor: Dilemmas, Diseases, and Diagnoses
Location: VirtualCost/Stipend: $1,365 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Spring B: March 26 - May 7 | Summer A: June 17 - July 22 | Summer B: July 14 - August 18
Application Deadline: Spring B: March 3 | Summer A: May 11 | Summer B: June 8
Eligibility: High school students
In this case-based medical course, high school students examine how physicians diagnose, treat, and make ethical decisions in real-world scenarios. You study the anatomy and physiology of multiple body systems, such as digestive, endocrine, renal, and microbial systems, while analyzing how diseases disrupt normal functioning. Through structured case studies, you compare symptoms, evaluate diagnostic tools, and determine appropriate treatment approaches. Ethical considerations are integrated into clinical scenarios, enabling you to examine how medical decisions impact both patients and healthcare professionals. You also develop analytical skills by creating your own case studies, applying medical reasoning to realistic healthcare scenarios.
3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program - Medicine Track
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies based on the program type; financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school, high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
In the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, you can take on an independent research project in medicine, neuroscience, or health sciences under the mentorship of a PhD scholar. Over 12 weeks, you’ll meet regularly with your mentor online to develop a research question, conduct a literature review, and refine your methods before drafting a formal research paper. Since the program is remote, you’ll manage your own schedule while maintaining accountability through check-ins. Along the way, you’ll gain skills in analyzing data, designing methodologies, and presenting your findings clearly.
4. Harvard University: Introduction to Medical Neuroscience (BIOS E-107)
Location: Virtual/Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Undergraduate: $540/credit | noncredit: $400/credit
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: January 26 - May 16
Application Deadline: January 22
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old
This medical course for high school students explores the neurological basis of injury and disease using a clinical lens. You study major conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, aneurysms, and different types of brain trauma while examining the neuroanatomy involved. The focus is on connecting symptoms to specific brain structures and understanding how structural damage affects functional changes. You analyze case examples to identify patterns in neurological presentation and disease progression. The program helps high school students to build their ability to connect anatomy, pathology, and observable clinical signs.
5. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies: Introduction to Medicine
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $3,200 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 15 - June 26
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: 9th to 11th graders who have completed a high school biology course
This medical course introduces high school students to several healthcare specialties, including cardiology, pediatrics, orthopedics, and internal medicine, using daily case studies. You analyze patient scenarios, participate in research activities, and engage in discussions such as medical ethics and community health. The course also highlights different professional pathways in healthcare, including clinical practice and public health policy. The course concludes with an assignment in which you research and present a novel therapeutic, evaluating its scientific basis and potential impact.
6. Summer@Brown: Introduction to Medicine: Do You Want to Be a Doctor? (10308)
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost/Stipend: $8,372 (residential) | $6,416 (commuter) | scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: July 6 - July 24
Application Deadline: May 8
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors aged 16 - 18 years who have completed an advanced high school biology course
This medical course places high school students in simulated clinical environments to explore the realities of medical training. You study anatomy and physiology while working through patient scenarios in a simulation center, practicing how physicians assess and respond to medical conditions. You’ll spend time in an anatomy laboratory to experience cadaver-based learning similar to that used in medical school. The curriculum also covers bioethics, end-of-life conversations, chronic pain management, and the broader challenges in modern healthcare. Additionally, you learn practical skills such as performing bystander CPR and using an AED.
7. Emory University: Medical Microbiology
Location: Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: $5,510 plus $50 lab fee (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 28 - July 11
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students who have completed a biology course
This medical course teaches microbiology through clinical case studies, encouraging you to think like a diagnostician. You begin with foundational concepts in microbial biology and learn methods to identify bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic organisms. You then examine how different microbes infect specific organ systems and produce recognizable symptom patterns. Laboratory sessions reinforce identification techniques and diagnostic reasoning. The course concludes with a comprehensive case study in which you determine the likely infectious agent based on clinical evidence.
8. Harvard University: Medical Microbiology (BIOS E-155)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Undergraduate: $540/credit | noncredit: $400/credit
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: January 26 - May 16
Application Deadline: January 22
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old with basic knowledge of molecular and cellular biology
In this medical course, you study the microorganisms responsible for human disease, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. The focus is on understanding how these pathogens infect the body, how the immune system responds, and how treatments are developed. You also explore current topics such as antibiotic resistance, emerging public health threats, and the role of the microbiome in health and disease. The course emphasizes conceptual understanding and analysis of microbial mechanisms.
9. Johns Hopkins University: The Science of Neurological Disorders
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $1,365 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer A: June 15 - July 20 | Summer B: July 14 - August 18
Application Deadline: Summer A: May 11 | Summer B: June 8
Eligibility: High school students
This medical course for high school students focuses on the scientific foundations of neurological and psychiatric disorders. You begin with the core neuroanatomy of the brain and spinal cord, then examine conditions such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, depression, and visual agnosia. Case studies – both fictional and nonfictional – form the basis of analysis, allowing you to practice diagnostic reasoning and hypothesis formation. The course also incorporates scientific articles and virtual lab work to strengthen your ability to interpret evidence and support conclusions. By comparing normal and abnormal neurological function, you gain a clearer understanding of how structural and chemical changes in the brain contribute to the symptoms of the disorder and to treatment approaches.
10. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies: Investigations in Genetics
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $3,200 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 6 - July 17
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: 9th to 11th graders who have completed a high school biology course
This interdisciplinary course explores how genetics informs biology, medicine, and evolution. You study how mutations and gene regulation contribute to disease and examine how the microbiome can shape health outcomes. The curriculum introduces experimental design using genetic technologies, encouraging you to think critically about how researchers test biological hypotheses. By connecting molecular mechanisms to real-world medical questions, you develop a framework for analyzing heredity and variation.
11. Summer@Brown: Genetics Beyond Mendel (10224)
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost/Stipend: $5,786 (residential) | $4,482 (commuter) | scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 22 - July 2
Application Deadline: May 8
Eligibility: Students who have completed a high school biology course
In this genetics-focused course, you move beyond basic Mendelian inheritance to examine mutation types, gene regulation, epigenetics, and genome structure. You analyze how genes are expressed, spliced, and modified, and how these processes relate to human disease and biotechnology. Topics such as transposons, viruses, and host defense mechanisms introduce you to the molecular tools used in genetic engineering. Through lectures, problem sets, discussions, and a guided final essay, you practice evaluating scientific questions and connecting genetics to current developments and ethical debates.
12. Emory University: Human Physiology
Location: Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: $5,510 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 14 - 27
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students who have completed a biology course
In this physiology course, high school students examine how the body maintains stability through coordinated homeostatic mechanisms. Topics include cellular communication, endocrine and neurophysiological signaling, and the integrated function of major systems, including cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, and muscular systems. You use visualization technology to explore anatomical structures in detail, improving your spatial understanding of organ systems. Hands-on exercises such as measuring blood pressure, listening to heart sounds, and testing reflexes connect theoretical concepts to observable physiological responses.
13. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies: Topics in Neuroscience
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $3,200 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 6 - 17
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: 10th to 11th graders who have completed a high school biology course
In this applied neuroscience course, you examine how the brain regulates movement, cognition, and emotion. Hands-on experiments and real case studies support your understanding of both typical brain function and neurological disorders. You collaborate on a group project that models a specific brain function or condition, translating scientific concepts into a structured presentation. Throughout the course, you connect neural mechanisms to broader fields such as medicine, mental health, and artificial intelligence.
14. Emory University: Biological Foundations of Medicine
Location: Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: $5,510 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 28 - July 11
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students who have completed a biology course
This medical course examines the scientific principles underlying clinical practice. You progress from cellular communication and immune defense to disease mechanisms and therapeutic interventions, analyzing how biological systems fail and how physicians respond. Case studies and simulated patient data require you to interpret symptoms, evaluate drug mechanisms at the molecular level, and practice structured medical decision-making. The curriculum also incorporates physician perspectives through direct interaction and discussion. For high school students, the course provides a step-by-step look at how foundational biology translates into diagnosis and treatment strategies.
15. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies: Topics in Bioscience
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $3,200 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Session 1: June 15 - 26; Session 2: July 6 - 17
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: 8th to 11th grade students
Topics in Bioscience is a medical course designed to introduce high school students to key concepts in the biomedical sciences. Through a case study focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, you examine how viruses infect the human body and how viral genetic material is translated into proteins. The course also explores virus evolution and how scientific research tracks these changes over time. You’ll study the development and function of mRNA vaccines and their role in combating viral diseases. Alongside biological concepts, the course introduces clinical, epidemiological, and computational methods used in human-subject research.
If you’re looking to build a project/research paper in the field of AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
With Veritas AI, which was founded by Harvard graduate students, you can work 1-on-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we have had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. Check out a past student’s experience in the program here. You can apply here!
Image source - Emory Logo