Summer High School U
Summer High School U Program
The Summer High School U Program is a FREE eight week program for rising 10th -12th grade low-income students living in the City of Pittsburgh and surrounding suburbs in Allegheny County (There are limited spots for non-low-income students interested in health, social services, teaching/counseling, and business careers to participate). Students will enroll in a college course, engage in tutoring/study skills, and participate in paid summer work experiences. Class, tutoring, and work experience occurs Monday– Thursday, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm. Fridays are reserved for speakers, field trips, and college visits. All course materials, books, bus passes, tuition, and student experiences are 100% FREE. There is no cost for students. Students will earn $10 per hour for 25 hours of weekly work experience. Paid work experience occurs for six out of the eight program weeks. The program operates June 20 – August 11, 2023.
Application Process
- Complete the Neighborhood Learning Alliance application.
- Complete the Partner4Work application and submit the required documents.
- Submit your most recent report card to NLA.
- Students enrolling in Medical Terminology, Statistics, and Psychology must be vaccinated to enroll in courses at Carlow University. CCAC no longer requires a vaccination for students (English 101, Computer Fundamentals, and Small Business Management).
- Nursing & Health Career students must complete their TB test and internship enrollment paperwork by the Summer HSU 2023 Kickoff Orientation.
- The Summer HSU 2023 Kickoff Orientation is Thursday, June 15th. All registered students will receive an email about the Kickoff Orientation by Friday, June 2nd. The orientation will be held at the student’s respective college campus and the information will be in the email.
Career Pathways
Nursing and Healthcare Careers
A partnership between Neighborhood Learning Alliance, West Penn Hospital, Community College of Allegheny County, and Carlow University. Students earn college credits aligned to health career college majors through our partnership with CCAC and Carlow University. In addition, students engage in paid work experience at West Penn Hospital where the students participate in rotations of various medical departments.
Work Experience: Students engage in a paid shadow work experience for 80+ hours in the summer at West Penn Hospital and 12-18 hours during the school year.
Professional Engagements: Students participate in career fairs, workshops, site visits, etc.
College Credits: Earn general requirement and STEM based college credits at CCAC and Carlow University. Students have the option to enroll in the High School U School Year & Summer Programs.
Competitive Edge: Students will gain real-world experience shadowing doctors, nurses, and other health career professionals while in high school. In addition, students will earn free college courses.
Business and Entrepreneurship Careers
Students earn college credits towards the CCAC Supervision & Leadership Certificate and Entrepreneurship Certificate. Students meet local business owners, startups, and corporate leaders and learn the various experiences in the business field. Student participants can gain experience to enter the workforce straight after high school or prerequisites for business majors.
Professional Engagements: Students participate in career fairs, workshops, site visits, etc.
College Credits: Earn general requirement and business course related college credits at CCAC. Students have the option to enroll in the High School U School Year & Summer Programs.
Competitive Edge: Students will gain real-world experience shadowing entrepreneurs, start-ups, small businesses, corporate leaders, etc. In addition, students will earn free college courses.
Summer Courses
The 2023 HSU summer courses will be held at CCAC Allegheny and Carlow University. All courses are taught by university professors on campus. Students enroll in one course.
First year 10th grade students are enrolled in an English 101 or Computer Fundamentals and Applications. Students enrolled in the Summer HSU program are eligible to enroll in college courses in the fall and spring semesters for free.
Small Business Management (3 credits)
Students learn the essential components of a business plan with an emphasis on management principles. Analysis of financial issues, ethical concerns and other challenges associated with the operation of a small business are discussed.
Women Studies (3 credits)
An introductory course exploring the historical conditions of women in modernity and their public representation. The course dives into critical analysis of sensitive topics. Students must be at least 16 years of age and have parent/guardian approval to participate. Interested students will receive a course syllabus in advance for review and signature.
Computer Fundamentals and Applications (3 credits)
Students learn computer fundamentals (hardware, software, using a Microsoft Windows operating system), essential applications (word processing, spreadsheets and presentation software), working online (networks, Internet and email) and the impact of computing and the Internet on society. Students develop skills with common applications to use a computer as a tool, make informed decisions concerning computer generated information and obtain basic information systems concepts and terminology.
Medical Terminology (3 credits)
This course provides students with a working knowledge of medical terminology by exploring the root words, suffixes and prefixes of the vocabulary used in healthcare settings. Students review the nervous, skeletal, cardiovascular, muscle and other major systems of the human body, and they discuss terms related to physiology, anatomy, and pathological conditions.
English 101 (3 credits)
This course introduces students to critical thinking, principles of academic writing and rudimentary research skills. Through the writing process, students refine topics, develop and support ideas, investigate, evaluate, and integrate appropriate sources, edit for effective style and usage, and determine appropriate approaches for a variety of contexts, audiences, and purposes.
Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)
This class gives a broad introduction to the field of psychology including its history, major theories, and challenges, including the study of people with and without psychiatric disorders. Students will learn the major concepts and terminology of the discipline and give you a better understanding of self and others including the fundamental areas of learning, sensation perception, cognition, behavior, motivation, personality, adjustment, and the biological basis of behavior.
Statistics (3 credits)
The ideas and tools of practical statistics using data in context. Methods and strategies for exploring data graphically and quantitatively. Statistical reasoning and the tools of inference that go beyond the data to draw conclusions about a wider population with attention paid to the uncertainty of these conclusions. Students will conduct standard one and two sample statistical analyses.