Designed for high school students who are curious about starting a career in architecture, interior design, landscape design, and more, Boston Architectural College’s (BAC) Pre-College Program helps you launch your future in studying design with leading professionals and peers from around the globe.
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.
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: Monday-Friday | 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 21, 2024
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:
Program Duration: June 24th - Aug 9th 2024** | Monday-Friday from 10AM-4:30PM 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
Scholarships are available through the generosity of sponsors such as Prellwitz Chilinski Associates, Inc. and Robert Houseman. These grants help the BAC continue its mission to diversify the design professions while fostering the next generation through hands-on engagement.
Scholarship application deadline is March 1, 2024.
All students who complete the BAC Summer Academy program are eligible for a $2,000 scholarship toward one of the BAC’s undergraduate programs.
