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A student and instructor prepare a model rocket for launch on a football field.

Become a Summer Trojan and earn college credit.

You interact with the work of engineers every day, from the roads you drive on to the gadgets you use to the building you call home. Engineering impacts every aspect of life, including society, politics and technology. If you’ve considered studying engineering when you get to college, the “Discover Engineering” summer program for high schoolers is a great way to preview what’s ahead.

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In the “Discover Engineering” course, students will explore various disciplines of engineering through academic lectures and classroom discussions.

They’ll also gain practical experience through hands-on projects that involve designing, building and testing, and learn how to conduct research using design thinking and the engineering design process.

Students also get the chance to visit relevant sites around Los Angeles to see the various challenges and opportunities professional engineers face.

Topics of Study

  • Computational thinking
  • Engineering design
  • Working in design teams
  • Conducting research
  • Aerospace engineering
  • Biomedical engineering
  • Chemical engineering
  • Computer science
  • Electrical engineering
  • Environmental engineering
  • Industrial engineering
  • Mechanical engineering

Learning Highlights

  • Use the engineering design process to complete a project with engineering requirements and constraints
  • Use simulation tools and real-world materials to create, model and prototype solutions to real-world problems
  • Write a research paper based on an engineering concept
  • Put your studies into practice with engineering projects such as building and launching rockets, using 3D printers, programming robots and sensor devices, designing and building bridges, using AI and more
  • Learn how to present, defend outcomes of and give feedback on engineering projects

Requirements

  • Students must bring their own laptops
  • Students who will not have completed pre-calculus or trigonometry before June 15, 2026, but who wish to be considered for this course, must submit the Pre-Calc/Trig Waiver with their application
  • Please pack at least one pair of closed-toe shoes for field trips
WeekFocusKey TopicsAssignments and Activities
1Civil and Environmental EngineeringGreen energy; structure designSimulate and build a windmill. Guest speaker and field trip.
2Biomedical and Electrical EngineeringDigital circuit designSimulate and build a working digital circuit.
3Aerospace and Chemical EngineeringRocket design; key aspects of flight; atmospheric testingLaunch rockets. Program drones. Design and fly gliders.
4Computer Science and RoboticsProgramming; AIBuild and program Arduino-based robots. Program AI robots.

The most valuable aspect of this course was the heavy emphasis on teamwork and problem solving. We were left alone for a lot of time and told to figure out our issues together, leading to collaboration and troubleshooting together.

— USC Summer Programs student participant
USC Summer Program Ethics in the 21st Century: Business, Politics & Technology
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