Rice University Precollege STEM Programs Recently Updated

Are you curious about different career paths you can take in the field of STEM? Our precollege online courses are the place to start. Featuring experts in the field and taught through dynamic, engaging videos, our courses provide firsthand knowledge in a variety of STEM fields to get you one step closer to college. Study anytime, anywhere, at your own pace. Finish a Capstone Project and earn a Certificate of Completion for your college application.

Rice is a community of curious thinkers, passionate dreamers, and energetic doers who believe that improving the world demands more than bold thought and brave action. It takes unconventional wisdom. Our goal in creating Rice University's Precollege Online Program is to provide an experience for students ages 13+ that embodies these values. We designed our program for high school students who wish to dive deeper into a subject that piques their interest.

Current STEM Courses:

Space Exploration: The Road to Mars

Does space exploration hold a fascination for you? In this course, you’ll look at how commercial companies are changing aeronautics. Learn the history and milestones of the space program, the future of moon landings, and the scientific reasons for going to Mars. Go behind-the-scenes through compelling videos, plus interviews with space exploration leaders and astronauts. If the science, technology, and the future of space travel spark your interest, this course is your launchpad.

Engineering: Solving Real-World Problems

Engineering is as old as the pyramids, and as new as our robotic workforce. This field’s trail of innovation has taken us from the beginning of time to modern-day advances. In this course, you’ll learn how engineers work to solve real-world problems, learn the fundamental concepts, and explore the many engineering disciplines. Finally, you’ll complete a Capstone Project where you'll explore how various engineering disciplines work together to solve real-world problems.

Genome Engineering: Changing the Future of Medicine

Are you fascinated by the role genetics play in disease? Have you ever wondered how your DNA works to create your genetic makeup? This course explores genome engineering and how doctors can edit the human genome to treat diseases like Sickle Cell and other hereditary blood disorders. Study the ethics surrounding genome editing and compare the various design tools used in the medical field. If you see yourself pursuing this topic in college, or one day in a career, this course is a great place to start.

Medicine: Diagnostics, Treatment, and Patient Care

Are you curious about a future in medicine and how doctors and other medical professionals work together to address a patient’s needs? In this course, you’ll explore the patient-care procedures, from initial exam and symptoms evaluation to diagnosis and treatment. You’ll study diseases of the heart, lungs, brain, and endocrine system. You’ll identify the basic science of each pathophysiology, clinical approach, and how medical professionals collaborate to address each patient’s unique needs.

Physiology: The Foundations of Medicine

Do you have questions about how the human body operates and how various organ systems work? Physiology is the study of how the systems function together in a healthy body, and what can go wrong. This course provides a deep dive into the nervous, muscular, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems and how they work in harmony. Hear from practicing physicians who will describe the pathological complications they encounter.

Psychology In Our Everyday Lives

Ever wonder why psychology matters? This fascinating course showcases the variety of specialties and career paths available in the field. You’ll explore how basic tools, like research and statistics, support insights generated when you apply the methods of psychology. You’ll learn to use critical thinking — the stuff of everyday lives — that are vital to success no matter what your future holds.

All course options, whether 2 or 4 weeks, have the identical educational content, learning materials, and number of assignments. The difference in length of course is due to time of year (not amount of instruction). We know the school year keeps you busy, so we’ve made the course longer during that time so that you can get assignments done.