William & Mary Precollege Online Program

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Discover potential college majors while in high school. Our online courses include exciting subjects, like entrepreneurship, psychology and medicine. Taught through dynamic videos and tech-forward tools, you’ll be taught by W&M professors, receive support from mentors and study at your own time and pace. Complete a Final Project and earn a Certificate of Completion.

Founded in 1693, William & Mary is a premier teaching, learning and research university with an outstanding academic reputation and vibrant community. Our Pre-College Online Program is designed for high school students ages 13 and up, and offers a range of compelling topics, covered in-depth, through online coursework led by William & Mary professors. We believe that online learning is a great way for motivated high school students to try out a topic and see if it’s a fit before college.

The subjects currently offered are:

• Constitutional Law
• Entrepreneurship
• Medicine
• Psychology

Constitutional Law: We The People

Knowledge of the U.S. Constitution is essential for anyone who seeks a future in law. This course gives high school students who aspire to this field something unique — an inside look at how today’s lawyers and judges rely on the constitution to support their cases. Examine the judiciary’s role, how they interpret constitutional rights and why there are vastly different opinions on how this document is — or should be — interpreted. Hear from renowned constitutional scholars and law professors at one of the nation’s preeminent universities. If you are considering a future in law or government, this is the place to start.

Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital: From Idea to Investment

Did you know that the business of venture capitalism is a *$330 billion industry, a number that nearly doubled since last year? How do entrepreneurs’ tap into those funds to help support new start-ups? This course takes you inside the fast-paced world of venture capital investing. Learn how startups raise money from external sources and understand the key concepts and terms of VC investing. Take on the role of an entrepreneur, and craft a convincing pitch to potential investors. If you’ve ever wanted to understand the various roles within this exciting field, this course is for you.

Medicine: Disease, Diagnostics, and Interventions

If you have set your sights on a career in medicine, this course is the place to start. Infectious diseases have been part of the human race since the beginning of time and continue to play a major role in modern day medicine. This course focuses on common biological causes, such as viral, bacterial and parasitic pathogens. You’ll learn how diseases jump between hosts, understand how influenza can metastasize into a pandemic and delve into bacteria, staph infection and the battle against antibiotic resistance.  Understand how physicians link symptoms to a diagnosis and devise a treatment plan. Finally, you’ll see how doctors are using microbiology, biotechnology and gene therapy to change the landscape of medicine. 

Cognitive Psychology: How The Brain Works

Think of the brain as your mental hardware. It processes daily inputs such as language, behavior, memory, problem solving and decision making. In this course, you will learn about cognitive psychology, from its origins in philosophy to its current role in robotics. You’ll study the various regions of the brain and how each affects different functions, such as speech, perception, attention, facial recognition and more. Delve into research that shows the influence of positive thinking on how tasks are performed. Draw a brain diagram showing which areas are most important for memory and decision making. Today, a background in cognitive psychology is in high demand in fields such as health care, law and education. If you seek a future in any of these areas, this course is for you.