Application deadline
1 April 2026
Summer 2026 College Preparation application deadline.
In-person Program
The Study of Culture through Language
Explore how language shapes culture, identity, and power through Northwestern’s linguistic anthropology course, combining ethnographic studies with original writing and speaking.
Last verified: 6 Oct 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
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The Study of Culture through Language at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Upcoming
Eligibility
Rising juniors and seniors; GPA 3.0+
Age range / Year group
Ages 16-18
Location / Region
Evanston, Illinois, United States
Cost
$6,936; $11,766
Duration
6 weeks
Format
In-person
HumanitiesSocial Sciences
Accommodation: Shared double rooms
Meals: Residential: three meals daily
Certificate / Outcome: One Northwestern credit unit
Sessions / cadence: Mon/Wed, 1–3:30 p.m.; 5 hours weekly
Campus experience: Classes with university students
Tutors / faculty: Idil Ozkan
The Study of Culture through Language summary
This Northwestern course introduces linguistic anthropology by examining how everyday communication shapes social relationships, identity, and power.
Readings, documentaries, case studies, and practical exercises connect theoretical ideas to language in everyday life, with original writing and speaking among the stated learning objectives.
It suits students who enjoy interpreting human behavior and want an undergraduate academic experience alongside university students.
What is The Study of Culture through Language?
The Study of Culture through Language is Northwestern University’s ANTHRO 215-0 course, offered through its College Preparation credit-course program. It introduces linguistic anthropology by exploring how people create meaning through speaking, writing, and interaction.
Students examine ethnographic studies, theoretical readings, documentaries, and practical exercises in an undergraduate classroom. Topics include multilingualism, language socialization, storytelling, language ideologies, and semiotic theory, connecting communication to identity, inequality, and power.
Why Succeed highlights The Study of Culture through Language
The course makes abstract questions about culture concrete through everyday speech, accents, storytelling, and multilingual communication.
Its learning objectives emphasize developing and defending an interpretation through original writing and speaking.
Studying alongside Northwestern and visiting university students offers a direct test of undergraduate academic expectations.
College credit and transcript access provide a formal record of successful study.
The Get Ready Series adds college-preparation workshops to the academic experience.
Who is The Study of Culture through Language for?
Best for
Students interested in anthropology, language, identity, or inequality who enjoy close reading and building arguments from real social examples.
Not ideal if
You mainly want conversational language instruction or a lightly structured summer experience, since this is a college-credit course with undergraduate expectations.
Is The Study of Culture through Language worth it?
This course is worth considering if you want to test whether anthropology’s approach to language and culture interests you at university level. Its combination of ethnographic examples, theory, and argument development offers more academic depth than a general introduction to campus life.
The financial commitment is substantial, especially with residential participation or additional courses. Treat college credit as an academic outcome rather than an admissions guarantee, and establish how a future institution would handle transfer credit before relying on it.
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A practical overview of cost, accommodation, meals, dates and provider details to review before deciding.
Cost and what is included
$6,936; $11,766; includes One college-credit course., Wildcat Connect: Get Ready Series workshops., Residential option: residence-hall accommodation and three meals daily., Access to Northwestern libraries and campus resources., Free Writing Place tutoring while enrolled..
Accommodation
Shared double rooms
Meals
Residential: three meals daily
Provider details
Review the Northwestern College Prep provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
Dates and logistics
6 weeks; Evanston, Illinois, United States.
What to check before committing
Confirm current dates, payment terms, travel arrangements, cancellation rules and what is included with the provider.
Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.
Compare with similar programsHow much preparation does The Study of Culture through Language need?
Effort level
High, with undergraduate academic expectations.
Best started
Allow four to six weeks before the next application deadline for writing, transcripts, and any proficiency testing.
Main challenge
Connecting theoretical concepts to concrete examples of everyday communication.
Typical preparation
Prepare an academic example you can discuss thoughtfully in your personal statement.
Request official transcripts early and establish whether English proficiency results are required.
Practice annotating a short anthropology reading and explaining its argument in your own words.
Plan travel and living arrangements, allowing additional time for any visa process.
Useful if
You want to test anthropology before choosing further study.
What do students do on The Study of Culture through Language?
You investigate language as social action through readings, case studies, documentaries, and practical exercises. The course connects communication to identity and power, helping you develop interpretations through original writing and speaking.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Study theoretical and ethnographic accounts of language use in different social settings.
- 2
Analyze examples involving multilingualism, language socialization, accents, and language ideologies.
- 3
Connect everyday communication to concepts about identity, social difference, and inequality.
- 4
Develop and defend a position on a speech or communication style through writing and speaking.
The Study of Culture through Language dates and deadlines
Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.
Reference date
Programme dates
22 June-2 August 2026
Credit-course orientation
21 June 2026
Residential and commuter orientation, 6–7 p.m.
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Application deadline | 1 April 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Programme dates | 22 June-2 August 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Credit-course orientation | 21 June 2026 | Local | Reference date |
Eligibility and requirements
Rising high school juniors and seniors.
Completed sophomore or junior year of high school.
Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Official high school transcripts in English.
English proficiency results when primary language or schooling is not English.
Commuters must live with a responsible adult over 18.
International F-1 students generally need at least two credit courses.
How much does The Study of Culture through Language cost?
Commuter program fee
$6,936 — Calculated one-course total: $5,781 tuition plus $1,155 program fee.
Funding or discounts
- Residential program fee: $11,766 — Calculated one-course total with six weeks of room and board.
- Application fee: $60 — Nonrefundable; eligible returning students can request a waiver.
- Deposit: $1,000 — Nonrefundable and credited toward the total program cost.
- Tuition scholarship: Domestic rising seniors with financial need and strong achievement.
What's included
One college-credit course., Wildcat Connect: Get Ready Series workshops., Residential option: residence-hall accommodation and three meals daily., Access to Northwestern libraries and campus resources., Free Writing Place tutoring while enrolled.
How to apply to The Study of Culture through Language
- 1
Review Northwestern’s College Preparation admission requirements for the college-credit option.
- 2
Prepare the approximately 500-word personal statement answering both application questions.
- 3
List extracurricular activities with involvement dates, descriptions, and your role.
- 4
Arrange official English-language transcripts and any required English proficiency results.
- 5
Complete the program application and pay the $60 application fee unless a waiver applies.
- 6
After acceptance, activate your NetID, set up guest access and email, and pay the deposit.
- 7
Complete SchoolDoc registration so program staff can register you in your course.
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What does The Study of Culture through Language cover?
The program covers the following focus areas.
Language and socialization
Examine how language learning and everyday interaction shape social participation.
Identity and inequality
Analyze how accents and linguistic varieties communicate social identities and reproduce inequality.
Multilingualism and language ideologies
Study multilingualism, minority languages, standardization, and linguistic nationalism.
Signs and meaning
Use semiotic theory to understand how signs and sign systems organize meaning.
Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.
What is a typical day on The Study of Culture through Language?
A typical day during the program.
Monday class
Meet from 1–3:30 p.m. at 1810 Hinman, seminar room 104.
Wednesday class
Meet from 1–3:30 p.m., completing five scheduled class hours weekly.
Who teaches on The Study of Culture through Language?
Idil Ozkan is the listed course instructor. Northwestern-affiliated instructors expect the same commitment and involvement from College Preparation students as from university students.
Where do students stay on The Study of Culture through Language?
Residential plan
- Shared double rooms: Stay with an assigned roommate in an air-conditioned Northwestern residence hall.
- Three meals daily: The mandatory dining plan offers vegetarian, vegan, and other choices.
- Residential support: Resident Advisors and directors live in the hall and support campus adjustment.
- Study and recreation: Use common areas, quiet study rooms, libraries, and campus recreational resources.
Non-residential plan
- Commuter participation: Attend from the Chicago area while living with a responsible adult over 18.
- Activities and meals: Join program activities and purchase meals at Norris University Center.
Roommates are assigned; students may explore without staff but must follow check-out and nightly check-in rules.
What happens after The Study of Culture through Language?
After completing this program, participants often pursue:
Earn one Northwestern credit unit through successful course completion.
Access your course grade and unofficial transcript through CAESAR.
Request an official transcript from Northwestern.
Build a foundation for further study in linguistic anthropology.
Develop an argument about everyday communication through writing and speaking.
Credit transfer depends on the receiving institution, and participation does not guarantee Northwestern admission.
Where does The Study of Culture through Language take place?
Classes meet in seminar room 104 at 1810 Hinman on Northwestern’s Evanston campus, north of Chicago beside Lake Michigan. CTA buses and trains and Metra rail connect Evanston with Chicago and surrounding suburbs.
Families arrange airport transportation; CPP does not provide airport transfers.
The Study of Culture through Language FAQs
It introduces linguistic anthropology through language socialization, multilingualism, identity, language ideologies, and power. Readings, documentaries, case studies, and practical exercises connect those ideas to communication in everyday life.
College credit courses normally award one Northwestern credit unit unless otherwise noted. This is typically equivalent to four quarter hours or two and two-thirds semester credit hours, with transfer treatment determined by the receiving institution.
Idil Ozkan is the listed instructor. Northwestern-affiliated instructors expect university-level commitment and involvement.
Yes. Students can commute from the Chicago area or stay with nearby relatives, provided they live with a responsible adult over 18 throughout the program.
Students share double rooms with assigned roommates in a Northwestern residence hall. The mandatory residential meal plan includes three meals daily, with vegetarian and vegan choices and advance coordination for special dietary needs.
Prepare an approximately 500-word personal statement, an extracurricular activities list, and official high school transcripts in English. English proficiency results are required when your primary language or secondary schooling is not English.
No. Participation can form part of a wider application profile, but it does not guarantee acceptance to Northwestern University.
Domestic US rising seniors may apply based on financial need and strong academic and extracurricular achievement. Both the scholarship application and complete program application, including transcripts, are required.
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Save this program in Succeed to compare it with similar programs, dates, costs and formats in one place.
Compare with other programsContent reviewed by
Ben Stacy
Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader
Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.
Sources and verification
Source types reviewed
- The Study of Culture through Language, Anthropology, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, 2026 Summer: Class Descriptions - Northwestern University
- International Students, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
- Campus Life, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
- Pre-College Summer Programs for Credit: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
- Admission, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
- Tuition and Fees, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
- FAQs, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
- College Preparation Program — Summer 2026 Student Handbook
- The Study of Culture through Language: Northwestern University School of Professional Studies
Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.
What we verified (on 6 Oct 2026)
Course identity checked
Learning objectives reviewed
Class schedule checked
Application requirements reviewed
Fee components checked
Residential policies reviewed
Credit outcome checked
How Succeed uses this information
We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.
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