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    In-person Program

    Public Health High School Course

    by Summer Springboard

    A hands-on public health and psychology course focused on trustworthy health information, decision-making, advocacy, and health communication.

    Last verified: 26 Aug 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
    Public Health High School Course

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    Public Health Course at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility

    Current status

    Applications open

    Eligibility

    Grades 9-12; 3.0 GPA

    Age range / Year group

    Ages 14-18 / Grades 9-12

    Location / Region

    San Luis Obispo, California

    Cost

    $2,998 commuter; $5,398 residential

    Duration

    2 weeks

    Format

    In-person

    Application deadline

    Rolling · Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.

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    Medicine & HealthcarePsychology

    Accommodation: Shared campus dormitories

    Meals: Residential full board

    Certificate / Outcome: 3 CEUs; certificate; participation letter

    Class schedule: 9 x 3-hour sessions

    Main output: Health-promotion message presentation

    Public Health Course summary

    This two-week course combines public health and psychology, helping students examine how social, behavioral, and psychological factors shape well-being and access to care.

    Students evaluate health information, hear from health professionals, and create and present a health-promotion message on a personally meaningful topic.

    It best suits students considering health-related study or those who want stronger skills for making and communicating informed health decisions.

    What is Public Health High School Course?

    The Public Health High School Course is a two-week Summer Springboard course delivered in partnership with Cal Poly Extended Education. It blends public health and psychology to explore young-adult well-being, access to healthcare, and the forces that shape health decisions.

    Students assess the credibility of health information, develop advocacy and communication skills, and investigate topics such as mental health, physical activity, relationships, financial wellness, and technology use. The experience combines classroom learning, career exploration, excursions, and a final health-promotion project.

    Why Succeed highlights Public Health Course

    • The course connects public health with psychology, giving students a broader view of how individual behavior and social conditions affect well-being.

    • Students apply their learning by creating and presenting a health-promotion message rather than only attending lectures.

    • Visits to French Hospital and Montana de Oro State Park connect health decisions with clinical and environmental contexts.

    • The named instructor brings more than 13 years of experience across college health, violence prevention, advocacy, and health equity.

    • Residential and commuter formats let families choose between a campus-living experience and weekday participation.

    Who is Public Health Course for?

    Best for

    High-school students exploring public health, psychology, healthcare, or health communication who value applied projects and campus experience.

    Not ideal if

    You want laboratory-heavy biomedical study or a fully online course, as this program focuses on behavioral and social health in person.

    Is Public Health Course worth it?

    This course may be worthwhile for students who want to test their interest in public health while building practical skills in information evaluation, advocacy, and communication. The final project, professional visits, and Cal Poly credentials create tangible evidence of participation.

    The main limitation is the substantial tuition, especially for the residential option, and CEUs do not count toward a degree. Its value is strongest when the subject focus and campus experience match the student's goals, rather than when it is chosen only as a résumé item.

    A practical overview of cost, accommodation, meals, dates and provider details to review before deciding.

    Cost and what is included

    $2,998 commuter; $5,398 residential; includes Residential tuition includes the academic course, lodging, all meals, excursions, evening activities, and weekend excursions., Commuter tuition includes the academic course, weekday lunch, excursions, college-readiness activities, and weekday programming., Residential students receive orientation, guest speakers, college tours, and college-readiness workshops., Commuter students receive orientation, college tours, college-readiness workshops, and a Fun Friday activity..

    Accommodation

    Shared campus dormitories

    Meals

    Residential full board

    Provider details

    Review the Summer Springboard provider page and official sources before making a final decision.

    Dates and logistics

    2 weeks; San Luis Obispo, California.

    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.

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    How much preparation does Public Health Course need?

    Effort level

    Moderate to high.

    Best started

    Begin application planning six to eight weeks before the expected admission cutoff, with extra time for medical forms or English evidence.

    Main challenge

    Turning health research into a credible and persuasive public message.

    Typical preparation

    • Review a current public-health issue that matters to you and compare how several reliable organizations explain it.

    • Practice checking authorship, evidence, publication date, and possible bias in health information.

    • Prepare to explain your interest in public health through the student application questions.

    • Discuss medical, dietary, accessibility, and travel needs with your family well before departure.

    Useful if

    You can participate in long, structured campus days and collaborate with peers.

    What do students do on Public Health Course?

    Students combine classroom study with applied health communication, professional exposure, and campus activities. The course builds toward an individual final project and presentation.

    Step-by-step process

    1. 1

      Explore physical, mental, and social health issues affecting young adults.

    2. 2

      Examine psychological, behavioral, and social influences on health decisions.

    3. 3

      Evaluate health information for credibility and usefulness.

    4. 4

      Visit French Hospital and Montana de Oro State Park for career and contextual learning.

    5. 5

      Develop self-advocacy and health-communication strategies.

    6. 6

      Create and present a health-promotion message on a personally significant topic.

    Public Health Course dates and deadlines

    Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.

    Applications

    Rolling admissions

    Applications were accepted until courses filled.

    Reference date

    Final admission deadline

    16 May 2026

    Latest verified general admission cutoff.

    Reference date

    Session 2

    19-31 July 2026

    Two-week Public Health course.

    Reference date

    Eligibility and requirements

    • Students in Grades 9-12

    • Minimum 3.0 GPA or local equivalent

    • Entering high-school students may enroll

    • Recent spring graduates may enroll

    • International students must demonstrate English proficiency

    • Students must meet essential eligibility criteria

    • Students must follow instructions communicated in English

    How much does Public Health Course cost?

    Program tuition

    $2,998 commuter; $5,398 residential — Choose one tuition type.

    Funding or discounts

    • Application fee: $99 — Mandatory and non-refundable.
    • Deposit: $600 — Paid to reserve a place.
    • Alumni scholarship: $500 — Documented for the verified 2026 cycle.
    • Early decision discount: $300 — Documented for the verified 2026 cycle.

    What's included

    Residential tuition includes the academic course, lodging, all meals, excursions, evening activities, and weekend excursions., Commuter tuition includes the academic course, weekday lunch, excursions, college-readiness activities, and weekday programming., Residential students receive orientation, guest speakers, college tours, and college-readiness workshops., Commuter students receive orientation, college tours, college-readiness workshops, and a Fun Friday activity.

    How to apply to Public Health Course

    1. 1

      Create the application account using a parent's name, email address, and date of birth.

    2. 2

      Verify the email, set a password, and complete the parent profile.

    3. 3

      Add the student and start a new application from the dashboard.

    4. 4

      Select Cal Poly, the session, Public Health, and the preferred tuition type.

    5. 5

      Pay the application fee and deposit to reserve the place.

    6. 6

      Complete the medical questionnaire and student-answered application questions.

    7. 7

      Submit all required forms and await the decision email.

    What does Public Health Course cover?

    The program covers the following focus areas.

    Young-adult well-being

    Examine physical, mental, and social health issues affecting young people.

    Health decision-making

    Explore psychological, behavioral, and social influences on health choices.

    Information credibility

    Assess health claims and integrate trustworthy information into decisions.

    Health communication

    Design and present a positive, informed health-promotion message.

    Career exploration

    Meet professionals and explore pathways in public health and psychology.

    Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.

    What is a typical day on Public Health Course?

    A typical day during the program.

    9:00am 12:00pm

    Students attend the Public Health academic course.

    1:30pm

    Students join an academic excursion or recreational activity.

    3:30pm

    College-readiness or True You workshops support future planning.

    7:00pm

    Residential students participate in clubs and evening activities.

    Who teaches on Public Health Course?

    The named instructor is Kara Samaniego, MBA, a Cal Poly instructor with more than 13 years of experience across college health, violence prevention, patient advocacy, health equity, and related public-health fields. She also teaches health psychology, psychology of gender, and public speaking.

    Cal Poly faculty provide instruction and access to facilities used by Cal Poly students.

    Where do students stay on Public Health Course?

    Residential plan

    • Campus housing: Students share Cal Poly dorm rooms with roommates.
    • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.
    • Residential support: Residential staff live on student floors, with staff support around the clock.
    • Campus security: Dorms use electronic keys, security patrols, and 24-hour assistance.

    Non-residential plan

    • Weekday access: Commuter programming runs from 9am to 5pm, Monday-Friday.
    • Commuter meals: Weekday lunch is included for commuter students.

    Residential students share rooms and use common bathrooms; floors are gender-segregated.

    What happens after Public Health Course?

    After completing this program, participants often pursue:

    Use the experience to test interest in public health or psychology majors.

    Add three Cal Poly Extended Education CEUs to applications or résumés after satisfactory participation.

    Receive a Summer Springboard certificate of completion.

    Receive a participation letter describing course activities, the project, and excursions.

    Develop a health-promotion project that can support later reflection on subject interests.

    The CEUs represent supervised contact hours but do not count toward a degree.

    Where does Public Health Course take place?

    The course takes place at Cal Poly SLO in San Luis Obispo, a Central Coast city between rolling hills and the Pacific Ocean. Students use campus facilities and can experience nearby coastal landscapes through activities and excursions.

    The Public Health course lists French Hospital and Montana de Oro State Park as proposed visits.

    Public Health Course FAQs

    Students explore young-adult well-being, health decision-making, access to healthcare, information credibility, advocacy, and effective health communication through public health and psychology.

    Each student creates and presents a health-promotion message on a personally significant topic, applying the course's research, advocacy, and communication skills.

    The documented structure has nine three-hour classes: Monday-Friday in week one and Monday-Thursday in week two. Wednesday afternoons include additional academic time such as excursions or speakers.

    Yes. A commuter option includes the academic course, excursions, weekday lunch, and programming from 9am to 5pm, Monday-Friday.

    Residential tuition includes the academic course, lodging, breakfast, lunch, dinner, excursions, evening activities, and weekend excursions.

    The named instructor is Kara Samaniego, MBA, a Cal Poly instructor with more than 13 years of public-health-related experience.

    Students can receive three Cal Poly Extended Education CEUs through satisfactory participation, a Summer Springboard completion certificate, and a participation letter.

    Campus dining lists vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, halal, and common food-allergy options.

    Alternatives to Public Health Course

    Compare these related health-focused programs if you want a different location, age range, or academic emphasis.

    Alternatives to Public Health Course

    Medicine in Yale

    Medicine-focused summer study in New Haven

    Medicine
    Deadline: Not announced
    From £6995
    16-18
    New Haven
    In-person

    Best for

    Older students considering medicine

    View details

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    Ben Stacy

    Content 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.

    View author page

    Sources and verification

    Source types reviewed

    • Request Free Catalog Cal Poly Extended Education — Cal Poly Extended Education In Partnership with Summer Springboard
    • Tuition & Dates — Cal Poly Extended Education In Partnership with Summer Springboard
    • 2026 HS 2-week Cal Poly Public Health V2
    • Track Course - Public Health — Cal Poly Extended Education In Partnership with Summer Springboard
    • Essential Eligibility Criteria | Policies & Terms | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
    • Terms & Conditions | Policies & Terms | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
    • (1) New Messages!
    • Cal Poly | Campus | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
    • Apply Now | Enrollment | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
    • Apply Now | Enrollment | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
    • Tuition Protection Plan T&C
    • Public Health | Cal Poly | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard

    Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.

    What we verified (on 26 Aug 2026)

    • Course details checked

    • Tuition options verified

    • Session dates reviewed

    • Eligibility criteria reviewed

    • Application process checked

    • Accommodation details reviewed

    • Policies cross-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.