After School Program
Every year, the After School Program (ASP) offers courses to New York City high school students interested in the sciences. There are courses in anthropology, astrophysics, earth science, genetics, biodiversity, and more. Each course makes use of the Museum's unique resources through hall visits, lab and collections tours, talks and lectures by scientists, and hands-on activities.
ASP offers multiple sessions throughout the school year. Each session is six weeks long, and courses meet once or twice a week from 4:30 - 6:30 PM. Students may attend only one course per session.
TYPES OF COURSES
Within these content areas, we offer two types of courses, Exploratory and Science Research.
EXPLORATORY
Exploratory courses are introductory-level courses for students to explore their diverse interests. Any New York City high school student may take one or more exploratory courses throughout the school year.
Unless otherwise stated, the fee for exploratory courses is $150 for a once-weekly course and $300 for a twice-weekly course. We have a very generous policy of granting fee waivers based on need. If you are requesting a fee-waiver, please complete the Fee-Waiver Application.
SCIENCE RESEARCH
Science Research courses are intensive courses on current scientific research in the fields of comparative biology, anthropology, and physical sciences. Science Research courses are taught by Museum scientists and introduce students to the concepts and methods used by Museum researchers. Completion of three Science Research courses is a prerequisite for application to a year of mentorship with a Museum scientist through the Science Research Mentoring Program.
Science Research courses are open to students in 10-12th grade or homeschool equivalent. To be accepted into the Science Research courses, students must submit a transcript, including regents scores, for review.
Science Research courses are offered free of charge.
CREDITS
The Museum's Youth Initiatives Programming is generously supported by the leadership contribution of
Upcoming Offerings
Earth, Inside Out - Exploratory Course
September 16, 2013 - November 1, 2013
This class will introduce the physical sciences studied by Museum scientists.
What Makes Us Human - Exploratory Course
September 16, 2013 - November 1, 2013
What makes human beings unique? Study all aspects of human life
Dynamic Earth - Science Research Course
September 16, 2013 - November 1, 2013
Learn about the latest research conducted here at the museum through interactions with scientists, lectures, hall visits and hands-on activities.
Wonderful Universe - Science Research Course
September 16, 2013 - November 1, 2013
This class will introduce and discuss the physical laws and principles that make the Universe what it is, from gravity to electromagnetism to quantum mechanics.
Tree of Life - Science Research Course
September 16, 2013 - November 16, 2013
Learn how scientists use both physical and molecular characteristics of plants and animals to classify and name species, as well as determine how different species are related to one another.
Mechanisms of Evolution
September 16, 2013 - November 1, 2013
Learn the ways that the genetic makeup of a population can change over time, and how new species are formed.
Stealing Wildlife - Exploratory Course
September 16, 2013 - November 1, 2013
Learn about the fundamental concepts of conservation biology, the threats to biodiversity as well as conservation methods and tools.
Past Offerings
Saurischians to Birds - Exploratory Course
April 26, 2013 - May 31, 2013
Learn how paleontologists collect, prepare and analyze fossils and how cladistics is used to establish relationships between extinct and living species.
Introduction to Archaeology - Exploratory Course
April 26, 2013 - May 31, 2013
In this course, students will learn what archaeology really means and how it shapes our past, present, and future.
Comparative Genomics - Science Research Course
April 23, 2013 - May 30, 2013
Learn what is in the genome, how mutations arise, and how variation in the genome impacts evolution and natural selection.
DNA Barcoding - Exploratory Course
April 23, 2013 - May 30, 2013
In this course, we will explore a cutting edge methodology that has helped scientists all over the world identify and study biodiversity: DNA Barcoding.
Research Methods in Conservation Biology - Science Research Course
April 22, 2013 - June 3, 2013
This course will introduce the principles and techniques of conservation biology, the causes of species extinctions and how the environment is changed over time by human activity.