After School Program

Every year, the After School Program (ASP) offers courses to New York City high school students interested in the sciences at the museum.

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 5 sessions throughout the school year, running October through June. Each session is five weeks long, and courses meet once or twice a week from 4:30 - 6:30 PM. Students may attend only one course per session. We accept students regardless of citizenship or immigration status. All After School Program Exploratory and Science Research courses are offered free of charge! 

Types of Courses

Within these content areas, we offer two types of courses, Exploratory AMNH and Research AMNH. Exploratory AMNH courses are a “deep dive” into a particular topic and a fun, hands-on way to find out about science in new formats. Research AMNH courses offer a chance to see how research is done at the museum, and discover a broad view of the field. Learn more about any of the courses listed below by following the link in the course title.

EXPLORATORY COURSES

Exploratory courses engage students with diverse interests through in-depth, “elective-style” coursework. It’s a “deep dive” into topics across all fields of the museum. Explore AMNH is an opportunity for scientists, educators, and students to explore science in unique and surprising ways. Any New York City high school student in grades 9-12 may take one or more exploratory courses throughout the school year.

RESEARCH COURSES

Research courses are intensive 5-week courses that introduce students to the fundamentals behind the science research practiced at the Museum. Courses are sorted into two categories: Life Science (anthropology, conservation science, and evolutionary biology) and Physical Science (astrophysics, earth science, astronomy). Classes focus on core scientific theories, concepts, and practices.

Each Research AMNH course is co-taught by a Museum scientist and a Museum educator and is designed to prepare students for the possibility of conducting authentic scientific research through a partner program, the Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP). Please note that completion of two Research AMNH courses is a requirement for SRMP, but that completion of prerequisites does not guarantee acceptance into SRMP. Any New York City high school student in grades 10-12 may take one or more exploratory courses throughout the school year. 

Credits

Support for Youth Initiatives is provided by The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation.

Support for the Science Research Mentoring Program at the American Museum of Natural History is provided by Christopher C. Davis, The Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund; The Pinkerton Foundation; the Bezos Family Foundation; the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; the Solon E. Summerfield Foundation; Inc.; and the Adolph and Ruth Schnurmacher Foundation.

Complimentary test preparation and college admissions support for program participants is generously provided by Kaplan Test Prep.