The Brown Scholars Program

This program is an introduction to programming and is intended for students who have had limited access to coding classes/resources. It is tuition-free thanks to a generous grant from the Helen Gurley Brown Revocable Trust.

Program Components

120 Hours of Coursework

• Coursework is offered in the summer: 5 days per week, in-person instruction 10am - 3 pm or remote learning 9am - noon, for six weeks in July and August 

Brown Scholars who successfully complete 120 hours of coursework are eligible to apply for the internship component. Acceptance into the internship is contingent on a number of factors including adherence to the attendance policy, class participation and appropriate classroom behavior.

Nine-month internship in computational research within a scientific division at the Museum

• Interns will work with a team of six Brown Scholars under the mentorship of a post-baccalaureate Helen Fellow.
• Internships run two afternoons a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 - 6:30pm, September-June, and culminate with presentations.

All Brown Scholars, irrespective of whether they have taken part in the internship component, may participate in the College Prep Bootcamp and Pathways to STEM Careers.

College Prep Bootcamp:

• Bootcamp starts in February and runs through August.
• 4 College Bootcamp Sessions (February through May)
• Summer Essay Writing Workshop (July-August)

Pathways to STEM Careers:

• Field trips and workshops focused on academic and professional opportunities in Computer Science; will be held once a month on Friday afternoons, October-May.
• BridgeUP Hackathon is a yearly event for students to address computational challenges in a given scientific discipline.

If you self-identify as a girl, you are welcome to apply.

Past Participants

BridgeUp: STEM is generously supported by a grant from the Helen Gurley Brown Trust.

Complimentary test preparation and college admissions support for program participants is generously provided by