Museum Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Online Summer Course Frequently Asked Questions

Print
Related Pages
On This Page

What is the difference between the Online Summer Course and the Disease Detective Camp?

This is very important question.  We think of the two programs as siblings who are similar, but different.

Both programs are free and are application-based. Both allow students to learn about public health, current topics in public health that relate to CDC’s work, and careers within the field. Both programs also have a staff of CDC Museum educators and student counselor staff, with subject matter experts from across CDC.

There are some differences, though.

View a side-by-side comparison of the programs.

Online Summer Course

The Online Summer Course is, of course, online! Students work independently to complete lessons and assignments each day, and then join a live web-based class each day. The live class has lectures, discussions, team building, social time, and time chatting with the CDC Museum educators informally.  The course does have assignments that are due each day, so it is important for all participants to have the entire week to devote to the course. To earn the certificate and coveted course shirt, online participants must complete all assignments satisfactorily and on time and must be present for the entire live lesson each day.

The Online Summer Course has more slots available than the Disease Detective Camp. While the course aims to create a fun, social atmosphere during the live portion, the Online Summer Course does offer more opportunities for independent work than the Disease Detective Camp.

Disease Detective Camp

The Disease Detective Camp is a program offered in person at CDC’s headquarters in Atlanta, GA. During the five days, participants experience lectures and hands-on activities that mimic the work of CDC staff.

The Disease Detective Camp is perfect for students who love a challenging, active, and social learning environment. Each day of this program is very busy, and participants can expect to learn from 8:45am to 4:00pm.

Two sessions of this program are offered each summer, with 27 slots available in each. We usually receive between 650-750 applications for this program, so it is more competitive than the Online Summer Course.

Can I use the same application for the Online Summer Course and Disease Detective Camp?

No. We ask that you complete separate applications for each program.

When is the next Online Summer Course?

The 2025 Online Summer Course will be offered June 9 – 13, 2025.

The course contains daily assignments as well as live meetings, so participants will need to be available during the daytime from 1:00pm-3:30pm ET. During the five-day course, participants can expect to spend 4-6 hours on the course each day.

Please check your school calendar before applying for a course. If your school is still in session, you will be unable to attend the required live course sessions.

What will I learn in the Online Summer Course?

The Online Summer Course teaches participants the fundamentals of CDC’s work: the field of public health and the science of epidemiology. Public health is a vast field that covers many aspects of keeping populations of people healthy. It includes, but is not limited to, research, data collection, data analysis, and health education. Epidemiology, the systematic study of diseases in populations, is one of the sciences used at CDC to help improve the public’s health. While this course will be interesting to students who wish to be medical doctors, the course does not have a medical treatment focus.

The course consists of asynchronous lessons, synchronous lessons and discussion, and assignments students complete after the daily synchronous lesson. During asynchronous lessons, students read online content, watch videos, and complete knowledge self-checks. Synchronous lessons take place at a set time each day and include a discussion with a museum educator, a CDC expert, and fellow students. Daily assignments include short quizzes, readings, and case studies in public health topics.

I want to be a doctor. Will I learn about medicine during the course?

The course mirrors CDC’s work, and since CDC is not a clinical medical facility, the course does not have a medical treatment focus. While the course may include the pathology of some diseases, most of the time is spent focused on the collection and analysis of data and the use of that data to improve people’s health.

Who can apply?

The Online Summer Course is open to motivated students who will be high-school juniors or seniors during the 2025-2026 school year. In other words, the applicant must currently be a sophomore or junior.

There are seventy-five spots available for the 2025 course.

How do I apply?

Click here for the 2025 Online Summer Course application. The application will be available until the submission deadline, March 7, and all applicants will be notified of their status on May 2, 2025.

This application is for students who only want to be considered for the Online Summer Course. If you would like to be considered for the Disease Detective Camp, please complete the camp application instead.

All application components must be mailed in. Why can’t I email them?

All components of your application, including your teacher recommendation form, must be physically mailed in all together. Nothing can be emailed in because your application contains personal identifiable information (PII). You need to place pages in order with no staples, folds, or double-sided printing in a 9 x 12 (or similar size) envelope and address it to:

CDC Museum Public Health Academy
1600 Clifton Road NE
MS H19-M
Atlanta, GA 30329

I am not a US citizen. Can I apply?

Yes. Students from anywhere in the world may apply and take this course but should note that all live classes will be offered in Eastern Time.

What happens after I apply?

Once your application is received, you will receive two emails. The first, a notification email, will be within 48 hours of course staff receiving your application and entering it into the evaluation process. This email is a confirmation that we received your application. The second, a status of application email, will be sent to all applicants on May 2, 2025. This second email will notify you if you have been offered a spot in the online course. Be sure to add cdcm_phacademy@cdc.gov to your e-mail address book so that notifications do not go to your spam folder.

If for any reason you do not receive a response by May 2, 2025, contact us by e-mail at  cdcm_phacademy@cdc.gov. Note that the CDC Museum is not open on weekends, and the quickest way to get a response is by email.

I think my teenager would really enjoy this course. How can I sign them up?

Due to the popularity of CDC Museum Public Health Academy programs, including the Online Summer Course, we expect there will be more interested students than we can accommodate. For this reason, we have an application process for interested students.

To ensure that the course is an enjoyable experience for all participants, please discuss the camp with your teenager and refrain from applying on their behalf. We urge you and your teenager to read the information on this site and complete the application together.

Can I reserve a spot until I mail in my application?

Because this is a competitive process, we cannot reserve spaces. Once the application deadline is reached, each application will be reviewed.

How are participants selected?

Applicants are selected based on the Application Essay Questions submitted and the teacher/counselor Recommendation Form. A panel of current CDC employees will read each application and use a rubric to score applications based on completion, proper grammar, well thought-out responses, eagerness to learn, and teacher recommendations. We are seeking a diverse and eager-to-learn group of students!

How much does it cost?

The Online Summer Course is tuition-free. Course participants will need access to an internet-connected computer.

What will I need for the course?

Course participants will need access to an internet-connected computer.

What type of lessons and assignments can I expect?

The course consists of asynchronous lessons, synchronous lessons and discussion, and assignments students complete after the daily synchronous lesson. During asynchronous lessons which students read online content, watch videos, and complete knowledge self-checks. Synchronous lessons take place at a set time each day and include a discussion with a museum educator, a CDC expert, and fellow students. Daily assignments include short quizzes, readings, and case studies in public health topics.

What is the time commitment?

During the five-day course participants can expect to spend 4-5 hours on the course each day.

Science is not my best subject. May I still apply?

Yes! The field of public health is full of professionals with a diverse range of expertise — and not all are scientists! You only need to be eager to learn to apply for a course slot.

Who will be taking the Online Summer Course?

Students from across the U.S. and around the world take the Online Summer Course.  In 2024, students lived in 25 states, a U.S. territory, and three foreign countries. This is a wonderful opportunity to make online friends from another part of the world while learning about public health. Note that all participants, regardless of their physical location, must be present 1:00-3:30pm ET for the five days of the course.

 

Related Links
Other Resources