Pre-College
UNC Asheville Pre-College Programs
UNC Asheville’s Pre-College Programs give high school students an exciting introduction to college-level study, university life, and potential career options – all within a dynamic, hands-on learning environment. Each one-week program provides deep immersion in an academic field, interactive activities, and the opportunity to learn directly from university faculty and industry professionals.
Why Choose UNC Asheville Pre-College?
Discover Your Future - In Just One Week
UNC Asheville’s Pre-College Programs give rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors the chance to experience college life in a meaningful, structured way. Choose from immersive academic tracks in the sciences, arts, technology, and more—each designed to spark curiosity and build confidence.
Throughout the week, students engage in hands-on labs, participate in field experiences led by faculty, and stay in a real residence hall. These programs balance academic challenge with creative exploration, offering a memorable and engaging summer experience.
A Setting That Inspires
Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, UNC Asheville’s campus offers an ideal environment for summer learning—safe, welcoming, and surrounded by one of the most vibrant regions in the country.
Learn With Experts
Dive into subjects that excite you—guided by UNC Asheville faculty and industry professionals who create engaging, supportive learning environments.
Explore Majors and Career Paths
Try out an academic interest before applying to college. Each program provides practical skills, portfolio-building experiences, and exposure to real-world career fields.
Experience Campus Life
Stay in residence halls, eat in campus dining, and connect with students from across the country. Students get a taste of campus life while being supervised by staff throughout the program.
Hands-On Learning
From lab experiments and creative studio work to outdoor field projects in the Blue Ridge Mountains, our programs emphasize active, experiential learning.
Safe, Structured, and Supportive
Students follow a well-planned daily schedule that balances learning, recreation, and rest. Trained staff provide guidance and support throughout the program, and students reside in secure campus housing. It’s a structured, caring environment designed to encourage exploration while ensuring safety and well-being.
- Program Dates: June 14-19 and June 21-26
- Eligibility: Open to rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
- Cost: $1,460-$1,840, depending on program. Includes lodging, meals, course materials, activities, and excursions
- Housing & Dining: Students reside in campus residence hall and dine in campus dining hall
- Deposit & Payment: A $500 deposit is required at registration, with the remaining balance due by May 1, 2026. After that date, full payment is required upon registration. Click here to view our cancellation policy.
- Enrollment: Open until all spaces are filled
- Registration: Registration is through the Camp Doc platform. Detailed step-by-step registration instructions are available here.
Testimonials
Pre-College Art Programs:
Great Smokies Young Writers Workshop: Character as Story & The Poet’s Toolbox
June 14 – 19, 2026
Hone your literary skills through workshops with experienced local authors and poets. Generate new pieces, revise works-in-progress and critique works of others in a collaborative workshop setting.
Great Smokies Young Writers Workshop: Forms of Poetry & Writing Essays, Memoirs & Auto-Fiction
June 21 – 26, 2026
Hone your literary skills through workshops with experienced local authors and poets. Generate new pieces, revise works-in-progress and critique works of others in a collaborative workshop setting.
Ceramic Pottery
June 14 – 19, 2026
Gain hands on experience in the ceramics studio and learn new techniques. Express creativity while learning to manipulate clay into sculpture and pottery. Create vessels by wheel-throwing and coil building. Learn to paint with underglazes. Form plates & shallow bowls by rolling out clay and carving. Take home your creations!
Ceramic Pottery
June 21 – 26, 2026
Gain hands on experience in the ceramics studio and learn new techniques. Express creativity while learning to manipulate clay into sculpture and pottery. Create vessels by wheel-throwing and coil building. Learn to paint with underglazes. Form plates & shallow bowls by rolling out clay and carving. Take home your creations!
Music Composition & Songwriting
June 21 – 26, 2026
Develop creative and performing skills through composition, song-writing, and improvisation exercises. Create original music individually, and compose music collaboratively with other students. Perform original and improvised music on your instrument/voice. The week will culminate in a performance of a new, original musical work.
Film Scoring & Sound Design
June 21 – 26, 2026
Music is an important part of the storytelling process in films. Learn how to compose cinematic music that evokes emotion using Hollywood film scoring techniques. In this class, we will develop a score concept, work with virtual instruments and compose music for an animation film. Sound design is taught by using textures and effects to enhance dynamics for visual impact. Musicians, non-musicians and film students are welcome.
Pre-College Science Programs:
River Ecology & Adventure
June 14 – 19, 2026
Explore and discover our natural, aquatic world. Engaging field-based learning will pair with outdoor skills and trips. Learn about Southern Appalachian stream ecology while canoeing sections of pristine rivers, hiking to wilderness swimming holes and investigating local aquatic species, and be challenged to think critically about human impact on the environment while rafting exciting whitewater. This program offers a thrilling, hands-on learning experience that blends the excitement of outdoor adventure with the science of stream ecology.
River Ecology & Adventure
June 21 – 26, 2026
Explore and discover our natural, aquatic world. Engaging field-based learning will pair with outdoor skills and trips. Learn about Southern Appalachian stream ecology while canoeing sections of pristine rivers, hiking to wilderness swimming holes and investigating local aquatic species, and be challenged to think critically about human impact on the environment while rafting exciting whitewater. This program offers a thrilling, hands-on learning experience that blends the excitement of outdoor adventure with the science of stream ecology.
Geology & Adventure
June 14 – 19, 2026
Learn about the geology of the Southern Appalachians while hiking to scenic landmarks. Practice field-based learning while rock climbing and rappelling on the beautiful granite bodies of western North Carolina. Experience the geology of caving systems while spelunking. Enjoy time outdoors, build lifelong friendships, participate in adventure experiences, and see what it is like to be a geologist for a week!
Geology & Adventure
June 21 – 26, 2026
Learn about the geology of the Southern Appalachians while hiking to scenic landmarks. Practice field-based learning while rock climbing and rappelling on the beautiful granite bodies of western North Carolina. Experience the geology of caving systems while spelunking. Enjoy time outdoors, build lifelong friendships, participate in adventure experiences, and see what it is like to be a geologist for a week!
Introduction to Engineering & Mechatronics
June 14 – 19, 2026
Launch into the world of engineering and robotics with our brand-new Introduction to Engineering & Mechatronics Pre-College Program. This immersive, hands-on summer experience is designed for high school students eager to explore mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, and robotics in a fun and engaging environment.
App Development & Foundations of Coding
June 14 – 19, 2026
App Development and Foundations of Coding gives high school students a hands-on introduction to building apps and games for Apple platforms using Swift, SwiftUI, and SpriteKit. Through guided instruction, collaborative projects, and daily interactive sessions, students learn core programming concepts, interface design, and how to integrate AI tools, all while creating and refining their own functional apps. Ideal for beginners or experienced coders interested in software engineering, mobile development, or game design.
Meteorology
June 21 – 26, 2026
Interactively explore the wonders of our atmosphere and experience the joys of a career in meteorology. Learn the fundamental principles of the atmospheric sciences through hands-on demonstrations and study the relationship between pressure, temperature, and elevation in the mountains. Build your own research-quality weather station. Visit the National Centers for Environmental Information, a permanent weather station, and a local media outlet to learn about careers in professional meteorology. Become a broadcast meteorologist for a day and present your forecast in a real television studio.
Wildlife Wonders: Appalachian Zoology
June 14 – 19, 2026
Aspiring biologists and naturalists will explore the animal life of the southern Appalachians through discussions, workshops, hands-on lab experiments, and field trips. Identify local species by searching for salamanders in a private reserve, snorkeling in clear mountain streams, and studying specimens under microscopes. A special evening field trip will offer the opportunity to observe the rare synchronous and blue-ghost fireflies at a private reserve. Learn to use zoological tools such as aquatic and insect nets, binoculars, and dissecting and compound microscopes. Field trips will focus on observing and identifying vertebrate wildlife across Western North Carolina’s diverse habitats. Through readings and discussions, we’ll also tackle questions like which species of wolves once roamed these mountains.
Game Design & AI
June 21 – 26, 2026
Step into the future of creativity with a hands-on exploration of how artificial intelligence is transforming game design. In this immersive one-week camp, students will collaborate in design teams to create their own AI-enhanced or AI-themed games, learning to guide “vibe-coding” tools that turn imagination into interactive experiences. Using low-code 2D and 3D platforms, participants will explore the ethics and artistry of AI while prototyping original digital worlds. The week concludes with a showcase of student creations and reflections on what it means to design in an AI-driven world—perfect for anyone curious about the intersection of technology, storytelling, and innovation. No coding experience required, just bring your curiosity and a love for games.
Pre-Med
June 14-19, 2026
Step into the world of medicine in this hands-on Pre-Med program for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Work in teams to solve simulated patient cases, perform microbiology and biochemistry tests, and explore medical ethics and the patient-doctor relationship. A highlight of the program is a pig heart dissection, giving you a close-up look at heart anatomy and physiology. Perfect for students interested in healthcare, biology, or medical careers, this program builds critical thinking, lab skills, and real-world medical experience.
Film Scoring & Sound Design
June 21 – 26, 2026
Music is an important part of the storytelling process in films. Learn how to compose cinematic music that evokes emotion using Hollywood film scoring techniques. In this class, we will develop a score concept, work with virtual instruments and compose music for an animation film. Sound design is taught by using textures and effects to enhance dynamics for visual impact. Musicians, non-musicians and film students are welcome.
Snorkeling in a mountain stream to identify fish, salamanders, and newts was unforgettable. Exploring western North Carolina while learning in the field made the experience amazing.”
This was my first ever sleepaway camp and I was terrified, but it helped me become more independent and not afraid to take risks or try new things.”
What brought me back was the environment and the people. The community here is what keeps you wanting to return."
My favorite memory was going outside with faculty to watch a storm roll in. Hearing their storm-chasing stories while we watched the lightning was incredible."
Seeing the synchronous fireflies was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They lit up all at once, and it was absolutely incredible.”
The Film Scoring program has been fascinating. Now when I watch trailers or ads, I understand the thought process behind the music, and living on campus gave me a real taste of college life.”
At Mount Pisgah, we were 6,000 feet up when the sky turned golden at sunset. It was one of the best days of my life.”
Being in a real college environment—staying in a dorm, having independence, and balancing work with fun—was my favorite part of the program.”
I would describe Pre-College as inspiring. I wrote more meaningful work this week than I have in a long time, thanks to the professors and the people in my group."
Frequently Asked Questions
Participants enrolled in both Pre-College weeks will need to check out on Friday, June 20 and check in again on Sunday, June 22, as we do not have the ability to house students over the weekend in-between sessions.
Participants with a roommate request, please have both parties email precollege@unca.edu
At this time, scholarships or financial aid are not available for UNC Asheville Pre-College Programs
Check-in will be on Sunday from 3:30pm – 5:00pm and check-out will be on Friday at 11:00am.
The week will conclude with a closing session on Friday from 9:00am-11:00am. All parents and guardians are invited to the closing session.
Linens are not provided, so you’ll need to bring your own. Bed size is extra-long twin. We recommend 1 twin sheet set (xl twin), pillow with case, bath towel, and wash cloth
For participants that live outside of a reasonable driving distance, you may fly into the Asheville Regional Airport (AVL). Upon registration, please choose the appropriate “add on” shuttle option.
We don’t have a Day Program or Commuter option, as our Pre-College Programs are designed to be an immersive experience. Students engage in their academic programs during the day and enjoy evening activities, all in a safe, supervised environment, while experiencing life on a college campus.
Have additional questions? Please contact us at precollege@unca.edu.