Group of high school students

Youth Academy High School Classes

The Youth Academy, High School program at College of DuPage has a full range of options to continue and enhance teens' intellectual curiosity and scholarly progress throughout the year.

Our Continuing Education class options are taught by Illinois State Board of Education, high school certified instructors that possess up-to-date Illinois Professional Licensure. 

Our mission is to serve district youth in high school coursework by providing high school credit summer school, ACT/SAT test preparation classes and one-on-one tutoring. COD is the place to be to get ahead, review and prepare for high school and early college success!

Registration Information

  • Register using Instant Enrollment.
  • Registration for courses closes one week prior to class start.
  • Register your student using the parent email and cell phone number. Do not use the student's school email address. 
  • Registration is not complete until you submit the required forms to youthacademy@cod.edu. Required forms can be found on the links below. 
  • Questions?  Email youthacademy@cod.edu or call (630) 942-2208

Student and Parent Handbook

Students that are registered for a summer high school credit course or Junior High Achievers course must read the parent and student handbook before the start of classes. A parent or guardian will sign off on the acknowledgment of this document on the Grade Release Form.

High School Student and Parent Handbook

Required Forms

All in-person courses will require parents to complete and submit the Emergency Contact and Liability Waiver.  Parents enrolling their student in high school credit and Junior High Achiever courses will need to complete the Grade Release Form and Emergency Contact form, even if you are not taking the course for credit.  Parents enrolling their student in a non-credit (enrichment) course will need to complete the Emergency Contact form. Parents registering their student for an online course must submit a complete Online Youth Wavier as well.  After registering for the courses, please complete and submit your required forms to youthacademy@cod.edu. at least one week prior to class starting. 

High School Course Options

Click on the "+" sign next to each program category below to see specific course details.

Career Academy courses are week-long camps that are offered during the summer term.  These courses are taught by COD faculty and are a great way to introduce career pathways and college majors to high school students.  These career-focused courses enable a student to gain an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at inspiring fields and programs.  

Computers

3D Modeling and Printing

Gain an introduction to the fundamentals of 3D modeling and animation. Learn the basics of Maya, an industry-grade 3D software environment, and begin making your own video game. Learn how to use a 3D printer and print the models you create. Instructor: Richard Morton

Saturday, Jan. 27 to Feb. 17
12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
YEHSC-0004-001, $149
On campus in Glen Ellyn

Video Game Design

Use game development tools like Unreal Engine 4 to learn basic game design elements from game flow and character creation to backgrounds and sound, all wrapped into blueprint block programming exercises. Instructor: Richard Morton

Saturday, Jan. 27 to Feb. 17
3 to 5 p.m.
YEHSC-0004-002, $149
On campus in Glen Ellyn

Adobe Photoshop Exploration

Learn the use of design principles and basic Photoshop tools to create image composites. Experiment with the fundamentals of Photoshop composite techniques with a variety of exercises leading to the completion of a final collage. Instructor: Richard Morton

Saturday, Feb. 24 and March 2
12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
YEHSC-0004-003, $75
On campus in Glen Ellyn

Web Design

Explore the basics of designing and developing an effective website. Discover the advantages of using templates and explore other affordable, easy-to-use resources. Students will design and create their own website. Instructor: Richard Morton

Saturday, Feb. 24 and March 2
3 to 5 p.m.
YEHSC-0004-004, $75
On campus in Glen Ellyn

Hands-on Cooking Classes

Gain hands-on experience learning how to cook like the pros! Develop the skills needed to create delightful meals and treats in the professional kitchen classrooms at College of DuPage. Class registration closes one week prior to class start. Students must wear closed-toe shoes and secure long hair. Please contact youthacademy@cod.edu with any food allergies. 

Baking Basics

Learn how to correctly prepare, measure, and combine ingredients and select baking times. Discover techniques for making cookies, cakes and pies while creating your own delicious desserts. 

Saturday, Feb. 17 and 24
9 a.m. to noon
YEHSC-0001-008, $159
Culinary & Hospitality Center (CHC)

Kitchen Confidence

Learn basic cooking skills as you prepare simple recipes. From soups to desserts, the recipes are easy, tasty and nutritious. Students will practice the basic cooking methods of broiling, sautéing, stir-frying, steaming, chopping, cutting, mixing, folding and seasoning.

Saturday, Jan. 27 and Feb. 3
9 a.m. to noon
YEHSC-0001-006, $159
Culinary & Hospitality Center (CHC)

To register call (630) 942-2208 or online via Instant Enrollment. Always register your student using the parent email and cellphone number.

Success series courses give incoming high school through college students the tools necessary to be successful.  Students.

Common App Essay Workshop

Get help with your college applications and scholarships by creating a working draft of your Common App essay in this writing workshop. This essay can also be a part of any scholarship application. This class will address this year’s prompts, develop a draft, and begin the editing process in a comfortable, supportive setting. Work one-on-one with the instructor and with your peers to create this important personal essay. Leave the class with a working draft that is ready for a final review by a parent, teacher or counselor. Time permitting; we may also workshop their supplement essays. Students are encouraged to bring a rough draft or outline of ideas to class.

Monday and Wednesday, May 6 and 8
6 to 8 p.m.
YEHSC-0004-001, $99
On campus in Glen Ellyn

Writing Workshop

Writing papers is an integral part of high school and college. The process and expectations are different from those in middle school. Learn strategies to improve or generate fresh and compelling ideas. Focus on sentence structure, punctuation and grammar. 

(Summer '24)

Test-Taking and Group Study Strategies

Understand how to better prepare for tests and learn techniques to improve exam performance. Critical reading, margin notes and specific strategies for different question types play an important role in your success on exam day. Minimize your test anxiety and score to your true potential. This project-based course involves group assignments to help students develop interpersonal skills, navigate group dynamics, and gain strategies for organization and task completion.

(Summer '24)

Time Management

Learn to manage your time, class workload, and enrichment activities for your high school life. Gain control of most of your time now and for the rest of your life with schedule strategies, learning work/life balance and gain a successful path to high school success!

(Summer '24)

Courses are designed to explore and introduce students to the basics of conversational foreign languages, not to replace a course required by your school district.

  • No credit awarded
  • No letter grades given
  • Courses are not eligible for official /
    student transcripts
  • No homework, quizzes or tests will be assigned

Beginning Conversational Japanese I

Students will learn practical, elementary conversational skills based on comprehension of basic grammar and correct pronunciation. This level is for students who have not studied Japanese before. In this seven-week class, we will learn some basic conversational skills, such as greetings, counting and simple everyday phrases. We will learn to read and recognize hiragana characters. The goal of the class is to begin to speak Japanese and enjoy the process of learning Required book: Japanese for Busy People ISBN: 978-1568363844

(Summer '24)

Conversational Italian

(Summer '24)

To register call (630) 942-2208 or online via Instant Enrollment. Always register your student using the parent email and cellphone number. 

College of DuPage Continuing Education provides a summer school program that offers high school credit courses to incoming freshmen and current high school students. The summer program is an extension of the regular academic program, designed to provide students with opportunities to gain academic credit or to explore interests by auditing a class.

Summer 2024 offerings will be posted in March.

Courses Available

  • Algebra I
  • Geometry
  •  Algebra II w/Trigonometry
  • Precalculus
  • English IX
  • Speech
  • Spanish I, II and III
  • French I
  • American Sign Language (ASL) I
  • Consumer Economics
  • U.S. History
  • American Government
  • Biology
  • Chemistry  
  • Physics

To register call (630) 942-2208 or online via Instant Enrollment. Always register your student using the parent email and cellphone number. 

Reach your highest potential with test prep and private tutoring options. Prepare for the new digital format for the SAT.  We recommend registering for a group test prep session before requesting private tutoring.  Group test prep courses focus on test taking strategies. Now offered in three locations: Glen Ellyn, Naperville and Westmont!

SAT Test Preparation

Review math, reading and English usage in preparation for the SAT exam. Students become familiar with SAT questions, develop test-taking strategies, increase confidence and speed, and get a review of test content. Students must bring writing utensil, calculator and paper for the course. No textbook. Course will address strategies for the new online format. 

Monday to Wednesday, Feb. 26 to 28
5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
YEHSC-0004-112, $149
Naperville Center

Monday to Wednesday, April 22 to 24
5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
YEHSC-0004-113, $149
On campus in Glen Ellyn

Monday to Wednesday, May 20 to 22
5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
YEHSC-0004-114, $149
Westmont Center

ACT Test Preparation

Review math, science reasoning, reading and English usage in preparation for the ACT exam. The course includes an introduction to the ACT writing section. Students become familiar with ACT questions, develop test-taking strategies, increase confidence and speed, and get a review of test content. No textbook. Course will address strategies for the new online format.  

Monday to Wednesday, Jan. 29 to 31
5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
YEHSC-0004-103, $149
On campus in Glen Ellyn

Monday to Wednesday, April 1 to 3
5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
YEHSC-0004-104, $149
Westmont Center

Monday to Wednesday, May 13 to 15
5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
YEHSC-0004-105, $149
On campus in Glen Ellyn

Common App Essay Workshop

Get help with your college applications by creating a working draft of your Common App essay in this writing workshop. Address this year’s prompts, develop a draft and begin the editing process in a
comfortable, supportive setting. Work one-on-one with the instructor and with your peers to create this important personal essay. Leave the class with a working draft that’s ready for a final review by a parent, teacher or counselor. Time permitting, you
may also workshop supplement essays. Students are encouraged to bring a rough draft or outline of ideas to class.

Monday and Wednesday, May 6 and 8
6 to 8 p.m.
YEHSC-0004-001, $99
On campus in Glen Ellyn

Private Tutoring

Students who have already participated in a test preparation class and are interested in honing in on specific subject areas of their choosing can benefit from one-on-one instruction. Tutoring can be conducted online or in-person.  In person tutoring takes place on campus in Glen Ellyn or a mutually agreed upon public location between tutor and student. 

2 Hours - $119
4 Hours - $225
6 Hours - $299
8 Hours - $349

All interested community members must submit a tutor request by clicking on the link below or call (630) 942-2208. Note individuals will be contacted by a tutor within 5 business days for a consultation on tutoring needs.

Review our tutoring process at cod.edu/test-prep-tutoring

In partnership with Innovation DuPage and COD’s Business and Applied Technology division, we are excited to announce a new program initiative that launched this past fall, E2 Emerging Entrepreneurs.

E2 Emerging Entrepreneurs is a free, six-week workshop series for entrepreneurial-curious high school and college students (ages 16+).

Details for spring opportunities will be posted soon! 

Please visit our website at cod.edu/e2

Tutoring

Continuing Education offers tutoring for teens and adults. All tutors hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree and are selected for their knowledge and sensitivity to individual needs. Tutoring sessions typically take place in a public location and are now offered online. For more information visit our website at cod.edu/test-prep-tutoring.

Online Opportunities

All online courses require access to a reliable WiFi connection, a personal computer/tablet, webcam, and microphone. Registered students are required to submit online waivers listing a personal email address to ensure the timely sharing of log-in details.

Please be advised registration closes one week prior to the start of online courses. All students must have a completed copy of the Youth Academy Online Waiver on file at least 2 business days prior to the start of class. Online Waivers will be emailed to students and completed forms should be submitted to youthacademy@cod.edu.

Summer Grades and Accessing Your Unofficial Transcripts

Students who wish to view final letter grades from previous non-credit summer terms may do so on the COD student portal. All final grades are viewable three (3) business days after the end of the semester. Information on how to access your unofficial transcript can be found on the Student Planning and myACCESS Assistance page under the Academics tab.

High School Refund Policy

A full refund will be issued if a student withdraws from classes at least 24 hours prior to class starting.  For classes beginning on a Monday, withdrawals need to be completed by the previous Thursday.  Full refunds will be given for classes that have been cancelled. Please contact the registration staff at (630) 942-2208 for assistance.

Refunds will not be issued for any of the following reasons:

  • If a student registers for class and does not attend.
  • If a student withdraws after the above mentioned withdrawal dates for any reason.
  • If a student is dropped for a violation of the Student Code of Conduct, online policies, or attendance policies.

Mailing List

Would you like to be added to the Continuing Education High School Mailing List? Complete our mailing list form.

Contact Information

Continuing Education
Student Resource Center (SRC), Room 1110
(630) 942-2208
Fax: (630) 942-3785
Email: CE@cod.edu

Front Desk Hours
  • Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Office hours may vary due to holidays and staff coverage.