Skip to Main Content Skip to Navigation Skip to Secondary Navigation Skip to Footer
Critical Thinking Summer Institute

Learn to think for yourself, analyze sources, and write critically

A male student stands in a classroom holding a notebook and pen with three students sitting next to him with notebooks on their laps, one looking up at him.

Hone your reasoning and argumentation skills and improve media literacy and writing

Join us for the Critical Thinking Summer Institute, a premier program for motivated high school students seeking to enhance their critical thinking skills and explore cutting-edge topics in today’s media landscape. Led by expert instructors, our program offers a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of critical thinking, including the application of logic and probability theory to evaluate arguments and the responsible and creative use of AI. Enrolled students will also have the opportunity to earn credit in Phil 9 (Principles of Critical Reasoning) and participate in an exclusive workshop on media literacy and journalism, run by industry-leading experts from the prestigious University of Queensland. In this workshop, you will learn to assess media, with a particular focus on new media, and gain firsthand experience in preparing an article for publication. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to hone your critical thinking skills, gain invaluable experience in media literacy and journalism, and prepare for success in the digital age!

Fees and Payment Info

The program fee includes the unit fees for the UCLA coursework offered as part of the program and thus varies by UC student status. In addition to the program fee, students are assessed other campus and administrative fees during the summer. This is a summary of fees that commonly apply to the selected student type.

Actual tuition and fees are subject to change by the University of California. Visit the fees, payment, and financial aid section for important disclaimer, as well as more details on fees, payment instructions, and information on delinquency, refunds, and financial aid.

 

Program Fee
$2,733.00
Registration Fee
$350.00
IEI Fee
$61.00
Document Fee (for first-time Summer Sessions students)
$50.00
Total Estimated Fees:
$3,194.00
* Fees only apply for certain student types

Meet your instructors

John Kardosh

Program Director

John Kardosh is completing his Ph.D. in philosophy at UCLA. His research focuses on the history and psychology of logic and reasoning. John has worked with organizations both in the US and abroad to help integrate critical reasoning into the K-12 curriculum. Outside of his academic work, John dabbles in software development. John is also passionate about teaching: he has won the Department of Philosophy’s Yost Prize for teaching excellence, as well as UCLA’s Distinguished Teaching Assistant award.

Image of John Kardosh

Calvin Normore

Professor

Professor Calvin Normore is Brian P. Copenhaver Professor of Philosophy, UCLA, Emeritus Macdonald Professor of Moral Philosophy, McGill University, and Honorary Professor of Philosophy, the University of Queensland. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and former President of the Pacific Division of the American Philosophical Association. His Ph.D. is in Philosophy from the University of Toronto. He has held regular academic positions at Princeton, the University of Toronto, and (since 1998) at UCLA and irregular ones at the University of Alberta, York University, Columbia, U.C. Irvine, the Ohio State University and Yale. From 2008-2011 he also held the William MacDonald Chair of Moral Philosophy at McGill University. He specializes in the History of Philosophy and works (if you call it work) in such diverse areas as metaphysics, the philosophy of time, political philosophy, and logic. He is firmly convinced of philosophy’s breadth and its ties to other disciplines.

Image of Calvin Normore

Yael Leibovitch

Lecturer

Dr. Yael Leibovitch is a researcher and lecturer with the University of Queensland Critical Thinking Project (UQCTP). She has a Master of Teaching from the University of Toronto’s, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and a PhD in Education from the University of Queensland. The focus of her research and educational programs is the intersection between critical thinking, writing, and dialogue. In her work at the UQCTP, Yael has contributed to the design and implementation of a range of projects that promote critical and creative thinking, collaborative reasoning, and communication. These include programs such as: the Higher Education Enabling Program with the Australian Institute for Police Management; the Effective Thinking and Writing Course for the UQ Enhanced Studies Program; the Clinical Reasoning bridging course for UQ Medicine postgraduates; and the Writing and Critical Thinking masterclass for educators. In addition, Yael spent over a decade as a high school Philosophy and Reason teacher and teacher-educator. During this time, she helped develop the expertise of teachers to design educational experiences that prepare students for the demands of the 21st century.