The University of Chicago Summer
Internet Censorship and Online Speech

Internet Censorship and Online Speech


Course Status: Pre-College Application: Jan 2026

Applications for Pre-College courses will open in early January. We encourage you to review the courses offered below. Remember: you can select up to 3 in your application. We look forward to seeing you!

Course Code

CMSC 33260 10

Cross Listed Course Code(s)

CMSC 23260, MADD 23620, PARR 33260

Course Description

Information dissemination and online discourse on the Internet are subject to the algorithms and filters that operate on Internet infrastructure, from network firewalls to search engines. This course will explore the technologies that are used to control access to online speech and information, and cutting-edge technologies that can empower citizens in the face of these information controls. You will learn about and experiment with technologies to control online discourse, ranging from firewalls that perform network traffic filtering to algorithms for content personalization and content moderation. We will also explore underlying technical trends, such as the increasing consolidation of Internet infrastructure and protocols, and the implications of consolidation for control over online discourse. Each course meeting will include a technical overview, reading discussion, and a hands-on laboratory activity.

Course Criteria

Some experience with Python may be helpful but is not strictly necessary.

This course is primarily comprised of undergraduate students. A select number of places are reserved for advanced high school students.

The cost of this course for pre-college students is $4,980

Instructor(s)

Nick Feamster

Course Duration

Summer Online

Session

Session 2

Course Dates

July 6th - July 24th

Class Days

Mon, Wed, Fri

Class Time

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Eligibility

11th Grade, 12th Grade, Undergrad

Modality

Remote

Other Courses to Consider

These courses might also be of interest.

  • Critical Videogame Studies
    Critical Videogame Studies

    Since the 1960s, games have blossomed into the world’s most profitable artistic and cultural form.

    This course attends to a broad range of video games in different genres, including Passage, Dys4ia, Unpacking, Slay the Princess, Undertale, Outer Wilds, and more.

    Readings by theorists including Patrick Jagoda, Bo Ruberg, Mary Flanagan, and Mark J.P. Wolf will help us think about the field of videogame studies. In addition to weekly readings, students will create a video essay across the quarter, divided into smaller assignments to provide time for workshopping and fine-tuning.

    The end product, a video essay of about 5 minutes, will serve as their final project. Students will not only learn about games as a medium but also exercise their ability to create a critical, detail-focused analysis.

    Remote