Art Appreciation - Exploration of the principles of two and three dimensional design including elementary drawing skills and basic 1 and 2 point perspective. Students will define and solve challenging design problems while using different media, techniques and processes. This class will also include studying the history and methods in creating and understanding works of art. Open to all 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders who have not taken Art Appreciation. Advanced Art (Drawing and Painting) - Students will study a wide variety of approaches to drawing including: line, tone, two and three-point perspective, shading practices, and the study of for and anatomy of the human figure, with continued studies in portraiture and the still life. Students will use various media including pencil, charcoal, crayon, and marker, as well as the illusion of depth, perspective, figure form, concept and composition, and modeling. Open to all 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders who have not taken a previous art course. Junior Desktop Publishing - Students who opt for this course will comprise the small “advance team” for the Senior Desktop Publishing class in terms of laying all of the groundwork for the yearbook. They will organize the book, set its theme, create the cover and divider pages, and determine the overall graphic and copy format of the book. They will also begin the fundraising campaign. Open to all 11th graders. Desktop Publishing - Students who join this class become part of a production company, in essence taking on all of the jobs and responsibilities to see to it that a range of publications come into being, the senior yearbook, and other projects. Everyone in class masters the technology, from InDesign and Photoshop to digital cameras. Students are also expected to devote time to this course outside of scheduled class sessions. Open to all 12th graders.
College level courses taught by York College professors to high school students. Course offerings are subject to change and provided by York College. Courses are held two days a week, 3:15-4:45 OR Saturday 9:00-12:00. Details are announced in the spring and fall. Courses are worth 3-4 college credits, which are typically transferable depending upon the college you attend. Students also earn 1 high school credit. *Offerings include Psychology, Sociology, Principles of Inheritance & Human Reproduction, Computer Science, Cultural Diversity and Nutritional Health. Open to all 10th, 11th and 12th graders. During a student’s enrollment in a York College course, they are considered a student of the College. Students are subject to all rules and regulations of the College, in addition to those of QHSS. Parents and students must realize that college professors are not employees of, and consequently do not report to the Department of Education. All issues or concerns about grades or progress in class must be addressed by the student to the professor. If, the issue is not resolved the student should speak with the Principal. *All courses are subject to change.
The English Department is committed to developing and enhancing our students’ ability to think critically and express themselves effectively. The critical and aesthetic examination and analysis of classic and contemporary literature serve as a context for students’ development as critical thinkers and writers with their own creative voice. All students must complete four years of English. The English Language Arts (ELA) Regents examination is taken at the end of sophomore year. Close textual reading, process writing, and critical thinking skills drive the curriculum. A balanced literacy approach is also utilized. Students are expected to have experience with multiple modalities and non-fiction genres, culminating in a portfolio of work that showcases this. Pre-Advanced Placement English 1/2 – This course focuses on the close reading, analytical writing, and language skills that have immediate relevance for students and that will be essential for their future coursework. Texts take center stage in this course, where students engage in close, critical reading of a wide range of literary and nonfiction works. The course trains the reader to observe the small details within a text to arrive at a deeper understanding of the whole. It also trains the writer to focus on crafting complex sentences as the foundation for writing to facilitate complex thinking and to communicate ideas clearly. This course is in place of ELA 1 & 2 for 9th graders. Pre-Advanced Placement English 3/4 – This course spotlights the recursive moves that matter in preparing students for the rigors of college-level reading and writing. The course builds on the content from 9th grade ELA of close observation, critical analysis, and appreciation of author’s craft, and requires students to apply those practices to a new host of complex texts—the types of texts they will soon encounter in AP English courses, college classes, and on the SAT. As readers, students develop a vigilant awareness of how the poet, playwright, novelist, and writer of nonfiction alike can masterfully manipulate language to serve their unique purposes. As writers, students compose more nuanced essays without losing sight of the importance of well-crafted sentences and a sense of cohesion. This course is in place of ELA 3 & 4 for 10th graders. Advanced Placement English Language and Composition - This course is designed to enable students to become skilled in reading and understanding intricate texts in an array of contexts. In conjunction to reading texts, students can attain mastery in composing writings for a variety of purposes. This course is in place of English 5 & 6 for 11th graders. Students MUST take the AP Exam in May. English 5 and 6 - In this class, we will be developing your skills in three main areas: narrative, rhetoric, and argument. At its core, this class is about effective communication. The ability to communicate your ideas about and join in with important cultural conversations is critical to being an active member of a democratic society. The skills you develop here will better equip you to join these conversations. We will read the classic coming-of-age novel Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger to analyze the relationship between storytelling and community. Throughout the year, we will also frequently reference The Language of Composition and analyze a variety of texts including short stories, memoirs, news articles, editorials, podcasts, among others. The assignments and assessments that students are expected to complete throughout the year are aligned to the New York State Next Generation Learning Standards. This course is open to all 11th graders. Advanced Placement Seminar - This course is designed to develop and strengthen student’s critical thinking and inquiry skills. Students will have an opportunity to explore two to four relevant issues of their own choosing. You will learn about an issue and be able to argue, evaluate, and make rational, fact-based decisions regarding your self-selected issue. Students MUST take the AP Exam in May. This is a two year sequenced course followed by AP Research in the following year and is part of the AP Capstone diploma . This course is open to 10th and 11th graders. College English I (ENG 240) Literary Traditions in the U.S. (3 credits)- Students will analyze such major themes of U.S. literature as race and resistance, social class divisions and mobility, the power of the rhetorical arts, and gender and sexuality. This course is in place of English 7 for 12th graders. It culminates in January and students must be enrolled in the College English II course in the Spring semester. Students must commit to both courses for the year. College English II (ENG 200) Understanding Literature (3 credits)- This class includes the close reading of a wide variety of literature from different periods and places, with an emphasis both on developing personal responses to literature and on analysis and critique of literary genres. This is a writing intensive course designed to develop and hone student competence in critically reading and writing about texts. This course is in place of English 8 for 12th graders. It culminates in June and students must have been enrolled in the College English I course in the preceding Fall semester. Students must commit to both courses for the year. Public Speaking - This class is designed to help you gain confidence in the art and skill of public speaking . The course begins by analyzing and evaluating all participants’ existing communications styles. Then we discuss how to improve weaknesses—whether nerves, body language, or flow of ideas—and how to prepare and deliver powerful informative, demonstrative, persuasive presentations for school or special occasions. We prepare speeches to practice different techniques including speaking in front of an audience, developing structure, and using the nuances of words and diction to create the intended message. This class will help you to develop techniques for overcoming performance anxiety. All of this will take place in a supportive environment. This course culminates in January and students will be enrolled in the Science Fiction course in the Spring semester. Students must commit to both courses for the year. Open to all 10th, 11th and 12th graders. Science Fiction Through Film and Literature - Whether you already have an interest in science fiction or are simply curious to learn more, this class will introduce you to common themes and ideas across a wide variety of sci-fi literature and film. We will consider texts and films ranging from classic to contemporary to understand what makes science fiction endure and to explore the ways in which it reflects socio-cultural circumstances of different eras in history. We will also make connections between these works and the world we live in today through frequent discussion as well as critical and reflective writing. Science fiction can provide meaningful answers to universal and complex questions and concerns about the past, present, and future. This course culminates in June and students must have been enrolled in the Public Speaking course in the preceding Fall semester. Students must commit to both courses for the year. Open to all 10th, 11th and 12th graders. Creative Writing - This semester-long course focuses on writing in a variety of genres. The purpose of this class is to encourage students to cultivate the habits, attitudes and flexibility of a professional writer in a professional writing community. Students will be expected to enter final products into professional and/or student contests as well as the school’s literary magazine, to conference with the instructor, participate in writer response groups, research and read contemporary published authors, keep and regularly write in a writer’s notebook, and experiment with and revise writing routinely. This course culminates in June and students must have been enrolled in the World Mythology course in the preceding Fall semester. Students must commit to both courses for the year. Open to all 10th, 11th and 12th graders.
The Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Department is dedicated to motivating and expanding students’ ability to speak a foreign language. To achieve this, the department offers a complete language immersion experience. Audio-lingual and student-oriented activities are used in every course in order to build fluency. The department aims to prepare qualified students for the Advanced Placement and College level course, which is offered in every language. Students must complete at least three years of LOTE in the same language as part of the criteria for an Advance Regents Diploma. The LOTE exam will evaluate reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Spanish 1 and 2 – Students will be introduced to Spanish culture and language. Students will be expected to speak in the target language, and almost all instruction will take place in the target language, at a very basic level. Students will learn fundamental grammar items such as the present tense of regular and irregular verbs, basic adjectives, indefinite and definite articles, and basic vocabulary including colors, numbers, weather, and the family. Open to all 9th and 10th graders. Spanish 3 and 4 – The second year will deepen grammatical and cultural knowledge of Spanish. Students will learn how to discuss past and future events. More speaking is expected in this second, intermediate year of language study. In addition to past grammar and vocabulary, the subjunctive and conditional tenses are studied. Open to all 9th, 10th and 11th graders. College Spanish I (SPAN 105) (3 credits) – Intensive oral-aural practice based on selected reading; functional review of grammar. This course culminates in January and students will be enrolled in the College Spanish II course in the Spring semester. Students must commit to both courses for the year. Open to all 10th, 11th and 12th graders. Open to all 10th, 11th and 12th graders. College Spanish II (SPAN 106) (3 credits) – Development of writing proficiency on the intermediate and advanced level using revision and editing techniques, augmented by selected contemporary literary texts. This course culminates in June and students must have been enrolled in the College Spanish I course in the Fall semester. Students must commit to both courses for the year. Open to all 10th, 11th and 12th graders. Open to all 10th, 11th and 12th graders. Mandarin 1 and 2 – In this course, students will acquire basic skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in Mandarin with an emphasis on reading and writing the characters. Students will be able to converse about themselves, their daily life, family, likes and dislikes, etc. in both present and past tenses. Cultural topics will also be introduced and discussed. Open to all 9th and 10th graders. Mandarin 3 and 4 – Students will be able not only to express themselves in more sophisticated ways both in terms of vocabulary and different modes of verbs (progressive, etc.), but also to interact with people in more intricate ways (requests, prohibition, permission, etc.). An emphasis will be placed on writing in paragraphs. More characters will be introduced. Cultural information will be key to using the language appropriately. Open to all 9th, 10th and 11th graders. Advanced Placement Chinese – The AP Chinese Language and Culture course is designed to be comparable to fourth semester (or the equivalent) college/university courses in Mandarin Chinese. The course is designed to deepen students’ immersion into the language and culture of the Chinese-speaking world. The course prepares you to demonstrate your level of Chinese proficiency across the three communicative modes (Interpersonal, Interpretive, and Presentational) and the five goal areas (Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities) as outlined in the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century. Students may choose to take the AP exam in May. Open to all 10th, 11th and 12th graders.
The Mathematics Department is committed to expanding students’ understanding and appreciation of mathematics through a comprehensive, content-based plan that acknowledges and addresses differences in motivation, goals, ability, and learning styles. All students must complete four years of mathematics and pass all three Regents Examinations. Foundations of Algebra I - Linear equations, quadratic functions, absolute value, rational, logarithmic, and exponential functions and their applications are studied. Coordinate geometry is integrated into this course as well as data analysis, including measures of central tendency and lines of best fit. Elementary probability, right triangle trigonometry, and set theory complete the course. Students do not have to retake the Algebra Regents Examination at the conclusion of this unless they want to get a higher score. This course is open to 9th graders who have previously taken Algebra I in middle school. Algebra I – Algebra provides tools and develops ways of thinking that are necessary for solving problems in a wide variety of disciplines such as science, business, and fine arts. Linear equations, quadratic functions, absolute value, and exponential functions are studied. Coordinate geometry is integrated into this course as well as data analysis, including measures of central tendency and lines of best fit. Elementary probability, right triangle trigonometry, and set theory complete the course. Students will take the Algebra Regents Examination at the conclusion of this course if they have not done so in middle school. This course is open to 9th graders. Students will be enrolled in Algebra I and Geometry in 9th grade if it is compatible with their program. Geometry – In this course, students will have the opportunity to make conjectures about geometric situations and prove in a variety of ways that their conclusion follows logically from their hypothesis. Congruence and similarity of triangles will be established using appropriate theorems. Transformations including rotations, reflections, translations, and dilations will be taught. Properties of triangles, quadrilaterals and circles will be examined. Geometry is meant to lead students to an understanding that reasoning and proof are fundamental aspects of mathematics. Students will take the Geometry Regents Examination at the conclusion of this course. This course is open to 9th graders. Students will be enrolled in Algebra I and Geometry in 9th grade if it is compatible with their program. Advanced Algebra II and Trigonometry – This is the third mathematics course in the high school sequence. In this course, the number system will be extended to include imaginary and complex numbers. Students will learn about polynomial, absolute value, radical, trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions. Problem situations involving direct and indirect variation will be solved. Data analysis will be extended to include measures of dispersion and the analysis of regression models. Arithmetic and geometric sequences will be evaluated. Binomial expressions will provide the basis for the study of probability theory and the normal probability distribution will be analyzed. Right triangle trigonometry will be expanded to include the investigation of circular functions. The course will conclude with problems requiring the use of trigonometric equations and identities. Students will take the Algebra II and Trigonometry Regents Examination at the conclusion of this course. This course is open to all 10th graders. College Pre-Calculus (4 credits, 1 period) - Students will learn advance topics in Algebra, functions and graphs, inverse functions, composite, exponential and logarithmic functions. This course is open to all 11th graders and is in place of Pre-Calculus I. Analytical Geometry and Calculus I (4 credits, 1 period) - This course is an introduction to calculus and analytical geometry, emphasis on theory as well as techniques and applications, functions, limits, differentiation, integration, applications, lines, conic sections, and graph sketching. This course is open to all 11th graders and is in place of Pre-Calculus II. Advanced College Calculus I and II (8 credits, 1 period) - Students will learn about topics related to real and complex number systems, topological concepts such as point set topology, metric spaces, Euclidean spaces, derivatives and integrals of transcendental functions, applications of integration, methods of integration, L’Hopital’s rule, improper integrals, infinite series, conic sections, theory of functions, limits, continuity, differentiability, theory of integration, vector calculus, functions of several variables, sequences and series. This course is open to all 12th graders. Students must take both semesters of College Calculus and can take the AP Calculus AB exam at the end of Spring term if they wish. Advanced Placement Calculus BC - Explore the key concepts, methods, and applications of single-variable calculus including all topics covered in AP Calculus AB (functions, graphs, and limits, derivatives, integrals, and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus) as well as additional topics in differential and integral calculus, such as parametric, polar and vector functions, and series. This course is open to all 12th graders. This is a single period with a split session added on. Students MUST take the AP exam in May. Advanced Placement Statistics - Introduces students to the major concepts and tools for collecting, organizing, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data. Students design, administer, and tabulate results from surveys and experiments. Probability and simulations aid students in constructing models for chance phenomena. Sampling distributions provide the logical structure for confidence intervals and hypothesis tests. This course is open to all 10th and 11th graders and is a single period. Students MUST take AP exam in May. Math, Computer Science Research and Math Team - Students will explore interesting topics outside the traditional mathematics curriculum. They will receive guidance in selecting and completing an independent research project in mathematics. These projects may be entered in the NYC Math Fair, the New York Academy of Sciences Expo, and other contests. This course is open to all 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders. Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles - This course introduces students to the foundational concepts of the field and challenges them to explore how computing and technology can impact the world. AP Computer Science Principles offers a multidisciplinary approach, focusing on the creative aspects of programming. Students will learn: Creative problem solving, How to apply computational processes to analyze large data sets, Programming, How the internet works and important cyber security issues, Impacts of computing innovations. This course is open to all 9th and 10th graders. Students MUST take AP exam in May. Advanced Placement Computer Science A is an introductory college-level computer science course. Students cultivate their understanding of coding through analyzing, writing, and testing code as they explore concepts like modularity, variables, and control structures. This course is open to all 11th and 12th graders. Students MUST take AP exam in May.
Advanced Placement Music Theory is an introductory college-level music theory course. Students cultivate their understanding of music theory through analyzing performed and notated music as they explore concepts like pitch, rhythm, form, and musical design. Open to all 10th, 11th and 12th graders. Students MUST take AP exam in May. Music Appreciation - Study and survey of the history, composers, and styles of music of the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods. Music of the 20th century period will also be studied, including popular music, jazz, movie music, and musical theater. This class will work as a precursor to AP Music Theory. Open to students who have not taken Music Appreciation. Open to all 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders. Chorus - In this class we will learn the proper technique to sing. With proper technique and practice we will learn to: Breathe properly, have more breath support, have proper posture so that notes can be held for full length, match pitch, expand our ranges, sing in different keys when applicable, and stay in one key when applicable. In this class we will also learn basic music theory, sight singing and dictation. This class will work as a precursor to AP Music Theory. We will begin the year learning how to read music, rhythms, and sing solfege. Every Friday we will dedicate most of the class to music theory. We will perform in the winter and spring concert. Musical experience is highly recommended. Open to all 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders. Orchestra - This class is for students who already play an instrument. This is a full orchestra. We will have instruments from each instrument family: Strings, Brass, Woodwind, Percussion, and Keyboard. In this class you will learn to enhance your technique, be able to blend and perform properly with all the instruments in the orchestra. We will learn basic music theory. This class will work as a precursor to AP Music Theory. We will work on music from all periods. You will perform for the Winter and Spring concert, as well as a music competition. While the school has many instruments, some students may be required to bring their own. Open to all 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders.
The goal of the Science Department is to insure that our graduates are scientifically literate and prepared to face the important societal decisions that will await them. Critical thinking and writing are stressed across the curriculum, and technology is used to enhance the learning process. We offer our students a solid foundation in the Sciences and hope to create in them a desire to delve further into these subjects. Each of our students has the opportunity to study Pre-AP Biology, Pre-AP Chemistry and Regents Physics. Introductory courses are complemented by Astronomy, Anatomy and Physiology, Forensic Science, Advanced Placement Biology, Advanced Placement Chemistry, Advanced Placement Environmental Science, Advanced Placement Physics C and Advanced Placement Physics 1, and College Psychology. Additionally we offer a research track: Introduction to Science Research for 9th graders, and Advanced Science Research for those who want to continue. Pre-Advanced Placement Biology (Regents Living Environment)- This course sparks student motivation and critical thinking about our living world as they engage in real-world data analysis and problem solving. Through the Areas of Focus, students engage deeply with science practices to construct and refine their biological knowledge and strengthen their cross-disciplinary reading, writing, and mathematical skills as they analyze data. Pre-AP Biology fosters student growth as they make meaningful connections among the structures, processes, and interactions that exist within and across living systems—from cells to ecological communities. The course motivates students to be active participants in analyzing real-world phenomena and to collaborate productively with their peers in dialogue, investigations, and problem solving. This course is in place of Regents Living Environment 1 & 2 for 9th graders. Students must take the Regents Living Environment exam in June and successfully meet the NYS 1200 minute-laboratory requirement. Pre-Advanced Placement Chemistry- This course focuses on students developing a deep conceptual understanding of matter and energy at the molecular level by asking students to explain their macroscopic observations using particulate-level reasoning. Students will begin their exploration of matter by observing and measuring macroscopic properties of everyday materials and progress throughout the course to explore deeper and more detailed perspectives of the particle nature of matter. Pre-AP Chemistry motivates students to be active participants in applying critical thinking and mathematical skills as they engage in context driven mathematics, data analysis, modeling, and productive collaboration with their peers. This course is in place of Regents Chemistry 1 & 2 for 9th and 10th graders. Students must take the Regents Chemistry exam in June and successfully meet the NYS 1200 minute-laboratory requirement. Regents Physics – The following topics will be covered: forms of energy, interaction between energy and matter resulting in change of motion, light, electricity, sound, magnetism, predicting velocities based on energy conservation. This course is open to 10th, and 11th graders. Students must take the Regents Physics exam in June and successfully meet the NYS 1200 minute-laboratory requirement. Advanced Placement Biology - Fundamental topics applicable to both plants and animals are explored. In lecture, biochemistry and molecular biology lay the groundwork for understanding all aspects of modern biology, from the cell through the ecosystem. In laboratory work, evolution is the integrating theme that focuses on the relationship of organisms to their environments. Completion of a summer assignment is a requirement of the course. This is a single period. Open to all 11th and 12th graders. Students MUST take the AP exam in May. AP Statistics is recommended as a pre- or co-requisite. Advanced Placement Chemistry – In this course you will study chemical concepts and their applications, and is highly recommended for students planning on pursuing careers in medicine, science, and engineering. Students in this course will participate in extensive, and sophisticated, laboratory work and problem solving. This is a single period. Open to all 10th and 11th graders. Students MUST take the AP exam in May. Advanced Placement Physics 1 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through classroom study, in-class activity, and hands-on, inquiry-based laboratory work as they explore concepts like systems, fields, force interactions, change, conservation, and waves. Students explore principles of Newtonian mechanics (including rotational motion); work, energy, and power; mechanical waves and sound; and introductory, simple circuits. The course is based on six Big Ideas, which encompass core scientific principles, theories, and processes that cut across traditional boundaries and provide a broad way of thinking about the physical world. This is a single period with a split period added on. Open to all 11th and 12th graders. Students MUST take the AP exam in May. Advanced Placement Physics C: Mechanics - This is a calculus-based physics course designed to be equivalent to an introductory university level of physics course. Student will explore mechanics, including the study of kinematics, vector, Newton’s laws of motion, the concepts of, respectively work, energy and power, systems of particles, momentum, circular motion and rotation, gravitation, oscillations, and conservation laws. Labs are an important and integral part of the course. This is a single period with a split period added on. Open to all 11th and 12th graders. Students MUST take the AP exam in May. College Psychology I (PSY 102 Introduction to Psychology) (Fall, 3 credits) – Basic concepts and methods of contemporary psychology emphasizing the biological basis of behavior, learning, cognition, consciousness, development, stress and personality, abnormal behavior, group behavior, and social interaction. A minimum of a 10% research component is a requirement of the course. Open to all 11th and 12th graders. This course culminates in January and students will be enrolled in the College Psychology II course in the Spring semester. Students must commit to both courses for the year. Students may take the AP Psychology exam at the end of the Spring semester if their wish. Open to all 11th and 12th graders. College Psychology II (PSY 215 Human Development I- Infancy/Childhood) (Spring, 3 credits) – Analysis and integration of theoretical and empirical evidence for human development from pre-natal life through late childhood, examination of neurophysiological, cognitive, emotional, motivational and behavioral systems. The application of basic concepts to problems of school and clinic. Open to all 11th and 12th graders. This course culminates in June and students must have been enrolled in the College Psychology I course in the preceding Fall semester. Students must commit to both courses for the year. Students may take the AP Psychology exam at the end of the Spring semester if their wish. Open to all 11th and 12th graders. Advanced Placement Environmental Science - Students will participate and be enriched by a broad understanding of the relationship between human activity and environmental effects. The principles of sustainability will also be studied. You will recognize the effects of large-scale human activities (such as agriculture, resource extraction, energy supply, transport and urbanization) on natural and modified ecosystems, and the options for managing them. You’ll be able to bring together skills from science, technology and social science to investigate and analyze environmental issues that you meet in your life or work and to advocate changes in management and policy. This is a single period. Students MUST take the AP exam in May. Open to all 10th graders. Introduction to Science Research –In this course students will be provided with an opportunity to apply their knowledge of science to real-world ideas and design and present a research study. This will be accomplished through experiments, simulations and projects. Students will also be required to complete a Science Fair project. Open to all 9th graders. Advanced Science Research - A course that prepares students for high-level science inquiry. In this three-year elective, students will investigate cutting-edge research and learn how to present scientific data to a variety of audiences. During the first year, students will select a topic to study and the research will be presented in a school-wide symposium, and for various competitions such as JSHS, NYCSEF etc. Must currently be enrolled in course OR receive recommendation from Freshman Science Research teacher. Open to all 10th, 11th and 12th graders. Forensic Science- Forensics is a one-year investigative science and technology course. Students will learn how to observe, collect, analyze and evaluate evidence found at crime scenes. Some of the many topics covered are fingerprint analysis, bullet trajectory, car crash analysis, hair and fiber comparison, serology and crime scene analysis. Forensics is a demanding, fast-paced course covering a new topic of evidence nearly every week. The culmination of the course will include the analysis of a crime scene. Open to 10th, 11th and 12th graders. Astronomy - This is an introduction to the exciting study of planets, stars, and the universe. The beginning of the year will be devoted to the Earth, the Moon, the Sun, the other planets, and additional bodies such as moons, asteroids, and comets. The latter half of the course will be dedicated to cosmology, or the study of our Universe on a large scale. In this half, stars, nebulae, pulsars, black holes, galaxies, quasars, and the Big Bang Theory will be discussed. Students will learn through hands-on and digital labs, and a trip to a planetarium or observatory may be included. Open to 10th, 11th and 12th graders. Human Anatomy and Physiology – This course gives students insight into the inter-related nature of structure and function within the human body. The inquiry based course explores the hieratical nature of organization within humans from cells to organ systems. Special emphasis is placed on the maintenance of homeostasis and cases of disease within each system. Several topics will be covered including: Cellular Organization and Tissues, The Integumentary System, Skeletal System, Immune System (and disease), Nervous System and Human Development. Students taking this course should have successfully completed Living Environment. A background in chemistry is helpful, but not critical to success. This course culminates in January and students will be enrolled in Biological Pharmacology in the Spring semester. Students must commit to both courses for the year. Open to 10th, 11th and 12th graders. Biological Pharmacology - This course will provide students with an opportunity to apply their studies of chemistry, genetics, cellular and molecular biology in order to understand: how drugs are designed, how they affect the body, and how they are affected by the body. The course will examine current trends in drug develop from a research perspective (approximately 20% of the course). Through class activities and discussion students will research and develop a novel treatment regime for a disease or illness. Using evidence based analysis of biological mechanisms students will present their novel treatment as a capstone project at the end of the course. Topics to be covered include: receptor mechanisms, drug distribution and metabolism, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (among others). Students should have successfully completed Living Environment. A background in chemistry is helpful, but not critical for success. This course provides a glimpse into medical sciences for those students interested in a career in the medical field. This course culminates in June and students must have been enrolled in the Human Anatomy and Physiology course in the preceding Fall semester. Students must commit to both courses for the year. Open to 10th, 11th and 12th graders.

All students must complete four years of Social Studies, including two years of Global Studies (AP or Pre-AP), one year of United States History (AP or non-AP). In the senior year students can take Participation in Government in the Fall term and Economics in the Spring or AP Government with Economics embedded. If students take AP Macroeconomics they do not need to take the Economics course in their senior year. The Global Studies Regents is taken at the end of the sophomore year, and the United States History and Government Regents examination is taken in June of the junior year.

Advanced Placement Human Geography is an introductory college-level human geography course. Students cultivate their understanding of human geography through data and geographic analyses as they explore topics like patterns and spatial organization, human impacts and interactions with their environment, and spatial processes and societal changes. This course is open to 9th graders and is in place of Global History 1 and 2.

Pre-Advanced Placement World History & Geography - This course focuses deeply on the concepts and skills that have maximum value for high school, college, careers, and civic life. The course builds students' essential skills and confidence and helps to prepare them for a range of AP history and social science coursework during high school, including AP Human Geography and AP World History. The learning model is that of a disciplinary apprenticeship, with students using the tools of the historian and geographer as sources, data, and analytical reading and writing take center stage in the classroom. In this course, students learn that historians and geographers are investigators intent on using the tools of their disciplines to uncover new evidence about the world and its inhabitants. This course is in place of Global History 1 & 2 for 9th graders.

Advanced Placement World History – The AP World History course is designed to provide students with a greater understanding of global processes starting with the Scientific Revolution up to the present. This course is in place of Global History 3 & 4 for 10th graders. Students MUST take the AP exam in May.

Global Studies 3 and 4 - Students will learn about the First Global Age and Age of Revolutions and Crises; The Scientific Revolution; the Enlightenment in Europe; the American and French Revolutions; the Age of Napoleon; imperialism (European colonies in Latin America, Asia and Africa); Japanese modernization and imperialism; independence movements in Latin America; political revolutions; the Industrial Revolution and the “isms” (capitalism, liberalism, nationalism, socialism, Marxism); causes and results of World War I; and the causes and impact of World War II. In the spring term they will learn about the Contemporary World; The start of the Cold War; the end of European colonialism in Asia, Africa and the Middle East; economic development in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America since 1945; the role of women; the United Nations; sources of world conflict since 1945; the collapse of Communism and the breakup of the Soviet Union; the environment and sustainability; and achievements in science and technology. Students take the Global History Regents. This course is open to all 10th graders.

Advanced Placement United States History -The course begins with the exploration of the Colonial period and continues through to contemporary times. Students will prepare for the United States History and Government Regents in June. This course is equivalent to a college course; however, grades on the AP exam will determine if college credit will be granted. This course is in place of U.S. History 5 & 6 and open to all 11th graders. Students MUST take the AP Exam in May.

United States History and Government 1 and 2 – Term 1 covers the role of geography in United States history; constitutional foundations of American society through the closing of the frontier. Term 2 covers America from the Progressive Era to the present. This course is open to all 11th graders. This one year course terminates with the US History and Government Regents Exam.

Advanced Placement Government and Politics with Economics embedded - This course is an introductory college course in United States government and politics; one semester in length combined with Economics. Explore governments, politics and societies from countries around the world including Great Britain, China, Russia, Nigeria and Iran. Students will develop a framework to compare modern political systems and understand their interaction in a global environment. Completion of a summer assignment is a requirement of the course. Open to all 12th graders. Students MUST take the AP exam in May.

Participation in Government – The principles of government, politics and law; roles and rights of citizenship; political party system; legal obligations; public policy; and political participation. Open to all 12th graders. Fall semester only.

Economics – The course objective is to provide students with a thorough introduction to economic theory. Starting from the basic ideas of tradeoffs, opportunity costs, and the benefits of trade, students will study how the market forces of supply and demand cause prices to be what they are. Students will achieve a sense of how which market economies are efficient, the ways governments can make economies more or less efficient, and how firms choose their production levels to maximize profits. Open to all 12th graders. Spring semester only.

Advanced Placement Macroeconomics – This course is a college-level introductory course in macroeconomics and may serve as a foundation for possible future study in economics, finance, or business. Students cultivate their understanding of the principles that apply to an economic system as a whole by using principles and models to describe economic situations and predict and explain outcomes with graphs, charts, and data as they explore concepts like economic measurements, markets, macroeconomic models, and macroeconomic policies. Students will also learn about the exciting world of markets and how global finance shapes our lives. This course is open to all 11th and 12th graders. Students MUST take the AP Exam in May.

International Relations - Are you interested in how the world works? How do countries and the people in them make their needs and wants heard in the world arena? This is your chance to understand how governments use power to get things done, and how we can tap into our own power to make things happen! Topics covered will include foreign policy, international conflict, military force, human rights and development, and international law. We will also be part of the Global Concerns Classroom, which works with the international non-governmental organization Concern Worldwide to deal with humanitarian issues. Come ready to think, discuss and find your passion for politics and human rights!

This course culminates in January and students will be enrolled in A Survey of 20th Century Asian History and Politics course in the Spring semester. Students must commit to both courses for the year. Open to all 10th, 11th and 12th graders.

A Survey of 20th Century Asian History and Politics - This course will be an overview of the politics of several Asian nations over the course of the 20th century. It will culminate in a number of simulations using the principles of International Relations in assessing current American foreign policy in these Asian nations. This course culminates in June and students must have been enrolled in the International Relations course in the preceding Fall semester. Students must commit to both courses for the year. Open to all 10th, 11th and 12th graders.

Philosophy - This course will be an introduction to general philosophical thinking. It will focus on and explore various philosophical topics and ideas as well as illustrate how classical and modern thinkers formulate their questions and analyze the various philosophical questions that have been discussed by philosophers for thousands of years. The major goal of this course is for the students to be able to further expand and develop their critical thinking and analytical skills through analyzing and interpreting some of the great philosophical minds in history. This course culminates in January and students will be enrolled in the Business Law course in the Spring semester. Students must commit to both courses for the year. Open to all 10th, 11th and 12th graders.

Business and Personal Law - Do you want to know how the law affects you as a young adult and consumer, as well as into your future? Business and Personal Law is an introductory class pertaining to law in our society with an emphasis on business, consumer applications and a citizen’s role in the legal system. Some of the topics covered are the history of today’s legal system, sources of today’s laws, definitions of particular crimes, the study of contracts, personal property laws, and a variety of other legal topics having to do with our judicial system. Students apply what they learn through studying case laws including: contracts, trial procedures, personal property and consumer protection and rights. Business and Personal Law provides the students with facts and information that will be of value to them in the management of their personal business affairs, as well as in preparing for their life’s work. Their interest in the aspects of civil, criminal, and business law will be broadened and their experiences extended. Students will learn to observe and weigh facts, thereby developing alertness to the changes in business that affects them or other citizens either directly or indirectly. Business and Personal Law is valuable to the everyday person and/or the career-oriented law student. This course culminates in June and students must be enrolled in the Philosophy course in the preceding Fall semester. Students must commit to both courses for the year. Open to all 10th, 11th and 12th graders.

World Mythology – Major units of study in this course will include: What is Mythology, Forces Clashing: Good, Evil, and Everything In-between, The Gods and Goddesses of the World, and The Tales and Myths Themselves. Some of the questions we will seek to answer are: Where do cultural myths come from? What are the ethical and existential conflicts? How are deities traditionally worshipped and how has this changed over time? How are the deities reflected in the forms of fictional representation? This course culminates in January and students will be enrolled in the Creative Writing course in the Spring semester. Students must commit to both courses for the year. Open to all 10th, 11th and 12th graders.

Health Science – This course is designed to explore topics such as exercise science, nutrition, mental illness, coping with stress, managing life skills, and becoming versed in CPR and First Aid. This is a mandatory course for graduation. It is recommended that all students complete the Health course in 9th grade. The course is open to all students in 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade.

Physical Education - Students have the opportunity to choose from activities including, but not limited to, kickball, volley ball, badminton, and jogging around the indoor track. Open to all students in 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade.