Course Descriptions

English

 

EN 109 English 9

 

Grades:  9                                 4 Quarters                         Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: Placement recommendation.  This is a core course. It continues to build literacy skills with a focus on grammar, sentence structure, and English language rules. It is designed to broaden students’ literary knowledge, deepen their thinking about important topics and develop their communication skills.

 

EN 110 English 10

 

Grades:  10                                 4 Quarters                         Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: English 9 or placement recommendation.  This is a core course.  Students will be assigned to read a variety of materials including novels, short stories, classical literature, poetry, and plays.  Students will examine and analyze what they have read and prepare reports of their findings.  Students will be introduced to proper source citation, in accordance to Modern Language Association (MLA) guidelines.  The writing process which includes brainstorming, outlining, drafting, revising, and editing will be introduced and reinforced throughout the year.  A study of vocabulary will be assigned on a weekly basis, and students must demonstrate their understanding of spelling, meaning, and usage of the vocabulary.  Students will be taught the finer points of punctuation and grammar usage in order to work towards becoming refined writers.

 

EN 111 English 11

 

Grades:  11                                 4 Quarters                         Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: English 10 or placement recommendation.  This is a core course.  Students will be assigned to read a variety of material including novels, short stories, classical literature, poetry, and plays.  All reading assignments will continue to develop students’ reading comprehension.  All writing assignments are intended to evaluate and improve students’ understanding of the writing process and develop higher order analytical thinking.  Identifying authors’ tones and intents in reading assignments will become increasingly important for each subsequent assignment.  Students will continue to study new vocabulary on a weekly basis and improve their usage of punctuation and grammar.

 

EN 112 English 12

 

Grades: 12                                  4 Quarters                         Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: English 11 or placement recommendation.  This is a core course.  Students will be assigned to read a variety of material including novels, short stories, classical literature, poetry, and plays.  Students will work towards a mastery of reading comprehension and analysis of assigned texts.  Students will work towards writing in a refined and sophisticated manner.  Students will continue to study new vocabulary on a weekly basis.  Research methodology and principles will be introduced at the start of the school year and continuously developed throughout the year.  Proper source citation in bothMLA and American Psychological Association (APA) formats will be reinforced.  Three research papers will be assigned.

 

Foreign Languages

 

FL 101 Arabic 1

 

Grades: 9, 10, 11                      4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: None.  This course introduces fundamental vocabulary, grammar, structure, and syntax of modern Arabic.  Students will be taught cultural considerations, reading and writing the Arabic alphabet, pronunciation, and conversational speaking.  Teaching approaches include simple conversational dialogues, assigned reading and writing exercises, and personal compositions.

 

FL 102 Arabic 2

 

Grades: 10, 11, 12                       4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: Arabic 1 or placement recommendation.  This course is a continuation from Arabic 1 and emphasizes the study of idiomatic construction and expressions and contemporary media in Arabic.  In addition to student compositions, teaching approaches include oral conversations and discussions and are based on the assigned readings.

 

FL 201 Chinese (Mandarin) 1

 

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12                       4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: None.  This course introduces fundamental vocabulary, grammar, structure, and syntax of modern Mandarin.  Students will be taught cultural considerations, reading and writing Han characters, pronunciation, and conversational speaking.  Teaching approaches include simple conversational dialogues, assigned reading and writing exercises, and personal compositions.

 

FL 202 Chinese (Mandarin) 2

 

Grades: 10, 11, 12                       4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: Chinese 1 or placement recommendation.  This course is a continuation from Chinese 1 and emphasizes the study of idiomatic construction and expressions and contemporary media in Mandarin Chinese.  In addition to student compositions, teaching approaches include oral conversations and discussions and are based on the assigned readings.

 

 

FL 210 French 1

 

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12                       4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: None.  This course introduces fundamental vocabulary, grammar, structure, and syntax of modern French.  Students will be taught cultural considerations, reading and writing, utilizing diacritics, pronunciation, and conversational speaking.  Teaching approaches include simple conversational dialogues, assigned reading and writing exercises, and personal compositions.

 

FL 212 French 2

 

Grades: 10, 11, 12                       4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: French 1 or placement recommendation.  This course is a continuation from French 1 and emphasizes the study of idiomatic construction and expressions and contemporary media in French.  In addition to student compositions, teaching approaches include oral conversations and discussions and are based on the assigned readings.

 

FL 301 Russian 1

 

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12                       4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: None.  This course introduces fundamental vocabulary, grammar, structure, and syntax of modern Russian.  Students will be taught cultural considerations, reading and writing the Cyrillic alphabet, pronunciation, and conversational speaking.  Teaching approaches include simple conversational dialogues, assigned reading and writing exercises, and personal compositions.

 

FL 302 Russian 2

 

Grades: 10, 11, 12                       4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: Russian 1 or placement recommendation.  This course is a continuation from Russian 1 and emphasizes the study of idiomatic construction and expressions and contemporary media in Russian.  In addition to student compositions, teaching approaches include oral conversations and discussions and are based on the assigned readings.

 

FL 401 Spanish 1

 

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12                       4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: None.  This course introduces fundamental vocabulary, grammar, structure, and syntax of modern Spanish.  Students will be taught cultural considerations, reading and writing, utilizing diacritics, pronunciation, and conversational speaking.  Teaching approaches include simple conversational dialogues, assigned reading and writing exercises, and personal compositions.

 

FL 402 Spanish 2

 

Grades: 10, 11, 12                       4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: Spanish 1 or placement recommendation.  This course is a continuation from Spanish 1 and emphasizes the study of idiomatic construction and expressions and contemporary media in Spanish.  In addition to student compositions, teaching approaches include oral conversations and discussions and are based on the assigned readings.

 

History/Social Sciences

 

HS 101 US History

 

Grades: 11                                 4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: World History 1.  This is a core course.  This course will present key events from United States history, from colonization to the modern era.  Topics covered will include the colonial period, American Revolution, the new nation, political growth, Civil War, US role in WW1 and WW2, the Cold War, and modern America.

 

HS 102 US Government

 

Grades: 12                                 4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: US History.  This is a core course.  This course will provide an overview of the American government and political system.  Students will strengthen their understanding of the US government and their ability to understand the politics of the United States.  Topics of discussion include the US Constitution, political parties, special interest groups, political media and press, the branches of the Federal government, and civil rights.

 

HS 201 World History 1

 

Grades: 9, 10                                 4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: None.  This is a core course.  This course will present key worldwide historical events from the times of early civilizations to the present.  Cultures covered will include prehistoric, ancient Americans, China, Greece, and Rome.  Eras covered will include the rise of Christianity, rise of Europe, Byzantine Empire, Muslim world, and kingdoms of Africa.

 

HS 202 World History 2

 

Grades: 10, 11, 12                             4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: World History 1.  This is an elective course.  This course is continuation of the material covered in World History 1 with a focus on the modern world.  Covered historical events include World Wars I and II, renewal of major civilizations, and the industrial revolution.

 

Humanity

 

HU 101 Introduction to Humanity

 

Grades: 9, 10, 11                                      4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: None.  This is an elective course.  An introduction to the humanities through investigation of current cultural events offered by local communities. Study of the arts - painting, sculpture, architecture, drama, film, music and dance - will be enhanced by attending performances and on-location field trips to sites in the community. Students will become familiar with terminology of the arts and with community performance/demonstrations of these same arts.

 

HU 201 Introduction to Business Ethics

 

Grades: 10, 11, 12                                      4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: None.  This is an elective course.  This course offers an introduction into the concept of values, morality, as well as cultural beliefs and upbringing in all areas of business, from consumer rights to corporate social responsibility. Understanding those expectations is the key to communicating core values and behavior not only to employees, but society in general.

 

HU 301 Introduction to Philosophy

 

Grades: 10, 11, 12                                      4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: None.  This is an elective course.  This course will introduce students to the most prominent people, movements, and methods of Western philosophy from ancient times to the present. We will examine the fundamental problems that philosophers have dealt with, as well as the various approaches and arguments they have used. Students will become familiar with the terminology used in philosophical discourse, learn about the historical development of the discipline, and develop their own skills for philosophical argumentation.

 

Mathematics

 

MA 101 Algebra 1

 

Grades: 9, 10                                 4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: None.  Completion of this course will fulfill the mathematics core course requirement.  This course will provide the algebraic fundamentals that are required to succeed in more advanced mathematics.  Such algebraic fundamentals will be applied to a wide range of problem situations.  The following topics will be taught in detail: operations using real numbers; linear equations, graphing, and inequalities; relations and functions; polynomials; algebraic fractions; and non-linear equations.

 

MA 201 Algebra 2

 

Grades:  10, 11                     4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: Geometry or placement recommendation.  Completion of this course will fulfill the mathematics core course requirement.  This course continues to develop the concepts taught in Algebra 1 and Geometry, particularly the study of linear functions and inequalities.  In addition, the following topics will be taught in detail: quadratic, exponential, logarithmic, and rational functions; factoring; equation systems; and conic sections.

 

MA 401 Geometry

 

Grades:  10, 11                           4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: Algebra 1 or placement recommendation.  Completion of this course will fulfill the mathematics core course requirement.  This course will provide the student with the appreciation of the relationship between mathematics and the real world.  Students will be taught the properties of measurement and their relationship with points, planes, lines, surfaces, and angles.  Students will be introduced to postulates, theorems, and geometric proof.

 

MA 402 Trigonometry/Precalculus

 

Grades:  11, 12                      4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: Algebra 2 or placement recommendation.  Completion of this course will fulfill the mathematics core course requirement.  This course will provide the student with the information necessary to understand and perform calculus operations.  The following topics will be taught in detail:  advanced algebraic functions and graphs, exponential and logarithmic functions, trigonometric functions, systems of equations and inequalities, matrices, complex numbers, polar coordinates and equations, and parametric equations.

 

MA 421 Calculus 1

 

Grades:  11, 12                           4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: Trigonometry/Precalculus.  Completion of this course will fulfill the mathematics core course requirement.  This course provides students with knowledge in both differential and integral calculus.  The following topics will be covered in detail: limits, continuity, derivatives, and integrals of algebraic and transcendental functions of one variable.

 

MA 422 Calculus 2

 

Grades:  11, 12                           4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: Calculus 1.  Completion of this course will fulfill the mathematics core course requirement.  This course continues to develop the concepts introduced in Precalculus and Calculus 1.  The following topics will be covered in detail: advanced integration, infinite sequences and series, polar and parametric equations.

 

Music and Fine Arts

 

MF 101 Introduction to Music

 

Grades: 10, 11, 12                          4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: None.  In this course students study the fundamentals of musical structure and composition and study musical trends from a variety of historical periods. The course concentrates on techniques for analysis, ear training, and historical perspectives, and the creative process of musical composition.

 

MF 102 Band (Beginner)

 

Grades: 10, 11                       4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisite: None.  This course will provide students with the opportunity to choose and learn a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument and play their instrument in a group setting.  Development of musical skills will be done through the teaching of musical scales, techniques, and playing beginner musical literature.

 

MF 103 Band (Advanced)

 

Grades: 10, 11, 12                       4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisite: Beginner Band or placement recommendation.  This course is offered to those students who have completed Beginner Band or students who have previous experience with a traditional band instrument.  This course will provide a continued emphasis on the development of musical skills through more advanced musical literature.

MF 111 Chorus (Beginner)

 

Grades: 10, 11                       4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: None.  This course will introduce students to basic singing techniques, musical literacy, and musical theory.  Development of musical skills will be done through teaching singing fundamentals, rehearsing, and performing.

 

MF 112 Chorus (Advanced)

 

Grades: 10, 11, 12                       4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: Beginner Chorus or placement recommendation.  This course is offered to those students who have completed Beginner Chorus or students who have previous experience reading and singing sheet music and with musical theory.  This course will provide a continued emphasis on the development of musical skills through more advanced musical literature.

 

Personal Development

 

PD 201 Financial Planning

 

Grades:  9, 10, 11, 12                      4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: None.  This course will teach students that understanding and managing their personal financial affairs are valuable skills that lead to personal success in life.  Students will be presented with essential knowledge and skills that help them make sound financial decisions as well as optimize their earning and saving potentials.  Additionally students learn to analyze their own financial behaviors and adjust them in accordance to personal goals, budgets, and priorities.

 

PD 222 Public Speaking

 

Grades:  10, 11, 12                      4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: None.  This course will teach, develop, and practice the art of speaking effectively in front of a live audience.  Students will learn how to organize and support their ideas, adapt their message to their audience, and engage their audience with a clear and vivid message.  This course requires regularly practicing speeches in front of an audience.

 

Professional Exploration

 

PE 201 Computer Graphics and Animation

 

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12                       4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: None.  This course will provide an overview of the field of computer graphics, animation, and 3-D effects.  Students will be introduced to sketching, storyboarding, image synthesis, modeling, and animation.  The instructor will provide guidance on the use of such popular software such as Adobe Creative Suite and 3DS Max, as well as insight on various graphic art and animation freeware available to the public.

 

PE 211 Accounting

 

Grades: 10, 11, 12                       4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: None.  This course will provide students the knowledge to build a strong foundation in accounting principles.  Students will learn debit/credit and their role in tracking monetary flow within a business.  The following topics will be covered: terminology, recording transactions, preparing and analyzing financial statements, providing assistance in decision making, and preparing budgets.

 

PE 221 Business Management

 

Grades: 10, 11, 12                       4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: None.  Students will explore common business management and administration practices.  In addition, business concepts such as leadership, communication, teamwork, and organization will be covered.  Students will apply their lessons toward the completion of assigned projects and group work.

 

PE 231 Criminal Justice

 

Grades: 10, 11, 12                       4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: None.  This course will provide an overview of the major elements of a criminal enterprise.  Students will learn to classify and analyze criminal methods and trends.  Students will be introduced to criminal case studies and learn to research their own case studies and develop criminological theories.

 

PE 241 Economics

 

Grades: 10, 11, 12                       4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: None.  In this course, students will study how people, businesses, and governments utilize their resources.  This course will provide basic economic principles of micro and macroeconomics, international economics, comparative economic systems, measurements and methods.

 

PE 251 Information Systems

 

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12                       4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: None.  This course introduces students to computers and information systems.  Students will explore the role of computer information systems in business; hardware and software associated with computing; programming; operating systems; networks; applications; and computer logic.

 

PE 252 Programming

 

Grades: 10, 11, 12                       4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: Algebra 1 or placement recommendation.  This course is designed to teach students how to program computer software; utilize various programming languages; develop good programming style; and design programs.   

 

PE 261 Psychology

 

Grades: 10, 11, 12                       4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: None.  In this course, students will provide an overview of the systematic and scientific study of mental processes and behaviors in humans and animals.  Students will be exposed to various principles and subfields of modern psychology.

 

Sciences

 

SI 101 Biology

 

Grades: 9, 10                                       4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: None.  This is a core course.  Students will explore the many life forms that inhabit Earth, and it will examine their biochemical processes and anatomical components.  Topics of discussion include genetic inheritance, environments, ecology, niches, animal, plant, and micro biology.

 

SI 102 Chemistry

 

Grades: 10, 11, 12                                 4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: Biology.  This is a core course.  Students will discover the important role that chemistry plays within their daily lives and the common world around them.  Topics of discussion include: standard laboratory practice, classification and structure of matter, ratio and proportion of chemical reactions, acid-base chemistry, organic chemistry, thermodynamics, and electrochemistry.

 

SI 103 Physics

 

Grades: 11, 12                                 4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: Chemistry and Algebra 1.  This is a core course.  Students will explore the physical world around them.  This course provides a survey of laboratory physics and will discuss common applications of physics in modern society.  Topics of discussion include: Newtonian mechanics, fluids, heat, thermodynamics waves, sound, and electricity.

 

SI 104 Earth Science

 

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12                                      4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: None.  This is an elective course.  Earth Science is a laboratory science designed to develop in the student an understanding of the earth and the universe around it through the study of topics in meteorology, geology, astronomy, climatology, and oceanography. Introductory principles of astronomy and Earth sciences will be explored, including the solar system, cosmology, plate tectonics, energy, biogeochemical cycles, the atmosphere, and California geology.

 

SI 201 Human Anatomy and Physiology

 

Grades: 11, 12                                      4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: Biology.  This is an elective course.  Students will explore the human body in both form and function.  The first quarter will emphasize the locations and broad functions of the skeletal, muscular, nervous, circulatory, organ, and reproductive systems.  The remainder of the school year will focus on in-depth functions and processes of the above mentioned systems, as well as their relationships to one another.

 

SI 202 Health and Medicine

 

Grades: 11, 12                                      4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: Biology.  This is an elective course.  This course is designed for students interested in medical and associated health careers. It gives an overview of the therapeutic, diagnostic, environmental, and informational systems of the health care industry. Topics include career requirements, medical history, trends in financing health care, ethical and legal responsibilities, human anatomy and physiology as related to the health care profession, client care, safety, first aid, and CPR.

 

SI 203 Infectious Disease

 

Grades: 11, 12                                      4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: Biology.  This is an elective course.  This course includes descriptions of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa, as well as techniques for growing, controlling and treating diseases caused by these organisms. Within the scope of this course are units which discuss how the diseases are diagnosed, and finally, epidemiology and communicability of individual diseases grouped by portals of entry. Prevention and infection control issues as well as current issues surrounding infectious disease may also be discussed.

 

SI 204 US Health Care System

 

Grades: 11, 12                                      4 Quarters                        Credit: 1

 

Prerequisites: Biology.  This is an elective course.  This course provides an overview of the United States healthcare system, including the economic, social, political, and technological forces that shape the industry. The role of state and federal government and regulatory agencies in healthcare delivery is examined. The fundamental roles and responsibilities of healthcare team members are surveyed.