Grade 13 - Electives

Business Computer Information Systems (Credit: 1.00)

BCIS is a high school elective that explores the use of technology applications in both business and personal situations. The course provides key knowledge and skills in the following areas: ï‚· communication skills ï‚· business technology ï‚· word processing applications ï‚· spreadsheet applications ï‚· database applications ï‚· telecommunications technology ï‚· desktop publishing technology ï‚· presentation technology ï‚· computer networks ï‚· computer operating systems

Civil War (Credit: 0.50)

Cultural Differences between North and South, slavery, political compromises, Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, violence in Kansas, John Brown, Abolitionist Movement, South seceding from the Union, confederacy, sovereignty, Anaconda Plan, Bull Run, Battle of Shiloh, Peninsular Campaign, Antietam, Battle of Fredericksburg, Chancelorsville, Jefferson Davis, Abraham Lincoln, Battle of Gettysburg, George Meade, Rose O'Neal Greenhow, Ginnie and Lottie Moon, Nancy Hart, Dr. Mary Walker, Harriet Tubman, The Black Brigade of Cincinnati, William Harvey Carney, Vicksburg, Chickasaw Bluffs, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, Battle of Chickamauga, Battle of Chattanooga, Wilderness Campaign, Petersburg, Atlanta Campaign, Sherman's March to the Sea, Union and Confederate Prisons, Battle of Britain

Consumer Math (Credit: 1.00)

Consumer Math is an introduction to the many ways in which math can be used in everyday life. The course gives practical advice on how to handle situations that involve money and math principles. Consumer Math focuses on the basic skills and methods of arithmetic and provides students the opportunity to develop experience with algebraic techniques of evaluating variables and equations, including geometric formulas and interest equations. Students will also be introduced to topics in statistics.  

Digital Arts (Credit: 0.50)

Digital Arts is a semester‐long elective designed to provide computer science students with an introduction to visualization‐graphics programming on computers. To equip students for today’s digitally driven lifestyle, this course focuses on using a digital camera and the practical application of digital imaging and editing programs. Additionally, students will work with audio‐editing programs, and will also examine 3D technology and cinematography.   Throughout the course, students may be asked to answer questions or to reflect on what they’ve read in their notes. The notes are not graded. Rather, they are a way for students to extend their thinking about the lesson content. Students may keep handwritten or typed notes.  

Environmental Science (Credit: 1.00)

Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary course covering a wide variety of topics including biology, physics, geology, ecology, chemistry, geography, astronomy, meteorology, oceanography, and engineering. The course also considers ways in which human populations affect our planet and its processes. Of special emphasis is the concept of sustainability as a means of using resources in a way that ensures they will always be around us. The unifying concepts that tie the different areas of environmental science together are as follows:    Science provides a way to learn more about the world and influences how we understand it.    Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes.    The Earth is one interconnected system.    Humans change natural systems.    Environmental issues have a cultural and social context.    Human existence depends in part on increasing practices that will achieve sustainability.   Students at this level should show development in their understanding of scientific inquiry. The course provides hands‐on labs and research to aid in arriving at a deeper understanding of the environment and the impact of humans on it today and in the past. The labs will call upon students to analyze many different processes and systems, arrive at conclusions, and determine ways in which every person can positively influence the environment.

Essentials of Business (Credit: 0.50)

This semester‐long course is an introduction to the goals, processes, and operations of business enterprises for students. The main focus is on the functions that a company – whether a multinational corporation or a corner grocery store – must manage effectively to be successful. These include accounting, finance, human resource management, marketing, operations management, and strategic planning. Attention is also given to the legal environment in which businesses operate, and the importance of business ethics and corporate citizenship.   Throughout the course, students may be asked to answer questions or to reflect on what they’ve read in their notes. The notes are not graded. Rather, they are a way for students to extend their thinking about the lesson content. Students may keep handwritten or typed notes.  

Essentials of Communication (Credit: 0.50)

Essentials of Communication: A Guide to Interacting Effectively in Today's World™ is a five‐unit elective course for high school students. The materials cover fundamentals of the communication process important for successful interaction in a variety of social and professional settings. Students can use the course to gain and apply knowledge about communication theories, characteristics of language and language use, interpersonal relationships, group dynamics, and public speaking in order to interact more effectively with others. The course seeks to help students expand their knowledge and skills as communicators so that they may achieve the following goals:    Know and understand aspects of communication theories and processes appropriate to both social and professional settings.  Use interpersonal communication strategies appropriately in social and professional settings.  Effectively communicate in social and professional group settings.  Plan, prepare, deliver, and evaluate formal and informal personal and professional presentations. In attaining these goals, students will be better equipped to use communication to hone other life skills, including exchanging information, fulfilling social obligations, developing relationships, and understanding and meeting the needs of others. 

Media Studies (Credit: 0.50)

This semester‐long course is part of a worldwide educational movement called media literacy. The goal of the media literacy movement is to educate people about how the media impacts both individuals and society as a whole. Students will examine media such as magazines, the Internet, video games, and movies. They'll learn the kinds of strategies that advertisers use to persuade people to buy products. They'll also explore how news broadcasters choose which stories to air. Lessons and projects encourage students to examine ways in which media helps shape our culture and the ways in which our culture shapes the media. While many media literacy courses focus upon learning how to make media, this one will focus exclusively on analyzing the media. Throughout the course, students are asked to answer questions or to reflect on what they've read in their notes. The notes are not graded. Rather, they are a way for students to extend their thinking about the lesson content. Students may keep handwritten or typed notes.

Money Matters A (Credit: 0.50)

In this course students will explore global economics, and the impact of the free enterprise system on business and consumers. Students will learn about their financial options and goal-setting based on existing and projected economic indicators. Investments, income taxes, asset planning will also be investigated, as will risk management, and retirement and estate planning.

Money Matters B (Credit: 0.50)

In this course students will explore global economics, and the impact of the free enterprise system on business and consumers. Students will learn about their financial options and goal-setting based on existing and projected economic indicators. Investments, income taxes, asset planning will also be investigated, as will risk management, and retirement and estate planning.

Personal & Family Living (Credit: 0.50)

This semester‐long high school elective takes students on an interactive exploration of the challenges they may face as they transition into adulthood, including constructive conflict resolution, nutrition and health, building healthy families, financial responsibility, and long‐term employment.

Personal Financial Literacy (Credit: 0.50)

Personal Financial Literacy is a semester‐length elective designed to help high school students prepare for success in making financial decisions throughout their lives.   Topics in the course address the advantages of making sound financial decisions in both the short and long term, income planning, money management, saving and investing, and consumer rights and responsibilities.  

Psychology (Credit: 0.50)

Psychology is an introductory elective course for high school students. Throughout the course students will examine influences on human actions and beliefs, factors influencing behavior and perception, and basic psychological theories. Students will develop and apply their understanding of psychology through lessons and projects that require interaction and observation of others.  

Technology & Research (Credit: 0.50)

This semester‐long course uses the topic of technology as a way to help students develop fundamental knowledge of the steps in the research process. During the course, students learn how new technology is developed and evaluate ways that technology affects society. Students learn about the development of the personal computer, robots, blogs, and wikis. They learn research and writing skills such as how to evaluate scientific journal articles, how to write an abstract, and how and when to use different online sources. A majority of the lessons contain optional activities for students. These activities encourage students to reflect on what they’ve learned. The activities are not graded. Rather, they are a way for students to extend their thinking about the lesson content.  

Trigonometry (Credit: 0.50)

Trigonometry is a five‐unit elective course for high school students who have successfully completed Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. The materials cover a development of trigonometry from right triangle trigonometry to oblique triangles and the polar plane. Throughout the course, students will develop trigonometric formulas and use them in real‐world applications, evaluate trigonometric proofs using complex trigonometric identities and solving trigonometric equations with regard to the unit circle.  

Twentieth Century American History (Credit: 0.50)

Twentieth Century American History is a history elective for high school students interested in examining American history during a century of change, continuity, and conflicts. Students will examine America's economic, political, governmental, cultural, and technological growing pains during the twentieth century. They will also consider the causes and effects of national and international cooperation, competition, and conflict.

Vietnam Era (Credit: 0.50)

What comes to mind when you think about the Vietnam Era? For many, that period represents a difficult time in U.S. history. It is defined by an unpopular war that claimed the lives of 58,000 Americans and some 3 million Vietnamese. In this course, you'll look at the history of the Vietnam War. The roots of the conflict stretch further back than you might know. You'll examine why the United States got involved in the conflict and why the United States failed to achieve its objectives. 





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