Quick Reference Terms

Required Course

A department-specific course required for graduation.

Elective Course

A department-specific course not required for graduation.

Prerequisite

A course one must take before taking another course.

Co-requisite

A course one must take along with another course.

Major Course

A “major” typically meets five times in an 8-day cycle and counts as one of the 19 major courses mandated for graduation. There are two kinds of major courses • Required Major: A major course taken to fulfill a department-specific major course requirement. • Elective Major: A major course that is not required but that can count as one of the 19 majors required.

Minor Course

A “minor” meets between two and four times in an 8-day cycle.

Art, Music, Computer Science or Theatre Major

A configuration of minor courses that can, with the permission of the relevant Department Head, form a music, theater, or art major course that counts as one of the major courses for graduation. See department pages for a detailed description.

Overload

When a student takes six major courses rather than the standard five (done only with the permission of the Upper School Division Director).

Advisor

Advisors serve as primary academic counselors, advocates, and facilitators for students within their advisory group as they seek to learn and grow within the Upper School curriculum.

Grade Dean

Grade Deans lead the grade-level team of advisors and teachers, providing additional support, clerking gradelevel meetings, overseeing grade-level programming, and supporting student/ family concerns as needed in consultation with the Upper School Division Director.