LJCDS Curriculum Guide 2014-2015
UPPER SCHOOL CURRICULUM GUIDE La Jolla Country Day School is college preparatory by design and identity. The Upper School seeks, through the core curriculum, electives, and activities, to put students in a position of having the broadest possible range of choices when it comes time to apply to and succeed in college. Graduation Requirements English Math Social Science
4.0 credits 3.0 credits 3.0 credits
World Language 3.0 credits Science 3.0 credits Fine Arts
1.0 credit
I, II, III, IV required Algebra II required World Cultures & Contemporary Problems I; WCCP II or equivalent; and some form of U. S. History required Two years and through Level 3 required Physics, Chemistry and Biology or AP Biology required One year-long course required
A minimum of twenty credits are required for graduation. Students must carry at least five courses per semester, per year. The only exception is for seniors, who can carry four courses if all graduation requirements have been met and all four of those courses are AP courses (in that case, such students can graduate with 19 credits). Seventeen of the twenty minimum credits must conform to the above graduation requirements; the remaining three credits can be taken in any department. may In order to put its most able students in the strongest possible position to apply to competitive colleges, Country Day offers a broad range of Advanced Placement courses in which students may earn transferable college credit. Each year the College Board provides examinations which are given to students who are enrolled in Advanced Placement courses. It is not uncommon for Country Day graduates to be accepted to college with “advanced standing� in several subject areas. The Upper School offers Advanced Placement options in English, American history, European history, World history, United States government, calculus, statistics, chemistry, biology, physics, French, Spanish, Mandarin, psychology, studio art, art history and music. All Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors courses require approval and/or completion of prerequisites for admission into the course. All Honors and AP courses require an annually renewed approval from the current teacher and, in some cases, the department chair. It is not unusual for students to switch on and off the Honors/AP track at different points in time. Some non-AP/Honors courses have prerequisites; please check with the course instructor and/or department chair for additional information. 2
LJCDS Curriculum Guide 2014-2015 Core vs. Elective Courses Core courses count towards the graduation requirement in a particular discipline. Elective courses (including all courses labeled “semester electives”) contribute to the five course minimum per semester and count in the GPA, but do not fulfill the graduation requirements in a particular discipline. Core courses that are taken above and beyond the requirements are considered elective courses. Unless otherwise noted, all courses listed are approved by the University of California to meet their minimum requirements for admission. The La Jolla Country Day School graduation requirements are aligned to meet or exceed UC/Cal State University requirements. Additional Requirements • • • •
•
Freshman Orientation participation Experiential Education/College Trips participation Community Service: at least 40 hours, including 10 on-campus hours Physical Education/Athletics: A minimum total of four trimesters of physical education and/or seasons of athletics during upper school. Physical Education/Athletic credit may also be earned through the independent PE and summer strength and conditioning programs. Please see athletic department handbook for details. Load: Each semester, a student must carry a minimum of five courses. Students are not permitted to carry seven courses per semester. Exception: Seniors may take four courses if all are AP classes and they have permission from the Director.
3
LJCDS Curriculum Guide 2014-2015
COURSE SUMMARY
All Honors and AP courses have performance-related prerequisites and require departmental approval English 4.0 credits I, II, III or IIIH, IV or AP IV required • English I (9) • English II (10) • English III (11) • American Studies: English (11) • Honors English III (11)(by application) • English IV (12) • AP English IV (12)(by application) Electives: • Creative Writing (9-12)(1 semester)(Semester 2) • Honors Creative Writing (9-12) (1 semester)(Semester approval/prerequisite: Creative Writing) • Shakespeare (10-12)(1 semester)(Semester 2) Mathematics 3.0 credits Algebra II required • Algebra I • Algebra IB • Geometry • Geometry Honors • Algebra IIA • Algebra IIB • Algebra II w/ Trig • Algebra II Honors • Precalculus • Precalculus Honors • Math Topics • Calculus (1 semester) • Statistics (1 semester) • AP Calculus AB • AP Calculus BC • AP Statistics • Honors Linear Algebra
4
2)
(instructor
LJCDS Curriculum Guide 2014-2015 World Language 3.0 credits Two years and through Level 3 required • Spanish I • Spanish II • Spanish III • Spanish Intensive Honors • Spanish IV • AP Spanish Language and Culture • Spanish V • AP Spanish Literature and Culture • French I • French II • French III • Français Intensive Honneurs • French IV • AP French Language and Culture • French V • French V Honneurs (Literature) • Mandarin I • Mandarin II • Mandarin III • Mandarin III Honors • Mandarin IV • Mandarin IV Honors • Mandarin V • AP Chinese Language and Culture Science 3.0 credits Physics, Chemistry and Biology or AP Biology required • Physics • Accelerated Physics • AP Physics 2 • Chemistry • Honors Chemistry • AP Chemistry • Biology • AP Biology
5
LJCDS Curriculum Guide 2014-2015 Science (continued) Electives: • Robotics (9-12)(1 or 2 semesters) • Science & Society (11-12)(1 or 2 semesters) • Marine Biology (1 semester)(Sem 1)(prerequisite is Biology) • Biotechnology (1 semester)(Sem 2)(prerequisite is Biology) • Neuroscience Honors (12)(prerequisite is AP Biology) Social Science/History 3.0 credits World Cultures & Contemporary Problems I; WCCP II or equivalent; and some form of U. S. History required • World Cultures & Contemporary Problems I • World Cultures & Contemporary Problems II • AP World History • AP European History • US History • American Studies: History • AP US History Electives: • Trivium Honors (10-12) • Psychology (11-12)(1 semester)(Sem 2) • Microeconomics (11-12)(1 semester)(Sem 1) • Macroeconomics (11-12)(1 semester)(Sem 2) • Theory of Knowledge – An Introduction to Philosophy (12) • US Government • AP US Government (12) • AP Psychology (12) • AP Art History Visual & Performing Arts 1.0 credit One year-long course required • Studio Art I • Studio Art II • Studio Art III • AP Studio Art: 2-D Design • AP Studio Art: Drawing • Graphic Design • Digital Photography • Architecture (can also be taken for one semester) • Ceramics (10-12)(can also be taken for one semester) • Filmmaking • Film Studies • Honors Film Studies (10-12)(prerequisite: Film Studies) 6
LJCDS Curriculum Guide 2014-2015 • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Art History AP Art History (under some situations this may be considered a Social Science elective course) Concert Choir Madrigal Singers Honors Band Chamber Orchestra Honors Orchestra (by audition) AP Music Theory (with instructor approval) Introduction to Acting/Theater Technical Theater Play Production (10-12)(UC approval pending) Dance Foundations (formerly Dance I) Dance Technique and Performance (formerly Dance II)(with instructor approval)
Non-Departmental • AP Computer Science • Computer Programming • Intermediate Computer Science
7