BrightThinker

ACCOUNTING I

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Elective

In the Accounting I Jump Course for high school, students will learn a basic overview of the different functions in accounting. This includes rules for financial reporting and the parts of the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of stockholders’ equity and retained earnings. Students will then be guided through the accounting cycle, learning how to create these documents and utilize them within a corporation. Students will journalize payments and invoices in accounts payable and accounts receivable, understand the different methods of inventory, and calculate payroll and taxes. Students will complete the course with the Accountant Simulation Project, an assignment where they will fulfil all steps of the accounting cycle without guidance and then present a completed cycle with notes for future opportunities for their simulated corporations.

ACCOUNTING II

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Elective

Accounting II expands upon the concepts originally introduced in Accounting I. The course begins with an investigation into laws and regulations that accountants must follow to manage business operations, such as the role of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Students will understand and demonstrate completing corporate assignments, including the analysis and production of consolidated financial statements and tax accounting. Students will determine financial ratios, business liquidity, profitability, return on assets, and efficiency ratios among other accounting functions. The content will then transition to managerial accounting concepts which will include costs and cost drivers, cost accounting decision making, and cost allocation functions. Students will also learn the principles of using financial resources to ensure business stability such as depreciation, payback periods, budgeting, management of corporate stock, and cash flows.

ADVANCED LITERATURE COMPREHENSION

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

This semester course provides an exploration of proven masters in major genres, including epic poetry, short story, drama, and the novel. Major themes include love of self, of others, and of principle.

ADVERTISING

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

The Advertising course teaches the principles and practices of advertising as an integral part of marketing communication. The course begins with a look at the professional opportunities available in the advertising field. Students are asked to consider environmental, ethical, and other professional responsibilities. They learn about the marketing research process and the components of advertising using the PESO model. Students apply demographics, segmentation, and the four major sales channels to define target markets and make a sales presentation. In the final Module, students use the knowledge gained about the product cycle to complete a final project simulating a promotional campaign for a new product.

ART HISTORY

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Fine Arts

Art History will help students develop skills to recognize and appreciate the diversity of art. The course begins with prehistoric and ancient art before introducing students to the classical art of the Greeks and Romans. Students will survey medieval art before exploring the glory days of art and architecture, the Renaissance. The use of light and shadow to evoke emotion during the Baroque period will impress students as will the whimsical style of the Rococo period. Students will contrast the Neoclassical return to idealized subjects with the Romantic era’s imagination. Appreciation of art will grow as students study Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists such as Monet and Van Gogh. The course concludes with students tracing modern art movements, including expressionism, minimalism, as well as conceptual art and artists, including Rodin, Picasso, Mondrian, and O’Keeffe.

ASTRONOMY

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Elective

Beginning with a look at astronomy’s history, students will recognize the contributions of Ptolemy, Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton to our understanding of the universe. The second unit investigates telescopes and detectors such as radio receivers. An examination of the characteristics and processes of the Sun will be followed by a look at the terrestrial planets: Mercury, Venus, and Mars. After studying the Earth-Moon system, students will explore facts about the minor planets, Jupiter, Saturn, and the outer planets. Moving beyond the solar system, students will learn the characteristics of stars, galaxies, and deep space objects. Students will better appreciate the night sky after learning the constellations and will ponder the origin and fate of the universe with an inquiry into impermanence, special and general relativity, and cosmology.

AUTOMOTIVE BASICS

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

Automotive Basics is an introductory course about basic maintenance of automobiles and how the components (engine, wheels, breaks, etc.) work.

BIBLE LITERACY NEW TESTAMENT

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

The New Testament (NT) course will equip students with a basic literacy of the NT scriptures. To begin, students will explore the history and characteristics of the NT, survey each book, and recognize the centrality of Jesus of Nazareth. An inquiry into the Christian era will inform students of the NT impact on children, slavery, women, marriage, and education. Students will investigate the profound influence of the NT on politics, limited government, and the concept of justice as seen in important American events including the American Revolution and the U.S. Constitution. Students will understand the effect of the NT on literature after reading selections from Great Expectations, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and other literature. The course concludes with an examination of artwork related to NT events including the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

BIBLE LITERACY OLD TESTAMENT

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

The Old Testament (OT) course will equip students with a basic literacy of the Hebrew scriptures. The course begins with an examination of the major divisions, authorship, and translations of the OT before surveying each individual book. The second unit examines the impact of the OT on worldview, society and morals, family, human fallibility, modern science, and the value of human life. Students will recognize the impact of Hebrew scriptures on important events and historical documents including the Reformation, the Magna Carta, and the U.S. Constitution. Students will next probe the influence of the OT on language, culture, and literature, including idioms, Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Handel’s Messiah, Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost, and spirituals. The course will conclude by introducing students to the influence of OT on artworks including The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo.

BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

In this course, students will learn practical applications of mathematical skills such as buying a car, home, and insurance; budgeting; bank services; and savings and investing.

BUSINESS AND CONSUMER MATH

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Elective

This course is designed to help prepare students for the business world. The course dives into appropriate business written communication and interpersonal skills.

BUSINESS LAW

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

Business Law introduces students to the laws and court procedures that pertain to business owners and consumers.

CAREER AND COLLEGE EXPLORATION

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

This Career and College course is designed to help high school students start to plan for life after high school. It has students evaluate their skills and make goals for the future that will help them to have successful careers post high school. This course is good for students who may not be sure of their post high school goals.

CAREER PREPARATION I

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Elective

In Career Prep, students are given tools to be successful in future careers. The career clusters and their associated career paths are the focus of the course. Students will learn how to survey the job market, fill out paperwork, and thrive in the workplace. Students will create an electronic portfolio throughout the course. The portfolio includes letters of interest to employers, resumés and cover letters, interview preparation documents, a career plan, as well as other reports. The course is designed for students who are currently working and can leverage real-life experience into their course projects.

CHILD DEVELOPMENT

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

Child Development prepares students to understand the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth and development of children. The course is designed to help young people acquire knowledge and skills essential to the care and guidance of children as a parent or caregiver. Emphasis is on helping students create an environment for children that will promote optimum development. Students also investigate careers in child development.

CLOTHING FASHION FUNDAMENTALS

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

Clothing Fashion Fundamentals includes a history of fashion, surveys current fashion designers, and introduces students to careers in clothing and fashion design. Students who take this course will also learn how to apply the fundamentals of fashion to their own wardrobe.

COUNSELING AND MENTAL HEALTH

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Elective

This course is a Career and Technical Education course for use in the Health Science or Human Services career pathways. The course covers general topics for personal and professional development (soft skills), such as time management, critical thinking, and problem-solving, communication, team building, ethics, and character. It also focuses on many mental health topics, including the history of mental health care, modern mental health care systems, the nervous system, mental health across life stages, stress, depression, and other mental disorders. Students research the professional development of workers in the mental health field, such as the scope of practice, ways to recognize abuse, and methods for adapting to change. Student and professional organizations for career development are discussed as well. The course ends with activities exploring careers and researching training opportunities.

CREATIVE WRITING

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

This semester course guides students in writing fiction by learning and using the elements of creative writing: plot, character development, dialogue, description, scene, transition, and point of view. Two short stories are required.

DIGITAL AUDIO TECHNOLOGY

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

This course will provide an introduction to Digital Audio Technology. It will give an overview of the history of audio recording, including inventors and the technology they developed. The course will also focus on the current trends in digital audio technology, such as computer music, digital audio workstations, and building a recording studio. Each step in the audio production cycle will be discussed along with the equipment and programs used. Script writing, audio assets, sound effects, and music for film are also discussed in the course. The course will further analyze the audio production industry by examining career path opportunities, educational options, and industry certificates that can be obtained. Ethical concerns will be addressed as well as the legal aspects of the profession. Employability skills such as interviewing, budgeting, and writing cover letters and resumes will also be developed.

DIGITAL DESIGN AND MEDIA PRODUCTION

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Fine Arts

Digital Design and Media Production is designed to provide students with a comprehensive introduction to the principles and practices of graphic design, video production, and social media marketing. The course covers various topics, including audience identification, graphic design elements and principles, advertising and marketing, videography, and social media. Students will learn the importance of planning and research in communication as well as fair use and copyright laws. They will also develop skills in logo design, videography, and social media marketing while producing a 60-second news package and an ad plan tailored to their target audience. Students will critically analyze the growth of social media and explore the impact of the internet on the advertising and marketing world. Through a combination of lessons, hands-on activities, and projects, students will gain valuable media production experience in an increasingly digital world.

DRAWING

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Fine Arts

A hands-on drawing semester course that introduces students to different drawing techniques. Students will create various art projects based on the techniques they learned.

ENGLISH USAGE

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

This is an introductory writing course designed to create a full foundation for the English language by focusing on the basics of grammar, such as parts of speech, types of sentences, and commonly misused words. This course prepares students to read and write within the conventions of English.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Elective

The Entrepreneurship course is designed to grow the student’s passion for starting, growing, and excelling in business ventures. The student will explore the basics of starting a business, from brainstorming great concepts to execution and profitability. Entrepreneurship includes more than just starting businesses, but explores the ventures of product development, marketing, distribution, and sales. The student will expand his or her knowledge in the areas of proper product and service pricing, financial planning and growth, accounting and bookkeeping, fundraising, marketing research, and business law. The course asks the student to practice the knowledge and skills he or she has gained by developing and writing a business plan for their very own business venture. The student will gain a complete understanding of what it takes to make a business a success and possibly gain a desire to actually start a company from scratch.

ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Elective

Semester A and B available. High school elective introduces students to career opportunities and educational pathways in a wide array of environmental fields. Students examine environmental legislation and regulations, government agencies and organizations, monitoring and testing methods and requirements. They discover the relationship between environmental regulations and careers, and study the issues, history, and current status of air and water quality, soil and atmospheric conditions. In an environmentally challenged world, ESS professionals are critically important. Job outlooks and salary scales reflect this need for educated, dedicated researchers, scientists, engineers, etc.

FOOD AND NUTRITION

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Elective

In this hands-on food and nutrition course, students will use a variety of sources and activities to discover how food affects the way their body works, including cooking meals, researching individual nutrition needs, tracking eating habits, and planning meals based on scientific guidelines. Students will also learn about different careers related to food and nutrition through interviews with various professionals in the field.

FORENSIC SCIENCE

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Elective

In Forensic Science, students discover the history of forensic science and how this career field has evolved over time. Students begin their study with a survey of forensic science career subspecialties, and their roles in helping to solve crimes. Students discuss the types of criminal evidence that forensic investigators often encounter at a crime scene, as well as how to collect, handle, and process that evidence. Students will explore examples ranging from bloodstains, DNA, impressions, fingerprints, and hair and nails, to evidence gathered by anthropological analysis and ballistics. Students equip themselves with opportunities to use scientific and law-based methods to analyze criminal evidence throughout this course. Students draft toxicology reports and perform other forensic activities to practice the art of preserving criminal evidence. The course concludes with a demonstration of the forensic importance of questioned documents, and a peek into the future of forensics.

GRAPHIC DESIGN AND ILLUSTRATION I

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Fine Arts

Graphic Design and Illustration I is an introductory course that explores the elements, principles, and tools of the graphic design and illustration industries. Students begin the course by analyzing the various elements of design such as color, shape, and value and applying them to unique works of their own. Personal projects include product label design, logo design, figure drawing, designing type, and more. The course focuses on design tool basics such as software applications and computer hardware. The student will practice design skills directly on computer applications while exploring other key professional skills such as creating design proposals, typography, cyber security, printing, copyright laws, artist critiques, and other career tools. The course concludes by having students assemble a graphic design and illustration portfolio. Their portfolio can be used for art school applications, job placement, or general professional development.

GRAPHIC DESIGN AND ILLUSTRATION II

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Fine Arts

Graphic Design and Illustration II builds on the visual concepts explored in Graphic Design and Illustration I. Students take a deeper analysis into design concepts and equip themselves with new Projects and design application training opportunities. Students reexamine design principles and elements, effective color use, typography, and design for campaigns and products. Students practice designing promotional materials, product labels, and architectural illustration, as well as designing for a local nonprofit and exploring cybersecurity principles. Students prepare for employability by building a personal promotional website, portfolio, résumé, and cover letter. The course concludes with combining these materials to complete an industry-related job application.

HEALTH I

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

High School Health I is a course focused on empowering late adolescents with skills and knowledge in order to maximize healthy decision-making. The course will allow students to explore a general approach to topics, such as nutrition and fitness, disease prevention, healthy risk-taking, health services, drug-use prevention, STDs, and abstinence. Students will focus on ways to maximize their physical, emotional, and social health. This is accomplished by promoting healthy relationships with family and peers, understanding the health risks of drug use and sexual activity, all the while providing skills for avoiding unhealthy decisions. Throughout this half-credit course, students will become empowered as agents over the future of their own health.

HOME GARDENING

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

This course introduces students to vegetable gardening, including design, preparation, planting, and growing.

HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Elective

Human Growth and Development guides the student through the biological, physical, social, and emotional development of humans. The course is structured to explore growth and development at various life stages. The first Module analyzes stages of prenatal development, prenatal care and nutrition, and genetics. The course continues by exploring sequential human growth stages such as infants, early childhood, adolescence, and early, middle, and late adulthood. Each Module contains hands-on projects, equipping the student to dig deeper into topics such as psychosocial and emotional development while speaking directly to individuals in these various life stages. The course explores theories of development, societal and cultural influences, and concludes by analyzing growing career opportunities in human development.

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

Human Resource Management (HRM) is vital to every organization. In this course, students will discover the role of the human resource manager. They will define the role, as well as policies, procedures, and legal requirements within the role. Students will also cover the life cycle of the employee, including hiring practices, training, labor laws, discipline, reward, benefits, and termination. Students will discover how to be human resource professionals as liaisons for both the organization and the employees. Students will learn how to enforce employer responsibilities while protecting employee rights. Through a better understanding of human resource management, students will learn how to become better managers and employees in the future.

INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Elective

Instructional Practices provides the student with foundational knowledge and skills in education theory, development, and delivery. The course begins by exploring the history of education and identifying characteristics of highly effective teachers, trainers, and educational settings. Instructional strategies and theories of the learning process are introduced to the student, as well as training methods for effective course planning and delivery. Verbal, written, and electronic communication skills are enhanced to prepare the student for professional discussions with educators, parents, and other stakeholders. Research projects are included in the course to help hone student skills related to the developmental theory, adult learning theory, and pedagogy. Technology will be utilized to develop original content, instructional materials, and assessments. Specialized topics such as special education and ethical responsibilities in teaching and learning are highlighted throughout the course. The course concludes with an opportunity to conduct field study research and observe a professional educator while assessing their preferred instructional strategies.

INTERIOR DESIGN

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

This course is an introduction to interior design. Students will learn the fundamentals of design and their application to interiors as they create designs and share them with their peers.

INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Fine Arts

This comprehensive introduction to music begins with basic musicianship and evolves into music history, covering genres from the Medieval period through current Western popular music. Musical theatre and art music from India and Bali will also be addressed.

JOURNALISM

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

In this semester course, students will learn the fundamentals of modern journalism: reporting, interviewing, writing techniques, censorship issues, page design, and broadcast journalism.

KEYBOARDING

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

This course will guide students through attaining proficiency in touch typing and word processing skills. In an increasingly digital world, the ability to quickly and accurately type and create well-formatted documents will prove invaluable and advantageous in completing schoolwork, communicating professionally, and pursuing personal education and career goals.

LIFETIME FITNESS & WELLNESS PURSUITS

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Elective

Lifetime Fitness & Wellness Pursuits guides the student through a variety of topics relating to physical activities and methods for pursuing a healthy lifestyle. This course is structured to provide both academic knowledge relating to fitness and participation in a variety of physical activities. Subjects studied include biomechanical principles, fitness and equipment safety, anaerobic and aerobic exercises, hydration best practices, social and emotional health, and more. Fitness projects focus on topics including power, speed, reaction time, cardiovascular health, teamwork, and warm-up and cool-down techniques. Finally, the student will develop both personal nutrition and fitness plans to be consistently utilized within daily life.

LITERARY GENRES

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Additional Core

Literary Genres is a senior level course in which students will explore and analyze a variety of literature. A grammar review precedes a study of rhetorical and literary devices, as well as a brief survey of the major literary forms. Students will read a variety of fictional selections and stories including The Canterbury Tales, various mythologies, Beowulf, Hansel and Gretel, Dracula, and Edgar Allan Poe's The Masque of the Red Death. Students will better understand drama after reading excerpts from William Shakespeare's plays and will contemplate timeless poems by Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, Lord Byron, and other poets. Comparing and contrasting speeches by Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan will assist students in analyzing persuasive texts. The course concludes with a look at perspective in nonfiction texts, such as diaries and autobiographies.

LOGIC I

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

The Logic I course will improve the critical thinking skills of students through the study of informal logic. The course will challenge students to evaluate whether humans are rational or emotional beings. The majority of the course explores occurrences of faulty reasoning known as logical fallacies. Students will learn to recognize and expose fallacies when evaluating and critiquing arguments. Fallacies covered include appeal to fear, irrelevant thesis, straw man, false analogy, red herring, and misuse of statistics. Students will apply the study of types, components, and principles of argumentative dialogue in preparing a dialogue of their own. During the course, students will consider and analyze Aesop’s Fables and “The Cave” by Plato. The course concludes with a comprehensive review of fallacies and a preview of formal logic.

LOGIC II

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

Logic II introduces the student to the world of Aristotelian formal logic. Students will use classical tools, including the Porphyrian tree and Euler's circles to translate arguments into propositions organized within the categorical form. Students will also learn to analyze the validity of arguments using the square of opposition, terminological rules, Venn diagrams, and the Barbara, Celarent, Darii, Ferio mnemonic. The course concludes with an evaluation of presuppositional disputes and a survey of hypothetical syllogisms.

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Elective

Medical Terminology is a course for students with an interest in the medical field. This course provides students with knowledge of Latin and Greek roots, prefixes, and suffixes in addition to combining forms and eponymous terms related to the many systems of the human body. Students are also able to learn more about the many professions, specialists, and treatment plans associated with different areas of the body. This course introduces new ways of looking at the body through the lens of medical terms and their origins.

METEOROLOGY

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

In Meteorology, students will learn how severe weather conditions like hurricanes, tornadoes, and thunderstorms develop. In this nonmathematical look at meteorology, students will also learn why the earth has seasons and how water in the atmosphere affects weather.

MONEY MATTERS

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Elective

Money Matters is a CTE course introducing students to basic financial concepts, institutions, and careers. Students will explore professional business practices before surveying financial industry careers. They will then investigate business types and the rights of consumers. A survey of banking is followed by an investigation of credit, loans, and identity theft. Students will examine economic concepts including unemployment, inflation, international business, and the role of the Federal Reserve System. Before exploring taxes and financial records, students will learn the importance of investing and analyze how different types of investments can contribute to a sound portfolio. The course concludes with a look at managing risk through the use of insurance products. Practical projects include reconciling a bank account, preparing a federal income tax Form 1040, and creating a budget.

MUSIC APPRECIATION

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Fine Arts

This course is designed to help the non-musician understand music basics, including such topics as reading a musical score, melody and harmony, rhythm, music history (styles by period), music theory, musical genres, instruments, orchestration, and arrangement. The course even covers the creation of musical scores using popular music arrangement software. Other topics include the science of musical sound, health and wellness for performers, classical symphony concerts, besides opera performances and etiquette when attending. The course strives to help non-musicians gain an understanding of the world of music and to become well-rounded individuals.

PERSONAL FINANCIAL LITERACY

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Personal Financial Literacy

The Personal Finance course introduces students to strategies and practices that empower them to manage their money wisely. Students first perform a self-analysis to discover their money personality. A study of good consumer habits includes a comparison of renting and buying. Students learn the steps to building wealth, including building an emergency fund, evaluating and embracing risk when investing, and using credit sparingly and wisely. A survey of consumer rights accompanies the steps recommended to protect one's personal information. Students survey types of insurance and evaluate the role of each in limiting personal financial risk. The course concludes with an entire Unit dedicated to evaluating higher education opportunities, costs, and funding.

PREPARING FOR RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

This course is designed for prospective parents. It focuses on financial, emotional, coping, and communication skills.

PRINCIPLES OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Elective

Business Management is an integral part of the Business, Marketing, and Finance Career and Technical Education clusters. Students will examine evolving views of management with an emphasis on leadership. Next, students will consider ethical case studies and analyze the strengths and weaknesses of various organizational structures. In units 4 through 6, students will analyze the decision-making process as it applies to management issues, such as quality control and improving communication. Beginning with unit 7, students will investigate employee compensation and legal matters concerning hiring and firing. The course concludes with a presentation of practical tools to build one's personal habits and to nurture team building.

PRINC OF BUSINESS, MARKET, & FINANCE

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Elective

The Principles of Business, Marketing, and Finance course will expand the student's knowledge in the many areas of business and free enterprise. The majority of the course takes a comprehensive look at business disciplines such as analyzing goods versus services, economics, financial management, principles of personal finance, marketing, the global economy, and government in business. The student will gain soft skills such as understanding business ethics, leadership, and the management of employees. The student will gain hard skills such as product management, finances, marketing campaigns, and sales. The course then takes a practical look at career opportunities in business and the professional skills needed to excel within the industry. The student will finish the course with a broad grasp on the principles of starting, operating, and managing a successful company.

PRINC OF GOV'T & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Elective

Principles of Government and Public Administration (PGPA) introduces students to careers in public policy. PGPA explores government from the perspective of government and private-sector employees as well as elected officials. In this course, students examine different career avenues and their ethical and professional standards. PGPA introduces students to theories of governmental development alongside the constitutional principles underlying America's federal and unitary forms of government. Students learn about the public official's responsibility to protect citizens' rights to due process and discover how interest groups influence public policy. Students then analyze the effect of policymaking on both the culture and society of the nation and foreign policy. The course concludes with an investigation into the role of government in a free-market economy, including its ability to stimulate invention and innovation.

PRINCIPLES OF EDUCATION & TRAINING

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Elective

Through an examination of the Principles of Education and Training, students will study the roles and responsibilities of teachers, administrators, and administrative support professionals. Students will analyze the characteristics, qualities, and traits of highly successful educators. Students will evaluate a variety of educational options available on their road to becoming professional educators. Students will also study the opportunities and paths possible when becoming corporate trainers or independent contractors, providing training services to a variety of clients. Throughout this course, students will have learned methods of classroom instruction and ways to develop Lesson plans. Students will use critical thinking skills to develop their own personal philosophy of education. Students will learn via the perspectives of students, teachers, and support professionals using real-life examples and situations to explore what it means to be an educator for life. Students will end this course by developing a graduation plan that leads to their calling as professional educators.

PRINCIPLES OF HEALTH SCIENCE

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Elective

This course is designed to help prepare students for a career in the health science field. It covers healthcare systems and the roles of team members within these institutions. The course has many opportunities for students to explore the various careers within the healthcare field. It emphasizes the personal and professional skills required to succeed in this arena, including personal character qualities, teamwork, and leadership. Coverage includes the science of healthcare, including measurement, SI system, anatomy and physiology, and safety practices. It covers topics of healthcare at various life stages, from birth to death. Laws and regulations, best practices, and professional ethics are discussed, as well. Because this course has a careers emphasis, other topics covered include career preparation, the role of student and professional organizations, and the state of the health-care career field.

PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN SERVICES

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

This course enables students to investigate careers in human services including counseling, mental health, early childhood development, family and community, and personal care services. Each student is expected to complete the knowledge and skills essential for success in high-skill, high-wage, or high-demand careers. Skills learned in this course includes: responsible decision-making, setting both short- and long-term goals, and knowing how to react to and handle high stress crisis situations.

PRINCIPLES OF LAW, SAFETY, & SECURITY

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Elective

Principles of Law, Public Safety, Corrections, & Security explores the foundational elements of our legal system alongside the work of public servants and first responders. The course begins by taking a broad perspective on the origin of law and the U.S. Constitution. Constitutional rights of citizens are defined and applied to specific areas of public service. In the area of law, the student will analyze the role and importance of the court system, the responsibilities of lawyers, and general courtroom procedures. In the area of public safety, the student will explore the roles of first responders such as police, firefighters, and EMTs. In the area of corrections, the student will learn crime classification, the differences between prisons and jails, and the various levels and functions of criminal courts. The student will also understand the work of both public and private security, including private bodyguards protecting celebrities and security for major public events. By the end of the course, the student will know the careers related to public service and law, the ethical considerations of each, and the pathways required to gain these careers.

PSYCHOLOGY

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Additional Core

The Psychology course begins with a look at basic social science skills including ethical decision-making and statistical evaluation. After a brief survey of careers in psychology, the student will explore the physical processes of the brain and body systems that shape sense and perception. The student will then study theories of development, personality, and conditioning. Next, students will explore mental processes behind thinking and memory, language acquisition, motivation, and emotions. Students will investigate the levels of consciousness and disorders leading to abnormal behavior. The course concludes with an examination of the individual and social behavior. Students will learn about stress, attitude formation, conflict resolution, conformity and obedience, altruism, and morality.

READING AROUND THE WORLD

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

This reading course takes students on a literary journey around the world by reading the adventures of Harry Potter, Gandhi's words of wisdom, Chilean folk tales, and much more while learning about important pre-, during-, and after-reading techniques.

READING COMPREHENSION

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

This semester course will identify important strategies to help students understand and remember what they have read. It will help students improve their reading speed and comprehension through carefully designed exercises. Fluency and vocabulary will be included with comprehensive skills.

RECREATIONAL READING

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

This semester course is all about giving students the tools to become better readers and more appreciative of good books; this will help them understand the joy that comes from recreational reading. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, 'Tis the good reader that makes the good book. Students will learn reading strategies that will help them not only become better readers but also enjoy reading even more.

SOCIOLOGY

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Additional Core

This semester course is a study of the way groups act and think as a result of socialization. It also focuses on students' roles in society and how they can personally make a difference.

SPEECH

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Speech

Speech Communication seeks to improve the interpersonal and public communication skills of students. Surveying the communication process, students will learn the components and functions of communication, differentiate between oral and nonverbal communication, and comprehend the listening process. Developing familiarity with self and personal strengths and weaknesses, students will boost self-confidence as public speakers in situations such as speeches or interviews. The course will culminate with students applying their acquired communication skills in researching, preparing, and giving a speech.

SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

In Sports and Entertainment Marketing, students will explore the foundational elements of marketing as they pertain to the sports and entertainment industries. Students will primarily focus on the sports market, but other entertainment industries are analyzed as well, including music, theater, and television. Sports and Entertainment Marketing will require students to practice targeted marketing and segmentation as they relate to entertainment. Students will engage in several projects, including developing a ticket sales strategy, planning game operations, creating event strategies, and making a sports press kit. Students will investigate the distribution of sports and entertainment media, the fan experience, promotional plans, sponsorships and endorsements, as well as business ethics and sports legislation. By the end of this course, students will have an understanding of the career pathways and opportunities available in the sports and entertainment industries.

TECHNICAL WRITING

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

This semester course is designed to help students write to convey information clearly, concisely, and accurately; to experience comprehensive editing and copyediting; and to write instructions and memos. This course will also help students improve their writing style.

WEB COMMUNICATIONS

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Computer Technology

In Web Communications, students learn how to be good digital citizens. Rights, responsibilities, and digital communication tools are explored. Students learn how to search and choose valid internet sources for research while gaining a deeper understanding of new technologies. Students dive into the history of the Web and how it has changed over time. Topics such as internet safety, security, and cyberbullying are also analyzed. Using the knowledge gained in the course, students write a web-hosted blog post with HTML coding elements. The course ends with the fundamentals of web design and a project in which students create a simple webpage.

WORLD HEALTH RESEARCH

1.0 unit (2 semesters)

Elective

World Health Research introduces students to the various risk factors people face globally. The course shows how health outcomes in developed nations differ from those in developing nations. The course analyzes these trends, along with the origins of primary care. The course compares different organizations that identify and monitor global health threats. World Health Research allows students to explore specific research methods and design studies to understand world health problems and their impacts. The course also shows students the effects of infectious and chronic diseases across the globe, discussing emerging medical technologies and the response of the healthcare system. This course concludes with an analysis of ethical concerns regarding global health, the importance of clinical trials, and ways to enact global change.

WRITING POETRY

0.5 unit (1 semester)

Elective

This semester course is designed to improve and enhance students' own poetic skills by teaching them how poets use the language devices of sound, sensory images, figurative expressions, and musical rhythms to share their insights through word-art. Throughout the course, students will experiment with traditional formats and with many free-verse styles of poetry.