Electives
Creative Writing
This elective course gives the students an opportunity to try their hand at more imaginative kinds of writing in both prose and poetry. Students are encouraged to participate in various writing contests throughout the course. Each student is required to keep a journal and to share his/her writings with classmates as well as respond to the writings of others. Students are required to compile a portfolio of their writings to be turned in at the end of the semester.
Publications
The students in this class are responsible for the high school yearbook, Carmelight. Students are in charge of layout, photography, captions, and all other phases of the production of the yearbook.
Public Speaking
This course gives the student an opportunity to develop their public speaking abilities. The students are required to develop and present several types of oral presentations throughout the course including an introductory speech, an informative speech, a persuasive speech, and two oral interpretative presentations.
Sports Medicine (Science):
This course is usually offered in the junior or senior year. The primary focus will include, but not be limited to, the following topics: the sports medicine team, organization and administration, injury prevention, physical training and conditioning techniques, nutritional considerations, protective sports equipment, mechanisms and characteristics of sports injury, tissue response to injury, human anatomy, exercise physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, CPR/AED certification, first aid certification, and basic injury assessment and evaluation.
Anatomy & Physiology (Science):
The Anatomy and Physiology course is an elective usually offered in the junior or senior year to those students who may be interested in a more mature and in-depth exploration of science, or who may be interested in pursuing a science-related career. Students will explore the different body systems including the integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems.
Introduction to Psychology 0.5 credit
Introduction to Psychology is a Social Studies elective that may be taken in the senior year by non-college bound students. As an introductory course, students will be required to have a basic knowledge of the history, theories, and schools of thought on which modern psychology is based. Students will be able to critically examine and study aspects of human behavior such as personality, emotions, and adjustment. This course will run for one semester.
Introduction to Sociology 0.5 credit
Introduction to Sociology is a Social Studies elective which may be taken in the senior year. The course focuses on the study of the world's population, cultures and institutions. Students will research and investigate topics such as criminology, family and marriage, and juvenile delinquency. This course will run for one semester.
A.P. Psychology 1 credit
A college-level course designed to prepare students for the rigor of college as well as for taking the AP Psychology exam. A.P. Psychology may be taken in the senior year as an elective. Enrollment in the class is subject to approval by the social studies and guidance departments. The student must have an overall grade point average of 3.0 and be planning to attend college. This course is designed to be challenging. As an introduction to psychology, the student will be required to know the history, major theories, and schools of thought that have influenced the field. Students will be expected to understand the scientific method and to be able to conduct well organized research. Since debate is necessary in psychology, students will be encouraged to test the theories that they encounter and learn not to accept a theory as the final authority. This will increase their thinking skills. Students will be encouraged to examine their behavior and the behavior of others in order to gain insight and to aid them in the everyday situations of life. Students scoring high on the AP Psychology Exam may earn three college Social Studies credits at participating institutions.
Prerequisite: 80 average in previous social studies courses.
20th Century American History 0.5 credit
This course gives a detailed look at American history during the 20th century. Special emphasis is placed on America's emergence as a world power in the 20th century and U.S. involvement in major military conflicts dating from WWI to Vietnam. Students examine U.S. relations with Europe, the Soviet Union, China and the Middle East. Various projects, reports and outside readings are required. Social problems and conflicts, which are found in modern society and culture, will also be investigated. This course will run for one semester.
Prerequisite: 75 average in previous social studies courses.
AP US History
A college-level course designed to prepare students for the rigor of college as well as for taking the AP US History Exam. Students are required to do a large amount of reading outside the classroom in order to be prepared for the day’s topics. Other activities the student may be required to complete are presidential outlines or "one-pagers" that they will draw up themselves under the teacher’s directives. This will help keep facts and chronology in an orderly fashion. The students are also required to take notes daily from their required text. Special activities will be learning to answer and create DBQ’s, simulations, mock trials, debates, and a research paper. Whether an assignment is a research, a nightly article to read, a journal entry, or an opening argument for a mock trial, the standard for excellence will be high. Students scoring high on the AP US History Exam may earn from three to six college Social Studies credits at participating institutions.
Prerequisite: Previous honors courses and faculty/administrator recommendation
AP Computer Science
A college-level course designed to prepare students for the rigor of college as well as for taking the AP Computer Science Exam. The course is a college level coding course. This course will prepare students to study the field of computer science in college. Students scoring high on the AP Computer Science Exam may earn from three to six college Social Studies credits at participating institutions.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Computer Science Course