Independent Studies

The Independent Studies program offers an opportunity for in-depth study of topics not offered in the regular curriculum. Students, in partnership with a teacher, design a course of study that both fits their interests and meets the rigorous standards of a regular elective course.

Students meet with their teacher at least twice each week. They engage in a regular program of tests and essays and complete a culminating project, paper, portfolio, or performance.

Special Topics

Much like Independent Studies, the Special Topics program provides students an opportunity to pursue an area of interest or passion. However, these courses are not graded, generally meet only once per week, and do not require the rigor of a regular course. Transcript credit is assigned on a pass/fail basis only.

Special Topics students frequently pursue interests such as Beginning Latin, Public Speaking, Social Philosophy, Architecture, and Guitar.

INDEPENDENT STUDIES/SPECIAL TOPIC COURSES

ARTS

Dance History
Intro to Documentary Films
Playwriting
Recording and Engineering
Serial Photography

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND S.T.E.A.M.

Architecture & Design
Digital Sound Technology
Electric Vehicles
Java Programming

ENGLISH

Modern History
Russian Literature
Shakespeare
Writers of the Beat Generation

MATHEMATICS

Differential Equations
Linear Algebra
Microeconomics
Multivariable Calculus

SCIENCE

Applied Physics
Biochemistry in the Lab
Cognitive Science
Organic Chemistry

SOCIAL STUDIES

Film Theory & History
Immigration & Farm Work
Social Philosophy
Structuralism & Post-Structuralism
The Modern Middle East

WORLD LANGUAGES

Traveler’s French
Hispanic Culture & History
Korean
American Sign Language

Because of the prescribed course load for 9th and 10th-grade students, the Independent Studies program is most often approved for 11th and 12th graders.