Course Descriptions, 2007-2008

HISTORY

U.S. History
This year’s long core class is a survey course in American history that begins with the Native Americans and progresses through modern times. Students will examine and analyze events and topics during the colonial, Revolutionary, early national and antebellum periods, Civil War and Reconstruction, the close of the frontier, the rise of America as both an imperial and industrial power, and the Post-Cold War era. Students will develop critical thinking skills orally and in writing through analysis, evaluation and synthesis of different types of sources. (1.0 credit)

Washington State History
For students who have not yet completed the Washington State History requirement, this course presents the history of the Pacific Northwest including unique geography, cultures and contributions to world history, developing reading, writing and thinking skills and preparing verbal presentations for class. (0.5 credit)

World History
This full year course is designed to familiarize students with world events, culture, and intellectual movements. Students will learn to think critically and responsibly about our heritage and future. (1.0 credit)

ENGLISH LITERATURE & COMPOSITION

English literature and composition I,II,III
This required full year course introduces students to a variety of literary forms, including poetry, drama, short story, and novel. Emphasis is placed upon the foundations of critical analysis in the development of and appreciation for good literature in its historical context. Oral and written communication skills, including grammar, vocabulary, and syntax are developed and refined.  Students will also study the purposes and strategies of rhetoric to help them evaluate literature.

MATH

Algebra In this full year course, students will learn to understand the role of mathematics in God’s creation. They will be taught to perform operations and calculations using real numbers, decimals, and fractions as well as using and solving algebraic equations. They will master the order of operations, conversions, and be able to read and create graphs from equations, as well as apply statistics and probability to real-life situations. Students will be introduced to basic geometry, the Pythagorean formula and quadratic equation. (1.0 credit)

Geometry
In this full year course, students will be introduced to the wonder and order of God’s universe as they learn the properties, measurements, and relationships of lines, space, and shapes. During part one of this class, students learn to use conditional statements, inductive and deductive reasoning, and how to apply algebraic properties to solve geometric proofs. They will learn to identify angles formed by parallel lines and transversals, classify triangles by side, length, and angle measure, and prove congruency of triangles. They will learn to identify special quadrilaterals and use their properties to find missing measures. Students will also use the Pythagorean Theorem and the properties of special right triangles and rations to try to find missing measurements of right triangles. Students will learn to identify parts of circles and angles formed by tangents, chords, radii, and secants of circles. They will use formulas to find perimeters and areas of polygons and circles, as well as find the area and volume of geometric solids. Students will use distance, midpoint and slope formulas, as well as use the equation of a circle to find its center and radius, and understand basic geometric transformations. Students enrolling in this course should have successfully completed Algebra. (1.0 credit)

Advanced Algebra
In this full year course, students will study properties and applications of real numbers, exponents and radicals, polynomials, rational expressions, equations and identities, additive and multiplicative inverses, arithmetic expressions, order of operations, variables, name and notations, algebraic expressions, monomials, terms, simplifying algebraic expressions, problem solving using expressions, equations and identities, and trigonometric functions. Students will learn how to solve and graph polynomials, as well as divide polynomials with synthetic division. They will know how to apply the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra. Students will apply and graph logarithms and exponential equations and inequalities, as well as us the Binomial Theorem and Pascal’s Triangle. Students enrolling in this course should have successfully completed Algebra. (1.0 credit)

Trigonometry
In this full year course, students will be introduced to the use of statistical methods to analyze data. Students will apply statistical analysis to functions and their graphs and transformations. Students will know the circular function identities involving the sine, cosine and tangent relationships and will learn general solutions to trigonometric equations. Students will further explore power and logarithmic functions. Students will apply the principles of probability to permutations, series and combinations. Students will learn to analyze and graph polynomial functions. Students enrolling in this course should have successfully completed Advanced Algebra. (1.0 credit)

Precalculus and Discrete Mathematics
In this year long course, students will be prepared for calculus and other college level applications of mathematics. Students will be introduced to mathematical logic and the analysis of functions and parametric equations. Students will learn advanced factoring and problem solving techniques. Students will be introduced to modular arithmetic, to the polynomial representation of integers and prime numbers, to rational functions, to mathematical induction and to counting principles. Students will use trigonometric identities to solve trigonometric equations. Students will be introduced to polar coordinates, complex numbers and the analysis of vectors. Students will apply graphical modeling to solve problems in circuitry, biology and geometry. Students will analyze functions in developing the concepts of the derivative and integral in calculus. Students will learn the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. Students enrolling in this course should have completed Advanced Algebra. (1.0 credit)

HEALTH AND FITNESS I, II, III, IV

In this full year class students will gain an understanding that physical activity for a lifetime is vital to a healthy and well-rounded life. Students will see improvement in areas of coordination, fitness and self-confidence. In addition to team sports such as volleyball, soccer, track and field, and frisbee, students will engage in individually designed fitness programs. (0.5 credit)

FINE ARTS I, II

In this full year course, students will learn to appreciate and think about various fine art disciplines from Christian perspective. This will include both visual and performing arts. Study of the visual arts is aimed at the development of a visual vocabulary, visual competency and appreciation, technical understanding and practice, and awareness of art and artists, past and present. (0.5 credit)

SCIENCE

Biology This full year course, is an introduction to life science including the scientific method, introductory organic chemistry, cells and cellular processes, genetics (including mutations), the origin and development of life, classification of organisms.  Students will understand the function of bacteria and viruses, protista (including protozoans and algae), fungi, botany, invertebrates, arthropods, ectothermic and endothermic vertebrates.  Students will engage in a study of human life including an introduction to human anatomy and physiology, various body systems (such as skeletal, muscular, respiratory, digestive, circulatory, lymphatic, excretory, nervous, endocrine and reproductive).  Laboratory experiences are included. (1.0 credit)

General Science
This full year course is an introduction to the fields of astronomy, geology and oceanography with particular attention paid to geological and oceanographic features of the Pacific Northwest and island geography. (1.0 credit)

OCCUPATIONAL EDUCATION

One credit is required of all students for graduation. Classes include opportunities to participate in peer tutoring, yearbook publication, computer application, business applications and community involvement.

ELECTIVES

Introductory Logic
This full year course will introduce students to the art of reasoning well, including the foundation and history of logic, recognizing basic types of statements, arguing with syllogisms, arguing in ordinary language, and identifying informal fallacies.  Additional exercises include critical thinking skills. (0.5 credit)   Old Testament Seminar This full year course introduces students to the Old Testament era, including the times of the patriarchs, the Israelite sojourn in Egypt and subsequent exodus, the period of the judges and kings, exile and return.  Particular attention will be given to the relation of Old Testament events to those of other world civilizations (such as Sumerian, Egyptian, Chinese, Assyrian, Chaldean, Scythian, Persian, etc.). (0.5 credit)

New Testament History
This one year course is a survey of the intertestamental period, the life of Jesus and the writings of the New Testament era. (0.5 credit)

Latin I
In this full year course, students will learn the fundamentals of the Latin: vocabulary, case structure, the Latin verb and sentence structure. Translation and grammatical analysis will be emphasized. The aim of this course is to prepare students to read Latin literature, to improve their command of the English language by studying the close relations (historic and linguistic) between English, Latin and the Romance Languages, and to gain an appreciation of Western culture and the world of the New Testament through an introduction to Roman culture. (1.0 credit)

Latin II
In this full year course, students will review the basics of Latin vocabulary and syntax. Students will analyze the tense, voice and mood of the Latin verb. This course will emphasize reading and translating Latin. Readings will include Esther from the Vulgate, Julius Caesar’s Commentary on the Gallic Wars, several selections of Latin poetry and several Psalms. Students enrolling in this course should have completed one year of Latin study. (1.0 credit)