HIGH SCHOOL COURSE DESCRIPTION GUIDE 2019 - 2020 SD-P2-R1 High School Course Description Guide Date of Revision: February 19, 2019 This document is uncontrolled when printed. Board Members Beth Wilder, President – District 2 Michelle Watkins, Vice President - District 1 Pam Hill, Third Presiding Officer – District 5 Elisa Ferrell – District 3 Walker McGinnis – District 4 Discrimination based on sex, race, age, religious belief, disability, national origin, or ethnic group shall be prohibited in all educational programs and activities of the Huntsville City Schools. Huntsville City Schools Compliance Officer/Policy Administrator is Ms. Shirley Wellington. Her office is located on the first floor of the Annie C. Merts Administration Building at 200 White Street, Huntsville, Alabama 35801. Telephone number: 256-428-6837 Table of Contents High School Course Description Guide 2019 - 2020 ............................................................................................................... 1 Board Members .................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Table of Contents................................................................................................................................................................ 3 Alabama High School Graduation Requirements – Clarified May 2018 ............................................................................. 7 Course Requirements ......................................................................................................................................................... 7 Grade Classification ............................................................................................................................................................ 9 Graduation Requirement – 24 Credits................................................................................................................................ 9 Transfer of Credits for Non-Accredited Schools ................................................................................................................. 9 Credit Recovery .................................................................................................................................................................. 9 Credit Advancement ........................................................................................................................................................... 9 Distance Learning Through ACCESS .................................................................................................................................. 12 Early Release ..................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Virtual School .................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Academic Eligibility for Extracurricular Activities/Athletics ............................................................................................. 15 NCAA First Year Student Eligibility Standards Quick Reference ....................................................................................... 16 Academic Programs .......................................................................................................................................................... 18 Advanced Placement .................................................................................................................................................... 18 Courses with Additional Grade Points.......................................................................................................................... 19 Career Academies ........................................................................................................................................................ 22 Academic Course Descriptions ......................................................................................................................................... 23 English / Language Arts ................................................................................................................................................ 23 Mathematics ................................................................................................................................................................ 25 Science .......................................................................................................................................................................... 29 Social Studies ................................................................................................................................................................ 33 Elective Course Descriptions ............................................................................................................................................ 36 AP Capstone ................................................................................................................................................................. 37 Arts – Visual and Performing ........................................................................................................................................ 38 Drivers Education ......................................................................................................................................................... 43 English Electives ........................................................................................................................................................... 44 Foreign Languages ........................................................................................................................................................ 47 Health and Physical Education ..................................................................................................................................... 48 Mathematics Electives ................................................................................................................................................. 63 Music Electives ............................................................................................................................................................. 65 Peer Helper ................................................................................................................................................................... 67 Science Electives ........................................................................................................................................................... 68 Social Studies Electives ................................................................................................................................................. 69 Additional Electives ...................................................................................................................................................... 71 Career Academy Course Descriptions .............................................................................................................................. 72 Safety Instruction for Career/Technical Education .......................................................................................................... 74 AP + PLTW Student Recognition ................................................................................................................................... 75 Architecture/Construction Cluster ................................................................................................................................... 76 Building Sciences Pathway ........................................................................................................................................... 76 Engineering Design and Advanced Manufacturing Pathway ....................................................................................... 79 Heavy Equipment Operation Pathway ......................................................................................................................... 82 Welding Pathway ......................................................................................................................................................... 84 Business Management and Preparation Cluster .............................................................................................................. 87 Business Pathway ......................................................................................................................................................... 87 Education and Training Cluster ......................................................................................................................................... 90 Teaching and Training Pathway ................................................................................................................................... 90 Finance Cluster ................................................................................................................................................................. 92 Finance Pathway .......................................................................................................................................................... 92 Government and Public Administration Cluster