Elective Courses for 2008-2009

 

 

Business & Computer Science

Computer Applications - Students in this course will become proficient in Microsoft Office.  This hands-on computer course includes word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, database, and publishing concepts.  It incorporates Internet usage with computer skills needed in today’s technology-oriented society.    **This course is a prerequisite for all business courses and is required for graduation.

 

Business Essentials - What does it take to be an effective manager?  This course gives you some real insight into what makes a business tick.  You will create a business and prepare a business plan for that business.  You will also learn how to be a part of a management team.

 

Entrepreneurship (Pre-requisite-Business Essentials) - Explore the advantages and disadvantages of owning your own business.  See how to solve problems in order to maximize YOUR PROFIT!  Students will participate in a full-time simulation through the building of a business plan.  Students will create a company, be hired into a position within that company, market and sell a product and analyze the results.  This is a fast paced crash course in real life business.

 

Business Law - Learn about your RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES where the law is concerned!  This class takes a case-study approach to studying the legal system and how law affects individuals and businesses.  Students will research famous trials and decisions, as well as current events.  Students will also study the effects of judge’s decisions on businesses and may participate in a mock trial/debate simulation.

 

Financial Literacy - Are you ready for the future?  Financial Literacy will help you get ready by teaching you about financial and career planning.  You will be introduced to the basics of finance, credit, savings, investments, and estate planning.

 

Principles of Accounting I - Accounting is the language of business! This class is a must for students wishing to pursue a career in business, own their own business, or personally learn ways to competently handle their income and spending will benefit from this class. You will plan, record, analyze, and interpret financial information based on generally accepted accounting principles for a service and merchandising business.

 

Principles of Accounting II  (Prerequisite:  Accounting I) -  A continuation of Accounting I, this class provides students with an opportunity for further development of basic accounting principles with a focus on accounting for a business organized as a corporation. This class is highly recommended for students that plan to pursue a business degree after high school. 

 

PC Operation/Networking/Repair ***Dual Enrollment-West Central Technical College-

This course prepares the student for entry-level microcomputer and networking support positions in the field of information Technology.       **Participation in this class based on recommendation of Counselor/BCS or Tech instructor. It requires 2 blocks and is only offered at specific times/semesters.


Family and Consumer Sciences

 

Human Growth and Development (Formerly called Early Childhood Education I) - This course introduces students to information useful for careers in early childhood education and provides a foundation for advanced study after high school for careers in the field.  The course addresses child care issues that include guiding the physical, intellectual, social, and psychological development of children.  Students are given opportunities to observe and interact with toddlers, pre-school, and kindergarten age children. Students are also exposed to the realities of parenting by caring for the “Baby Think it Over” computer assisted baby.

 

Intro to Early Childhood Education  (Formerly called Early Childhood Education II ) - {Prerequisites-85 average in Human Growth & Development, Application process that includes: essay, teacher recommendation, parent approval, transportation)

 

This course provides experience in a working environment for the student interested in a career in Early Childhood.  Students will develop a portfolio of materials and lesson plans that can be used to assist in meeting future work and/or educational goals. Students “shadow” 3 days per week after an initial classroom period that allows for foundational work.  The class is taught in an Independent Study format offering flexibility in scheduling.

Nutrition and Wellness - This course introduces students to the field of nutrition and wellness including current trends and research and employment opportunities.  Emphasis is placed on understanding the relationships between nutrition, food choices, physical activity, and health risk factors in establishing healthy eating habits throughout their lives.  Students are challenged to analyze their personal habits and make real changes where needed.  Safe food handling, storage, and preparation skills are also developed by lab experiences. 

 

Advanced Nutrition and Wellness {Pre-req: 85 avg in Nutrition & Wellness} - This course continues the student’s exploration of factors affecting lifelong wellness.  Emphasis is placed on special dietary needs one might encounter throughout a family’s life. Additional exposure to the requirements of various careers is provided through field trips, guest speakers, research, and projects. Study of the evolution of food customs in various cultures and their affect on modern society is included.

 

Housing and Interior Design - This course is designed to enable students to make good decisions related to their housing needs throughout their lives. 1st 9 weeks concepts studied include choosing a home that meets your needs, choosing the right place to live, deciding when to rent vs. buy and how to do each successfully, developing floor and house plans, home construction techniques, and landscaping.  The 2nd 9 weeks focuses on planning a home’s interior design.  Students create a floor plan, room design plan, and landscape plan for their “dream home”. Students also learn to make simple home accessories.

 

Advanced Housing  - {Prerequisites:  85 average in Fundamentals of Interior Design, Application process : essay, teacher recommendations, parent approval, transportation}

This course will provide actual experience in a working environment for the student interested in a career in Housing or Interior Design.  Students will develop a portfolio of materials and design work that can be used to assist in meeting future work and/or educational goals. After an initial classroom period for foundational work, students “shadow” 3 days per week in a housing related business. The class is taught in an Independent Study format offering flexibility in scheduling.

 

 

Clothing and Fashion - This course is designed to give you the knowledge and skills needed to select, construct, and maintain personal clothing items as well as home textiles through the study of design and construction of both personal garments and home accessories.  Study includes careers available in this diverse area and the science and design of textiles and their significance to all of your consumer decisions.  This course has a significant lab component and will require the student to purchase the materials needed for construction of the personal garments and home accessories.

 

 

 

Health Science Technology

 

Intro to Healthcare Science Technology (Also referred to as Health Occupations I) - This class is designed to explore the many careers in the medical field.  It introduces the fundamentals of healthcare science.  Anyone interested in medical field can take this course.

 

Applications to Healthcare Science (Also referred to as Health Occupations II)

(Prerequisite – Intro to Healthcare Science Tech) -

Objectives:  (Students get scrubs in this class.)

1.      To allow hands on experience at different health locations.

2.      To experience the skills of a healthcare worker. CPR and first aid certification.

3.      To demonstrate knowledge of healthcare careers as verified by exams and performance check-offs.

 

Nursing Essentials (Prerequisite-Intro and Applications to Healthcare Science) -This class explores the skills of an assistant in nursing homes and hospitals. Visits to the nursing home are a major part of the class.  Students will be certified in CPR and First Aid.

 

First Responder (Prerequisite-Intro and Applications to Healthcare Science) - This class is designed for students who are interested in the emergency medical field. The major goal is to teach students what to do in the first 10 minutes of an emergency.

 

 

Medical Technology / Terminology in Anatomy & Physiology (Prerequisite-Intro and Applications to Healthcare Science) - This course covers science process skills and laboratory safety, body organization, chemistry of life, cells and tissues, homeostasis, skeletal system, muscular system, nervous system, endocrine system.  This course is best taken after Intro and Applications.

 

***Dual Enrollment – West Central Technical College

 

PCA – Patient Care Assisting

 

PCT – Patient Care Technician (Prerequisite – PCA)

 

Participation in these classes based on recommendation of Healthcare Science instructor.

They require 2 blocks and are only offered at specific times/semesters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TECHNOLOGY

 

Foundations of Engineering and Technology -   Students will be introduced to various fields of technology which include the following:

 

AUTOMOTIVE TECH                                               GRAPHICS AND ANIMATION

BASIC ELECTRICITY                                               MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION

MATERIALS AND PROCESSES                              DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS                      DIGITAL VIDEO PRODUCTION

MECHANISMS                                                          BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

PNEUMATICS                                                           NAVIGATION AND GPS

INDUSTRIAL CONTROL                                         CONSTRUCTION TECH                 

COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN                                   SPACE TECH

WEB PAGE DESIGN                                                 ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION

 

Each module will begin with a 10 lesson section and then advance to a 30 lesson section.

 

Engineering Concepts  (PREREQUISITE- Foundations of Engineering and Technology) - Students will focus on concepts of engineering rather than broad generalizations.  This is a series of modules integrated by classroom instruction, computer animations and lessons, hands-on modular equipment, etc. This course will include the following pre-engineering units: automotive technology, materials and processes, electronic communications, industrial control, basic electricity, pneumatics, mechanisms, and robotics.

 

Engineering Applications (PREREQUISITE- Engineering Concepts)Students will begin using concepts learned in pre-engineering and develop projects using these concepts and principles. These projects will have many real world applications.

 

Digital Media Design - Do you love art and computers?  Then this is the class for you.  Within Digital Media Design you will put your technical art skills to work by creating and manipulating graphics and using digital imaging.  All of this will be completed using basic design principles.

 

Web Page Design – Learn how to design Web sites like the pros! This introductory course will teach you the basics of Web design including planning, page layout, as well as ethical and legal issues.  Students will build web sites using Macromedia Suite 8.0 that includes Dreamweaver, Fireworks, and Flash.  Students will also create sites using HTML code.

 

Advanced Web Design (Pre-requisite-Web Page Design) - This class will take what you learned in Web Page Design to the next level.  Students may work with streaming video, java script, and advanced functions in Macromedia Suite 8.0.

 

 

 

 



Miscellaneous Electives

 

Visual Art I-    This course is designed as an introduction to thevisual arts with a concentration on the 2-D elements and principles of design.  Students will explore a variety of art mediums at the beginner level. 

This course will include such areas of study as drawing, painting, color theory, art appreciation, collage and stippling. Students in this course must hold a semester average of 89 or higher to sign up for Drawing and Painting I level class.

 

Drawing and Painting  I-This course is designed as the first advanced level 2-D class for students that are interested in developing their art appreciation, drawing and painting skills. Students in this course must hold a semester average of 89 or higher to sign up for Drawing and Painting II level class.

 

Drawing and Painting II- This course is designed as the second advanced level 2-d class for students that are interested in developing their art appreciation, drawing and painting skills. Students in this course must hold a semester average of 89 or higher to sign up for the Advanced Drawing class.

 

Drawing I - This course is designed as the upper level 2-D class for students that are interested in developing there drawing skill, art appreciation skill and are working on a college art portfolio.  Students in this course must hold a semester average of 89 or higher to sign up for the Independent study level class.

 

Independent study- This course is designed for the student that is going to major in art at the college level.  The student will complete the work on their art portfolio that will be presented to the college of choice.

 

Fibers I- This course is designed for the student who is interested in working with 3-D materials.  Introduction to fiber and fabric designs, quilting, stitchery and other fiber arts using a variety of design techniques materials and supplies. Students will complete a full size quilt as one of the projects.

Students in this course must hold a semester average of 89 or higher to sign up for the Fiber II class.

 

Fibers II- This course is designed  as the first advanced level for the student who is interested in working with fiber as their medium. Students will take techniques learned in Fibers I and go to the next ability level. Students will complete a parrallegram quilt in this class, as well as other advanced level fiber art projects. Students in this course must hold a semester average of 89 or above to sign up for the Fibers III level class.

 

Fibers III-Independents study- This course is designed for the most advanced level of fiber art.

Students will complete a hexagon quilt in this class, as well as other advanced level fiber art projects.

 

Dramatic Arts - Drama is a course designed to introduce students to the theatre and its basic elements. The class is primarily participation-based and is designed to help beginners as well as experienced actors.

 

Music Technology I/II-  (Prerequisite Computer Applications).- Students will work in iLife using IMac computers including Garageband, iPhoto, iTunes, iMovie, and iDVD. Introduction to Audio Recording includes recording techniques in Pro Tools and Audacity. Introduction to operating Sound System (microphones, sound board and speakers) is included. Use of digital camera, digital video camera is a prerequisite.  Live instrument and voice recording is included.  This class primarily focuses on project-based assignments. Creativity and technical skills are combined to produce real-world projects including music in iTunes and movies in iMovie/iDVD.

 

Performing Arts I - This class is a non-auditioned class.  Students learn how to perform vocal music, fundamentals of music and often include dramatic skills and movement in performances. Students study various musical theatre productions, popular music, Broadway musicals, movie music and other vocal art forms. All students are expected to participate in performances each semester.

 

Performing Arts II - This class is a non-auditioned class.  Students learn how to perform vocal music, intermediate fundamentals of music and often include dramatic skills and movement in performances.

Students study various musical theatre productions, popular music, Broadway musicals, movie music and other vocal art forms. All students are expected to participate in performances each semester.

Ensemble groups and solos are often included with more advanced students.

 

Band - In band, students learn to play various instruments, gain discipline, and other valuable skills through the playing of music.  Band class is set up in a progressive format where students are continually challenged to improve and gain more understanding of music theory and history, as well as improving in selected instrument playing.

 

Health/Personal Fitness - The goal of the Health/Personal Fitness class is to encourage students to live a healthy life and participate in various types of physical activities on a regular basis.  The students will be exposed to various physical fitness activities.  In addition, the health class will focus on the relationship that exists among the physical, mental, & social aspects of health.  Students learn that their decisions affect all areas of health.  They discover that the decisions made can affect their health and their enjoyment of life now and in the future.  **This course is required for graduation.

 

Advanced Health/Personal FitnessThis class is designed to increase physical activity and health through team and lifetime sports.

 

Weight TrainingThis class is designed to maximize muscle and body mass through the use of free weights and physical activity.

 

Kinesiology & Exercise Physiology (Athletic Training) - Introduces techniques to prevent, recognize, evaluate, manage, treat and rehabilitate athletic injuries.

 

Current Issues - Analyzes current issues and influences that are related to these issues and examines how decisions are made concerning those issues.  Integrates and reinforces social study skills. 

 

Comparative Religions - Compares major religions of the world; covers ethical-philosophical teachings, historical development, social and cultural impact on various societies and commonalities found in all religions.  Integrates and reinforces social studies skills. 

 

Mythology - Mythology is the study of the beliefs, stories, and folklore of many different cultures around the world.  These tales are read, analyzed, and criticized in order to gain a deeper understanding of the people who created them and to, in turn, learn more about our own culture.

 

Journalism/Newspaper - Journalism is a hands-on, on-the-job-training course that produces the Bremen Blue Blaze twice monthly for the school and community. Students must be self-motivated and complete student applications and submit teacher recommendations to be considered for this class. Much like the real publishing industry, this course includes all the stress, deadlines, and criticism found in the real world of newspaper journalism.

 

Yearbook - This course is designed to teach the skills necessary to produce the school yearbook, The Blue Devil, which offers a complete record of an entire school year.  Students will study magazine journalism including layout and design techniques, writing and editing copy, headlines, picture captions, marketing and distribution.   ** Students must complete student applications and submit teacher recommendations to be considered for this class.

 

Environmental Science - Environmental Science is designed as an integrated and global approach to science and technology.  The concepts in this course focus on the links between living things, their surroundings, and the total environment of the planet.  The scientific principles and related technology will assist the student in understanding the relationships between local, national, and global environmental issues.  The intent of the course is to help individuals become informed, get involved, and care for one’s self and the environment. 

 

Physics - Physics uses the concepts learned in physical science and applies mathematical formulas to determine derived values for scientific processes.

 

Spanish ISpanish I is an introduction to basic vocabulary, conversation skills, and the culture/geography of the Latino origin.

 

**Two consecutive units of a foreign language are required for a college preparatory diploma and for admittance into a 4 year college or university.

 

Spanish IIThis class is an intermediate study of the Spanish language.

 

Spanish IIIThis is an advanced, elective course for students who desire to build stronger communication skills within the Spanish Language.

 

Career Related Education (CRE)This replaces the Youth Apprenticeship Program and requires a student to have taken 2 classes in a specific program area (Business, Healthcare, FACS, or Tech) before placement in a related work setting.  **Application process and approval of the applicable CTE program area instructor required.

 

Law Enforcement Technician ***Dual Enrollment-West Central Technical College

Introduction to criminal justice and corrections, principles of law enforcement, and introduction to criminal procedures are course components for those interested in this career field.

Participation in this class based on recommendation of Counselor.  Juniors/Seniors only.

It requires 2 blocks and is only offered at specific times/semesters.

 

 

***DUAL ENROLLMENT – WEST CENTRAL TECHNICAL COLLEGE

 

All Dual Enrollment classes require the student to:

ü      complete the WCTC application process

ü      successfully complete the admissions test (Asset or Compass)

ü      provide transportation

ü      assume all financial responsibilities for tuition, books, testing, etc  not covered by the Hope Grant