View the complete 2023-2024 curriculum guide here.
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Acting Workshop
This is an honors-level audition-based course for the serious acting student.
Advanced Honors Biology
This advanced level course builds on the topics from Biology and Honors Biology with a molecular and structural focus.
Advanced Honors Chemistry I (Organic) & II (Biochemistry)
Students investigate topics relating to organic synthesis, drug design and natural products with applications to biochemistry, pharmacology and biotechnology.
Advanced Honors Chinese
This course is designed to deepen students’ immersion into the language and culture of the Chinese-speaking world.
Advanced Honors Computer Science
This college-level course establishes a strong understanding of the structure and interpretation of computer programs.
Advanced Honors Economics: Microeconomics & Macroeconomics
Students taking the Advanced Honors Economics are enrolled in one of the sections of Honors Economics: Microeconomics and Macroeconomics.
Advanced Honors English IV
This course offers the most accomplished seniors advanced literary analysis of representative works of poetry, fiction and drama.
Advanced Honors French
If a student wishes to enhance speaking, listening, reading and writing skills, Advanced Honors French is the place.
Advanced Honors Latin: Literature
This course takes the same approach to selecting material as Latin IV Honors.
Advanced Honors Mathematics: Multivariable Calculus
Multivariable Calculus takes the concepts covered in single variable calculus and extends them to multiple dimensions.
Advanced Honors Mathematics: Number Theory
In this course, students begin by studying topics in elementary number theory.
Advanced Honors Physics
This is the department’s most advanced physics course and explores topics in mechanics and electricity and magnetism from a calculus-based perspective.
Advanced Honors Spanish: Film and Literature
This course explores various cultural, social, and political topics through the study of Spanish and Latin American film and literature.
Advanced Honors Spanish: Modern Mexico
This course traces the development and construction of modern Mexico and an in-depth study of Mexico's northern border.
Advanced Speech and Debate
In the class, students continue to refine their oratorical skills as well as prepare for specific extemporaneous and prepared events.
Advanced Theater Production
This course is for serious technical theater students who wish to continue their development as theater technicians and artisans.
Applied Computer Science
This year-long course provides an overview of the role of a software engineer.
ASBC/Leadership
This graded course provides a conceptual and practical understanding of student government and leadership for elected members of the Associated Student Body Council (ASBC).
Big History
Big History surveys the entirety of history.
Biology
This course provides a thorough introduction to the increasingly important field of biology.
Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering
This course provides students the opportunity to learn the DNA techniques and methods used in many biotechnology applications.
Bishop's Chorus I/II
This introductory choral performance group is open to all upper school students who enjoy singing and would like to improve their singing technique.
Bishop's Chorus III/IV
This course is an advanced, audition-only treble choral ensemble for more serious singers.
Bishop's Singers Mixed Choir
This course in an audition-only mixed choral ensemble for the more serious singers.
Calculus
In this course students will explore limits, derivatives and integrals, and develop the skills necessary to solve problems within these topic areas.
Ceramics I
This course is designed for students’ self-expression, using clay as the medium.
Ceramics II
This course gives greater freedom to select a personalized program in ceramics.
Ceramics III
This course is designed for students who are self-directed and committed to their personal expression in ceramics.
Chamber Orchestra
This course is an audition-only, advanced orchestral and chamber music class for string, wind and brass players.
Chemistry
This course familiarizes students with the underlying principles that govern the chemical reactions in our world.
Chinese I
This course is an introduction to Chinese language and culture.
Chinese II
Chinese II is a theme-based course designed to develop students’ communicative skills.
Chinese III
This course prepares students to engage and produce paragraph-length discourses on concrete and factual topics.
Chinese IV
Students who complete this advanced Chinese course build practical skills in all three modes of communication and attain the Intermediate-High level on the ACTFL proficiency scale.
Conceptual Physics/Conceptual Physics Enriched
Students in both courses investigate light, waves, motion, forces and energy.
Costume Design and Construction I
This class is designed to introduce students to basic construction techniques and elements of costume design.
Costume Design and Construction II
This course builds on the construction techniques and information learned in Costume Design and Production I.
Creative Nonfiction
This writing-intensive course aims to help students sharpen their skills as creative and critical thinkers and writers.
Dance I
This course focuses on the development of introductory theatrical dance vocabulary.
Dance II
This is an intermediate level continuation of Dance I.
Detective Fiction
This course aims to explore the roots and thematic concerns of crime fiction.
Digital Media I
Digital Media I is an introduction to lens-based media with a focus on both photography and video production.
Digital Media II
Students will advance their editing and shooting techniques with animation, special effects, professional lighting and sound.
Digital Media III
Students will have the option of advancing their skills and creating projects in still photography, film, video, animation, installation and sound art.
Economics
This course is designed to explore decision making at all levels.
Electrical Engineering
This course is a hands-on introduction to building and understanding electronic devices.
Engineering Physics
In this project-based course, students apply knowledge of fundamental principles of physics to a variety of hands-on engineering projects designed to illustrate these principles.
English II: Genre Studies
This course teaches students how to read increasingly complex and challenging texts actively, closely and analytically.
English III: American Literature
English III is an American literature course, with a focus on three overlapping categories.
English I: The Writing Process
English I is a writing-intensive course that asks students to analyze a variety of literary texts through a writer’s lens.
Environmental Science: California
This second semester course will delve into environmental issues through the lens of what is occurring right here in California.
Environmental Science: Global Issues
This first semester course provides an overview of environmental issues from a global perspective.
Experimental Programming
This beginning course in computer science introduces students to the basic computer programming constructs.
Feminism: A Biblical Perspective
This course helps students become better equipped to challenge the patriarchal voice that seeks to devalue the role of women in the 21st century.
Food Science: Why Food Matters to Us
This course attempts to define why food matters to every one of us.
Forensic Science: Bugs, Bullets and Blood
This course introduces students to areas of biology, chemistry, physics and geology that are applied in analyzing evidence found at a crime scene.
French I
French I is a high school introductory course.
French II
In French II, students further develop interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational communication skills.
French III
This course continues to build on the skills acquired in French II.
French IV
French IV is a two-semester course designed to further develop accuracy in the four communicative skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing).
French IV Honors
French IV Honors at Bishop’s deepens students’ proficiency level across the three communicative modes.
General Fitness
This curriculum includes various introductory level activities related to fitness.
Health
The health curriculum is designed to encourage active student involvement in the development of a healthy lifestyle.
Honors America's War on Terror
This course will consider American foreign policy since 9/11 with an emphasis on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Honors Ancient Empires
This course will consider the phenomenon of pre-modern empires by exploring three different ancient examples.
Honors Art Portfolio
This is a college-level course that welcomes students who demonstrate an advanced ability to create visual artwork with technical skills and a mature approach to art making.
Honors Biology
This advanced course is rigorous, fast-paced and equivalent to a first-year college biology course and is taught with a college textbook.
Honors Calculus AB
This is a college-level course on differential and integral calculus, but not including power series.
Honors Calculus BC
This is a college-level course on differential and integral calculus.
Honors Chemistry
This course emphasizes laboratory investigation and making connections between seemingly disparate topics within chemistry.
Honors Chinese III
This course covers the material of Chinese III in greater depth and at an accelerated pace
Honors Chinese IV
This course covers the material of Chinese IV in greater depth and at an accelerated pace.
Honors Comparative Government & Politics
This course explores the rich diversity of political systems in our world.
Honors Computer Science: Algorithms & Data Structures
This course expands the broad introduction to computer science offered by Software Development and Applied computer science.
Honors Economics: Microeconomics & Macroeconomics
This course is designed to give the students an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the science of decision making.
Honors English III: American Literature
This accelerated, college-level, year-long course offers a survey of American literature.
Honors English IV: Writing
This accelerated, college-level, year-long writing course explores how literature and rhetoric work, collectively and respectively.
Honors French III
The course focuses on students’ speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills through group discussions, role-play, oral presentations, extensive reading, and essay-length writing assignments.
Honors French IV
French IV Honors at Bishop’s deepens students’ proficiency level across the three communicative modes (interpersonal, interpretive and presentational).
Honors Global Cold War
This course considers how “cold” the Cold War really was and the extent to which it was a global conflict.
Honors Greek
In this course, students study Classical Greek, beginning from the alphabet and ending with some reading of some authentic and unadapted texts from ancient Greece.
Honors Latin IV: Caesar & Vergil
The primary focus of Latin IV Honors: Caesar and Vergil is the prescribed syllabus for the AP Latin examination.
Honors Latin IV: Literature
This course explores topics, authors, and/or genres within Latin literature.
Honors Philosophy of Religion
This class introduces students to basic philosophical concepts and forms of argumentation.
Honors Physics
Honors Physics is a challenging, college-level, non-calculus-based physics course which is designed to investigate fundamental principles of physics.
Honors Psychology
This course explores the behavior and mental processes of human beings through the lens of various subfields of psychology.
Honors Spanish III
This course is designed to further develop accuracy as well as spontaneity in the four basic communicative skills.
Honors Spanish IV
Spanish IV Honors expands and deepens students’ proficiency across the three communicative modes: interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational.
Honors Statistics
This college-level course introduces students to the discipline of statistics as a science of collecting, understanding, and analyzing data.
Honors United States History
This college-level course explores United States history.
Honors U.S. Government and Politics
This course examines the constitutional background of the United States government.
Honors Western Thought and Culture
This year-long course will trace the intellectual, cultural, scientific and philosophical history of post-medieval Western civilization.
Human Anatomy and Physiology
This course explores the structure and function of the organs and organ systems of the human body.
Introduction to Biblical Literature
This course takes students on an engaging exploration of the many writings that make up the Bible.
Introduction to Speech
In this course, students build critical communication skills through research, preparation and delivery of persuasive speeches.
Jazz Band I/II
In this class students perform and improvise over standard repertoire with a focus on scales and rhythmic devices, chord/scale relationships, standard harmonic progressions, and fluency in reading rhythm.
Jazz Band III/IV
Jazz III/IV students perform advanced arrangements and study more complex techniques and chord progressions.
Journalism
In this course, students learn and practice core concepts in journalism: principles, news gathering and reporting.
Latin I
This course combines the material covered during the two years of middle school introductory Latin.
Latin II
This course continues with the introduction to Latin grammar and vocabulary begun in Latin I or Latin IA/IB.
Latin III
Latin III extends the foundation laid down in Latin II by completing the survey of Latin verb constructions, with particular focus on the subjunctive mood.
Latin III Honors
Latin III Honors serves as a bridge course between the textbook-based learning of grammar in Latin II.
L.E.A.D.
Regardless of age, year in school or skill set, every student can become more advanced in their personal understanding, decision making and ability to lead others.
Marine Biology
This course provides a basic introduction to the patterns and processes found in marine systems.
Mathematics 3
Math 3 is the first course in the integrated Algebra I/Geometry/Algebra II sequence.
Mathematics 3 Enriched
Math 3E is problem-centered, but is more demanding than Math 3.
Mathematics 4
Math 4 is the second course in the integrated Algebra I/Geometry/Algebra II sequence.
Mathematics 4 Core
Math 4 Core covers most of the topics in Math 4.
Mathematics 4 Enriched
The unifying subjects for this course of advanced algebra and geometry are straight lines and the figures they produce − polygons and polyhedra.
Mathematics 5
Math 5 is the third course in the integrated Algebra I/Geometry/Algebra II sequence.
Mathematics 5 Core
This is a more methodical and deliberate approach to the general topics of Math 5.
Mathematics 5 Enriched
This course completes the study of advanced algebra and geometry begun in Mathematics 4 Enriched.
Mock Trial
Mock Trial is a course that gives students the opportunity to develop critical thinking, public speaking and teamwork skills.
Modern World History
This survey course examines the history of Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe from the 19th century to the present day.
Narrative Fiction: The Art of the Short Story
This class focuses on the short story and the novella.
Optimal Performance
Optimal Performance is an in-depth functional training program.
Peer Support
The Peer Support Team’s mission is “to better educate ourselves and our community on issues and matters relevant to student life.
Performing Dance Group
This is the most advanced dance class in the program and, fundamentally, operates as an adolescent theatrical dance company.
Poetry: Past, Present and Future
This course introduces students to modern and contemporary poetry in all its forms while paying heed to the great poets and poems of past.
Precalculus
This course prepares students for the AP Calculus AB course.
Precalculus Core
This course prepares students for the Calculus course by continuing the concepts from Core Mathematics 5 through the study of functions and logarithms.
Precalculus Honors
This honors version of Precalculus completes the study of advanced algebra topics begun in Mathematics 5 Enriched.
Race and Religion in America
In this course, we will explore the religious and theological foundations of racial categories and racist ideology across various American congregational communities.
Racism, Genocide and the Holocaust
This seminar-style course delves into enduring questions surrounding the darkest chapters in human history.
Shakespeare
We consider Shakespeare’s plays for their philosophical value, ethical ambiguity and political prescience.
Social Justice in American Society
This course is about discovering how you can be engaged in the work of transformative justice.
Software Development
This year-long course provides students with a solid foundation in software development.
Spanish I
This course presents an introduction to Spanish and develops the four essential skills of language learning.
Spanish II
Spanish II is an intermediate course in which students further develop communication skills.
Spanish III
Spanish III provides a solid review of the fundamentals of Spanish I and II.
Spanish IV
In this course, students expand on the knowledge acquired in previous courses and incorporate new strategies that improve speaking, listening, reading and writing abilities.
Studio Art III
This course is designed for the student who is committed to the development of his or her personal artwork through the construction of an art portfolio.
Studio Art I/II
These courses introduce students to the use of both dry (graphite, pastel, charcoal, etc.) and wet (watercolor, ink and acrylic) media in drawing and painting.
Studio Dance Group
This performance-based course is a continuation of jazz and modern technique work.
The American West
The American West will compare the myths and realities of life on the frontier between 1865 and 1920.
Theater Arts I
The focus of this class is on performance technique.
Theater Arts II
This course builds on the foundation laid in Theater Arts I with additional study of historical periods and cultures.
Theater Arts III
This course focuses primarily on creating theatrical productions through use of the body.
Theater Arts IV
In this course, students continue to cultivate the skills learned in previous theater classes.
Theater Design and Production I
This course offers the students hands-on training in the behind-the-scenes world of performing arts productions.
Theater Design and Production II
This course continues the hands-on element of Theater Design and Production I.
The Holocaust: Religious Questions
A study of the Holocaust focused on the moral and religious dilemmas it raises for Jews and Christians.
United States History
This course examines the political, economic, social, and cultural developments that have shaped our nation.
Women Writers
This course provides an opportunity to question what it means to write as a woman.
Yearbook: Graphic Communications
This is a full-year academic course in which students produce The Bishop’s School Annual.