Northwest ISD High School
Course Selection Guide
Proposals
for the 2015-16 School Year
December 8, 2014
High School Course Selection Guide
• Fall 2014: Committee meetings for course
proposals to meet requirements of HB5
and needs for additional dual credit
opportunities
• December 2014: Board review of the
recommended additions and deletions for
the 2015-2016 NISD High School Selection
Guide
Proposed Dual Credit Courses
for 2015-2016
Sciences
• Chemistry I & II (CHEM 1411 & 1412)
• Chemistry A & B
Students earn both the high school credit as they earn up
to 8 hours of college credit–embedded only.
– Fundamental principles of chemistry—topics include
properties & states of matter, chemical reactions &
bonding, stoichiometry, periodicity of elemental
properties, atomic structure, etc.
Sciences
• College Physics I & II (PHYS 1401 &
1402)
• Physics A & B
Students can earn 1 full credit for high school Physics A & B
and up to 8 college credit hours of Physics—embedded
only.
– Fundamental principles of physics, including classical
mechanics and thermodynamics, harmonic motion,
mechanical waves & electricity and magnetism,
circuits, electrostatics, etc. with a focus on problem
solving.
ELA
• British Literature I & II (ENGL 2322
& 2323)
• English IV A & B
– Designed for 12th grade students who took
Composition I & II in 11th grade and are seeking a
dual credit 4th year advanced ELA course, allows
them the opportunity to earn up to 6 college credit
hours.
– Focus on British authors and classical literature.
– Offered either embedded or as on-line facilitated
course.
NISD Collegiate Academy
• Learning Frameworks—EDUC 1300
Methodology of Academic & Personal Success
(MAPS)
– Study of research and theory in the
psychology of learning, cognition, and
motivation with a focus on the factors that
impact learning as well as application of
learning strategies—3 credit hours
– Targeted to 9th or 10th graders at the NISD
Collegiate Academy
NISD Collegiate Academy
• Texas Government—GOVT 2306
Special Topics in Social Studies
– 10th-12 Graders at NISD Collegiate Academy—3 hrs.
– This course will help fulfill the Core Curriculum
Requirement for NCTC as second required
government offering for college credit.
– Study of the origin and development of the Texas
Constitution, structure & powers of state & local
government, federalism & inter-governmental
relations, political participation, the election process,
public policy, & political culture of Texas
NISD Collegiate Academy
• Environmental Biology—BIOL 2406
Environmental Systems A & B
– Additional course needed to fulfill the Core Curriculum
Requirement for NCTC, as well as an additional science offering
for college credit—4 hours.
– Study of the principles of environmental systems and ecology,
including biogeochemical cycles, energy transformations, abiotic
& symbiotic relationships, natural resources & their
management, lifestyle analysis, evolutionary trends and hazards
& risks as well as approaches to ecological research
– Prerequisites—MATH 1314 or College Algebra or Concurrent
Enrollment
Total Dual Credit Courses
Offered 2015-2016
Academic Courses
in
Core Curriculum
Science
• Forensic Science
– 11th or 12th Grade with Prerequisites of Biology &
Chemistry
– Public Service and/or STEM Endorsement
– Larger field of study than the focused courses of AP,
Environmental Science, A&P as it touches on topics of
Physics, Anatomy, Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry,
Physical Science as well as Math, LA, & Social Studies
– Scientific investigation, deduction & reasoning in
investigation of crimes
Math
• Statistics—study of variability and
statistical processes with focus on
sampling & experimentation, categorical &
quantitative data, probability & random
variables as students connect data and
statistical processes to real-world
situations.
– 11th or 12th Grade with prerequisite of Algebra
– Advanced Math
I
Math
• Algebraic Reasoning
– 11th or 12th grade course with a prerequisite of
Algebra I to broaden knowledge of multiple
representations and linear, quadratic, exponential &
logarithmic functions
– Advanced Math
• Financial Mathematics
– 11th or 12th grade course with a focus on personal
money management, including personal finance
decisions with opportunities for extended learning
through CTE and/or other leadership organizations
– Business & Industry Endorsement
Advanced Academics
• Algebra II PreAP National Merit Prep
• English II PreAP National Merit Prep
– These are two courses set up with the same
curriculum as their PreAP counterparts but with the
additional focus of developing advanced problem
solving and symbol manipulation skills as well as an
in-depth study of literary genres, composition &
vocabulary studies in relation to preparation for the
PSAT test.
• PSAT materials, strategies, and practice questions
& exams are woven in the course sequence.
World Language
• American Sign Language, Level I
– Opportunities to expand to Levels II-IV in
subsequent years
– 9-12 Grades
– ASL Level I will understand ASL phrases and
respond appropriately through signed words,
letters, phrases & sentences, transcribe ASL,
recognize importance of communication and
its application to the deaf culture
Career and Technology Courses
• Interpersonal Studies
– Students examine how relationships affect the quality
of life. They use knowledge and skills in family
studies and human development to enhance personal
development, foster quality relationships, promote
wellness, manage multiple adult roles, and pursue
careers related to counseling and mental health
careers.
– Human Service Elective & course for the HB5 Public
Service Endorsement
– Sequential course in the Counseling & Mental Health
career cluster
CATE Academy Courses
• Biomedical Innovation – 4th Year course for
our Academy of Biomedical Science students
• Students build on the knowledge and skills gained from
previous courses to design innovative solutions for the
most pressing health challenges of the 21st century.
They will address topics ranging from biomedical
engineering to public health and have the opportunity to
work on an independent design project with a mentor
from a university, medical facility, or research institution.
Profile of a Graduate