Last modified: 12/08/04
  Yannis Grammatis


Home  >High School  >Academics  >Course of Studies

Course Offerings
 Honors & A.P. Courses
Course Sign-up

The primary purpose of the Course of Studies is to prepare students for academic success in college.  This goal is achieved through a balanced liberal arts curriculum, individualized programs of study, rigorous courses, and a competent and dedicated faculty.  The program is designed to develop fundamental academic skills and to foster inquiry, creativity, true scholarship, and a love of learning.

In the Guidance Department, counselors assist students in making curriculum choices in order to prepare them for college and to fulfill requirements for college majors and careers.

Course Offerings

Grade 9:

  • Growing in Faith, Life and Love/Hebrew Scriptures

  • Freshman Composition & Literature or Honors Freshman Composition & Literature

  • Physical & Cultural Geography

  • Algebra I, Geometry, Honors Algebra I or Honors Geometry

  • Spanish I, II, Honors Spanish II, French I, II, Honors French II

  • Computer Literacy or Computer Applications

  • Physical Education or Fine Arts

  • Conceptual Physical Science

Grade 10: 

  • Jesus: His Mission & Message/The Sacramental Life Of The Church

  • American Literature/Composition or Honors American Literature

  • US History or AP US History

  • Geometry, Honors Geometry, Algebra II, or Honors Algebra II/Trigonometry

  • Spanish II, III, Honors Spanish II, III, French II, III, Honors French II, III

  • Biology, Honors Biology, Chemistry or Honors Chemistry

  • Speech/Health & Physical Education or Fine Arts

Grade 11: 

  • Contemporary Christian Morality/Social Justice

  • British Literature or Honors British Literature

  • World History or AP World History

  • Algebra II, Honors Algebra II/Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Honors Pre-Calculus

  • Trigonometry, Probability and Statistics

  • Spanish III, IV, Honors Spanish III, IV, French III, IV, Honors French III, IV

  • Chemistry, Honors Chemistry, AP Chemistry or Elective

  • Elective - Fine Arts or Physical Education (2 semesters in each discipline required)

Grade 12: 

  • Contemporary Christian Lifestyles and Religions of the World, or Faith, Morality and the Media or Spirituality and Healing or Faith & Reason in the 21st Century

  • AP English or The Tragic Hero and Contemporary Ethnic Literature or Contemporary Women Authors or Contemporary Authors or Shakespeare

  • Economics/ Government or AP Government/AP Economics

  • Pre-Calculus, Honors Pre-Calculus, Calculus, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, Trigonometry, Probability & Statistics

  • Spanish IV, Honors Spanish IV, AP Spanish, French IV, Honors French IV, AP French

  • Physics, AP Physics, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, Physiology/Anatomy or Elective

  • College Writing Workshop or Advanced Writing Workshop/Elective

Honors Advanced Placement Courses

Honors courses provide the student with enriched educational activity that encourages greater intellectual inquiry and discovery. Chaminade offers several honors courses to interested students with high academic achievement and test scores. Specific criteria for placement in these courses are prepared by each department and are available upon request. Honors courses are offered in English, Mathematics, Foreign Language, and Science. Students may appeal their placement into honors or advanced placement courses. If the appeal is approved, the student will sign a contract and agree to remain in the course for at least one semester.

Honors Classes 

  • Freshman Literature and Composition Biology

  • American Literature and Composition Chemistry

  • British Literature Physics

  • Algebra I

  • Geometry 

  • Algebra II/Trigonometry

  • Pre-Calculus 

  • Spanish II, III, IV

  • Chemistry

Advanced Placement Classes

Many colleges give advanced placement to a student who successfully completes an A.P. examination by earning a score of three or above. This means that the student would not repeat the course when he/she enters college. The objectives of an advanced placement course are the following:

  • Involvement in enrichment educational activities that enhances intellectual inquiry and discovery.
  • Increased opportunity before college admission to acquire college study habits and to meet the challenges of independent investigation.
  • Opportunity for qualified students to present a stronger admissions record to the college of their choice.
  • Early completion of lower division college requirements, increasing opportunity for broader educational experience while enrolled at the university.

Advanced placement courses are offered in U.S. History, European History, Political Science, Economics, Psychology, English IV, Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Spanish, and French. Specific criteria for placement in these courses are prepared by each department and are available upon request. The A.P. exams are prepared by committees of high school and college teachers. Essay questions prevail, but they are supplemented in some fields by objective questions. The modern language examinations include a recorded listening comprehension and oral proficiency section.

  • English

  • Spanish

  • French

  • World History

  • US History

  • French II, III, IV

  • Biology

  • US Government

  • EconomicsComparative Government

  • Psychology

  • Calculus AB

  • Calculus BC

  • Art

NOTE: Because of the demanding nature of Advanced Placement classes, no student may enroll in more than 3.5 A.P. courses per year.

Course Sign-up Instructions

Students should make an appointment with their counselor to review graduation and college requirements before signing up for courses. Students should study the Curriculum Guide carefully.*

All students except seniors must select a minimum of seven classes, five of which are solids, each semester.  Seniors may elect to choose a “Study” course as one of their seven classes.  Students are encouraged to take more than the minimum course requirement.

Each student will complete a Selection Summary Worksheet by the due date.

*  Course selections are binding.  Chaminade reserves the right to modify the master schedule as necessary at its sole discretion to appropriately implement its mission.