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Academic Honors Diploma Requirements

Academic Honors Diploma Requirements

What students should expect from honors classes at Bloomington South:
• Higher expectations in terms of quality of work, discussions in class, project or report content amd organization
• Greater intensity and depth
• Intense class participation
• Emphasis on analysis rather than memorization
• Completion of an assignment des not guarantee a good grade 
• Student-centered responsibility for learning
• Reasonable expectations for daily homework
• Outside readings mandatory
• Extensive mastery of course-specific terms and the ability to apply those terms
• Command of logic and recognition of fallacies
• Willingness to tackle extensive, close readings of complex texts
• Willingness to explore the world of discourse outside of the textbook
• Willingness to work on critical evaluation of one’s work
• High degrees of energy and an open mind An Advanced Placement Course or an Advanced College Project Course has the Same expectations with the added intensity of its being a college level course.

ACADEMIC HONORS DIPLOMA

1. Only courses in which a student has earned a grade of C- or above may count toward an academic honors diploma.
2. To be eligible for an academic honors diploma, a student must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or above.
3. To be eligible for an academic honors diploma, a student must complete a minimum of fortyseven (47) high school credits. The following areas and courses are required:
A. English/Language Arts-9 credits. Language arts credits must include literature, composition and speech.
B. World Language-6 or 8 credits. These credits must include six (6) credits in one (1) language or four (4) credits in one language and four (4) in another. If a student has completed a junior high school curriculum that is equivalent to a level I high school foreign language and is placed in a level II high school foreign language, that student must earn only four (4) credits in that language, or two credits in that language and four (4) credits in another foreign language at the high school level.
C. Mathematics-8-9 credits. Mathematics credits must include algebra level II and at least two credits of a upper level mathematics course. If a student has completed a junior high school curriculum that is equivalent to high school level I and is placed in high school Geometry, that student must earn only six (6) high school mathematics credits.
D. Science-6 credits. Science credits must include:
1. Two (2) credits in biology
2. Two (2) credits in chemistry, two (2) in physics, or two (2) in integrated chemistry - physics
3. Two (2) additional credits in chemistry, biology, physics, earth-space science or integrated chemistry-physics
E. Social Studies-6 credits. In addition to required courses in government and U.S. History, social studies credits must include courses with a major emphasis on geography and/or world history.
F. Fine Arts-2 credits. These include art, drama and music.
G. Health and Safety-2 credits
H. Basic Physical Education-1 credit
I. Electives-4-11 credits, depending upon mathematics and foreign language requirements.

Specific Courses Required for Academic Honors Diploma

A. English-8 (9) credits
English 9-1, 9-2, 9-3 or English 9-1 HD, 9-2 HD, 9-3 HD
English 10-1, 10-2 or English 10-1 HD, 10-2 HD or 10-1 HD, 10-2 HD WS
English 11-1, 11-2 or English 11-1 HD, 11-2 HD or 11-1 AS, 11-2 AS or 11-1 HDAS, 11-2 HDAS A.P. American Literature 1, 2
English 12-1, 12-2 or English Literature 1-2 or Eng. Language and Composition AP 1-2 or Eng. Literature and Composition AP 1-2 or Advanced Composition: ACPW131 or Advanced Literature: ACPA202 or Ethnic Literature: African American Literature
Speech (does not have to be a separate speech class; speech is incorporated in English)

B. World Language-6 credits in one language or 4 credits in each of two languages
French I-1, I-2
French II-1, II-2
French III-1, III-2
French IV-1, IV-2
French V-1, V-2
German I-1, I-2
German II-1,II-2
German III-1, III-2
German IV-1, IV-2
Italian I-1, I-2
Italian II-1, II-2
Japanese I-1, I-2
Japanese II-1, II-2
Japanese III-1, III-2
Japanese IV-1, IV-2
Latin I-1, I-2
Latin II-1, II-2
Latin III-1, III-2
Latin IV-1, IV-2
Spanish I-1, I-2
Spanish II-1, II-2
Spanish III-1, III-2
Spanish IV-1, IV-2
Spanish V-1, V-2

C. Mathematics-9 credits
Algebra 1-1, 1-2
Geometry 1,2 or 1,2 HD
Algebra 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 or 2-1 HD, 2-2 HD, 2-3 HD
Pre-Calculus 1-2
Mathematics - Calculus AP 1-1, 1-2, 1-3
Mathematics - Calculus AP 2-1, 2-2
Mathematics CC 1-1, 1-2 (Finite)
AP Statistics 1-1, 1-2
D. Science-6 credits
Biology 1-1, 1-2
Biology HD 1-1, 1-2
Biology AP 2-1, 2-2, 2-3
Physics 1-1, 1-2
Physics HD 1-1, 1-2
Physics AP/CC 2-1, 2-2, 2-3
Chemistry 1-1, 1-2
Chemistry HD 1-1, 1-2
Chemistry AP 2-1, 2-2, 2-3
Earth/Space Science 1-1, 1-2
Integrated Chemistry-Physics 1-1, 1-2
Advanced Environmental Science
Organic Chemistry
E. Social Studies-6 credits
World Geography 1-2
World Geography 1-2 HD
World History and Civilization 1-2
World History and Civilization 1-2 HD, 1-2 HDWS
European History AP 1-2
US History 1-2 or American Studies or HD American Studies
US History AP 1-2
Government
Economics
Micro Economics AP
F. Fine Arts-2 credits
Any two credits in art, drama and music
G. Health-1 credit
Regular 10th grade Health (see #5 under graduation requirements on page 3 for substitutions.)

H. Physical Education-2 credits in 9th grade

I. Electives-4-11 credits depending upon mathematics and foreign language requirements to make up the 47 credit requirement

Last Updated : 23 March 2006 :: by William Hilycord : websou@REMOVEmccsc.edu