Senior

CLASSICAL LANGUAGES

HONORS LATIN

Honors Latin offers a survey of the works of Catullus and Ovid. Students read selections from the following: the poems of Catullus and Ovid’s Metamorphoses and Amores. In addition, other works may be read at the instructor discretion. In this course, students develop greater proficiency in translating and interpreting Latin literature and in reading progressively more difficult sight passages. Supplementary reading in contemporary journals and in critical evaluations is required.

LATIN LITERATURE

Latin Literature is an elective course open to juniors and seniors. The literature read in the course rotates from year to year and includes works by Vergil, Ovid, Catullus, Horace, and Cicero. Students further develop their analytical skills by reading longer passages in Latin, while keeping up with their forms, syntax, and grammar. In addition, frequent essays give students a chance to display their understanding of the works. This course carries eligibility for college credit at the University of Scranton.

GREEK II

The Greek II course begin with a grammar and vocabulary review as a means to enhancing skills that students develop throughout the year in reading, translation, and interpretation of classical Greek prose: historical (e.g. Xenophon Anabasis), religious (e.g. the Greek New Testament) and philosophical (e.g. Plato’s Apology). Students also acquire a thorough understanding of classical Greek culture through their studies. This course carries eligibility for college at the University of Scranton.

MYTH AND EPIC

Myth and Epic is a senior elective which provides students with an opportunity to study the development of literature from its oral tradition to eventual written form. The course focuses on the stories of Roman and Greek mythology and early epic literature and explains how such stories provide the key to understanding many aspects of the ancient world and the cultures of modern societies. It also explores the similarities and differences between primitive and modern perceptions of life as seen through literature. The course provides students with a point of reference for understanding the rich tradition of much of world literature (ancient and modern) which is derived from these ancient stories and their forms. Students will read Edith Hamilton’s Mythology, Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, and excerpts from Vergil’s Aeneid and Ovid’s Metamorphoses.

COMPUTER SCIENCE

ADVANCED COMPUTER SCIENCE

This course is a full-year senior elective for students who have an interest, but not necessarily a strong background, in computers. Advanced Computer Science stresses a variety of applications including database, computer-aided design, web design, networking, and advanced Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel techniques. In addition, students will explore other advanced topics based on their interests and abilities.

OBJECT-ORIENTED PROGRAMMING

This course is a full-year senior elective for students who are interested in learning the basics of computer programming and software development. Object-Oriented Programming focuses on the object orientation concepts that are part of most modern programming languages used today. Some of these concepts include objects, classes, methods, arrays, and how they are used together in various design structures. Students will work with several programming languages and observe the differences and similarities between each language.

ENGLISH

ENGLISH IV

In senior English, students study classics of American literature. They finish their Shakespearean study with Hamlet and advance their mastery of Greek classics with the study of Antigone. In their reading, students examine the works in their cultural and historical context. Seniors continue to use the core program which advances in structural complexity, and concentrates on ideas, methods of development, unity, and style in the writing of both analytic and imaginative essays. Instruction in writing a term paper is also an integral part of senior English; this project requires students to write a three-to-five page research paper which follows the MLA format.

HONORS ENGLISH IV

A brand new elective designed for students who have taken AP Literature and Composition in junior year and wish to continue challenging themselves in their understanding of diverse genres of literature and writing.

A.P. ENGLISH LITERATURE

Advanced Placement English Literature is offered to seniors. A.P. Literature students focus their study on American literature. In each of the respective periods, students learn broadly about the cultural and historical background of the time as well as how these forces influence the literature. With the reading of each work, students additionally analyze the techniques which are peculiar to the genre and which distinguish the writer style, characteristic subject matter, and contribution to the canon. All students sit for the A.P. Examination in May.

FINE ARTS

ART II

The senior art elective is a continuation and advancement of the junior art course with greater sophistication and depth. This course is designed to provide a stimulating atmosphere for those students who are gifted in art or would like to try their hand at creating art. The course offers a number of mediums with which to work. Students do architecture, design, drawing, printmaking, metalsmithing, painting, sculpture, and modeling with clay. The senior art elective helps the student build a portfolio for advancement in art or partake in the pure enjoyment and appreciation of art.

ART HISTORY

Art History is a senior elective course designed to give students the opportunity to study and appreciate art history from the Paleolithic era to contemporary times. Students will learn to examine and critically analyze major works of artistic expression not only from the Western canon but also works beyond the European tradition. They will be able to recognize trends and visual commentary that may give insight into political, social, religious and cultural aspects of the artist world. A variety of artistic medium will be studied such as architecture, sculpture, painting, drawing, illuminated manuscripts and printmaking. Students will eventually be able to describe and critically analyze a work of art using a specialized vocabulary. The main objective of this course is to gain an appreciation and enjoyment of the history of art with the motivation to pursue further study through college courses and seek intellectual and aesthetic experiences.

A.P. ART HISTORY

A.P. Art History is a senior elective which provides an introductory college-level course in art history. This course follows the College Board A.P. syllabus. Throughout the course students acquire an understanding and knowledge of architecture, sculpture, painting, and other art forms within diverse historical and cultural contexts. Students examine and critically analyze major forms of artistic expression from the past and the present from a variety of cultures. While visual analysis is the fundamental tool for this course, art history also emphasizes understanding works in context, considering such issues as patronage, gender, and the functions and effects of works of art. All students sit for the A.P. exam in May.

INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE

This senior elective course will introduce students to various aspects of theatre. This course is heavily project based, immersing students in the very complex components of professional theatre, namely, playwriting, directing, stage management, lighting design, scenic design, costume design, sound design, directing and performing. In addition to the hands-on / project learning, students will digest and discuss theatre as an art from exploring various theatrical texts, works from both classic and contemporary playwrights. We will study theatrical terminology, explore theatrical genres, and critique both local and professional theatre. Students will also learn about theatrical history – how it has evolved from its conception to modern day Broadway.

THE WORLD THROUGH MUSIC

This course is an elective course for seniors. Students will learn basic musical theory, musical writing, musical terms, and style periods. They will also study the individual styles of various composers. Students will get a chance to perform together, and as a soloist, individual pieces of music written by each class member.

MATHEMATICS

Every student who has completed a study of trigonometry will study at least a semester of Calculus (differential calculus) in their senior year. Students who have completed Pre-Calculus will complete an entire year of Calculus.

TRIGONOMETRY/PROBABILITY/STATISTICS

This course is primarily for students whose college courses will not be in math-oriented fields. Therefore, its goal is to give these students a basic understanding of the trigonometric functions and their graphs, probability, and statistics to prepare them for college courses such as economics, business, education, and sociology.

ANALYTICAL GEOMETRY/DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS

In the Analytical Geometry course, material is presented from the vector and Cartesian viewpoints. This course includes a thorough treatment of vectors, lines and conic sections in a plane. In the Differential Calculus course, the following functions are covered in detail: polynomial, logarithmic, and exponential. The basic concepts of calculus are presented and used in the study of these functions.

HONORS CALCULUS

This college level course stresses theory, mechanics, and applications in differential and integral calculus.

A.P. CALCULUS AB

Students in AP Calculus AB cover the same topics as Honors Calculus but with a greater emphasis on theory and application. Students additionally become proficient in completing and proving course work by means of graphing utilities. Students in AP Calculus AB will take the Advanced Placement examination at the conclusion of the course.

A.P. CALCULUS BC

Students in AP Calculus BC cover the same topics as those in AP Calculus AB with the addition of sequences, series, and parametric and polar functions. Students in AP Calculus BC will take the Advanced Placement examination at the conclusion of the course.

THEOLOGY

THEOLOGY IV: JESUIT EDUCATION CAPSTONE

St. Ignatius Loyola believed that without appropriate reflection, it is possible to live through a significant experience — such as one high school years — and miss its meaning. Prep Catholic and Jesuit tradition tells us that human beings are meant for more than meaningless experience. This course is a sustained intellectual and spiritual reflection on your experience of your years at Scranton Prep. Through study of the Catholic worldview, the Jesuit imagination and the aims of Jesuit education, and the Jesuit School Network Profile of the Graduate at Graduation, we will lay a foundation upon which you will build an understanding of what your Scranton Prep experience has meant and how it might influence your life in college and beyond, with special attention to questions of justice and the common good.

SCIENCE

A.P. BIOLOGY

This is an elective for highly motivated seniors who wish to pursue a career in the biological sciences at the university level. The course is meant to parallel the objectives of a first-year college biology course. Students will sit for the A.P. examination at the conclusion of the academic year.  This course has a pre-requisite of chemistry or AP chemistry and a co-requisite of any physics class.

PHYSICS

This in-depth physics course is for students with widely differing career plans (i.e., scientific or non-scientific career plans). The course follows the traditional approach to physics with major emphasis on mechanics, light, electricity and magnetism. Lecture topics are reinforced with a well-coordinated laboratory program. Problem solving is emphasized throughout the course.

A.P. PHYSICS 1

The A.P. Physics 1 syllabus is structured in accordance with the A.P. Program of the College Board.  The syllabus is prepared by the science department of Scranton Preparatory School.  Emphasis is placed on the development of critical and analytical thinking skills.  All students will sit for the A.P. examination at the conclusion of the academic year.

A.P. PHYSICS C : Mechanics

This is an intense and analytical physics course to be taken only by students who are concurrently taking AP Calculus.  The A.P. Physics C Mechanics program is geared towards students who want a more in depth and analytical approach to Physics.  The course incorporates both a lecture and laboratory component.  All students will sit for the A.P. Exam at the conclusion of the academic year.

PHYSICS of Energy

This course gives students a foundation in the physical principles that underlie the energy landscape.  This course will provide an understanding of the fundamental laws and the physical process that govern the sources, extraction, transmission, storage, degradation and end uses of energy.

CHEMISTRY II HONORS

Chemistry II Honors is course that picks up where Chemistry I left off.  The content of the course will begin with a brief review of Chemistry 1 topics then move on to cover topics such as stoichiometric relationships, acid-base calculations, kinetics, equilibrium and redox.  The lab experience for this course will be rich and an in-depth study to mirror the topics covered in the class.  The objective of the course is to prepare students to be successful in their first year of college chemistry.

CHEMISTRY II/ PHYSICS

Chemistry II/ Physics is a course designed to round out a student’s exposure to chemistry and some of the more advanced topics that were not covered in Chemistry I, as well as, give a basic understanding of kinematics in physics.  The course will consist of a half year of Chemistry II and a half year of Physics.  Each part of the course will have a lab component that will enrich the students understanding of classwork being covered.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Upper class students may pursue further aspects of the creation of the modern world through electives in American government and history, and international relations.

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS

American Government and Economic Systems (A.G.E.S.) is an elective course offered to juniors and seniors. It is divided into two parts. In the first semester, American Government, the focus will be on identifying the origins and purposes of government, law, and politics in the United States. It will discuss the purposes and provisions of the U.S. Constitution and the amendments. It will examine citizenship, civil rights, voting rights, political parties, and the effect media has on public policies and political agendas. This part of the course will study the United States’ federalist system of government. It will detail the structures and functions of the federal and state legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government and will examine independent federal agencies, constitutional powers, and national affairs.  In the second semester, American Economic Systems, the emphasis will be on economic policies. It will discuss the fundamentals of a market economy including economic systems, production possibilities curve, supply, demand, and price, business organizations, market structures, and the role of money. It will also address the national economy including economic goals, and fiscal and monetary policy. Attention will be placed on the Federal Reserve System, taxation, budgeting, deficit and debt. Areas of personal finance will also be discussed.

ADVANCED AMERICAN HISTORY

Advanced American History seeks to provide the student with a college-level survey course of the development of the American nation from the founding of Jamestown to its present position of world influence. Throughout the course, pedagogically speaking, the student is trained in the inquiry approach to analyze, synthesize and interpret historical data in a creative and critical methodology. At the end of the program, seniors should be able to make informed judgments based on rational and intuitive deductive processes. To that end, emphasis is placed on those historical events and trends that seem most important for understanding our own time. The student should appreciate democratic America humanitarian role as but one cultural heritage among the many of the planet.

A.P. EUROPEAN HISTORY

A.P. European History is an elective course for juniors and seniors. Following the College Board A.P. syllabus, A.P. European History provides students with an academic experience equivalent to an introductory college survey of Western Civilizations. The course is specifically designed to provide students with an in-depth study of European history from the 15th century through the modern day. As students study course content, A.P. European History is specifically designed to enhance their analytical skills through critical thinking, document analysis, interpretive reading, information organization and synthesis, participation in a seminar format class discussion, and research and essay writing. Students successfully mastering this course material may earn college credit by passing the annually administered AP European history exam. All students will take the A.P. exam in May.

A.P. HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

A.P. Human Geography is an elective course open to juniors and seniors. Following the College Board A.P. Syllabus, A.P. Human Geography introduces students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth surface. Students employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human social organization and its environmental consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their science and practice. All Students will take the A.P. exam in May.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

The intent of the International Affairs course is to give the student an understanding of the inter-relationship of nations on the regional and global level. There is a three-level program of concepts and terminology, historical highlights, and current developments. Through this program, students will develop critical thinking and expression along with advanced reading and writing skills.

A.P. PSYCHOLOGY

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings. Psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology are considered. Students also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice. The aim is to provide a learning experience equivalent to that obtained in most college introductory psychology courses. All students will take the A.P. exam in May.

WORLD LANGUAGES

FRENCH III

This course is a systematic completion of the grammatical structures with an increased emphasis on communication skills. Samples of French literature representative of the different literary periods are presented. These serve as the bases for discussion and composition. French journals and films are used to introduce the French culture and geography. The class is taught almost exclusively in the target language.

HONORS FRENCH III

The honors level III course is open to select students who demonstrate high motivation and proficiency. The course covers all material from level III in an accelerated manner supplemented with a variety of enrichment activities conducted in the foreign language. The course challenges and prepares students for college level language courses.

GERMAN III

There are two essential aspects of this curriculum. The first is the constant effort to enhance the student’s grasp of the structure and vocabulary of the German language. The second is to provide the student with a general overview of German literature and culture. This course is conducted completely in German, and there is an emphasis on oral communication and practical application.

HONORS GERMAN III

The honors level III course is open to select students who demonstrate high motivation and proficiency. The course covers all material from level III in an accelerated manner supplemented with a variety of enrichment activities conducted in the foreign language. The course challenges and prepares students for college level language courses.

SPANISH III

This third-year course proceeds with the study of Spanish with emphasis on oral communication and practical application. It includes a detailed and extensive review and refinement of grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Further exposure to the rich culture of Latin America and Spain is explored through readings, articles, and basic literature in the text. This course is conducted completely in Spanish.

HONORS SPANISH III

The honors level III course is open to select students who demonstrate high motivation and proficiency. The course covers all material from level III in an accelerated manner supplemented with a variety of enrichment activities conducted in the foreign language. The course challenges and prepares students for college level language courses.

A.P. SPANISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

This course follows the guidelines of the College Board AP Spanish Language and Culture course and provides opportunities for students to demonstrate their proficiency, in the three modes of communication (Interpretive, Interpersonal, and Presentational) defined in the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century. The course develops language and cultural proficiency at the Intermediate to Advanced level.

ARRUPE VIRTUAL LEARNING INSTITUTE

AVLI is an online option open to seniors. Seniors may only take 1 course as an elective, and approval is required by their Academic Dean. This elective will appear on the student’s transcript and will be included in their GPA. Students are responsible for the cost of the course and any additional books or materials required for that course. If taking an AP course through AVLI, the student must take the AP exam in May. If a student wishes to take a language course through AVLI, they must also take a 3^rd year language course at Prep. Students should contact their Academic Dean for any questions about AVLI.

A.P. COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

The A.P. course in Comparative Government and Politics introduces students to fundamental concepts used by political scientists to study the processes and outcomes of politics in a variety of country settings. The course aims to illustrate the rich diversity of political life, to show available institutional alternatives, to explain differences in processes and policy outcomes, and to communicate to students the importance of global political and economic changes. Comparison assists both in identifying problems and in analyzing policymaking.

A.P. COMPUTER SCIENCE

This course is a college level introduction to object-oriented programming in Java. Students will focus on a problem solving approach designed to focus attention on programming algorithms and data structures. Students will be fluent in the syntax and logic structures of the Java programming language as well as familiar with the Java API. Students will attempt difficult programming challenges, reflect on these exercises, and share their discoveries with their peers. In the spring, students will be eligible to take the A.P. Computer Science A Exam offered by the College Board at their school. This class will take up a lot of time, so it is recommended have room in their schedule for it.

A.P. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

The goal of the A.P. Environmental Science course is to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them. Labs will be coordinated with the student’s brick-and-mortar school. In the spring, students will be eligible to take the A.P. Environmental Science Exam offered by the College Board at their school. This class will take up a lot of time, so it is recommended students have room in their schedule for it.

ITALIAN LEVEL I

Introduction to the basics of conversational Italian, including nouns, regular and irregular verbs, and basic conversations from Italian to English and English to Italian. This course will be team taught with by an Italian teacher in the United States and an English teacher in Italy. Students will communicate in Italian with native speakers in Italy. Successful completion of Italian 1 is a prerequisite for admission into Italian 2, 3, and AP Italian.

A.P. MICROECONOMICS

How should faithful Catholics think about economics? This course integrates selected themes from the Neoscholastic School of Economics with the content of the Advanced Placement economics syllabus in microeconomics. The course prepares students to do well on the A.P. Microeconomics exam as well as offers a way to view our redeemed creation through the prism of social science. The economic way of thinking does not begin with Adam Smith. It is based on insights from Aristotle, St. Augustine, St. Aquinas, the Jesuit and Franciscan theologians at the University of Salamanca in Spain during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and on the Popes social encyclicals. We develop our understanding of basic economic concepts and analytic tools by anchoring them to our faith moral traditions and foundations.

A.P. MACROECONOMICS

How should faithful Catholics think about economics? This course integrates selected themes from the Neoscholastic School of Economics with the content of the Advanced Placement economics syllabus in macroeconomics. The course prepares students to do well on the A.P. Macroeconomics exam as well as offers a way to view our redeemed creation through the prism of social science. The economic way of thinking does not begin with Adam Smith. It is based on insights from Aristotle, St. Augustine, St. Aquinas, the Jesuit and Franciscan theologians at the University of Salamanca in Spain during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and on the Popes social encyclicals. We develop our understanding of basic economic concepts and analytic tools by anchoring them to our faith moral traditions and foundations.

A.P. MUSIC THEORY

This course corresponds to the introductory college music theory class. Topics to be covered include musicianship, reading and writing musical notation, musical materials, and procedures. The course sequence involves aural skills, sight-singing, melodic and rhythm dictation, aspects of melody, keyboard harmony, musical form analysis, and elementary composition. The goal is to develop the ability to recognize, understand and describe basic materials and processes of music that are heard or presented in a musical score. Students who complete this course are encouraged and eligible to take the A.P. Music Theory examination in the spring.

A.P. STATISTICS

This course prepares students to take the Advanced Placement national examination in elementary statistics. It develops an intuitive, non-calculus based understanding with an emphasis on doing statistics. Statistics makes sense of data. It consists of a set of tools that allow us to make inferences in the face of uncertainty. Statistical methods draw from the Gaussian (normal, bell shaped) distribution as well as the binomial and chi-square distributions. We learn about data description concepts, hypothesis testing, probability, discrete and random variables, several inferential techniques, regression, and how to plan and carry out a properly designed statistical analysis.