NCSSM COURSE CAtAlOG - North Carolina School of Science and ...

INTRODUCTION
The course offerings described in the following pages have been developed for
the 2012-2013 school year. They have been designed to provide both depth
and breadth in the instructional program. An effort is made to accommodate
the student’s individual interests, with final decisions on any year’s course
offerings based on staff availability and satisfaction of minimum enrollment
requirements.
The first consideration in building each student’s course of study is to ensure a
thorough grounding in mathematical, scientific, and communications skills and
concepts. Students are urged to select an advanced sequence in at least one
discipline in science and/or mathematics and also to sample other areas of
study through their choice of electives. It is important for students to learn
enough about a variety of academic disciplines in mathematics and the
sciences and in other fields to become informed decision makers and
competent leaders in the technological world of the 21st century.
To address the special needs, interests, and learning styles of a talented student
population, the following study options and special programs are provided:
Individualized Study, Independent Study, and Seminar Study. Selected
mentorship placements with faculty or other professional personnel in
neighboring universities, colleges, museums, institutes, laboratories, or industries
are arranged and supervised by the Mentorship Program Coordinator, who is a
member of the instructional staff.
Junior students are expected to enroll in four core courses for the fall trimester.
Once all students have had the opportunity to complete enrollment, juniors
have the opportunity to select a fifth core course for fall from among a specified
list of courses, if they wish. Otherwise all students are required to be enrolled in
five core courses each trimester. Students wishing to enroll in more than five core
courses for a trimester must have permission from the Vice Chancellor for
Academic Programs. Art courses, music courses, drama courses, designated
math and social science electives, physical activity/wellness courses, Student
Life 101/201, independent study, and seminar study are not included in the five.
Students’ initial placement in certain courses is based on testing, previous
instruction, and other course placements. Students who demonstrate
exceptional mastery of English and US History, world languages, chemistry,
physics, or biology may qualify to exempt course requirements in that discipline.
See pages 116-119 Graduation Requirements and Exemption Criteria of this
catalog for details. Students are not permitted to exempt the NCSSM
mathematics requirement.
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