Electives (High School)
Art Courses
Instructional courses offered in the artistic programs at Fei Tian are considered equivalent to high school elective courses. These courses include Music for Dancers, Computer Art Design, Introductory Fine Arts, Music Appreciation, and related courses.
World History II
This is an honors course designed to further deepen a student’s knowledge of world history and geography. The basis of the course is an exploration into what is happening in various global regions and an investigation of issues from multiple perspectives. It builds on the students’ understanding of cultural, institutional, and technological precedents that, along with geography, set the human stage. Students develop greater understanding of the evolution of global processes and interactions between different types of societies. This understanding is advanced through a combination of selective factual knowledge and appropriate analytical skills. Students are encouraged to take the SAT in World History upon completion of this course.
U.S. History II
This is an honors course that provides an enriched understanding of America’s past. Honors U.S. History necessitates the use of challenging reading material, a greater mastery of the material, and an emphasis on the ability to think critically. Though the historical period covered in this honors course parallels U.S. History I, the material is presented with greater emphasis on classic works of American historiography. The Honors U.S. History class focuses on the colonial period up to 1900. Students investigate the various social and political factors that have shaped American democracy, the emergence of the United States as a world power, the economic problems caused by changing conditions and the various social forces and movements that have reshaped the basic fabric of American society. Students are encouraged to take the SAT in U.S. History upon completion of this course.
Pre-calculus
The course topics include algebra, advanced trigonometry, and analytic geometry of two and three dimensions. Students experience a thorough analysis of all elementary functions and curve-sketching. Topics include functions and function theory; types of functions such as polynomial, rational, trigonometric, exponential and logarithmic; the study of conics, sequences and series; and an introduction to calculus that includes limits, derivatives, critical points, continuity, rules for derivatives, and integration. Selected discrete mathematics topics including normal probability distributions, non-linear regression, and hypothesis testing. Experience with graphing calculators is incorporated. Students are encouraged to take the SAT in Math II upon completion of this course; those who do so will receive honors credit for the course.
Biology
Biology involves the scientific study of living organisms. The course considers the interactions among the vast number of organisms that inhabit the planet. It presents the basic form and function of these organisms, from cells to organ systems, and from simple viruses to complex humans. It delves into interactions between organisms, and between an organism and its environment. Scientific process and laboratory skills are emphasized along with biology’s connections to other scientific disciplines. Students learn scientific writing skills and also examine current biological issues. This program promotes scientific thinking through problem solving, a process that encourages curiosity and careful inquiry. Students are encouraged to take the SAT in Biology-E (Ecology) or Biology-M (Molecular) upon completion of this course; those who do so will receive honors credit for the course.
Physics
Physics is the study of matter and energy and their interactions. It provides a systematic understanding of the fundamental laws that govern physical, chemical, and biological processes. The major topics covered are conceptual study of laws of motion, forces, energy and momentum; properties and states of matter; heat and thermodynamics; wave motion; sound; light; and electricity and magnetism. Additional topics include geometrical optics and nuclear physics. Students must have taken or be enrolled in Algebra II/Trigonometry. Students are encouraged to take the SAT in Physics upon completion of this course; those who do so will receive honors credit for the course.