In some countries in the world, the ” high school” signifies a period of post-primary or post-junior high education”.
It is generally seen as an academic level that provides an education that is more progressive than elementary school or middle school but less refined than college grades 9, 10, 11, and 12.
The accepted age range of students in high schools varies based on state or country, however, the most common age range is 13- 18.
High school is a time of increasing independence and responsibility as opposed to lower levels of education. However, upon gaining entry into high school, one major worry students have is finding out the required major subjects, extracurricular activities e.t.c to participate in or offer.
As believed, there is a new structured way of choosing courses to offer although the work in high school builds on what you have learned in middle school, giving you more advanced knowledge of many academic subjects.
In this article, we would discuss the major courses you need in high school.
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What are the Major Courses Offered in High School?
In every school, irrespective of the department you choose to belong to, some major subjects are inevitable and totally compulsory.
It is however important to note that classes taken in various high schools are determined by the curriculum of one’s school and the school’s requirement for graduation.
That is, subjects offered in each school might be entirely different, however, some courses are commonly offered worldwide.
The most common major classes offered in high school include:-
- English Language.
- Maths.
- Science.
- Social Studies.
- Foreign Language.
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#1. ENGLISH LANGUAGE
During your stay in high school, they require a lot of English courses some of which will help you fulfill the college’s requirements that you plan ongoing for after high school.
However, studying the English language and literature is a vital part of high school for every student irrespective of their post-school plans. In addition to reviewing significant pieces of literature, English classes teach teens about writing and speaking.
English language, being the language of the Englands, is a major class in high school because it enables one to communicate effectively that is express oneself successfully, write creatively, and think critically, it also increases one’s level of understanding and also reading effectively.
Its study also teaches the students literature and other arts like research, drama, and so on.
English courses in high school include:-
- • Vocabulary and Grammar.
- • Literature.
- •Writing.
English language study is very important irrespective of one’s future ambition and hence is a major class in high schools.
Most curriculums request that the English language be studied for at least 4 years in high school.
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#2. MATHEMATICS.
Mathematics is required by high school for graduation for a duration of about 3 to 4 years.
Basically, mathematics is a class that is cumulative in nature that is it progresses and unfolds in a sequential format. What would be learned in a new class utterly relies on what has been learned.
According to Common Core standards for maths whose aim is to make an improved standardized maths curriculum.
This standard states that six(6) maths courses must be attempted during high school. They include:-
- Algebra.
- Functions.
- Modeling.
- Geometry.
- Statistics.
- Probability.
This standard is widely known but is not yet followed like it ought to be. Instead, most high schools offer the following classes in a progressive nature:-
- Algebra l.
- Geometry.
- Algebra lI.
- Trigonometry.
- Pre-calculus.
- calculus.
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SCIENCES
Science is simply known as any field or department of systemized knowledge considered as a distinct field of investigation or object of study.
In most high schools, it often includes laboratory components that enable students to learn to perform experiments and especially on their own. They also follow a sequential format like maths.
Its study is widely required for 3 to 4 years.
Its main courses include:-
- Elementary science.
- Earth science/physical science.
- Biology.
- Chemistry.
- Physics.
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SOCIAL STUDIES
Social studies are also known as a social science is a field that studies human behavior, relationships, resources, and institutions.
Basically, social studies cover various fields of study in conjunction with culture, government, general interactions of people within a complex national and worldwide context.
The main goal for learning social studies is to help students become good citizens wherever they find themselves, understand Economics, have a good sense of politics, and respect History.
Due to the admission requirement of colleges for social studies, the following social studies courses are important in high school:-
- Histology.
- Government.
- Civics.
- Culture.
- Psychology.
- Economics.
- Geography.
Its study is required for about 2 to 3 years in high school.
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FOREIGN LANGUAGE
While studying a foreign language, you tend to enable and ease worldwide communication, it also provides job opportunities, it boosts your confidence, it also gives room for studying in foreign nations.
Most high schools offer several years of a foreign language; some of which includes:-
- Spanish.
- French.
- Germany.
- Mandarin Chinese.
Other possible language offerings include Russian, Latin, American Sign Language, and German.
Most colleges require about 2 to 3 years of high school foreign language study.
Major College Elective Courses
Asides from your major classes, there are usually abundant opportunities to take electives in various areas of study. All of which would help build or equip the child for the future.
In some cases, a student may be given the liberty to choose one class from a preferred group of options required in the school’s curriculum. In others, a student may be opportune to be less occupied and he or she would choose to study something simply based on their interests and aspirations.
Instances of elective classes may include:
- Physical education
- Business, law
- Cooking and other life skills
- Arts, such as music, photography, or ceramics
- Computer applications, graphic design, or web design
- Psychology
- Trade field studies such as auto mechanics or nursing
- Personal finance etc.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is High School Very Important?
While some students are not particularly happy about high school, high school is a very important stage in a child’s education and future. The period spent in high school can be regarded as the ultimate ” molding period” in which teens can learn, explore, and prepare for the future higher education, professional career, and adulthood that is to follow. It is the perfect time to identify your strength and weakness as well as capitalize on them to become the best person you can become. In high school, students can try an activity or a subject and deduce that it isn’t their favorite; however, once a student is pursuing a major in college or professional career, deciding the topic or industry is no longer of interest has greater consequences.
How do I Carefully Select my Elective?
It is highly advisable to see the school guidance counselor when making these critical subject decisions, however, note that whatever elective you will pick should be based on the following:
Which Electives Your School Offers: The elective you could offer would be dependent on your school’s elective courses as no school would be able to provide all the electives in the world.
The Electives You’ll Be Able to Take: The elective you will be able to take can be identified on your own or with your guidance counselor by drawing up a rough plan of the classes you need to take to graduate or the ones you need to get your preferred college requirements.
How Rigorous You Want Your Electives to Be: To enter some top colleges you need rigorous electives however do not allow the coursework to overweight your grades.
Electives Related to Your Academic Focus’ The elective you would select should largely depend on what you want to focus on.
Electives that interest you or that you know you would enjoy.
How Many Eectives Can I Offer?
The number of elective classes in high school is determined by each high school. While most colleges typically expect between 5-7 elective credits during high school, students are certainly not limited by these averages. Students have the freedom to explore any number of interests, skills, and career paths through elective studies as long as it doesn’t affect your grades.
Will College Look at Your Senior GPA?
Many colleges ask for a final transcript after you finish your senior year of high school. Colleges require your final transcript as confirmation that you graduated from high school, which is usually an admissions requirement. Colleges also want to see that you’ve maintained (or improved!) your grades during your senior year of high school. Evidence that you’ve continued to work hard in your classes tells colleges that you’re ready to work hard at their university.
What are the Common High School Subjects?
Conclusion
While deciding on the courses to take in high school, one needs to be very careful as it is a cardinal point of the achievement of one’s future ambition.
One may require to put some factors into consideration.
They include:-
- One’s future ambition.
- Or one’s abilities, talents, and areas of strength.
- One’s school’s requirement for graduation.
In essence, it is important to first go through the subjects needed to graduate, and then one can go ahead and choose subjects that interest one and also contributes to the fulfillment of one’s future ambition.
To a very large extent, many of the classes you are to study are decided by the high school’s requirement for graduation as they allow set curriculum needed to be treated so as to proceed to college.
If you need the advice of an expert as you don’t still seem to know what you would offer, you can consult your school’s guidance and counselor as this decision if chosen right can help succeed on the SAT and other standardized tests and even get you into your dream college for your dream course.
Decisions about classes to take are to be pondered upon and taken before one resumes school as this gives time to think wide and hard and not take those decisions whilst under pressure.
The major classes in high school are those courses that irrespective of your field or area of specialty or even future ambition, they must be offered.
These classes differ slightly from school to school but the adore presented information is based on a lot of research before collation and the following conclusions were made.
References
- Https://blog.prepscholar.com/which-foreign-language-should-you-take-in-high-school
- Https://www.collegeraptor.com/getting-in/articles/college-applications/learning-second-language-high-school-important/
- https://www.thoughtco.com/years-of-social-studies-needed-788863
- https://blog.prepscholar.com/the-high-school-science-classes-you-should-take
- https://www.varsitytutors.com/blog/what+are+the+high+school+science+courses
- https://www.mathnasium.ca/summerside/news/math-classes-you-can-take-in-high-school
- https://blog.prepscholar.com/the-high-school-math-classes-you-should-take
- https://www.theclassroom.com/english-class-important-6088548.html
- https://www.varsitytutors.com/blog/what+are+the+high+school+english+courses
- https://blog.collegevine.com/a-complete-list-of-all-high-school-classes/
- https://blog.prepscholar.com/the-complete-list-of-high-school-classes
- https://www.ohe.state.mn.us/mPg.cfm?pageID=1836
- https://www.alleducationschools.com/blog/what-the-high-school-curriculum-covers/
- https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/why-is-social-studies-important/
- https://testive.com/high-school-classes/
- https://www.verywellfamily.com/high-school-subjects-2610106
- https://blog.prepscholar.com/what-classes-should-you-take-in-high-school.
FAQs
What is field of study in senior high school? ›
Each student in Senior High School can choose among three tracks: Academic; Technical-Vocational-Livelihood; and Sports and Arts. The Academic track includes three strands: Business, Accountancy, Management (BAM); Humanities, Education, Social Sciences (HESS); and Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM).
How do I choose a secondary school? ›- Trust your instinct. Parents know best what their child is like. ...
- Check the admissions criteria. This should be on both the school website and the local authority's website. ...
- Pick more than one school. ...
- Don't leave any blanks on the form. ...
- Supply the right documentation.
- Mentor a student. ...
- Volunteer at school events. ...
- Join a parent organization. ...
- Donate Supplies. ...
- Attend school board meetings. ...
- Follow local education reporters. ...
- Volunteer for career day. ...
- Share your story.
Not only will you learn subjects but you will also learn new skills, including social skills. The skills and knowledge that you learn at school will help you now and in later life as you start work. Good attendance shows potential employers that you are reliable.
What is major field of study in high school? ›In high schools, a core course of study will typically include specified classes in the four “core” subject areas—English language arts, math, science, and social studies—during each of the four standard years of high school.
What does major field of study mean in high school? ›A student's 'field of study' will include specific classes in one of the four 'core' subject areas: Social Studies, Math, English language arts, and Science. Most schools will focus on specific classes in one core subject for each of the standard years of high school (grades 9 to 12).
When should I start looking at high schools? ›Applications open on different days in each local council area - usually at the start of the autumn term of year 6, though for most grammar schools you will need to register for the entrance test during the summer term of year 5. The deadline to apply for a secondary school place is 31 October.
How do I choose the best high school? ›- Average Class Size. ...
- College Support & Student Outcomes. ...
- Educational Philosophy. ...
- The Academic Program. ...
- Mentorship Programs & Resources. ...
- Extracurricular Activities & Clubs.
Secondary school education is one of the most important phases of every student's life. It has been one of the best ways to help empower girls, provide a foundation to many youngsters, reduce infant mortality rates in India and elevate a person's economic status.
Why should I be Head Girl? ›Being Head Boy/Girl gives you experience in leadership and organisation – you will most likely be asked to attend events outside of school time and play a part in organising these events too, which will give you an idea as to what it is like to have a position of leadership in the future (possibly even your career).
Can I take my 4 year old out of school? ›
However, legally speaking, it's not unlawful for you to take your child out of school for a holiday before they reach Compulsory School Age. The school is obliged to mark your child as present or absent, but don't have to record whether their absence is authorised.
Why is school so stressful? ›Concerns about not having enough friends, not being in the same class as friends, not being able to keep up with friends in one particular area or another, interpersonal conflicts, and peer pressure are a few of the very common ways kids can be stressed by their social lives at school.
Who made school? ›Credit for our modern version of the school system usually goes to Horace Mann. When he became Secretary of Education in Massachusetts in 1837, he set forth his vision for a system of professional teachers who would teach students an organized curriculum of basic content.
Is school important in life? ›Education provides stability in life, and it's something that no one can ever take away from you. By being well-educated and holding a college degree, you increase your chances for better career opportunities and open up new doors for yourself.
What is my field of study? ›Field of study means an area in which a certificate, diploma, or degree is awarded. A certificate or diploma earned that relates to the associate degree constitutes the same field of study. Field of study means the specialized subject of knowledge for which Post Graduate Degree is offered by the University.
What is field of study in education? ›The field study is an educational technique, which makes the educational process more active, helps the students to work in real situations and to develop skills, competencies and positive attitudes through activation of their existing ones.
What is field of study in resume? ›A field of study consists of a broad area of academic and skills qualifications that come under a similar branch of subject knowledge. In addition, courses offered under each field of study require similar academic entry requirements.
What is a high school degree called? ›Diploma: Grade 12/Senior High School Diploma.