High School Course Guide

SIS Building Profile

Seoul International School offers a variety of courses to provide opportunities for students interested in art. Studio Art, Graphic Design and Ceramics classes are for all students interested in such courses. S.I.S. also provides Advanced Placement Drawing, 2-D Design and Art History courses for students who are considering their future career in fine arts and design areas.

Required
9th
10th
11th
12th
Digital Photography
AP Art History
Studio Art 2
Studio Art 1
Design 1
Design 2
AP Drawing
Ceramics 1
Ceramics 2
AP 2D Design

Drama

Required
9th
10th
11th
12th
Drama 1
Drama 2

The language arts program at SIS helps our students develop their communication skills in preparation for a university setting and beyond. Our program focuses on reading, writing, and presenting for a variety of purposes, settings, and media. Our coursework utilizes a variety of teaching methods that allow our students to challenge themselves and to showcase their talents and skills. For example, students are typically asked to write an essay, act out a play, debate an important issue, create/respond to a blog, write a newspaper article, critique a play, and present research as a part of a group. Students also learn and practice a variety of strategies to help them read challenging texts (fiction, non-fiction, and poetry). Texts are chosen because they are canonical, representative of a culture or time period, or by a notable author. The English Department challenges our students to become the best readers, writers, and presenters they can be. We actively support students with a Writing Center run by teachers, that is open throughout the lunch hour every day of the week. The Writing Center supports Language Arts assignments, as well as writing across the other disciplines.

Required
9th
10th
11th
12th
Communications
General Literature
U.S. Literature
British Literature
World Literature
AP Language & Composition
AP Literature & Composition
Writing 11
Introduction to Publications
Newspaper
Yearbook
Writing 10

The high school Math Department currently offers eleven math courses from Algebra 2 to A.P. BC Calculus, including Statistics and AP Statistics. The sequence is as follows: Geometry, Algebra II, Precalculus and Calculus and/or Statistics. Most of the students take math every year, although three years are required for graduation. In general, the majority of 9th graders take Geometry, 10th graders take Algebra II, 11th graders take Precalculus, and 12th graders take Calculus and/or Statistics. SIS students and parents understand how important math is and they emphasize doing well in it. Students score very high on SAT and A.P. Math, and do well in their college math courses later.

Required
9th
10th
11th
12th
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
AP / AB Calculus
AP / BC Calculus
Statistics
AP Statistics

Computer Science

The Computer Science Department will have two tracks of learning that deal with technology. One track develops students who are interested in a future in Computer Science where software design and program coding is important. The Web Design 1 classes are designed to help students engineer user-friendly interface designs, develop and build strong programming skills, and integrate different types of code technology. The other track deals more specifically in design and using the computer as a creative tool. Students interested in art, graphic design, advertising, and multimedia should consider taking Graphic Design 1 and Graphic Design 2. These classes will focus on developing students design instincts by using industry-standard design and illustration software. Advanced students who are interested in web publications, graphic design, and developing server-side script technologies used in dynamic webpages should consider taking the Web Design 2 class. Below is a diagram that lays out the various class offerings.

Required
9th
10th
11th
12th
AP Computer Science A

The Seoul International School Music Program consists of seven music ensembles for students grades 9 to 12. These groups include the Concert Choir, Ambassadors, Ladies’ Choir, Advanced Band, Jazz Ensemble, Strings, and Symphony Orchestra. All groups perform a variety of literature throughout the year in concerts, recitals and KAIAC music festivals.

Required
9th
10th
11th
12th
HS Advanced Band
HS Jazz Ensemble
HS String Ensemble
HS Orchestra
HS Concert Choir
Ambassadors
Ladies Choir

Physical Education

Download the Scope and Sequence

Required
9th
10th
11th
12th
Physical Education
Life Sports

The SIS science department provides a total of 10 science courses including four Advanced Placement classes. Every class provides a good opportunity to students wishing to extend their knowledge further into science. Five science teachers in High School teach the students with maximum hands-on activities in a laboratory setting using lectures, discussions, and laboratories.

Required
9th
10th
11th
12th
Science 9
Biology
AP Biology
Chemistry
AP Chemistry
Physics
AP Physics
Environmental Science
AP Environmental Science

The SIS curriculum is modeled on those commonly found in the U.S. but with reference to the school's international nature. The program focuses on developing advanced critical thinking skills and a strong ability to express themselves in different mediums. Students need a minimum of three credits in Social Studies to graduate, including compulsory courses in World History and U.S. History. Students are also offered a wide range of elective programs. U.S. History, World History, Human Geography, Economics, and Psychology are offered at the Advanced Placement level. Contemporary Asian Studies and Government/Comparative Politics are also offered.

Required
9th
10th
11th
12th
World History
U.S. History
AP U.S. History
AP World History
Contemporary Asian Studies
AP Psychology
Global Issues/AP Human Geography
Government and Economics
AP Economics

Two years of study in Spanish or Chinese are required at SIS; however, because students of foreign languages tend to show improvement in all language fields, students are encouraged to advance as far as possible with their foreign language. Because language skills are cumulative, with each course building on skills acquired in the previous course, Spanish and Chinese students must follow the sequence from level I through AP. The rare exceptions to this sequence are outlined in a document available through the Counseling Office.

Required
9th
10th
11th
12th
Spanish 1
Spanish 2
Spanish 3
Spanish 4
AP Spanish
Chinese 1
Chinese 2
Chinese 3
AP Chinese