Interdisciplinary

Signature Programs

AP Capstone Diploma Program & AP Research and Seminar Certificate

Indian Creek School has been accepted as one of approximately 2,000 schools worldwide to implement the AP Capstone Diploma program – an innovative program that encourages students to develop skills for college and future success, including critical thinking, research, collaboration, and communication. The program consists of two yearlong courses taken in sequence: AP Seminar and AP Research.

Students who score a 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on 4 additional AP Exams of their choosing earn the AP Capstone Diploma. This signifies outstanding academic achievement and attainment of college-level academic and research skills. Students who score a 3 or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research (and not on 4 additional AP Exams) earn the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.

ICS will start offering the AP Seminar course in the fall of 2022. In AP Seminar, which will be available to tenth and eleventh graders, students choose real-world topics and evaluate them from multiple perspectives. Students identify credibility and bias in sources and develop arguments in support of a recommendation. The AP Seminar course, while interdisciplinary in nature, will receive an English graduation credit.

In the subsequent AP Research course, which we will offer beginning fall 2023 to juniors and seniors, students design and execute a college-level research project on a topic of personal interest. Students receive firsthand experience in writing a research question, executing an appropriate method, analyzing data, presenting their results, and defending their findings. AP Research will receive a History graduation credit. This program represents an exciting evolution of our Voros Senior Thesis project, which will be incorporated into Indian Creek’s AP Capstone program as the highest level of achievement students can attain.

Please see the AP Seminar course description in the English department for course specifics. The AP Research course description will be published in the 23-24 Curriculum Guide.

Eagles with a Purpose

Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 Yearlong – X-Block .5 credit, Pass/Fail Note: This course may be taken multiple times and receives a .5 credit. It meets during X-Blocks and conflicts with the STEM program in the schedule so cannot be taken by students in STEM. Eagles With a Purpose gives students in grades 9-12 the opportunity to gain a better understanding of social justice, participate in community engagement, realize individual and collective agency in meeting the needs of others, advocate for social justice, and engage in reflection. The program allows students the opportunity to explore their passions through hands-on activities that utilize their abilities for the benefit of the community at large. Stanford University professor William Damon, author of The Path to Purpose, defines purpose as “a stable and generalized intention to accomplish something that is at the same time meaningful to the self and consequential for the world beyond self.” In other words, purpose happens when students develop a meaningful connection to someone or something outside of themselves—and they do something about it.

In the first quarter students focus on community engagement and team building through volunteer work and outdoor leadership. The second quarter students continue with service-learning opportunities and hear from invited speakers. In the

third quarter students identify issues in our community then propose and design a student created plan of action. The fourth quarter students put their plans into action and reflect on the process.

Independent Study

Grades 11, 12 Semester or Yearlong .5 or 1 credit

Note: Students who wish to take an Independent Study must find an instructor to sponsor them. They can take the Independent Study during one of their six blocks by indicating it on their course selection sheet; if the Independent Study is not approved, the student will either have a GTD or the option to enroll in another open course that meets at that time. Independent Studies most often run as an asynchronous, blended courses in the style of a BLinc. Students will work on their coursework in the Vos Family Academic Resource Center during the scheduled block. They will have occasional scheduled synchronous meetings with their teacher. Students may design an independent study to study a subject more deeply or expand their coursework past what is available in a department. Students should work with a faculty advisor as part of their design process and the faculty advisor should work with them through the duration of the independent study. The independent study will be reflected on the transcript with a letter grade.

Senior Internship

Grade 12 Semester or Yearlong .5 credit or 1 credit Pass/Fail Indian Creek School allows students in Grade 12 to receive academic credit by completing an internship either in-person or virtually. Students should indicate they are interested in an internship on their course selection form. Internships can be flexible based on the student’s schedule and interests. Interested students work with the Upper School Assistant Principal to secure an internship and arrange the details. In addition to meeting the requirements of the providing organizations, students are expected to complete reflections on their learnings. See more details in the Internship program description.

Senior Voros Thesis

Grades 12 Yearlong 1 credit

Note: This course is run as an asynchronous, blended course in the style of a BLinc. Students will work on their senior thesis in the Vos Family Academic Resource Center. Students are required to select a “GTD: Get Things Done” during one of their six academic blocks. They will have occasional scheduled synchronous meetings with their teachers and peers during the research and writing process.

This course is not graded on the standard A-F scale. Students receive either a “Pass” or a “Pass with Distinction.” Because of the challenging nature of the project, there is no “F” option; students who do not complete the requirements can withdraw from the course at any time without penalty (but also without credit.)te: Students who wish to take an Independent Study must find an instructor to sponsor them. They can take the Independent Study during one of their six blocks by indicating it on their course selection sheet; if the Independent Study is not approved, the student will either have a GTD or the option to enroll in another open course that meets at that time. Independent Studies most often run as an asynchronous, blended courses in the style of a BLinc. Students will work on their coursework in the Vos Family Academic Resource Center during the scheduled block. They will have occasional scheduled synchronous meetings with their teacher.

The program allows select students the opportunity to pursue a question within the scope of the humanities that may have developed from various studies throughout a student’s educational career. Over the course of the year, students research and prepare a 30-60 page written thesis which they present and defend in front of a panel in May.

Human Development

Grade 9, 10, 11, 12 Yearlong No credit Human Development (HD) has been divided into four units, each with its own instructor and subject matter taught at developmentally-appropriate levels to each of the four Upper School grades.

Unit 1: Belonging, DEI, & Social Justice

Students will work to understand how to engage in difficult conversations on topics we might disagree on, and how to understand, think critically about, and offer empathy towards perspectives that differ from our own.

Unit 2: Physical/Mental Health & Wellbeing

Students will discuss healthy decision making, self-advocacy, and self-care. Topics included self-awareness around and understanding of mental health issues, managing stress and anxiety, how to help a friend in need, information about substance abuse and addiction, and more. Unit 3: Healthy Relationships & Sexual Education. Students will cover topics including healthy communication, respect and consent, reproductive and sexual health, preventative care, and understanding gender and sexuality.

Unit 4: Leadership & Citizenship

Topics included how to be an "upstander," self-awareness of strengths and leading styles, digital citizenship and appropriate use of social media, time management, and planning for the future.

Interdisciplinary Course Offerings

The following courses are recognized as interdisciplinary. Some may receive required graduation credit in another academic department, which is noted in the course description. All may count towards elective credit if taken in addition to required courses. Course names and descriptions are listed here and in the departments for which they are eligible to receive graduation credit.

Big 9: The History and Science of Our World

Grade 9 Yearlong See History and Science sections for course description. 2 credits – 1 History, 1 Science

An Exploration of Inequality in the United States

Grades 10, 11, 12 Semester See History section for course description. .5 credit

AP Psychology

Grades 11, 12 Yearlong

See Science section for course description. 1 credit - Science

AP Seminar

Grades 10, 11

Yearlong See English section for course description. 1 credit - English

Explorations in Art History

Grades 11, 12 Semester

See History or Fine Arts for course description.

Financial Algebra: Personal Finance and Economics

Grades 11, 12 Semester See Mathematics section for course description. .5 credit – History or Art

.5 credit

Genocide in the Modern World

Grades 11, 12 Semester

See History section for course description. .5 credit

Leadership in Action

Grades 11, 12 Semester

See English section for course description. .5 credit

Yearbook Production: Journalism and Publications

Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

Yearlong See English and Fine Arts sections for course description. 1 credit – English or Fine Arts

BLinc Interdisciplinary Offerings

These quarter credit courses are delivered through a “blended” format, meeting in person during X-Block and conducting asynchronous work via CREEKnet and other online platforms.

BLinc: History of Food

Grades 10, 11, 12 Semester

See History section for course description. .25 credit

BLinc: Introduction to Teaching

Grades 11, 12 Semester .25 credit Students explore the fundamentals of child development, classroom instruction, and classroom management. Students practice key skills by observing and interacting with young learners in an assigned Lower School classroom.

Global Online Academy Interdisciplinary Offerings

The courses below are a sampling of the course offerings through Global Online Academy. Visit https://globalonlineacademy.org/student-program/student-courses to see all approved Interdisciplinary course offerings through GOA.

Global Online Academy: Business Problem Solving

Grades 10, 11, 12 Semester .5 credit Students in this course will tackle real-world problems facing businesses large and small in today’s fast changing global marketplace where radical reinvention is on the minds of many business leaders.

Global Online Academy: Introduction to Legal Thinking

Grades 10, 11, 12 Semester .5 credit Inspired by GOA’s popular Medical Problem Solving series, this course uses a case-based approach to give students a practical look into the professional lives of lawyers and legal thinking. This class is NCAA approved.