Course Catalog Additions: What to Know

As the scheduling season begins, it is important to be aware of new changes to our school’s course catalog! This year, there is an increase in the number of AP classes available, giving underclassmen more opportunities to earn college credit earlier in their high school careers. The new courses also offer a wider variety of humanities classes to students that can supplement and even replace the general Regents-level courses with a more in-depth curriculum.

English 10 AP Seminar
AP Seminar is being offered as an English class for students in the tenth grade and is focused on research, discussion, and evidence-based argumentation. Different from a traditional English course that studies fiction and literature, AP Seminar is focused on real-world texts and studies. It is also focused on communicating to an audience and examining issues from multiple perspectives. As an analytical class, it is good preparation for students looking to take IB courses, as it focuses on research, writing, and oral presentations.

AP African American Studies
You may have seen this class in the news following DeSantis’ banning of it in Florida. Despite the negative press AP African American Studies received, the course is a very interesting exploration of African American culture and experiences. This course is open to grades eleven and twelve. Though it cannot be a standalone history course in eleventh grade, it can fulfill the Government and Economics requirements for students in the twelfth grade. AP African American Studies will bring a unique lens through which to study American history.

Journalism and Media: Capture What Happens
Journalism and Media will be focused on the craft of writing for an audience and sharing information through a physical and digital medium. Journalistic ethics, editorial production, and interview techniques will also be discussed. This course can also count toward the English requirement if taken in twelfth grade. All of us here at The Tide are very excited about this one!

Fashion Marketing
A new addition to Long Beach’s business catalog has also been added! Fashion Marketing will be focused on the fashion industry and brand name development. Unlike the Fashion Illustration class, students in Fashion Marketing will study the fashion industry through a consumer and brand perspective rather than attempt to design the clothes themselves. This half-credit course is a fantastic option for students interested in fashion trends and the principles that guide the fashion industry.

As you form your schedule, talk to your guidance counselor and see if any of these new courses would be a good fit for you!