Academics
General Requirements
Students are required to take at least 5 academic courses each term and 1 PE each year.
The objective of the curriculum is to offer each student a thorough grounding in mathematics, science and the humanities, to develop the skills and knowledge needed for future leadership roles in research, business, industry and government.
In addition to the regular course offerings, the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science offers study options and special programs in the form of Directed Reading and Directed Research under individual faculty mentors. There is, also, an opportunity for experimental and experiential learning in the form of selected Special Projects. These Special Project offerings change with each academic year.
To graduate, students must have completed a minimum of 26.5 Carnegie Units (CU). The specific minimum graduation requirements are described within. Each student must be registered for a minimum of five academic courses per quarter, although overloads may be taken with the permission of the academic advisor. In addition, each student must enroll in and successfully complete a Special Project each year that he or she is in attendance at the school.
Placement tests are employed in a variety of disciplines, including mathematics, biology, chemistry and foreign languages, to determine appropriate course assignments.
Grading follows a letter evaluation system:
Credit is awarded for courses successfully completed with a grade of “A,” “B,” “C,” or “P.” For courses that extend over more than one quarter, credit is awarded at the end of the sequence and an “S” on a report indicates satisfactory progress is being made. Incompletes must be completed by midterm of the next quarter, or, in the case of spring quarter, by the last working day in June for juniors and sophomores.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Courses completed prior to 9th grade will not be counted toward ASMS graduation requirements with the exception of Algebra or Geometry taken in the 8th grade. All requirements are stated in Carnegie Units (CU’s).
CURRICULUM SUMMARY
The following represents the standards that must be met in each student’s studies at ASMS. While ASMS strives to provide a varied and individualized curriculum, only rare circumstances would allow for approval of any variation in the following requirements.
English: 4.0 CU graduation requirement.
Math: 4.0 CU graduation requirement. Continuous enrollment until graduation requirement is met.
Biology: 1.5 CU graduation requirement. Minimum of 0.5 CU completed at ASMS.
Chemistry: 1.5 CU graduation requirement. Minimum of 0.5 CU completed at ASMS.
Physics: 1.5 CU graduation requirement. Minimum of 0.5 CU taken at ASMS.
History: 4.0 CU graduation requirement. Minimum of 1.0 CU during each year of enrollment.
P.E.: Minimum of 0.5 CU during each year of enrollment.
Arts: Minimum of 0.5 CU taken at ASMS.
CompSci: Introduction to Computational Science must be completed at ASMS.
Foreign Language: 2.0 CU graduation requirement
Orientation: 0.25 CU should be completed during the first quarter of enrollment (beginning with the entering class of 2003-2004).
Behavior and Society: 0.25 CU should be completed during the second quarter of enrollment (beginning with the entering class of 2003-2004).
CONCENTRATION
Concentrations in an academic area are awarded to students who complete three courses beyond the graduation requirement in a discipline. Each department is given the latitude of determining the courses that are appropriate for the concentration. Individual faculty members may recommend to the President/Director additional areas of concentration that they deem worthy of recognition.
Concentrations are designed to allow students to pursue an advanced plan of study primarily during their senior year; however, coursework may begin as early as the junior year. Students applying for a concentration must:
Students who successfully complete the above criteria are awarded a seal on their diploma signifying completion of the concentration. The final transcript will indicate the area(s) of concentration.
CONCENTRATION WITH DISTINCTION
Students who complete a concentration have the option of taking three additional courses (1.5 CU’s) of advanced study in the same area, which may or may not include independent study. The additional coursework must be approved by a faculty sponsor. By successfully completing these additional requirements with a 3.5 GPA, the student merits Distinction in an area, which will also appear on the diploma and transcript.
Study Options and Special Programs
DIRECTED READING
Directed Reading is a course of readings on a given topic undertaken with the permission of the instructor, intended for students who seek a deeper knowledge of the subject. Credit is elective and may vary, from .25 CU or more. Meetings are at the instructor’s discretion.
DIRECTED RESEARCH
Directed Research is a course involving intensive investigation of a topic or subject, taken under the auspices of a faculty member who mentors a student’s research. This work customarily involves a variable number of contact hours and will often result in a major paper or article, detailing the results of the investigation that has been undertaken. Credit is elective and may vary, from .25 CU or more.
NOTE: Directed Reading and Directed Research may not be substituted for the five academic courses that every student is required to take each term, nor may it replace grade 9 or 10 missing units of credit.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Special Projects is an opportunity to engage in academic, experimental and experiential projects on a variety of topics, under the sponsorship of individual faculty members. The list of topics changes each year and includes a balance of on- and off-campus offerings. The usual duration of a Special Project is five class days but may be longer. Each student must participate in a Special Project each year. Grading is on a pass/fail basis; successful completion will earn .25 CU.
Students are required to take at least 5 academic courses each term and 1 PE each year.
The objective of the curriculum is to offer each student a thorough grounding in mathematics, science and the humanities, to develop the skills and knowledge needed for future leadership roles in research, business, industry and government.
In addition to the regular course offerings, the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science offers study options and special programs in the form of Directed Reading and Directed Research under individual faculty mentors. There is, also, an opportunity for experimental and experiential learning in the form of selected Special Projects. These Special Project offerings change with each academic year.
To graduate, students must have completed a minimum of 26.5 Carnegie Units (CU). The specific minimum graduation requirements are described within. Each student must be registered for a minimum of five academic courses per quarter, although overloads may be taken with the permission of the academic advisor. In addition, each student must enroll in and successfully complete a Special Project each year that he or she is in attendance at the school.
Placement tests are employed in a variety of disciplines, including mathematics, biology, chemistry and foreign languages, to determine appropriate course assignments.
Grading follows a letter evaluation system:
- A
- B
- C
- D
- F
- P
- S
- I
- 100-90
- 89-80
- 79-70
- 69-60
- 59-0
- Excellent and Passing
- Good and Passing
- Satisfactory and Passing
- Below Average and Failing
- Poor and Failing
- Passing
- Satisfactory (an interim grade)
- Incomplete
Credit is awarded for courses successfully completed with a grade of “A,” “B,” “C,” or “P.” For courses that extend over more than one quarter, credit is awarded at the end of the sequence and an “S” on a report indicates satisfactory progress is being made. Incompletes must be completed by midterm of the next quarter, or, in the case of spring quarter, by the last working day in June for juniors and sophomores.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Courses completed prior to 9th grade will not be counted toward ASMS graduation requirements with the exception of Algebra or Geometry taken in the 8th grade. All requirements are stated in Carnegie Units (CU’s).
- English: 4.0 CU
- Math: 4.0 CU
- Science: 4.5 CU (minimum 1.5 CU each in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics)
- History: 4.0 CU
- Foreign Language: 2.0 CU
- Physical Education: 0.5 CU per year of enrollment at ASMS
- Specific Courses:
- Health: 0.5 CU
- Survey of the Arts: 0.5 CU
- Introduction to Computational Science: 0.5 CU
- General Electives: 5.0 CU
- Special Project: 0.25 CU per year of enrollment at ASMS
- Orientation: 0.25 CU (beginning with the entering class of 2003-2004)
- Behavior and Society: 0.25 CU (CU (beginning with the entering class of 2003-2004)
The following represents the standards that must be met in each student’s studies at ASMS. While ASMS strives to provide a varied and individualized curriculum, only rare circumstances would allow for approval of any variation in the following requirements.
English: 4.0 CU graduation requirement.
- Minimum of 1.0 CU completed during each year of enrollment.
- Composition and Literature 1 & 2 and British Literature 1 & 2 must be completed at ASMS. British Literature 2 must be taken during the senior year.
- For all entering students a writing placement exam will be used to evaluate the need for Critical Writing prior to beginning any English course sequence. Critical Writing carries general elective credit and does not satisfy the 1.0 CU per year English requirement.
- Credits must include Trigonometry & Precalculus and one 0.5 CU course beyond Trigonometry& Precalculus.
- For all entering students a math placement exam will be used to evaluate the appropriate starting level in the mathematics sequence. If Geometry has not been completed prior to entering ASMS, it should be completed during the first year at ASMS.
- Students with no previous biology credit will take Honors Biology I & II followed by at least one 0.5 CU biology elective.
- For students entering with biology credit, a placement exam will be used to evaluate the appropriate starting level in the ASMS biology courses.
- All students are required to complete either the entire AP Chemistry sequence, or General Chemistry 1 & 2 followed by at least one 0.5 CU chemistry elective.
- Entering sophomores with no previous chemistry credit are required to take Introduction to Chemistry Problem Solving before any other chemistry course.
- For students entering with a chemistry credit, a placement exam will be used to evaluate the appropriate starting level in the ASMS chemistry courses. Introduction to Chemistry Problem Solving carries general elective credit and does not satisfy the 1.5 CU chemistry requirement.
- All students are required to complete an entire AP Physics sequence at ASMS unless credit for a previous physics course is accepted by ASMS. Entering sophomores with no previous physics credit are required to take Introduction to Physics before any other physics course. Incoming juniors may also be advised to take Introduction to Physics at the discretion of ASMS. Introduction to Physics carries general elective credit and does not satisfy the 1.5 CU physics requirement.
- Advanced American Studies 2/2 must be completed at ASMS during the junior year. Credits must include 1.0 CU in Western Civilization (World or European History), 1.0 CU in U.S. History, 0.5 CU in Economics, and 0.5 CU in Government.
- Incoming sophomores are required to complete History of Western Thought and Advanced American Studies 1/2 during the sophomore year.
Arts: Minimum of 0.5 CU taken at ASMS.
- Survey of the Arts should be completed during the senior year at ASMS. Entering sophomores must complete 0.5 CU of either art or music during the sophomore year as a general elective credit.
- This course is generally completed during the first year of enrollment at ASMS.
- Continuous enrollment until graduation requirement is completed is the preferred sequence.
- All students minimally must complete the intermediate level of a language with 1.0 CU of credit completed at ASMS.
- For all entering students wishing to pursue a language for which they already have some credit, a language placement exam will be used to evaluate the appropriate starting level in the ASMS language sequence.
Behavior and Society: 0.25 CU should be completed during the second quarter of enrollment (beginning with the entering class of 2003-2004).
CONCENTRATION
Concentrations in an academic area are awarded to students who complete three courses beyond the graduation requirement in a discipline. Each department is given the latitude of determining the courses that are appropriate for the concentration. Individual faculty members may recommend to the President/Director additional areas of concentration that they deem worthy of recognition.
Concentrations are designed to allow students to pursue an advanced plan of study primarily during their senior year; however, coursework may begin as early as the junior year. Students applying for a concentration must:
- Complete three (3) approved courses in the area of concentration (1.5 CU’s),
- Complete all required courses approved for concentration with a grade of ‘A’ or ‘B’
- Apply for no more than two (2) concentrations
CONCENTRATION WITH DISTINCTION
Students who complete a concentration have the option of taking three additional courses (1.5 CU’s) of advanced study in the same area, which may or may not include independent study. The additional coursework must be approved by a faculty sponsor. By successfully completing these additional requirements with a 3.5 GPA, the student merits Distinction in an area, which will also appear on the diploma and transcript.
Study Options and Special Programs
DIRECTED READING
Directed Reading is a course of readings on a given topic undertaken with the permission of the instructor, intended for students who seek a deeper knowledge of the subject. Credit is elective and may vary, from .25 CU or more. Meetings are at the instructor’s discretion.
DIRECTED RESEARCH
Directed Research is a course involving intensive investigation of a topic or subject, taken under the auspices of a faculty member who mentors a student’s research. This work customarily involves a variable number of contact hours and will often result in a major paper or article, detailing the results of the investigation that has been undertaken. Credit is elective and may vary, from .25 CU or more.
NOTE: Directed Reading and Directed Research may not be substituted for the five academic courses that every student is required to take each term, nor may it replace grade 9 or 10 missing units of credit.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Special Projects is an opportunity to engage in academic, experimental and experiential projects on a variety of topics, under the sponsorship of individual faculty members. The list of topics changes each year and includes a balance of on- and off-campus offerings. The usual duration of a Special Project is five class days but may be longer. Each student must participate in a Special Project each year. Grading is on a pass/fail basis; successful completion will earn .25 CU.
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- Alabama School of Math and Science
- 1255 Dauphin Street, Mobile AL 36604
- Admissions: admissions@asms.net
- Front Desk: +1 251.441.2100
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