Other Electives

Photo: Mrs. Rand's Mock Trial students

As part of the graduation requirement, students must earn a total of 70 electives units. The following courses are considered electives and, therefore, will be applied toward the electives unit requirement.

 

AVID I
Recommendation: Students must submit an AVID application, a copy of unofficial transcripts, two core subject teacher recommendations and an interview.
Course Length: One Year
Grade Level: 9
AVID I is a college preparatory elective that requires students to be enrolled in a college preparatory curriculum that is rigorous and challenging. During the freshman year, students will be introduced to Cornell note taking, Costa's Levels of Questioning, the Socratic Method Tutorial, and the Socratic Seminar. Students will construct a 4 year academic plan and become familiar with the expectations of incoming freshmen to CSU's, UC's, and private colleges. Additionally, students will learn various study skills and organizational skills and receive bi-weekly academic support in the AVID tutorial with peer and/or college tutors. Cultural and college field trips are planned for students who maintain good standing in the AVID program. On site, students will participate in the AVID Idol competition, the Club Fair, AVID Parent Night, and AVID Dodgeball.

AVID II
Recommendation: Students must submit an AVID application, a copy of unofficial transcripts, two core subject teacher recommendations and an interview OR maintained good standing in AVID I.
Course Length: One Year
Grade Level: 10
AVID II is a college preparatory elective that requires students to be enrolled in a college preparatory curriculum that is rigorous and challenging. During the sophomore year, students will continue to build on the previous year and will begin preparing to take the ACT , SAT and CAHSEE, work on vocabulary development, revisit the four year plan to ensure student progress, and further explore colleges and careers. Students maintain participation in the bi-weekly tutorial with peer tutors and/or college tutors. Students will complete a college research project. Cultural and college field trips are planned for students who maintain good standing in the program. On site, students will participate in the AVID Idol competition, the Club Fair, AVID Parent Night, and AVID Dodgeball.

AVID III
Grade Level: 11
Course Length: One Year
AVID III is a college preparatory elective that requires students to be enrolled in a college preparatory curriculum that is rigorous and challenging. During the junior year, students will continue to build on skills developed in levels one and two, and prepare for and take the PSAT, the PLAN, the SAT, and the ACT, revisit the four year plan to ensure students progress, and further explore college and careers. Students maintain participation in the bi-weekly tutorial with peer and/or college tutors. Students will complete a career research project. College and cultural field trips are planned for students who maintain good standing in the program.

Journalism
Recommendation: Good writing skills
Course Length: One Year
Grade Level: 9-12
This course is designed to provide opportunities for students to engage in an in-depth examination of Journalism and the news writing process using a digital format. Students will engage in discussion and complete classwork that will improve their writing and awareness of events unfolding at school and in their community. Students will be responsible for the planning, design, and publication of the school newspaper. This production process will involve feature writing, photography and design. Fundraising and participation in after school hours work sessions will constitute a major portion of the production. Good writing skills and a working knowledge of grammar are required.

Associated Student Body (ASB) Leadership
Recommendation: Students must submit an ASB application, participate in an interview, and have appropriate grades and discipline records
Course Length: One Year
Grade Level: 9-12
ASB is run for the students, by the students. The purpose of ASB is to encourage a high standard of scholarship, promote order and discipline within the context of a democracy, foster cooperation between the administration, staff and student body, to initiate and supervise all student activities and fund-raisers, and to inspire loyalty to CIMS. ASB provides students with the opportunity to participate in the planning and execution of activities and to learn constructive leadership procedures. ASB activities are organized on two levels, school-wide and by grade level. All students enrolled at CIMS are represented through ASB. At CIMS, students are encouraged to actively take part in the decision-making process that concerns and affects the student body. This course will promote teamwork, responsibility, and self-discipline.

Military Science
Recommendation: Commitment to Maintain Stringent Standards
Course Length: One Year
Grade Level: 7-12
NCAA Approved: No
The course includes instruction in health, wellness and fitness development, drill and ceremonies (marching), instruction in team sports, and instruction in the 8 California Cadet Corps standards, including first aid, emergency preparedness, map reading, leadership, citizenship, & patriotism. This training is done in strict military fashion, which includes loud command voices, rigorous physical activity, uniform wear, and strict adherence to the rules.

Mock Trial
Course Length: One Year
Grade Level: 7-12
UC/CSU Requirement: No
NCAA Approved: No
In Mock Trial, students will role-play witnesses and lawyers in both civil and criminal actions relating to contemporary topics. Class time is devoted to preparations for various competitions. The latter part of the year is devoted to the fastest growing inter-collegiate academic competition, Parliamentary Debate. Students argue extemporaneous and prepared topics against each other and opposing schools. The goal of this class is to increase confidence in public speaking and critical thinking.

7th Grade Student Success 
Grade Level: 7Students will engage in project-based learning that will allow them to understand the importance of ethical academic research and thinking critically, allowing students to develop curiosity and engage in their learning. This course will empower middle school students to achieve academic success by teaching the benefits of having a positive mindset, using strategies to learn, and engaging in self-reflection.

Outdoor Ed
Course Length: One Year
Outdoor Education Class is designed for the beginning student who is interested in learning about a variety of outdoor activities and skills. This class is set at an introductory level, based upon the assumption that the student has had little to no experience in the outdoors. This class will provide the student with the basic skills and knowledge to enjoy outdoor activities.

Psychology
Recommendation: None
Course Length: One Semester
Grade Level: 11-12
UC/CSU Requirement: G
The primary focus of Psychology is the complexity of human behavior. Students will study the following topics: sensation and perceptions, motivation and emotion, memory and thought, learned behavior and the brain, altered state of consciousness, child and adolescent development, social groups and norms, personality theory, stress, abnormal behavior, therapy and sexuality. This is a fun, life-learning class. There will be much discussion and group interaction. Students will be introduced to the process of creative journaling to help explore the many facets of their personality and self-identity.

AP Psychology
Recommendation: None. (Psychology I is encouraged but not required) 
Course Length: One Semester
Grade Level: 11-12
UC/CSU Requirement: G
Psychology is a full-year course designed to provide students with a broad overview of the diverse field of psychology and to prepare students for the AP Psychology Exam given in May. In order to achieve these goals, the majority of class time will be devoted to lectures, discussions, and extensive review sessions. However, time will also be allocated for demonstrations, experiments, and class activities; the content of which may or may not be covered in the text. Active participation in these activities will help clarify certain areas of study and should add to everyone's enjoyment of the class. College credit may be awarded to students who successfully pass Advanced Placement exams. All students are expected to take the exam

Sociology
Recommendation: None Course Length: One Semester
Grade Level: 11-12
UC/CSU Requirement: G
This course will cover the study of relationships between humans and their world. Beginning with current theoretical perspectives in Sociology, students will then examine the following topics: the study of human groups, the value of culture and diversity, cultural variations and values, social control, personality development through social influences, social deviance and crime, racial and ethnic relations, gender, the influence of mass media on groups, social movements, and finally, the impact of the social changes that are taking place in our world today.

Teacher’s Aide
Recommendation: Students must have teacher approval to TA in a teacher’s classroom; the Teacher Aide application form must be completed in its entirety with all required approvals; the form may be found on the back of the registration form
Course Length: One Year
Grade Level: 11-12
Teachers’ aides perform various classroom duties as assigned by individual teachers.

Administrative Office Aide
Recommendation: Students must have Staff approval to TA in an administrative office
Course Length: One Year
UC/CSU Requirement: No
Office Aides perform various office duties as assigned by their supervisors.

Attendance Office Aide
Recommendation: Students must have Staff approval to TA in an administrative office.
Course Length: One Year
Office Aides perform various office duties as assigned by their supervisors.

Counseling Office Aide
Recommendation: Students must have Staff approval to TA in an administrative office.
Course Length: One Year
Office Aides perform various office duties as assigned by their supervisors.

Yearbook
Course Length: One Year
Grade Level: 7-12
This course is a product based elective, where students work collaboratively to create a school yearbook. Students will learn about the fundamentals of design, composition and editing of photographs, and journalistic skills including interviews and copy writing. Students will also learn to use computer programs to create the yearbook and to edit photographs. Attendance at after school games and programs is required.