High School Course Catalog

Electives

Course Descriptions

CREDITS REQUIRED: 3

Chicago Public Schools offer students the opportunity to take three Elective courses in order to pursue
individual interests and future goals. Students will gain content knowledge and skills in the Elective
courses of their choice which will foster and develop a love of lifelong learning.

EMBARC Chicago EMBARC Chicago II

Course Number: 893101R / 893102R Course Number: 893201R / 893202R

Course Level: Regular Course Level: Regular

Prerequisites: None Prerequisites: None

Number of Credits Earned: 1.0 Number of Credits Earned: 1.0

Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Elective Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Elective

Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters

Teacher Certification Required: Any Certified Teacher Teacher Certification Required: Any Certified Teacher

COURSE DESCRIPTION COURSE DESCRIPTION
The EMBARC course is a college and career success program Embarc Year 2: Understand
that combines key domains to drive academic achievement
and post-secondary success. These domains include: core The EMBARC course is a college and career success program
academic skills, engagement with expanding structures that combines key domains to drive academic achievement
of knowledge, long-term goal planning, thinking critically and post-secondary success. These domains include: core
and solving complex problems, effective communication, academic skills, engagement with expanding structures
working collaboratively, self-reflection and learning how to of knowledge, long-term goal planning, thinking critically
learn. and solving complex problems, effective communication,
working collaboratively, self-reflection and learning how to
Students participating in the course will be exposed to all learn.
of the 21st Century Skills, Common Core State Standards
in Writing and Speaking and Listening, and non-cognitive Students will be exposed to curriculum that will increase
social skills. The activities and lessons draw from cutting- relevance in their educational experience by connecting
edge, research-based curricula that have increased student their learning to the real world. The activities and lessons
achievement in low-income communities across the that they take part in will incorporate teambuilding, project-
country. College and career success is cultivated throughout based learning, performance-based tasks, technology,
the academic years by identifying “safe,” “match” and communication, experiential learning, and citizenship.
“reach” schools, applying for scholarships, completing
financial aid documents, and receiving mentoring support. The second year of Embarc continues with the mission
If you are interested in offering this course at your school of college and career success as the driving force and
please contact January Miller at jmiller@embarcchicago. foundation. Students participating in the course will be
org. exposed to all of the 21st Century Skills, Non-Cognitive
Social Skills, and Common Core State Standards in Writing,
ELA, and Speaking and Listening. College and career

Course Catalog Page 419

Electives

Course Descriptions

success is cultivated throughout the academic years by for scholarships, completing financial aid documents, and
identifying “safe,” “match” and “reach” schools, applying receiving mentoring support.
for scholarships, completing financial aid documents,
and receiving mentoring support. If you are interested in Students will participate in a variety of activities
offering this course at your school please contact January that include: collaborative assignments that expand
Miller at [email protected]. communication and networking skills, continuous exposure
to models of success in a multitude of career pathways,
EMBARC Chicago III critical thinking and problem solving exercises, hands-
on learning experiences, and reflection activities. All of
Course Number: 893301R / 893302R the lessons will be grounded in the notion that Embarc
students will succeed in their post-secondary endeavors.
Course Level: Regular
The units covered in the course of the third year will center
Prerequisites: EMBARC II on college and career preparedness, entrepreneurship,
action research, mentorship, self-advocacy, and being an
Number of Credits Earned: 1.0 active agent of change. If you are interested in offering
this course at your school please contact January Miller at
Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Elective [email protected].

Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters OneGoal I

Teacher Certification Required: Any Certified Teacher Course Number: 892101R / 892102R

COURSE DESCRIPTION Course Level: Regular
Embarc Year 3: Lead
Prerequisites: None
The EMBARC course is a college and career success program
that combines key domains to drive academic achievement Number of Credits Earned: 1.0
and post-secondary success. These domains include: core
academic skills, engagement with expanding structures Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Elective
of knowledge, long-term goal planning, thinking critically
and solving complex problems, effective communication, Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters
working collaboratively, self-reflection and learning how to
learn. Teacher Certification Required: Any Certified Teacher

Students will be exposed to curriculum that will increase COURSE DESCRIPTION
relevance in their educational experience by connecting The OneGoal Year One (Y1) course curriculum provides
their learning to the real world. The activities and lessons juniors in high school the opportunities and resources
that they take part in will incorporate teambuilding, project- to explore college as a realistic, attainable post-high
based learning, performance-based tasks, technology, school option. The daily 45-minute Lessons place a strong
communication, experiential learning, and citizenship. emphasis on personal and collective goal setting with an
intensive college awareness curriculum, along with ACT test
The third year of Embarc continues with the mission preparation, to maximize potential and open up the doors
of college and career success as the driving force and of possibility for students’ futures.
foundation. Students participating in the course will be
exposed to all of the 21st Century Skills, Non-Cognitive During Y1, students demonstrate their commitment to the
Social Skills, and Common Core State Standards in three-year OneGoal Fellowship. As individuals and as a
Writing, ELA, and Speaking and Listening. College and cohort, the students develop accountability with respect
career success is cultivated throughout the senior year by to their goals while embodying Five Leadership Principles:
completing the application process for safe, match and Professionalism, Ambition, Integrity, Resilience and
reach schools, completing the enrollment process, applying Resourcefulness. If you are interested in offering this course

Page 420 Chicago Public Schools

Electives

Course Descriptions

at your school please contact Thomas Dickson at thomas. Course Level: Regular
[email protected].
Prerequisites: None
OneGoal II
Number of Credits Earned: 1.0
Course Number: 892201R / 892202R
Course Level: Regular Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Elective

Prerequisites: None Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters
Number of Credits Earned: 1.0
Teacher Certification Required: Any Certified Teacher
Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Elective
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters UFS is designed to help students effectively transition
into high school poised to succeed both academically and
Teacher Certification Required: Any Certified Teacher interpersonally. By emphasizing a growth mindset, the UFS
strives to engage students in a deep sense of responsibility
COURSE DESCRIPTION for their own behavior and choices. Both academic skills
The OneGoal Year Two (Y2) curriculum provides Y2 Fellows and behaviors, as well as social emotional skills related
with the tools, guidance, and resources necessary to to problem solving, community building, developing
successfully apply to and enroll in college for the fall, secure and leveraging supports are critical components of the
the proper financial aid, and become 100% ‘college-ready’ course. UFS includes five units titled: How to Do School,
in advance of their first day on a college campus. It is an College and Career, Winning Behaviors, Healthy Choices,
incredibly important year of work that will result in high Social Justice and Service Learning. In addition to the
school graduation and matriculation at the wisest best-fit regular demonstration and application of new learning
match college choice for each Fellow’s needs and abilities. through each unit, students complete each unit with a
final performance task where they work individually and
The Y2 college process is called AAA&E (“triple A and in groups to further internalize and apply their learning
E,” described below), with each letter in the acronym to real life. If you are interested in offering this course at
representing one of four core components of the process: your school please contact Sarah-Bess Dworin at sdworin@
Application, Admission, Aid, and Enrollment. AAA&E umojacorporation.org.
sessions will be paired with College 201 sessions, during
which Fellows complete assignments that will prepare them Umoja Sophomore Seminar
for the academic and social life to expect on campus during
Y3 and beyond. Course Number: 893421R / 893422R

During Y2, students develop accountability with respect Course Level: Regular
to their goals while embodying Five Leadership Principles:
Professionalism, Ambition, Integrity, Resilience and Prerequisites: None
Resourcefulness. If you are interested in offering this course
at your school please contact Thomas Dickson at thomas. Number of Credits Earned: 1.0
[email protected].
Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Elective
Umoja Freshman Seminar
Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters
Course Number: 893411R / 893412R
Teacher Certification Required: Any Certified Teacher

COURSE DESCRIPTION
USoS is designed to help students stay effectively engaged
in high school and poised to succeed both academically
and interpersonally. By emphasizing a growth mindset,

Course Catalog Page 421

Electives

Course Descriptions

the USoS strives to engage students in a deep sense of ƒƒ envision what college could like for them and how
community within their school and the skills to build strong, to look for the right college options for themselves
healthy relationships with peers. Both academic skills
and behaviors, as well as social emotional skills related ƒƒ further develop their communication, written,
to problem solving, community building, developing and presentation, and collaboration skills
leveraging supports are critical components of the course.
The Umoja junior seminar includes five units titled: How to
USoS includes five units titled: How to Do School, College Do School, College and Career, Winning Behaviors, Healthy
and Career, Winning Behaviors, Healthy Choices, Social Choices, Social Justice and Service Learning.
Justice and Service Learning.
In addition to the regular demonstration and application
In addition to the regular demonstration and application of new learning through each unit, students complete
of new learning through each unit, students complete each unit with a final performance task where they work
each unit with a final performance task where they work individually and in groups to further internalize and apply
individually and in groups to further internalize and apply their learning to real life.
their learning to real life. If you are interested in offering
this course at your school please contact Sarah-Bess Dworin By the completion of the Umoja Junior Seminar, students
at [email protected]. have identified their passion and purpose that drives them
to succeed in high school, considered a variety of post-
Umoja Junior Seminar secondary options so they are prepared to be informed
consumers of their continued education and training and
Course Number: 893611R / 893612R made critical connections between continued education
and long term career success, and prepared for the winning
Course Level: Regular behaviors behind the ACT. Ultimately, Juniors will be given
opportunities to envision a future for themselves through
Prerequisites: None multiple modalities in order to achieve their personal best
in Junior year and work towards healthy, well-informed
Number of Credits Earned: 1.0 decisions in senior year.

Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Career Ed; Elective If you are interested in offering this course at your
school please contact Sarah-Bess Dworin at sdworin@
Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters (120 hours of umojacorporation.org
instructional study including 30 hours of laboratory work).
Umoja Senior Seminar
Teacher Certification Required: Any Certified Teacher
Course Number: 893441R / 893442R
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The Umoja Junior Seminar is designed to build a creative Course Level: Regular
and collaborative learning community where students
improve their academic and social emotional skills further Prerequisites: None
refine their post-secondary aspirations, and prepare to
achieve their personal best in terms of both their GPA and Number of Credits Earned: 1.0
their standardized test performance as they get ready for
Senior Year. The Umoja Junior Seminar serves as a home Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Elective
base for juniors. It is the place where they:
Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters
ƒƒ set, monitor and receive support around their key
academic goals for the year Teacher Certification Required: Any Certified Teacher

ƒƒ develop an “expert mindset” and test-taking COURSE DESCRIPTION
strategies The Umoja Senior Seminar (USS) is designed to build a
creative and collaborative learning community where

Page 422 Chicago Public Schools

Electives

Course Descriptions

students improve their academic and social emotional Recommended Course Duration: 2 semesters
skills, further refine their post secondary aspirations, and
prepare to make an effective post secondary transition. Teacher Certification Required: Any Certification
USS serves as a home base for seniors. It is the place where
they: COURSE DESCRIPTION
The United States Academic Decathlon®, the premier
ƒƒ Set, monitor and receive support around their key national scholastic competition for high school students,
academic goals for the year was created to provide opportunities for students to
experience the challenges of rigorous team and individual
ƒƒ Develop and implement a supported post academic competition. Each student competes in ten
secondary plan events: Art, Economics, Essay, Interview, Literature,
Mathematics, Music, Science, Social Science, and Speech.
ƒƒ Learn the college retention and career transition Students compose an essay based on a prompt related to
skills and strategies that lead to long-term success. the current curriculum. Students also perform a prepared
speech and impromptu speech and participate in an
ƒƒ Further develop their communication, written, interview before a panel of volunteer judges from the local
presentation, and collaboration skills community.

USS includes five units titled: How to Do School, College The ten-event academic program strives to foster a greater
and Career, Winning Behaviors, Healthy Choices, Social respect for knowledge, to promote wholesome inter-school
Justice and Service Learning. academic competition, and to further develop student
communication skills. A unique aspect of the United States
In addition to the regular demonstration and application Academic Decathlon® is that it is designed to include
of new learning through each unit, students complete students with diverse academic abilities and achievement
each unit with a final performance task where they work levels. Each nine-member team consists of three “A” (Honor
individually and in groups to further internalize and apply division), three “B” (Scholastic division), and three “C or
their learning to real life. below” (Varsity division) students. Each team member
competes in all ten events against other students in his/her
By the completion of the Umoja Senior Seminar, students division.
have identified fit and match schools and applied to them,
considered a variety of post secondary options so they are The United States Academic Decathlon’s curriculum is an
prepared to be informed consumers of their continued interdisciplinary curriculum in which a selected theme is
education and training and made critical connections integrated across six different subject areas: art, economics,
between continued education and long term career literature, music, science, and social science. Students also
success. Finally, they have considered and planned around study mathematics and participate in essay-writing, speech,
the legacy they leave behind for their younger peers and and interview events. While in most subjects the majority
how to fully live into their responsibilities as a senior of the topics relate to the overall curricular theme, some
leader. If you are interested in offering this course at your topics that cover fundamentals may also be included to
school please contact Sarah-Bess Dworin at sdworin@ encourage a thorough understanding of the subject area
umojacorporation.org. as a whole. The USAD mathematics curriculum is unrelated
to the theme and focuses on standard high school
Academic Decathlon I mathematics topics.

Course Number: 155101H / 155102H Academic Decathlon II

Course Level: Honors Course Number: 155201H / 155202H

Prerequisites: None Course Level: Honors

Number of Credits Earned: 1.0

Type of Graduation Credit Earned: Career Ed; Elective

Course Catalog Page 423