Institutes Curriculum

(Semester)

This course gives students the foundational tools used throughout the Global Leadership Institute. Students will learn about the model of ethical servant-leadership. Additionally, students will become aware of their own individual strengths and weaknesses. Exposure to each of the Global Leadership pathways(business law and entrepreneurship) will allow students to explore which area they are most interested in. Outstanding guest speakers will provide real-world leadership examples. Students interested in applying to the Institute of Global Leadership are encouraged to enroll in this course freshmen year.

(Semester)

This course introduces the United States Constitution. Topics to be covered include constitutional interpretation, the function of judicial review, the role of the states and the federal government in the federal structure, and the allocation of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Students will learn how to apply the law to practical scenarios. The class will feature guest speakers such as lawyers and judges, along with a field trip to the California Supreme Court to watch oral arguments.

(Semester)

This course focuses on building a strong foundational understanding of communication through experiential learning. Students will be introduced to three basic types of communication that are key to successful leadership: Interpersonal Communication, Professional Communication, and Public Speaking. Students will also grow in self-awareness of their non-verbal communication habits and learn to be intentional about nonverbal strategies. Other key topics include cross cultural communication skills and the neuroscience behind effective communication. The final assessment will be a TED-style speech.

(Semester)

This course introduces the students to a variety of styles of public speaking and formal debate. Through research and practice students will become familiar with these styles through instruction, research, and practice. Each unit will culminate in performance assignments that require students to demonstrate their abilities within the classroom setting. Opportunities to take their knowledge to competition at the local and state level will be made available to students.

Students may enroll in multiple semesters.

(Semester)

This course will inform students how individual choices directly influence occupational goals and future earnings potential. Real world topics covered will include income, money management, spending and credit, as well as saving and investing. Students will design personal and household budgets utilizing checking and saving accounts, gain knowledge in finance, debt and credit management, and evaluate and understand insurance and taxes. This course will provide a foundational understanding for making informed personal financial decisions leading to financial independence.

(Semester)

In this course, students will understand the difference between saving and investing and when to use each strategy. They will explain how compound interest works, its benefits to savers and how to calculate it. Students will understand the concept of inflation and how it impacts an individual’s investment decisions. Students will learn about asset classes and the risk and return associated with each. Specific topics will include an introduction to the stock market, bond investing, investment strategies, and retirement investments. Unique to this course, students will have the opportunity to manage a real OCS endowment portfolio.

(Semester)

This interdisciplinary course is designed to equip students to become interculturally competent global leaders through global citizenship education. Drawing from UNESCO’s global citizenship education framework, students will understand how complex social, political, environmental, and economic issues are interconnected both at local and global scales. This course also considers how students’ individual identities are uniquely created by God, and their cultures, languages, and values are assets in becoming global leaders. Looking at ethnic and racial identity through a biblical lens, students will examine their own identities through journal entries and interviewing others from different cultural or national backgrounds. The second half of the course will examine complex case studies in local and global contexts, and students will collaborate to propose creative and sustainable solutions. The course culminates with a practical, real-world application case study analysis and professional report modeled after civil society reports.

(Semester)

This course serves as an introductory course to the three major components of strategy: competitive strategy, corporate strategy, and global strategy. This course involves several different types of class sessions. Specifically, students discuss cases and (occasionally HBR-style articles), engage with guest speakers from industry, and bring in current topics in strategy from the business press. Unique to this class, students are taught using the case study method and Socratic teaching techniques.

This course meets elective requirements for both The Institute of Global Leadership and The Institute of Engineering.

In an ever-changing world full of challenges and opportunities, future leaders need to cultivate strong leadership skills. This course focuses on fostering flexible thinking and cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset essential for success in unpredictable situations. Students will learn to challenge assumptions, break through constraints, and seize opportunities. The curriculum emphasizes the ability to adapt to uncertain conditions by creating innovative ideas and identifying new approaches for a competitive edge. Through actionable lessons, students will gain valuable insights into changing the dynamics of various situations, developing creative value propositions, and finding unique market positions.

This course focuses on building a strong foundational knowledge of marketing communication strategies, branding theory, the development process behind brand identity, and how to design a logo. Global Leadership Institute students will work in class alongside graphic design students, replicating the real-world collaboration that takes place between leaders responsible for conceptualization and artists responsible for design production.

This semester course fulfills the Global Leadership Institute elective requirement and can be combined with another semester-long art course to fulfill one year of the visual art requirement.

Recommended prerequisite: Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship.

This course explores the discipline of entrepreneurship with the goal of students launching their own group startups. Students will learn business model development, design thinking, customer discovery, product-market validation, in depth industry and market analysis, product or service innovation, brand development and go-to-market strategies, financing, and legal considerations; while also acquiring soft skills in communication, leadership, and character development.

(Semester)

This course allows students to examine the concept of leadership through the lens of Christianity. Students learn about biblical leadership through the servant-leadership paradigm. A hallmark of the course is guest speakers. Throughout the semester, students “live” alongside a Christian leader of their own choice, becoming an expert on their leader’s biography—not just their history, but their influences, beliefs, successes, and failures.

(Semester)

This course is designed for enhancing critical thinking and analytical reasoning as well as developing a foundation of knowledge for how the law is structured for individuals to interact with each other. Topics covered include contracts, property, and torts. The course focuses on practical knowledge such as entering into financial transactions (e.g., car or house purchase) as well as important aspects of landlord/tenant interaction and purchasing real estate.

(Semester)

This course is designed for enhancing critical thinking and analytical reasoning as well as developing a foundation of knowledge for how the government affects individuals in relation to the law. Topics covered include constitutional law, criminal law, tax law, business law, and employment law. The course focuses on practical knowledge such as individual rights, starting a business, rights of hourly/salaried employees, being independent contractor versus an employee, filing taxes, and prevalent criminal law and procedure issues.

Students must take both economic courses throughout one school year. Semester only enrollments are not allowed.

AP Microeconomics (Semester)
An introductory college-level course that focuses on the principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual economic decision-makers. The course also develops students’ familiarity with the operation of product and factor markets, distributions of income, market failure, and the role of government in promoting greater efficiency and equity in the economy.

AP Macroeconomics (Semester)
An introductory college-level course that focuses on the principles that apply to an economic system as a whole. The course places particular emphasis on the study of national income and price-level determination; it also develops students’ familiarity with economic performance measures, the financial sector, stabilization policies, economic growth, and international economics. Students learn to use graphs, charts, and data to analyze, describe, and explain economic concepts. A high performance on the AP Exam may earn student college credit.

AP Comparative Government and Politics introduces students to the rich diversity of political life outside the United States. The course uses a comparative approach to examine the political structures, policies, and political, economic, and social challenges of six selected countries: China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the United Kingdom. Students compare the effectiveness of approaches to many global issues by examining how different governments solve similar problems. They will also engage in disciplinary practices that require them to read and interpret data, make comparisons and applications, and develop evidence-based arguments.

The AP Psychology course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology. They also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice. A high performance on the AP Exam may earn student college credit.

(Full year, asynchronous)

The Global Leadership Capstone course is a student-directed, action-research project designed to reflect the culmination of the acquired knowledge and skills of each student before graduation. Unique to the Capstone project is a commitment to the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Students will focus on one of the goals and seek to contribute to understanding and solving some of these global challenges. Students are challenged to design and create their own learning experience by pursuing an area of interest in the context of these goals and their local community while advisors provide student-centered guidance and support. At the conclusion of the experience, students will present their results at the OCS Global Leadership Capstone Summit. This course is completed asynchronously during the spring semester of students’ junior year and the fall semester of their senior year. Students must successfully complete this Capstone, as well as other Institute requirements, to graduate with the Global Leadership Institute designation.

Students will learn the engineering design process, engineering calculations, design documentation and presentation, and how to use tools safely and effectively. Students will complete one project from each of the four engineering disciplines, giving students direct experience on which to base a choice of pathways.

Prerequisite: Completion of Intro to Engineering and Geometry; Co-requisite: Algebra II and Physics

Students explore principles of rocket design, performance modeling, and stability through software simulations and hands-on experience. Projects includes planes, gliders, weather balloons, and model rockets.

Prerequisite: Aerospace Engineering I; Corequisite: Pre-Calculus

Students learn principles of orbital mechanics and simulate spacecraft missions, design and construct high-power model rockets, functional payloads, and incorporate advanced model rocket elements such as cluster-engines and multi-staging. 

Prerequisite: completion of biology and/or chemistry with a year-long grade of 83% or better and teacher recommendation.

Students learn principles of electronic prototyping, circuit design, signal processing, power electronics, and microcontroller programming. Projects 0include power amplifiers, radio transmitters/receivers, induction motors, strobe lights, and applications of digital logic.

Prerequisite: Intro to Engineering, or equivalent.

Students will explore mechatronics, an interdisciplinary field that integrates principles of mechanical, electrical, and software engineering to develop control systems and automation. Utilizing tools such as 3D printing and machining, alongside Arduino-based control systems, the curriculum offers hands-on experiences that bring theoretical concepts to life. Through practical projects and experiments, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of how these diverse engineering disciplines converge to create innovative solutions in the modern world.

Prerequisite: Intro to Engineering OR Intro to Health Sciences, or equivalent Students will apply engineering principles to devise innovative solutions within the fields of biology and medicine.

This course represents an interdisciplinary approach, seamlessly integrating various engineering disciplines to equip students with a comprehensive toolkit aimed at driving healthcare advancements. Engaging with a variety of engineering tools and principles, students will channel their knowledge into a project centered on empathy. This endeavor not only emphasizes the application of technical skills but also highlights the importance of understanding and addressing real-world health challenges with compassion.

Prerequisite: Intro to Engineering or 30+ hours of high school programming experience. Students without prior programming experience can request access to CodeHS for supplemental learning.

Students are introduced to the core principles of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), setting the stage for an immersive journey into the world of intelligent systems. Beginning with the basics of machine learning model design and its applications in engineering, the curriculum emphasizes practical coding skills, primarily utilizing Python. With a focus more on hands-on experience than theoretical concepts, students will explore Python's computational tools, delve into regression and classification techniques, and experiment with unsupervised learning methods. P a g e | 59-61 <-- Through assignments and projects, learners will discover the vast potential of ML and AI in optimization and predictive modeling. Moreover, the course will engage students in discussions about the social and ethical considerations inherent in AI technologies, preparing them to think critically about the future implications of their work.

Prerequisite: Intro to Engineering.

Students will learn the principles of game design theory and learn to implement these foundational concepts by developing their own video game using Unreal Engine. Through a comprehensive exploration of the various elements that contribute to video game creation, participants will not only acquire a deep understanding of game mechanics, storytelling, and interactive design but also will culminate their learning experience by constructing a functioning prototype of their unique game idea.

This course meets elective requirements for both The Institute of Global Leadership and The Institute of Engineering.

In an ever-changing world full of challenges and opportunities, future leaders need to cultivate strong leadership skills. This course focuses on fostering flexible thinking and cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset essential for success in unpredictable situations. Students will learn to challenge assumptions, break through constraints, and seize opportunities. The curriculum emphasizes the ability to adapt to uncertain conditions by creating innovative ideas and identifying new approaches for a competitive edge. Through actionable lessons, students will gain valuable insights into changing the dynamics of various situations, developing creative value propositions, and finding unique market positions.

The Capstone project is self-directed with students working on self-designed, interdisciplinary projects during unstructured class periods or after school. The project begins during the second semester of the Year 3 course when students prepare a project proposal and begin working on their project. Students continue the project over the Year 4, meeting one-on-one with an advisor once each week and with a small group of peers pursuing similar projects once every 1-2 weeks. Students write an academic journal article and give a presentation on their completed Capstone spring semester of Year 4

(Semester)

This course explores the concept of discipleship within the Christian tradition, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of what it means to be a disciple of Christ.

(Semester)

This class will explore the experiences and challenges of early Christians living under Roman rule. Students will examine historical, social, and political contexts to understand how the Roman Empire influenced and shaped the development of Christian communities and practices.

(Semester)

This semester, the class will explore the philosophical foundations of Christian worship and provide practical training in chapel planning and service. Students will study theological perspectives, design worship services, and gain hands-on experience through service-oriented projects. 

(Semester)

The purpose of this class is to prepare Christians to think Christianly about numerous questions before they go off to college. Some of those questions include:

• Conflicts between Science & Religion
• A brief history of Western Science its Theist beginnings
• Issues re: Origins
• Creation Care & Christian Stewardship
• Technology, Pragmatism & Ethical Choices
• The Practice of Science as Worship

Capstone will be a student-directed research paper or a project that is other-focused keeping steady with individual student passions. 

Freshman Year (Semester)

This semester long introduction course is the first course in the new Health Science Institute. Students should sign up for this course that are interested in pursuing Health Sciences during grades 10 – 12. Introduction to Health Sciences covers the foundations of health sciences – including medicine, personal / behavioral health, government services, and biotechnology. This course focuses on the wonder of God’s preeminent creation and the intricacies of the human body.

Sophomore Year (Semester)

This course is specifically designed for students that have been accepted to the Institute of Health Science.  The prerequisite for this course includes successful completion of the Introduction to Health Science.  Building on the introduction course, student will develop a deeper understanding of the human body, including anatomy, physiology, disease processes and treatments.  There will be a particular focus on the cardiovascular system, pulmonary system, nervous system and musculoskeletal system.  Students will be expected to prepare for and compete in competitions designed to engage active learners, including anatomy competitions, and hands on skills competitions, including suturing and emergency response.  Students will also learn basic and intermediate principles of sports medicine, including injury prevention and the response to athletic injury.  One of the major objectives of this course will be to have students trained to be first responders during athletic competitions and events, under the supervision of physicians and certified athletic trainers. 

Junior Year (Semester)

In development for the 2025-26 school year.

Biology:

Biology is a cutting edge, laboratory-based college preparatory course in which students will learn about the living world from the simplest cells to complex interactions between living organisms and their environment. Major emphasis is placed on chemistry of organic compounds, cell structure and function, ecology, genetics, origins, biotechnology, and body systems (digestive, circulatory, respiratory, immune and system interactions). Topics are taught through the lens of a Biblical worldview and students learn how to integrate faith with scientific endeavors. A hallmark or the course is hands-on learning through state-of-the-art labs that include training and use of microscopy, Vernier digital probes, anatomical dissection, micropipettes, and DNA gel electrophoresis. Use of technology is integrated as part of the student’s learning and assessments. Students will use their own devices (smart phone, computer) to create elegant digital projects and reports.

Biology Honors:

Prerequisite: Completion of the previous science course with a year-long grade of 93% or better and teacher recommendation.

Honors Biology and Biology differ in depth of the topics covered and in an emphasis on student led inquiry and collaborative investigation. Typically, the student enters Honors Biology with advanced mathematics standing and a high interest in science. This course is designed to be a laboratory-based college preparatory course and to provide an understanding of biological concepts including chemistry of organic compounds, cell structure and function, ecology, genetics, origins, biotechnology, and body systems. Focus is on active student participation and the development of critical thinking skills. In addition, and perhaps more fundamentally, students will be presented with the implications of a Biblical worldview in science and will be challenged to learn how to integrate faith with scientific endeavors. Through this course students will gain the skills necessary to become members of society capable of critical thinking, analytics, and respectful discourse about difficult, relevant global topics. Honors Biology is a full year course.

Chemistry/Chemistry Honors:

Honors Prerequisite: Completion of Biology CP with a year-long grade of 90% or better and teacher recommendation, OR completion of Biology Honors with a year-long grade of 83% or better and teacher recommendation.

Chemistry offers students a thorough grounding in the basic principles of inorganic chemistry. The emphasis for the class is to help students make sense of their observations in the macroscopic world with evidence-based reasoning and express scientific ideas and relationships in multiple formats. Lab experiments are designed to challenge students to revise their thinking in order to describe or explain the evidence they encounter. Students will learn to use a number of representational tools (verbal, diagrammatic, graphical, algebraic) and move readily from one to another when describing phenomenon. The planned scope and sequence for the units covered in the class is as follows: The planned scope and sequence for the units covered in the class is as follows: Matter as simple particles, particles are in motion, particles store and transfer energy, particles can be compounded, particles have definite masses, particles have internal structure, ionic vs covalent bonding, particles can rearrange in chemical reactions, ratios in chemical reactions, nuclear model of the atom and interaction of light and matter, electron structure and periodicity, distribution of valence electrons and intermolecular forces, kinetics, and acids and bases. Chemistry and Honors Chemistry will differ largely in the depth and scope of topics covered. Honors students are required to demonstrate a higher proficiency in science practices with a strong emphasis on mathematical reasoning.

Prerequisite: Completion of Geometry Honors with 83% or better, concurrent enrollment in Algebra II (Algebra 2H if grade 9), and current science teacher recommendation.

This course covers the content of the AP Physics I exam as described by College Board, and students are expected to take the AP Physics I exam at the end of the school year. The content mirrors an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course covering these topics: kinematics, dynamics, circular motion, energy, momentum, simple harmonic motion, and rotational motion. Furthermore, this is an inquiry-based, project/lab course that pushes students to develop their skills and abilities in laboratory techniques, use of instrumentation, observation, data collection, and data analysis (mathematical and graphical) to conduct real world problem solving.

Prerequisite: Completion of AP Physics I, concurrent enrollment in Algebra II or higher, and teacher recommendation.

This course covers the content of the AP Physics II exam as described by College Board, and students are expected to take the AP Physics II exam at the end of the school year. The content mirrors an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course exploring these topics: fluids; thermodynamics; electrical force, field, and potential; electric circuits; magnetism and electromagnetic induction; geometric and physical optics; as well as quantum, atomic, and nuclear physics. Students will cultivate their understanding of physics through inquiry-based investigations as they develop their skills and abilities in laboratory techniques, use of instrumentation, observation, data collection, and data analysis (mathematical and graphical) to conduct real world problem solving.

Prerequisite: Completion of Biology and Chemistry with a year-long grade of 90% or better and teacher recommendation.

Advanced Placement Biology is a laboratory-based, college-level biology class. This rigorous, fast paced course is designed to provide students with conceptual and factual scientific knowledge, as well as help develop the analytical skills necessary to deal critically with the rapidly changing science of biology. Classes will consist mostly of developing models through lecture, discussion, interactive activities, and laboratory activities. In May, students will take the AP Biology exam, which will consist of a multiple choice and essay (free response questions) component. If students pass the exam with a score of 3, 4 or 5, then they may be eligible to receive college credit for biology. The AP Biology course will use the Biology in Focus textbook found embedded in Pearson’s Mastering Biology platform, and will cover all the major topics of biology, including natural selection, chemistry of life, cell structure and function, cell energetics, cell communication, heredity, gene expression and ecology.

Prerequisite: Completion of Chemistry or Chemistry Honors with a year-long grade of 90% or better and teacher recommendation, completion of Geometry Honors with 83% or better, and concurrent enrollment in Algebra II or higher.

AP Chemistry is an introductory college-level chemistry course with its content grounded in four big ideas, which are cross cutting concepts that build conceptual understanding and spiral throughout the course: scale, proportion, and quantity; structure and properties; transformation; and energy. The course content is organized into nine units: atomic structure and properties, molecular and ionic compound structure and properties, intermolecular forces and properties, chemical reactions, kinetics, thermodynamics, equilibrium, acids and bases, and applications of thermodynamics. The science practices are central to our study and practice of chemistry and will be applied on a regular basis, including an extensive lab portion in which students will maintain a laboratory notebook. The science practices include models and representation, question and method, representing data and phenomena, model analysis, mathematical routines, and argumentation. Students will be well-prepared for the AP Chemistry Examination written by the College Board and administered during early May.

Prerequisite: Completion of Biology and Chemistry and teacher recommendation.

Required for Biotech and Medicine track(s).

This is a cutting edge, laboratory-based course that examines the role of molecular biology and bioethics in biotechnology. It introduces students to biotechnology laboratory skills, including documentation, safety, and solution preparation. Major emphasis is placed on aseptic techniques, DNA amplification using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), recombinant DNA techniques, protein purification, spectrophotometry, and electrophoresis techniques. A key aspect of this course is the examination of ethics in biotechnological approached from a Biblical worldview. In each unit, students will address ethical questions related to the unit content and techniques. This course aims to produce technically sound scientists who evaluate information and make informed decisions, especially when larger ethical questions may be involved.

The AP Psychology course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology. They also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice. A high performance on the AP Exam may earn student college credit.

Anatomy and Physiology:

This course is an advanced biology course, designed for the student interested in the structure and function of the human body, and for students who are interested in biological or medical careers. Structure will be addressed in the anatomy portion of the class and function in the physiology portion; both subjects will be presented concurrently. In this course, we will investigate how the concepts are applied to sports, trained vs. untrained individuals, and during exercise. Students who are seeking to pursue a career in sports or fitness will find this course challenging and rewarding. The classroom component will consist of lectures, videos, and typical classroom activity. The laboratory component of this course will occur both in the lab and outdoors, with students participating as experimental subjects. Students will perform experiments using our athletic facilities as well as computer-aided assessment.

Anatomy and Physiology Honors:

Prerequisite: Completion of Biology and Chemistry with a year-long grade of 90% or better OR Biology Honors and Chemistry Honors with a year-long grade of 83% or better and teacher recommendation.

Students in the honors course complete the more advanced labs (e.g. dissections); much of the more complex systems and information are covered in this honors course as opposed to the regular course. In general, the class differs mostly in depth of topics covered and in the inclusion of certain topics. Typically, the student enters Anatomy and Physiology Honors with advanced mathematics and a high interest in science. Certain lab experiments reflect the depth of topics covered.

Required for Sports Medicine pathway.

This course is an introduction for students to the anatomy and physiology of the human body and how it relates to athletes and sports medicine. The course covers introductory topics regarding specific systems of human anatomy and progresses to correlation of treatment from general first aid to advanced treatment protocols for common athletic injuries. The hands-on laboratory work spans from dissection to physiology-based labs to medical evaluation and treatment protocols. At the end of the course, students should have a basic knowledge of the human body and treatments particular to athletes’ sport injuries. Students who are seeking to pursue a career in sports or fitness will find this course challenging and rewarding.

Senior Year

In development for the 2025-26 school year.