About GLK-UAIS

All GLK-UAIS students complete six credits of English Language Arts over the course of four years.  All students take Honors English 9, Honors English 10, and IB English 11 & 12 HL or SL.  Speech and Production Teams develop speaking skills and college-level research guidance as students prepare to write their Extended Essay in the junior and senior year.

HONORS ENGLISH 9 – 1.0 credit (Required)
Honors English 9 is designed to ensure that every Academy student becomes proficient in the study of English literature and analytical writing.  Students will enjoy classics of western literature, which include Speak (Anderson), Of Mice and Men (Steinbeck), and Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare).  Course work is designed to help students appreciate the complexities of language and prepare them for the unique series of International Baccalaureate oral and written examinations. A specific aim is to engender a lifelong interest in literature and a love for the elegance and richness of human expression.

HONORS ENGLISH 10 – 1.0 credit (Required)
Building on skills learned from literary concepts studied in Honors English 9, Honors English 10 will expand on the study of literature to include issues of global and cultural relevance throughout the world. This study, therefore, can be seen as a study of all the complex pursuits, anxieties, joys and fears that human beings are exposed to in the daily business of living.  It will promote a healthy respect for the imagination and a perceptive approach to the understanding and interpretation of literary works. Studied works include: The Kite Runner (Hosseini), The Prophet (Gibran), Brave New World (Huxley), and a study of poetry and short stories.

SPEECH/PRODUCTION TEAMS 9 – 1 credit (Required)
The purpose of this course is to develop effective communicators. Students will demonstrate appropriate speaking and listening skills in both formal and informal communication situations. The emphasis in the course is frequent speaking experiences that build student confidence using the Projects in Speech Communication textbook.  Given the value of oral communication skills on IB assessments in the 11th and 12th grade, students at UAIS are required to complete this course during their first year.  Production Teams will also serve as an introduction to research skills needed in the 11th/12th grades.

PRODUCTION TEAMS 10 -- 1 credit (Required)
This required elective course teaches all UAIS sophomores the college research process that mirrors the independent work of the Extended Essay, which is an IB diploma candidate requirement.  Students will work in class to identify a topic of study, formulate a research question, conduct research, learn about plagiarism and proper documentation of sources, outline, and draft an essay.

IB ENGLISH HL/SL (1 & 2) – 2.0 credit (Required)
Through the study of a wide range of literature, the language A: literature course encourages students to appreciate the artistry of literature and to develop an ability to reflect critically on their reading. Works are studied in their literary and cultural contexts, through close study of individual texts and passages, and by considering a range of critical approaches. In view of the international nature of the IB and its commitment to intercultural understanding, the language A: literature course does not limit the study of works to the products of one culture or the cultures covered by any one language. The study of works in translation is especially important in introducing students, through literature, to other cultural perspectives. The response to the study of literature is through oral and written communication, thus enabling students to develop and refine their command of language.

Language A: literature is a flexible course that allows teachers to choose works from prescribed lists of authors and to construct a course that suits the particular needs and interests of their students. It is divided into four parts, each with a particular focus.

•Part 1: Works in translation
•Part 2: Detailed study
•Part 3: Literary genres
•Part 4: Options (in which works are freely chosen)

 11th grade studied works include: King Lear (Shakespeare), The Princess Bride (Goldman), Antigone (Sophocles), A Doll's House (Ibsen), Persepolis (Satrapi), and To Kill a Mockingbird (Lee).

 12th grade studied works include: Hamlet (Shakespeare), the satirical works of Jonathon Swift, the poems of Robert Frost, Pride and Prejudice (Austen), Beloved (Morrison), The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Twain), and 1984 (Orwell).

YEARBOOK –1.0 credit (11th/12th grade elective)
The main objective of the class is to produce the school yearbook. The course includes interviewing, copy writing, photographing school events, designing layouts and graphics, advertising, and fundraising. Students should be able to stay after school when needed to meet publication deadlines. In addition, students are required to sell advertisements for their publication. Students may take this class for credit more than once.  Students in this class are combined with the newspaper staff, whose goal is to produce the online school newspaper.

All GLK-UAIS students are required to complete four credits in a foreign language.  We offer French, Spanish and Japanese to our students.  All students entering the Academy as ninth graders—regardless of previous experience or coursework—must take Spanish I, French I or Japanese I.  These courses not only cover two years of material each, but also expose students to a variety of cultural and linguistic issues critical to success in these classes during the junior and senior year.

FRENCH I – 1.0 credit (9th grade)
French I is the study of the French language with equal emphasis on the five ACTFL standards of communication, cultures, connections, comparisons and communities, which cover speaking, writing and cultural interaction and relevance. Second, language learning will concentrate on bringing new vocabulary and grammar into meaningful communicative situations. Students will be introduced to the French-speaking people and their customs and traditions by means of video, audio, and computer technology. Regular use of the language lab will be an integral part of the curriculum. Frequent listening and speaking activities will enhance students' ability to communicate in French. Cultural studies will include French cuisine, schools, family life, calendar, music, famous people, religion, art, geography and global influence.

FRENCH II – 1.0 credit (10th grade)
French II is the study of the French language with equal emphasis on the five ACTFL standards of communication, cultures, connections, comparisons and communities, which cover speaking, writing and cultural interaction and relevance to a more in-depth degree than French I. Students must have completed French I at UAIS to enroll in this class.

IB FRENCH HL/SL (1 and 2) – 2.0 credit (11th/12th grade)
The focus of the French language B course (IB1) is to promote language acquisition and proficiency for functional communication in a variety of situations. Students will be able to understand and use French appropriately in a range of contexts and for a variety of purposes. The course builds upon the four basic language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing acquired in French I and II. Over the course of the two years, students will encounter a broad range of topics, with material selected to show the use of French in a variety of contexts. These will also provide the opportunity for students to show their comprehension of the material and respond orally or by using an appropriate style of writing. The aim of the course is to foster a better understanding of the French language and French culture, as well as enlighten students about the depth and breadth of the French-speaking world. During the two years, students should become confident users of the language in a variety of different situations.  Works include Oscaret la damerase (Schmitt), Le Papillon et la Cite (Pineau), and Le Petit Nicolas (Gascinny).

The course will focus on the four key skills required to achieve this: speaking, reading, listening and writing. The work covered will enable students to encounter the language as it is used by French speakers around the world. The breadth of material presented is intended to generate a greater awareness of the diversity of lifestyles and viewpoints within the Francophone world. In the context of IB French, the successful use of language consists of demonstrating competence in three distinct, but interrelated areas:

• Language (handling the language accurately: grammar, syntax, etc.)
• Cultural Interaction (selecting language appropriate to a particular culture and social context)
• Message (understanding ideas and how they are organized in order to communicate them)

SPANISH I 1.0 credit (9th grade)
Spanish I is the study of the Spanish language with emphasis on the five ACTFL standards of communication, cultures, connections, comparisons and communities, which cover speaking, writing and cultural interaction and relevance. Second, language learning will immerse students in new vocabulary and grammar and require them to utilize that information in meaningful communicative situations. Students will be introduced to the Spanish-speaking people and their customs and traditions by means of video, audio, and computer technology. Regular use of the language lab will be an integral part of the curriculum. Frequent listening and speaking activities will enhance students' ability to communicate in Spanish. Cultural studies will include Spanish cuisine, schools, cultural life, calendar, music, famous people, religion, art, geography and global influence.

SPANISH II – 1.0 credit (10th grade)
Spanish II is the study of the French language with equal emphasis on the five ACTFL standards of communication, cultures, connections, comparisons and communities, which cover speaking, writing and cultural interaction and relevance to a more in-depth degree than Spanish I.  Students must have completed Spanish I at UAIS to enroll in this class.

IB SPANISH 1 and 2 – 2.0 credit (11^th/12^th grade)
The focus of the Spanish language B course (IB1) is to promote language acquisition and proficiency for functional communication in a variety of situations. Students will be able to understand and use French appropriately in a range of contexts and for a variety of purposes. The course builds upon the four basic language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing acquired in French I and II. Over the course of the two years students will encounter a broad range of topics, with material selected to show the use of Spanish in a variety of contexts. These will also provide the opportunity for students to show their comprehension of the material and respond orally or by using an appropriate style of writing. The aim of the course is to foster a better understanding of the Spanish language and Spanish culture, as well as enlighten students to the depth and breadth of the Spanish-speaking world. During the two years, students should become confident users of the language in a variety of different situations.

The course will focus on the four key skills required to achieve this: speaking, reading, listening and writing. The work covered will enable students to encounter the language as it is used by Spanish speakers around the world. The breadth of material presented is intended to generate a greater awareness of the diversity of lifestyles and viewpoints. In the context of IB Spanish, the successful use of language consists of demonstrating competence in three distinct, but interrelated areas:

• Language (handling the language accurately: grammar, syntax, etc.)
• Cultural Interaction (selecting language appropriate to a particular culture and social context)
• Message (understanding ideas and how they are organized in order to communicate them)

JAPANESE I – 1.0 credit (9th grade)
Japanese I is the study of the Japanese language with emphasis on the five ACTFL standards of communication, cultures, connections, comparisons and communities, which cover speaking, writing and cultural interaction and relevance. Second, language learning will immerse students in new vocabulary and grammar and require them to utilize that information in meaningful communicative situations. Students will be introduced to the Japanese-speaking people and their customs and traditions by means of video, audio, and computer technology. Regular use of the language lab will be an integral part of the curriculum. Frequent listening and speaking activities will enhance students' ability to communicate in Japanese. Cultural studies will include Japanese cuisine, schools, cultural life, calendar, music, famous people, religion, art, geography and global influence. Japanese language learning will also focus on the unique pictorial nature of the Japanese written language and its cultural significance. 

Japanese II --1.0 credit (10th grade)
Japanese II is the study of the Japanese language with equal emphasis on the five ACTFL standards of communication, cultures, connections, comparisons and communities, which cover speaking, writing and cultural interaction and relevance to a more in-depth degree than Japanese I.  Students must have completed Japanese I at UAIS to enroll in this class.

IB JAPANESE HL/SL 1&2 --(11th/12th grade)
Japanese Language B HL/SL is a two-year language course conducted entirely in Japanese which will be offered to juniors and seniors who have already taken two or three years of Japanese. It is designed to provide students with opportunities to refine and enhance their abilities to express themselves accurately and resourcefully in written and spoken Japanese. Students in Japanese Language B HL & SL will focus on further developing and refining the four primary skills in language learning – reading, writing, listening and speaking. All the activities will be embedded in culturally authentic materials from an array of sources and media, including authentic literature, movies, magazines and news articles, and popular music. The materials, topics and resources of the class will be drawn from a variety of authentic cultural texts focusing on all aspects and issues of Japanese culture, including traditional and modern culture. By using a variety of materials, students will be exposed to different texts and registers in which they will be expected to communicate. As far as possible, the students will learn vocabulary and grammatical structures within the context of other activities, such as oral activities or the reading of authentic texts. The students will be expected to then use the vocabulary and structures within a range of situations and purposes for which Japanese is normally used, such as work and social relationships. Their competence will involve an understanding of the following interrelated areas:

GLK-UAIS students will take five credits social studies classes over four years.  These classes include:

9th Grade: History of World Civilizations, US Government, and Economics
10th Grade: AP World History: Modern
11th Grade: IB History of Americas DP or IB Psychology DP
12th Grade: IB History 20th Century Topics HL/SL or IB Psychology HL/SL 2

Aside from IB Psychology, each of these courses is required of all students, and the 11th and 12th grade courses can be taken at the standard or higher levels. Students will be prepared to take the IB examinations as well as the AP US History and AP World History examinations after freshman and sophomore years, respectively. Each course is designed to increase student capacity to identify, analyze critically and evaluate theories, concepts and arguments relating to the nature and activities of individuals and societies.

History of World Civilizations– 1.0 credit (9th grade required)
The History of World Civilizations course studies World History prior to 1200 BCE.  This was content that was previously part of the AP World History course prior to its revamp in 2019.  This part of history is critical as it is important to have for students taking IB History during their 11th and 12th grade years.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT WORLD HISTORY: MODERN – 1.0 credit (10th grade required)
AP World History: Modern focuses on developing students' abilities to think conceptually about world history from approximately 1200 BCE to the present and apply historical thinking skills as they learn about the past.  Five themes of equal importance--focusing on the environment, cultures, state-building, economic systems, and social structures--provide areas of historical inquiring for investigation throughout the course.  AP World History encompasses the history of the five major geographical regions of the globe: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania, with special focus on historical developments and processes that cross multiple regions.  Supplemental readings include What Do Muslims Believe? (Sardar), Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World (2004), Things Fall Apart (Achebe), and Flyboys (Bradley).

IB HISTORY HISTORY OF THE AMERICAS–1.0 credit (11th grade)
IB History I is the first year of a two-year IB History sequence.  Through the two years of the course, students will study four distinct periods within the IB History of the Americas curriculum framework along with two 20th century topics and one prescribed subject.  Following the students' two-year study, they will be prepared for the IB History Examination to be administered in May of their senior year.  The first course will begin with a study of the development of modern nations in the Americas (1865-1929) followed by the emergence of the Americas in global affairs (1880-1929).  Students will then begin their topical study of 20th century wars with World War I.  Next, students will study the IB Prescribed Subject entitled Peacemaking, Peacekeeping: International Relations 1918-1936.  Finally, students will study the Great Depression in the Americas (1929-1939).  Readings include the following: The Jungle (Upton Sinclair), Frederick Douglass: Narrative of an American Slave, and Johnny Got His Gun (Dalton Trumbo).  Amidst these studies, students will complete their Internal Assessment in History requiring them to engage in a historical investigation on a topic of their choosing. 

IB 20th CENTURY TOPICS HL/SL--1.0 credit (12^th grade)
IB History II is the second year of a two-year IB History sequence.  The course will begin with a study of World War II and the Americas (1933-1945).  Next, students will study the Cold War and the Americas (1945-1991). Each of those topics will afford the opportunity to engage in deeper study of the IB 20th Century Topic of Causes, Practices, and Effects of War with the World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Also, the IB 20th Century Topic of the Cold War will be covered.  At the conclusion of this course, students will be prepared to take the IB History Examination.  Major works of study include Night (Wiesel), 20^th Century: A Brief Global History (Goff), and The Arab-Israeli Conflict (Schulze).

US GOVERNMENT – A-C180 .5 credit (9th grade required)
US Government focuses on how governmental decisions are made, who makes them, what forces and factors influence them, and what some of the causes and effects of such decisions can be. The course covers a description and analysis of the American political system as it relates to contemporary issues and problems. Emphasis is placed on the individual responsibility of every citizen to determine the quality of our government on the federal, state and local levels.

ECONOMICS – A-C150 .5 credit (9th grade required)
The purpose of this course is to acquaint students with the role of economics in the shaping of everyday life. Topics studied include operation of a market economy, advertising, swindles, our money system, credit, investment, personal finance, budgeting, collective bargaining, economic stability, money and banking, public policy, economic cycles, comparative economic systems, and the stock market. Economic skills will be developed using computer assisted resources.

IB PSYCHOLOGY HL/SL – A-C161 2.0 Credits (11^th/12^thgrades)
Psychology is the systematic study of behavior and mental processes. In other words, everything you are and do as a human being is psychological in nature. Psychology has its roots in both the natural and social sciences, leading to a variety of research designs and applications, and providing a unique approach to understanding modern society.  IB Psychology is a two year course that examines the interaction of biological, cognitive and sociocultural influences on human behavior, thereby adopting an integrative approach. Understanding how psychological knowledge is generated, developed and applied enables students to achieve a greater understanding of themselves and appreciate the diversity of human behavior. The ethical concerns raised by the methodology and application of psychological research are key considerations in IB Psychology.  Works of study include excerpts from Why Beautiful People Have More Daughters (Miller & Kanazawa), The Power of Habit (Duhigg), Superfreakonomics (Dubner & Levitt), Outliers andBlink (Gladwell), and Predictably Irrational (Ariely).

IB Psychology takes a holistic approach that focuses on real world applications of the concepts and fosters intercultural understanding and respect. In the core of the IB Psychology course, the biological level of analysis demonstrates what all humans share, whereas the cognitive and sociocultural levels of analysis reveal the immense diversity of influences that produce human behavior and mental processes. Cultural diversity is explored and students are encouraged to develop empathy for the feelings, needs and lives of others within and outside their own culture. This empathy contributes to an international understanding.

GLK-UAIS strongly emphasizes the experimental sciences as part of a well-rounded curriculum during students' four years at the Academy. Students will earn anywhere between 5-7 high school credits in science depending on their 11th and 12th grade course selections.  All students will take Physics during 9th grade and both Biology and Chemistry in 10th grade to establish a strong background in terminology, laboratory experiences, and basic concepts. 

Using those experiences and their preferences, students may then select one or two IB classes among the following:

IB Physics HL/SL
IB Chemistry HL/SL
IB Biology HL/SL
IB Nature of Science SL (cannot be taken with another IB science)

PHYSICS (1 credit; 9th grade required)
Physics deals with the natural world of matter and energy and the nature of science.  Its main purpose is to prepare students for the IB Physics course while giving students a deep conceptual understanding of classical mechanics.  Conceptual knowledge of physics and problem-solving will be assessed with Socratic discussion, labs, and tests.

BIOLOGY (1 credit; 10th grade required)
This class will provide students with a background necessary not only for IB Biology but also college-level biology.  The course is designed around lab experiences, hands-on activities, and scientific inquiry to help students master basic biology concepts.

CHEMISTRY (1 credit; 10th grade required)
This class deals with the composition of materials and changes they may undergo.  The concepts, laws, and theories explaining the properties and behavior of elements and compounds are discussed.  Lab experience is essential to the course. By its end, students should be able to qualitatively and quantitatively express their chemistry knowledge.

IB BIOLOGY HL/SL 1 & 2 (2 credits; 11-12th grades)
Biology covers the core topics as outlined by the IBO and gives adequate time to them. Options have been chosen based on the personal experience and expertise of the instructor as well as the resources that are available to the school. Upon completion of the IB Biology course, students will have a thorough understanding of scientific facts and concepts, methods, techniques, and the appropriate vocabulary that go along with biology, and they will master the methods for accurately researching and presenting scientific information. The ability to apply these skills will come from instructional practices that assist students in the discovery, construction, analysis, and evaluation of scientific information. Such a classroom will foster the development of personal skills and cooperative responsibility of laboratory-based scientific investigations and problem-solving. These skills will be performed and sharpened with the highest level of precision and safety.

Students enrolled in the IB Biology course will be encouraged to be open-minded, internationally-oriented thinkers who seek to build their knowledge base by studying science through the eyes of a person who fully understands the scientific method and the relationships between the various scientific disciplines. Such students will use many different types of technology (the internet, laptop computers, hand-held data loggers, etc.) to familiarize them with its use in facilitating data collection in both guided and open-ended experiments. These tools will assist students in becoming reflective thinkers who are aware of the moral, ethical, social, economic, and environmental implications these tools uncover. Moreover, students will develop the necessary skills to communicate their results to others.  Biology students also engage in a group 4 project, an interdisciplinary activity in which all Diploma Program science students must participate. The intention is that students from the different group 4 subjects analyze a common topic or problem. The exercise should be a collaborative experience where the emphasis is on the processes involved in scientific investigation rather than the products of such investigation.

IB CHEMISTRY HL/SL 1 & 2 (2 credits; 11-12th grades)
Co-requisite for Chemistry HL: Math SL or higher
Chemistry is an experimental science that combines academic study with the acquisition of practical and investigational skills. It is called the central science, as chemical principles underpin both the physical environment in which we live and all biological systems. Apart from being a subject worthy of study in its own right, chemistry is a prerequisite for many other courses in higher education, such as medicine, biological science and environmental science, and serves as useful preparation for employment. The Diploma Program chemistry course includes the essential principles of the subject but also, through selection of options, allows teachers some flexibility to tailor the course to meet the needs of their students. The course is available at both standard level (SL) and higher level (HL), and therefore accommodates students who wish to study science in higher education and those who do not.

The chemistry course covers quantitative chemistry, atomic structure, periodicity, bonding, energy, kinetics, equilibrium, acids and bases, oxidation and reduction, organic chemistry, measurement and data structure, and covers multiple additional options in modern analytical chemistry, human biochemistry, chemistry in industry and technology, medicines and drugs, environmental chemistry, food chemistry and/or further organic chemistry. Both SL and HL students must complete two of these options, but the depth and time allocated to the options varies based on level. 

IB PHYSICS HL/SL 1 & 2 (2 credits; 11-12th grades)
Co-requisite for IB Physics HL: Math SL or higher.
The focus of this course is to engage the students in critical thinking and problem-solving. Physics is the most fundamental of the experimental sciences, as it seeks to explain the universe itself, from the very smallest particles—quarks (perhaps 10–17 m in size), which may be truly fundamental—to the vast distances between galaxies (1024 m). Physics is a perfect tool for challenging students to examine new concepts and develop new thinking strategies. The study of physics includes the use of all the educational tools the students have acquired. They will be required to read, comprehend, interpret, and apply this new knowledge to the understanding of the world around them. These applications will be both conceptual and mathematical. Physics is one of the sciences used to address many of the global issues facing humanity. Understanding and applying the principles of physics will guide students to more viable solutions. They will gain skills and confidence towards this goal through practice with manageable problems in the physics laboratory. The students will demonstrate their success with physics through presentations of research and laboratory results. They will submit written summaries of their investigations. Continually embedded assessments of student progress through discussions concerning global issues and how physics is being used to alleviate them.

The IB Physics course will cover physics and physical measurements, mechanics, thermal physics, oscillations and waves, electric currents, fields and forces, atomic and nuclear physics, energy, power, and climate change, and two optional subjects from the following sight and wave phenomena, quantum physics and nuclear physics, digital technology, relativity and particle physics, astrophysics, communications, and electromagnetic waves. HL students can also choose from relativity, medical physics and particle physics.  

IB Nature of Science SL (2.0 credits; 11-12th grades)
This non-laboratory course samples curriculum from biology, physics, and chemistry to cover a variety of topics including the universe, evolution, the impact of science and its role in transport and communications, food security, and medicine.  This course is intended for students not pursuing a science track for their post-secondary plans.  It may not be taken in conjunction with any other IB science course during junior and senior years.