Courses
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Waterloo Course Selection
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding=”0|0px|27px|0px|false|false” _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_cta button_url=”https://waterlooschool.typeform.com/to/jO1eoh” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Course Sign-up” _builder_version=”3.18.2″ body_font=”Source Sans Pro||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” background_color=”#ffffff” button_alignment=”center” text_orientation=”left” background_layout=”light” custom_margin=”0px||” custom_padding=”0px||” link_option_url=”https://waterlooschool.typeform.com/to/jO1eoh” link_option_url_new_window=”on”]It’s time to sign up for classes! Here you will find both the course descriptions for the courses offered for 2019-2020 and the Waterloo graduation requirements. Read through the course descriptions for information about each class, and then follow the link below to choose the courses you want to take. The sign up link also provides short videos explaining the process and introducing each course. If you have any questions about course sign ups, don’t hesitate to email us at learn@waterlooaustin.org.
–the Waterloo team[/et_pb_cta][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”3.18.2″ background_color=”#f9eb10″ custom_padding=”20px|0px|22px|0px|false|false”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.13″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.18.2″ text_font=”Source Sans Pro|900|||||||” text_text_color=”#717272″ text_font_size=”32px” text_line_height=”1.1em” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark”]
“The Glory of God is humanity fully alive.”
—Irenaeus
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.18.2″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.18.2″][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_blurb title=”Graduation Requirements” image=”https://waterlooaustin.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/home-office-06.jpg” _builder_version=”3.18.2″ header_level=”h1″ header_font=”Rubik|900|||||||” header_text_align=”center”][/et_pb_blurb][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https://waterlooaustin.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/grad-requ.jpg” _builder_version=”3.18.2″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”3.18.2″ background_color=”#f9eb10″ custom_padding=”38px|0px|31px|0px|false|false”][et_pb_row custom_padding=”7px|0px|10px|0px|false|false” _builder_version=”3.13″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.13″ text_font=”Source Sans Pro|900|||||||” text_text_color=”#717272″ text_font_size=”31px” text_line_height=”1.1em” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” max_width=”74%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|1px||”]
“The question isn’t ‘what are we going to do?’
The question is ‘what aren’t we going to do?.”
—Ferris Bueller
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_blurb title=”Waterloo Course Selection 2019-2020″ image=”https://waterlooaustin.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/dfdf.jpg” _builder_version=”3.18.2″ header_level=”h1″ header_font=”Rubik|900|||||||” header_text_align=”center”][/et_pb_blurb][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.18.2″ text_font=”Source Sans Pro||||||||”]
The Good Life
World History 0.5 credit, English 0.5 credit
Why should we study history? What books, if any, should we read, and why? Can the past do anything for my future? What do I need to know to live a good life? These are all questions worth asking. This class will inquire into the good life through works of artists and philosophers, theologians and scientists, princes and paupers, cities and deserts, poets and prophets, men and women. As we read Antigone, portions of The Republic, The Bible, Shakespeare and contemporary writings, we will see how these questions are answered and how they produce new questions in changing eras. In addition to looking to past works done by others, we will do work designed to explore our own talents and interests. We will create art work, design projects, investigate opportunities to serve the city. All the work we do in this class will try to ask and answer questions about our growing sense of the good life.
Required for all incoming students, Trimester 1
Optional possible credits: Theology, Philosophy, Psychology, Anthropology, Economics, Civics, and more.
Justice and Mercy
World History 0.5 credit, English 0.5 credit
What is the fair and right thing to do? Is it kind and merciful? These are crucial questions at the heart of key moments in the history of cultures and civilizations. Some of the best works of literature, like Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, explore the balance and tension between justice and mercy. Orwell’s 1984 portrays the terrible possibility of a society devoid of both. The works of literature and developments of history we will study in this class reveal how important justice and mercy are in the ordinary functions of life in society. Doing what’s right and being kind is not always easy. Our personal lives, like the stories and periods we study, involve hard decisions. In this class we will see how we are involved in the same struggle as protagonists of history and literature. By whose standards shall we measure justice and mercy? In this class you will find inspiration, guidance, and challenge from some excellent stories and a deep study of their historical contexts. You will also do a project aimed to express justice and mercy in public.
Optional possible credits: Theology, Philosophy, Psychology, Anthropology, Economics, Civics, and more.
Rise and Fall of Civilizations
World History 0.5 credit, English 0.5 credit
From the treasures of Tutankhamnun and the Great Wall of China to the human sacrifices of Teotihuacan, we will explore five geographic regions of the world and the remains of the great civilizations that once ruled them. We will discover along the way what characteristics define a civilization, what conditions enabled them to rise, and—perhaps most importantly for our modern world—what caused them to fall, and how they live on in our current geopolitical world. These cultures have a lot to tell us through their literature, art, and material culture about what it means to be human, and while they were very different from us, their similarities may surprise you. What will the fate of our civilization be? Your project will give you an opportunity to answer that question.
Timelines and areas of focus for the course will vary depending on the teacher and the trimester/academic year offered.
Optional possible credits: Geography, Anthropology, Art History, Economics, Government, Engineering, and more.
Spanish
Foreign Language 1.0 credit
Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world, and and is the most widely spoken language in this hemisphere. Fluency in Spanish is an advantage in today’s global marketplace. The foundations of fluency in Spanish are speaking, understanding, writing, and reading. In order to master a second language, we must start with essentials of spelling, grammar, vocabulary together with gradual progress in reading and conversation. Students who have taken Spanish 1 or 2 will be able to reinforce the grammar and vocabulary they have learned and will increasingly practice reading, conversation, and writing skills. Students with no Spanish background will learn the basics and lay groundwork to build towards acquiring fluency.
Students electing to study Spanish in the summer of 2020 will also study the history of Spanish colonization of America and survey key social, economic, and cultural trends in preparation for immersion study and service. Summer Language immersion will provide 2.0 credits.
Writing and Rhetoric
English 0.5 credit.
Writing and Rhetoric develops writing skills in a variety of modes, including expository, persuasive, academic, and personal. The focus is on articulating a clear, controlling idea, developing supporting reasoning and examples, and effectively using specific evidence. We will also study the ancient art of rhetoric and draw on its traditions and practices to make our writing more articulate and compelling. This course is open to juniors and seniors who are preparing to take AP subject tests and/or the SAT and submit college applications.
Capstone
1.0 credit. The type of credit earned will depend on the subjects incorporated into the project
The capstone course serves as the opportunity for each student to complete and present an original, quality project that draws on his or her interest, skills, abilities and knowledge. Although the work will be original, students can build off of a prior project or activity from any course of study.
Biology
Biology 1.0 credit
Biology is the study of life in and around you. Specifically, it’s the study of how the many molecules, cells, and substances within you interact, and how those interactions allow you to adapt and work in your surroundings. We will take a small to big experimental approach beginning with the biochemistry of our cells leading to systems and development all the way to ecology. In addition to the material covered in our class, we will supplement specific topics with the latest academic research so you can gain an appreciation for the scientific method and how science continues to build upon discoveries.
Our class project will be designed for you to ask and answer the questions that are specific to the biology of adolescence. What makes this time in your development so unique as you approach adulthood?
Optional possible credits: Psychology, Ecology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Ethics, and more.
Chemistry
Chemistry 1.0 credit
Our study and experimentation in chemistry will uncover the different characteristics of atoms, their functions, and why it’s important to understand how they combine and react. These studies include the structure and different states of matter and alterations in matter by way of reactions, thermodynamics, kinetics, and equilibrium. Studies will also include aspects of general, organic, and biological chemistry that apply to biological systems and processes. The goal of this course is to gain an understanding of Chemistry as the process that presides over the chemical reactions in our world. In addition to the material covered in our class, we will supplement specific topics with the latest academic research so you can gain an appreciation for the scientific method and how science continues to build upon discoveries.
Our class project will be designed for you to understand how chemistry is being applied in our city and specific vocations and to share that information with the Austin community.
Optional possible credits: Psychology, Ecology, Biochemistry, Ethics, and more.
Prerequisite: Completed or currently taking Algebra II
Engineering
Engineering 1.0 credit
Engineering Design and Problem Solving 3.0 units (UT)
Engineering is a UT dual-enrollment college credit course designed by the UT Engineering department. Students may chose to enroll in the UT dual-enrollment program and/or take the course for Waterloo credit. The projects in this class are designed to give you a thorough introduction into the different fields of engineering, including structural, electrical, and mechanical.
Physics
Physics 1.0 credit
Physics uses algebra-based mathematical models to introduce the fundamental concepts that describe the physical world. Topics include basic concepts of motion, forces, energy, heat, electricity, magnetism, and the structure of matter and the universe. These topics will lead to inquiry-based investigations and research. Our understanding and experimentation will be complemented with studies of physics in our city architecture and application of physics in academics.
Optional possible credits: Engineering, Design, and more.
Prerequisite: Algebra I
Algebra I
Algebra I: 1.0 credit
Algebra 1 will be the foundational course for the rest of the math classes at Waterloo. The goal of this class is to develop successful problem-solvers who effectively and confidently use math in our everyday lives. Along with the basic skills of Algebra, such as one-variable and multi-variable linear equations, ratios, percent and proportion, graphing lines, inequalities, quadratic equations and complex numbers, we will have intentional work to develop and deepen problem-solving skills. We will learn and practice the essential elements of problem solving: graceful, persistent, collaborative, risk-taking, and communication of our thinking to a variety of audiences.
Algebra II
Algebra II: 1.0 credit
Algebra II takes the foundations of Algebra 1 further and deeper. We will continue to practice the artful dance of iterative trial and error as we try various approaches to obtain the most elegant solution, and continue to develop the essentials of our problem solving tools. Math skills we will use to grow as problem solvers will consist of more work with quadratic equations and inequalities, functions, composition and inverses, graphing of functions, work with polygons, exponential functions and sequences and series.
Prerequisite: Algebra I
Geometry
Geometry: 1.0 credit
Geometry will be an introduction for many to the art of mathematical communication through the process of a proof. This is where we really learn to defend our thinking. We will start with basic foundations of defining terms, then move into the study of lines, angles, triangles of many different types, then start exploring the ways that we can prove congruent and similar triangles. We will move on from triangles to quadrilaterals and polygons, and then explore circles, three dimensional geometry and curved surfaces. We will end the course with transformations and analytic geometry. We will continue the emphasis on problem solving in this course as well as all the other math courses at Waterloo.
Prerequisite: Algebra I
Pre-Calculus
Pre-Calculus: 1.0 credit
Pre-Calculus, as the name implies will prepare students for Calculus. But what exactly is that? We will start with an introduction to the basic trigonometric functions originating from a unit circle, whose radius is 1, move to trigonometric identities, and then on to the extension of geometry, spending time with vectors and complex numbers and matrices. Through all of these topics, we will focus on working collaboratively to come up with the elegant solutions, practicing defending our thinking and solutions to both critics and friends alike to gain practice in the art of mathematical communication.
Prerequisite: Algebra II and Geometry[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]