Enhanced Courses

This course provides an overview of both microeconomics and macroeconomics, including the relationship between worldviews and economic theory. It places an emphasis on free-market economics. Students study microeconomic theory as it relates to:

• Profits and incentives
• The laws of supply and demand
• The morality of markets
• The nature of property and property ownership
• The price system
• The role of market information

The section on macroeconomics will cover the role of civil government in the free marketplace and the growth of government involvement in the economy, which includes discussions of political economy and public policy. Other topics that are addressed include:

• Monetary theory and inflationary policies
• Tariffs, minimum wage laws, and unemployment
• Taxation and fiscal policy
• The nature of price controls

Students also study a brief overview of the U.S. federal budget and the rise of entitlement programs in contrast to American constitutional theory related to federalism and limited civil government.

Economics: Enhanced Syllabus

Government is needed to restrain sin, to preserve order, and to protect the life, liberty, and property of all individuals. This course will evaluate the foundation of American government, paying particular attention to the purpose and roles of all government. The primary purpose of this course is to train students for effective citizenship. The course will emphasize:

• The 3 branches of government
• The issues, interests, and institutions of American politics
• The separation of powers
• The United States Constitution

Government: Enhanced Syllabus

This course provides an overview of American history from early exploration to the present. It will examine the development of the American republic with special attention paid to the political, intellectual, economic, and cultural influences on the development of the United States as an exceptional nation in a global context.

U.S. History: Enhanced Syllabus

Virginia History provides an overview of the history, geography, and government of the Commonwealth of Virginia from the 16th century to the present. Studies pay special attention to the contributions the Commonwealth has made to the progression of American history in the areas of:

• Economics
• Education
• Government
• Law
• Religion

Virginia History: Enhanced Syllabus

• A biblical approach to world history demonstrates that man, though made in the image of God, is innately sinful, has limitations, and is in need of redemption.
• Students will study the geography of ancient civilizations in an attempt to understand their patterns of behavior, including religion, science, economics, and government.
• The course uses the Bible as a historical source to complement historical research and study to reveal God as the prime architect in human history and Jesus Christ as central to that history.
• This course also uses a biblical worldview to survey early African, American, Asian, and European cultures from creation to the establishment of early societies in the Americas.

World History I: Enhanced Syllabus

• A biblical approach to world history demonstrates that man, though made in the image of God, is innately sinful, has limitations, and is in need of redemption.
• The course uses the Bible as a historical source to complement historical research and study to reveal God as the prime architect in human history and Jesus Christ as central to that history.
• This course also uses a biblical worldview to survey African, American, Asian, and European cultures from the fall of Rome in A.D. 476 to modern times.

World History II: Enhanced Syllabus

Algebra I takes the student beyond the basic mathematics skills learned at lower-level classes of mathematics and introduces them to topics that explore higher mathematical principles and skills. The student will investigate and solve problems that use both real numbers and variables. Students can develop the skills needed to solve real-life problems and function better in the world around them. The course places an emphasis on:

• Factoring and graphing as they are used to solve a variety of equations and systems of equations
• Practical application of skills related to exponents, statistics, and probability
• Solving equations, including linear, quadratic, inequalities, multi-step, and variations

Algebra I: Enhanced Syllabus

Algebra II is a math course that builds on the material covered in Algebra I with more detail and added subject matter. Beyond the basics of Algebra I, this course helps develop skills related to:

• Linear systems in 2 and 3 dimensions
• Matrices, complex numbers, and conic sections (their properties and equations)
• Trigonometric functions, graphs, and identities

The student studies the material through video lessons, worksheets with answer keys, daily practice, and animated examples. Building on the foundation of Algebra I, the student can expand his/her knowledge of functions, including exponential, radical, and logarithmic varieties.

Algebra II: Enhanced Syllabus

Calculus is an advanced high school mathematics course. It builds on principles of geometry, algebra, and other prior mathematics courses to take students into the world of limits, derivatives, special computational techniques such as the power rule, and differentiation. Calculus also explores topics related to:

• Sequences and series
• The fundamental theorem of calculus
• The mathematics of physics through vector calculus

This is a course that is an important prerequisite for many educational programs in engineering and science.

Calculus: Enhanced Syllabus

Geometry combines the skills of algebraic thinking with the abstract concepts of plane geometry to give the student a strong foundation in mathematical logical thinking and the skills needed to develop sequential proofs. The material includes:

• A more detailed look at trigonometric ratios
• Properties and principles related to polygons
• The exploration and practice of inductive and deductive reasoning
• The Pythagorean Theorem

As the student studies material through video lectures and practice, he/she can become more familiar with constructions, the measurement of angles, and relationships such as similarity and congruency.

Geometry: Enhanced Syllabus

• Concepts such as absolute value, synthetic division, and radical expressions will be coupled with real applications of trigonometric functions, combinations, and probability.
• Pre-calculus students will study a review of essential algebraic concepts, such as exponents, radicals, polynomials, factoring, and complex numbers.
• The course presents material through video lectures and illustrations, and the student has the opportunity to practice learned skills and explore topics such as limits, differentiation, and integration.
• The student will also study material related to trigonometric identities, systems of equations and matrices, and graphing everything from linear and quadratic functions to vectors and polar coordinates.

Pre-Calculus: Enhanced Syllabus

• Biology is an examination of God’s living creations beginning at the atomic level, progressing to the cellular level, and then continuing on to the organism as a whole.
• The course focuses on the scientific method to utilize the student’s critical thinking skills.
• The course incorporates a virtual laboratory component to develop the student’s understanding as well as provide real-world applications.
• The student should have already completed or be currently enrolled in Algebra I to be successful in biology.

Biology: Enhanced Syllabus (no materials required)

• Chemistry begins its study of God’s creation at its most basic level: the atom and its components.
• The course also includes a study of the basic principles of matter, their properties, and reactions.
• The course incorporates a virtual laboratory component to expand the student’s understanding as well as provide real-world applications.
• The scientific method is used to develop the student’s critical thinking skills.
• The student should have already completed or be currently enrolled in Algebra II to be successful in chemistry.

Chemistry: Enhanced Syllabus (no materials required)

God designed the Earth with unique properties and characteristics. He created a delicate balance amongst the systems of the Earth, the solar system, and the universe. This course places an emphasis on understanding the Earth’s systems, their interrelationships with each other, and man’s effect on the Earth. Students have the opportunity to explore:

• Earth’s interior and geologic history
• Geology
• Oceans, the solar system, and stars and galaxies
• Plate tectonics
• Rocks and minerals
• Volcanoes, earthquakes, weather, storms, and climate

Students are challenged to explore the rationale behind secular, Old Earth, and Young Earth science in order to be more effective at presenting the Gospel scientifically. The course is a rigorous, multimedia- and laboratory-based science course that will require supplies for the hands-on labs.

Earth Science: Enhanced Syllabus 

Physics is a general course with the intention of exposing students to the physical and mathematical relationships that allow us to describe the world that God has created. The first semester of this course focuses on Newtonian mechanics while the second semester covers a variety of topics, including:

• Electricity and magnetism
• Modern physics
• Sound and light waves

The course incorporates a virtual laboratory component to expand the student’s understanding as well as provide real-world applications. The student should have already completed or be currently enrolled in Algebra II to be successful in physics.

Physics: Enhanced Syllabus (no materials required)

• Spanish I includes mastery of basic concepts with an introduction to more advanced grammatical concepts.
• Students can build their language skills as well as learn about various Spanish-speaking countries and cultures.
• Students can expect to use their new language both in written and oral form as they complete each of their assignments throughout this course.
• Students can learn more about their own faith by reading the Bible in Spanish and analyzing Bible stories.
• Through the use of web-based technology, students will begin this exciting journey into learning a second language.

Spanish I: Enhanced Syllabus

• Spanish II builds on the fundamental language elements taught in Spanish I and continues to focus on the 4 main language skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
• Students are challenged through their lessons and assignments to improve and further develop their language skills and their comprehension of Spanish.
• Students are introduced to native aspects of Spanish-speaking cultures, which allows connections to be made with their own culture.
• Students will examine Scripture in the target language as they learn about different biblical topics related to adolescents.
• Through this course, students can broaden their knowledge of Spanish grammatical structures and vocabulary, allowing them to freely communicate ideas using various tenses.

Spanish II: Enhanced Syllabus

A multitude of religions exist in the world today. The beliefs and worldview that a person possesses can significantly impact the way he/she lives. However, with so many unique and distinct viewpoints, it can be hard to distinguish the definitive roots of those belief systems. With the high number of existing religions and faiths, this course acts as:

• A guide to help individuals gain a better understanding of the major world religions
• A holistic overview of each of the existing primary faiths along with their origin, key texts, primary beliefs, and current status

World Religions Syllabus