Upper School Curriculum

The English Department seeks to help its students find beauty and meaning in the written word, be confident in sharing their thoughts, and express their ideas clearly in writing and in speech. Our goals are rooted in the belief that strong language skills ready us for the essential human pursuits of seeking self knowledge and participating in the world.

The English curriculum emphasizes careful reading, vigorous writing, creative thinking, attentive listening, and articulate speaking. Because the development of these skills is a process, we teach the same skills with increasing sophistication in each of the four Upper School years. By reading a diverse selection of literature, students become aware of the relationships among the reader, the writer, and the text. Students write frequently, and through the drafting process and the individual attention of their teachers, learn both to develop their ideas and to write with greater power. In all English classes, teachers encourage and value the participation of every student. The curriculum also prepares students to take standardized tests such as the SAT and the AP Literature and Composition Exam.

English is coordinated with Gilman in the eleventh grade; in the twelfth grade, students choose from a wide array of semester electives at Bryn Mawr, Gilman, and Roland Park.

The History program provides students with a comprehensive foundation in the political, economic, cultural and intellectual development of the world. Courses emphasize the historian’s tools – research, primary source reading, argumentation, as well as verbal and written analysis - and classes use technology extensively. Cross-registration with our coordinate schools allows seniors to pursue a wide range of historical methods and topics. Co-curricular opportunities such as Model Congress, Model United Nations, and Mock Trial enhance the formal program. AP World History prepares students for the AP World exam; AP Macro- and Micro-economics, AP US Government, and AP Comparative Government Politics are offered senior year alongside honors-level electives, such as the Modern Middle East, Diasporic Studies, and Ethics. The Advanced Seminar in United States History helps prepare students for the AP US History exam.

The Mathematics department seeks to develop in its students an understanding and love of mathematics, with a vision for its importance and relevance in our increasingly technologically sophisticated world. Our curriculum focuses on understanding mathematical concepts and applying mathematical skills to the logical and critical thinking processes involved in problem solving and real-life situations. Through exploring ideas both with and without the aid of various technologies, students gain an insight into the historical foundations of mathematics and the excitement of mathematical discovery.

The individual courses develop skills in all levels of pre-college mathematics. Mathematics courses at Bryn Mawr are designed to nurture the development of mathematical thinking at all levels. Students are grouped to best support their current stage of mathematical growth, with placement decisions based on a range of indicators including individual mastery, classroom performance, and teacher input. Placement in honors-level courses reflects a student’s demonstrated ability to engage deeply with mathematical ideas, think flexibly and abstractly, and approach challenges with persistence, curiosity, and independence. Honors placement is reviewed annually, and students moving into honors from a non-honors path may be asked to complete summer work and an assessment to ensure readiness for advancement. The department recognizes that mathematical potential develops over time, and we are committed to fostering the habits of mind that allow each student to thrive.

All students are encouraged to take four years of mathematics, with a graduation requirement of Pre-Calculus. Most students will take Calculus before graduation. Bryn Mawr’s mathematics department offers pathways to AP Statistics and to four levels of Calculus, through Multivariable Calculus. Highly advanced students are invited to test for the Johns Hopkins Future Scholars Program.

The goal of the science department is to have all students sense the excitement of science and appreciate natural processes. To that end, all courses are laboratory-oriented and stress the ability of the student to perform valid inquiry exercises. By encountering a variety of courses, students increase their understanding of how the universe functions, recognize the inconstancy of knowledge, use and appreciate the tools of science, become better acquainted with technology, and gain skills and knowledge necessary for good citizenship.

Students take Physics or Honors Physics in ninth grade, Chemistry or Honors Chemistry in tenth grade, and Biology or Honors Biology in the eleventh grade. Students have the opportunity to take a variety of AP and non-AP elective courses in the 11th and 12th grades. Honors courses require independent thinking and initiative and the ability to learn concepts more quickly than non-Honors courses. Student placement in Honors courses is based on teacher recommendation and performance in previous coursework, with a particular emphasis on tests, exams, and other large assessments that measure a student’s ability to synthesize large amounts of material. Students need to earn semester grades of 93 and midyear and final exam grades of 90 or above to be considered for movement from non-Honors to Honors courses.

The Computer Science curriculum emphasizes problem-solving, computational thinking, and collaboration while utilizing the latest emerging technologies. Students learn about Computer Science in a project-based environment and often utilize our Innovation Lab in their coursework as they develop solutions to real world problems.

All ninth grade students take a semester-long course entitled “Intro to Computer Science.” Ninth grade students learn about a wide array of Computer Science topics, HTML, CSS, 3-D printing, Arduino circuits and computer programming in C. Tenth, eleventh, and twelfth-grade students have access to a wide range of Computer Science electives, including:
 

• AP Computer Science
• Programming iPhone Apps (Honors)
• Robotics
• Entrepreneurship
• Industrial Design
• Graphic Design I and II

Visual arts students have a wide range of courses to choose from to develop their drawing, painting, graphic design and animation skills. The year culminates with a thematic cross-divisional art show as well as the annual Upper School Art Show.

For students interested in music, opportunities include auditioned choral groups Camerata and Dayseye, Upper School String Ensemble, Quadrivium and handbell choir Ex Solo.

Every Upper School student takes dance in preparation for the annual Gym Drill, a beloved Bryn Mawr tradition featuring an exhibition of cultural dance and rhythmic exercises. In addition, the Upper School Dance Company prepares an impressive annual concert of ballet, modern, jazz, hip-hop and musical theater pieces.

The Upper School supports the dramatic arts through an assortment of classes and performance opportunities, in addition to backstage support such as lighting, sound, costume design and set design and construction for drama productions. Annual dramatic and musical productions offer experiences that help strengthen performance skills and promote collaboration.

Health education is an important goal of student health services on campus. Health resources available to students include the Upper School nursing and counseling staff as well as the athletic training staff.

The Upper School at Bryn Mawr addresses a variety of health-related issues throughout the school year. We begin with 9th Grade Seminar, a course the meets once a cycle to discuss balance in one’s life and nurturing physical and emotional needs. Topics include meditation and relaxation techniques, community and how we treat each other, body image and the media, mental illness, relationships, and sexual health. In addition for the 9th grade, Bryn Mawr contracts with Freedom from Chemical Dependency, a nationally recognized group, to provide an intensive week-long program addressing drugs and alcohol which is followed up by discussion throughout the year.  Many of these themes are followed up in grade retreats each fall. Seniors also participate in several programs to address taking care of themselves now and while in the transition to college.

Students at Bryn Mawr are given the opportunity to study a wide variety of classical and modern languages and cultures. Through Bryn Mawr’s partnership with coordinate schools, students can choose from seven languages: French, Spanish, Latin, Chinese, Russian, Greek and Arabic. As with the Lower School and Middle School language programs, Bryn Mawr students develop their skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening while gaining cultural literacy.

Students also have the opportunity to participate in several global trips (including exchange programs to French- Spanish-, Chinese-, and Russian- speaking countries) to gain real-life exposure to another culture and to practice their language skills.

All eleventh graders develop confidence as speakers, improve articulation and increase vocal expressiveness through a required public speaking class during junior year. Students study and practice speech techniques through three major speech assignments—a personal narrative speech, an informative speech and a persuasive speech—all in preparation for their Senior Convocations the following year.

Students have the opportunity to take AP Psychology or Honors Social Psychology as an elective course. Students are exposed to the psychological concepts, research methods, and neuroscience associated with each of the major subfields within psychology. Additionally, AP Psychology students have the opportunity to interact with Little School students as they learn key concepts related to developmental psychology. Students in Social Psychology collaborate with students in Public Health & Epidemiology (offered by the Science Department) to research local trends and develop a corresponding Community Health messaging.

Bryn Mawr partners with One Schoolhouse, which provides students access to additional courses that may not be offered at Bryn Mawr or its coordinate schools. Click here for more information.