The academic program at St. Ignatius is designed to prepare students for college education. Graduation requirements have been selected in a way that meets or exceeds prerequisites and recommended subjects for any selective college in the United States. Each department offers a combination of core courses and electives that are sequentially designed to challenge each student to his or her full potential. It is the responsibility of every St. Ignatius student to satisfactorily complete all graduation requirements in order to receive the S.I. Diploma.
The minimum requirements are listed below:
Christian Service Program
As an integral part of the SI curriculum and experience, we ask all students
to make a commitment to service as a part of their graduation requirement.
Required in order to graduate, SI students are asked to provide service
or ministry to others for at least 100 hours; Students complete their
service between the first year at SI and the summer of junior year. All
students are required to complete their service prior to the start of
their senior year; SI students may be involved in a variety of service
activities with an emphasis that all volunteer efforts may be credited
to their commitment as long as the service is provided to a nonprofit
organization (501c(3)); Students are responsible for providing official
verification of service to the CSP Office in a timely manner; and Within
the 100-hour service commitment, students must participate in a Core Service
Experience that engages them beyond their immediate community to provide
hands-on service to others. Students must volunteer with a nonprofit organization
whose mission is specifically aimed at addressing social injustice. For
more details about the Christian Service requirement, please see http://www.siprep.org/christian_service/index.cfm.
English
Eight semesters (at least one course each semester). Common, required
courses for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. Elective courses for senior
students only.
Mathematics
Six semesters of college preparatory, honors, and/or advanced placement
courses.
Language (Foreign and Classical)
Four semesters of the same language.
Science
Four semesters of college preparatory, honors, and/or advanced placement
work.
Social Science
Six semesters. Common, required courses for freshmen, sophomores, juniors,
and seniors. Additional elective courses available for junior and senior
students.
Religious Studies
Seven semesters. Common, required courses for freshmen, sophomores, and
juniors. One course in New Testament and one elective course required
for seniors.
Fine Arts
Two semesters. Any two semesters of the Fine Arts curriculum will satisfy
this graduation requirement. One semester requirement may be fulfilled
through participation in a performing arts.
Note: 8th- period performing arts classes are taken in
addition to, not in lieu of, a student’s six classes during the
regular school day. Students enrolled in an 8th-period performing arts
class will not be allowed to drop a course that meets during the regular
school day.
NOTE: The University of California system will require students
to take 2 semesters of the same area of Fine Arts beginning with the class
of 2004.
Grades from 8th period Performing Arts classes are posted in a separate GPA on the transcript. These repeatable performing arts classes are not calculated into the student's cumulative GPA. Students may satisfy one of the two semester graduation requirement in Fine Arts with a Performing Arts class. A student may petition the Academics Office to move any two semesters of 8th period Performing Arts grades out of the Performing Arts GPA and into the cumulative academic GPA. This request must be initiated by the student during the semester she/he is enrolled in that particular 8th period Performing Arts class, and in a timely manner -- before grades for that given semester are submitted.
Physical Education
Two semesters. One core semester including Health and Safety Issues. The
second semester may be met through a P.E. elective course or through participation
in the sports program.
The student may be waived from the second semester of Physical Education if: He/She earns three athletic letters after freshman year, the three letters derived from at least two different sports. Further, at least one of the three letters must be earned during the last two years of high school.
The student may be waived from the second semester of Physical Education if: He/She successfully comletes a Dance class at St. Ignatius for one semester.
College Preparatory Electives
Eight semesters of college preparatory, honors, and/or advanced placement
electives are required to satisfy the school's graduation requirement
of forty-eight (48) semester classes of high school instruction, thirty-six
(36) of which are courses required for graduation.
Students must take six (6) courses each semester they are enrolled at St. Ignatius, including the following core courses:
English 100–199 (2 semesters)
English 200–299 (2 semesters)
English 300–399 (2 semesters)
English 400–499 (2 semesters)
Algebra 1 (2 semesters)
Algebra 2 (2 semesters)
Geometry (2 semesters)
Language (4 semesters)
(in the same foreign language)
Physical Education 1 (1 semester)
Physical Education 2 (1 semester)
Fine Arts (any 2 semesters of the following):
- Music Appreciation
- Art and Architecture
- Studio Art
- Early American Jazz
- Advanced Acting
- Scene Study
- Musical Theater Workshop
- Acting/Drama Workshop
- Choral Music
- Photography
- Sculpture
- Symphonic Orchestra/Jazz Band
- Chamber Singers
- Dance I
- Dance II
- Dance Workshop
- Mixed Chorus
Religious Studies 100–199 (1 semester)
Religious Studies 200–299 (2 semesters)
Religious Studies 300–399 (2 semesters)
Religious Studies 400–499 (2 semesters)
World History I (2 semesters)
World History II (1 semester)
United States History (2 semesters)
American Government (1 semester)
(two are required, three are recommended)
Anatomy & Physiology (2 semesters)
Biology (2 semesters)
Chemistry (2 semesters)
Physics (2 semesters)