MT.OLIVEHIGH SCHOOL
COURSE OFFERING GUIDE
2016-2017
HOME OF THE “WILDCATS”
Empowering every student to Believe, then Achieve
STUDENT GUIDE FOR REGISTRATION
Definition of Credit:
Courses earn ½ (.5) unit of credit per semester.
Courses earning ¼ (.25) units of credit include PE, Driver Education, Guided Study
Courses earning 1 unit of credit per semester include CNA I and CNA II.
Student Classification:
- Seniors 15 credits and completed three or more years of high school.
- Juniors 10 credits and completed two or more years of high school.
- Sophomores 5 credits and completed one or more years of high school.
- Freshmen have been promoted from the 8th grade.
Graduation Requirements:
- 4 years minimum of high school attendance
- 22 units of credit
- Pass the US/IL Constitution tests
- Pass the following courses:
- English I, II, III, IV4.0credits
- Math3.0credits (Alg. I, Geometry, Alg. II)
- Science2.0 credits (Biology, Earth Science/Physical Science)
- Social Studies2.0credits (US Hist. 1, Social Studies .5, elective .5-Civics)
- PE 1.5 credits (taken all 4 years)
- Health .5 credit
- Computer Concepts .5 credit
- Consumer Education .5 credit
- Strategic Reading .5 credit
- Speech .5 credit
- For. Lang., Music, Art, orVoc/Educ1.0credit
Recommended H.S. Course Requirements for Admission to a 4-Year College or University:
- English4 credits
- Math3 credits (Algebra I or higher)
- Science3 credits (Biology I or higher Lab Science Courses)
- Social Studies3 credits
- Electives2 credits (Foreign Language, Music, or Art) (check specific colleges for course requirements)
Honors Courses:
Honors courses earn 1 additional point when calculating the GPA and class rank. The following Honor’s courses are offered:
Spanish III, IV, English COM 111 & 112, Intro to Literary Studies, Intro to Drama, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Chemistry, and Physics.
Dual Credit (transferable college credit) College Credits Class Location College
- English 101 &1026 college credit hoursMOHS LLCC
- H.E.A.T. (2nd semester p.m.)10 college credit hoursLLCC LitchfieldLLCC
(American Politics, Art Appreciation, History of Western Civilization)
- Film, Culture, Literature 3 college credit hoursMOHSSLU
- Study of Conflict and Social Justice 3 college credit hoursMOHSSLU
- Calculus 3 college credit hoursMOHSSLU
NCAA Division I and II (16 Core Courses Requirement) *see the next page for more details
- 4 years of English
- 3 years of Math (Algebra I or higher)
- 2 years of Science (1 year of lab science)
- 1 year of additional English, Math, or Science
- 2 years of Social Science
- 4 years of additional courses from any area above, or foreign language
Schedule Changes: It is best to make any changes to your schedule of classes prior to the end of this school year. However, students are permitted to make schedule changes during the 1st five days of each new semester.
NCAA Division I and II 16 Core Course Requirement and Eligibility Requirements
NEW beginning August 2016:
- Starting with the class of 2016, 10 of the 16 core course requirements must be met by the end of the 6th semester (junior year).
- Division I core GPA 2.3 minimum
- Division II core GPA 2.0 minimum
- Qualifying test score on the ACT or SAT (revised sliding scale)
NCAA Approved Core Courses for Mt. Olive High School:
EnglishMathematics
English IAlgebra I
English II Algebra II
English III Geometry
English IV Pre-Calculus
ENG 101 Calculus
ENG 102 Probability and Statistics
Film, Culture, Literature
Study of Conflict and Social JusticeNatural/Physical Science
Mythology IBiology I
SpeechChemistry
Earth Science
Social Science Physical Science
Current Political Geography Physics
Economics
Government Additional Core Courses
History of Western Civilization Spanish I
Intro to American Politics Spanish II
Psychology Spanish III
Social StudiesSpanish IV
US History 1&2
World History 1&2
Division I or II College Sports - you must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center on line at The fee is $75.00.
Division III College Sports - initial eligibility requirements can be found at
NCAA Official Website: NCAA.org/playcollegesports
- Initial eligibility requirements
- Recruiting guidelines
- Timelines
- Registration information
*NCAA Eligibility Center will only accept an official ACT score report. When registering for the ACT use code 9999. ACT scores printed on high school transcripts will not be accepted by NCAA.
COURSE OFFERINGS
Grade 9 Courses Grade 10 Courses
BUSINESSBUSINESS
Computer Concepts & Software Applications – ½ Accounting – 1
Business Law – ½
Desktop Publishing – ½
ENGLISH
English I – 1
ENGLISH
FINE ARTS English II – 1
Art I – 1Journalism – 1
Band – 1Mythology I – ½
Mythology II – ½
Oral Interpretation/Debate – ½
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Spanish I – 1 FINE ARTS
Art I – 1
INDUSTRIAL EDUCATIONArt II – 1
Intro to Tech I – ½ Band – 1
Intro to Tech II – ½
MATHFOREIGN LANGUAGE
Algebra I – 1 Spanish I – 1
Geometry – 1 Spanish II – 1
PHYSICAL EDUCATIONINDUSTRIAL EDUCATION
PE – ½ ( ¼ credit per semester)Intro to Tech I – ½
Dr. Educ. – ½ ( ¼ credit)Intro to Tech II – ½
Metals I – ½
Metals II – ½
SCIENCE
Biology I – 1
MATH
Geometry – 1
SOCIAL STUDIESAlgebra II – 1
Social Studies – ½ State Test Preparation – ½
World History – 1
PHYSICAL EDUCATION PE – ½ ( ¼ credit)
Health – ½
SCIENCE
Earth Science – ½
Physical Science – ½
SOCIAL STUDIES
Current Political Geography – ½
Government – ½
U.S History – 1
World History – 1
*denotes honor’s course
Grade 11 CoursesGrade 12 Courses
BUSINESSBUSINESS
Accounting – 1 Accounting – 1
Business Law – ½ Business law – ½
Desktop Publishing – ½ Consumer Education – ½
Desktop Publishing – ½
ENGLISHENGLISH
English III – 1 English IV – 1
*Film, Culture, Literature – ½ (SLU dual credit)*ENG 101 & 102 – 1 (LLCC dual credit)
*Study of Conflict and Social Justice – ½ (SLU dual credit) *Film, Culture, Literature – ½ (SLU dual credit)
Journalism – 1 *Study of Conflict and Social J– ½ (SLU dual credit)
Mythology I – ½ Journalism – 1
Mythology II – ½ Mythology I – ½
Oral Interpretation/Debate – ½ Mythology II – ½
Speech – ½ Oral Interpretation/Debate – ½
Strategic Reading – ½ Speech – ½
FINE ARTSFINE ARTS
Art I – 1 Art I – 1
Art II – 1 Art II– 1
Art III – 1 Art III – 1
Band – 1 Art IV – 1
Band – 1
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Spanish I – 1 FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Spanish II – 1 Spanish I - 1
*Spanish III – 1 Spanish II – 1
*Spanish III - 1
INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION*Spanish IV – 1
Auto Engine Rebuild – ½
Construction – 1 INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION
Drafting – ½ Auto Engine Rebuild – ½
Intro to Tech I – ½ Construction – 1
Intro to Tech II – ½ Drafting – ½
Metals I – ½ Intro to Tech I – ½
Metals II – ½ Intro to Tech II – ½
Welding – ½ Metals I – ½
Metals II – ½
MATHWelding – ½
Álgebra II – 1
*Pre-Calculus – 1 MATH
*Pre-Calculus – 1
State Test Preparation – ½ *Calculus – 1 (SLU dual credit) Probability and Statistics – 1
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
PE – 1 ( ¼ credit per semester)PHYSICAL EDUCATION
PE – 1 ( ¼ credit per semester)
SCIENCESCIENCE
*Chemistry – 1 *Chemistry – 1 Earth Science – ½
*Physics – 1 Physical Science – ½
SOCIAL STUDIESSOCIAL STUDIES
Current Political Geography – ½ Current Political Geography – ½
Economics – ½ Economics – ½
Government – ½ Government – ½
Social Studies – ½ Social Studies – ½
World History – 1 World History – 1
ADDITIONAL DUAL CREDIT
IL VIRTUAL SCHOOL COURSE – ½ CNA I& II – (LLCC @ Hillsboro High School) – 3
Application & administration approval required – ½ HEAT Program (LLCC @ Litchfield Campus)
- Art Appreciation – ½
- Intro to American Politics – ½
- History of Western Civilization I – ½
IL VIRTUAL SCHOOL COURSE – ½
*denotes honor’s courseApplication & Administration approval required
COMMUNITY SERVICE – ½
Application & Administration approval required
Business Department
.5 Business credit is needed to meet graduation requirements
BU102 COMPUTER CONCEPTS & SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS ( ½credit)
Prerequisite: None
Course Description:
Computer Concepts and Software Applicators is a 1 semester required course for grade 9. This course is designed to develop awareness and understanding of application software and equipment used by employees to perform tasks in business, marketing and management. Students will apply problem-solving skills to hands-on, real-life situations using a variety of software applications, such as word processing, presentation software, and desktop publishing. Students will explore topics related to computer concepts and emerging technologies.
BU301 CONSUMER EDUCATION ( ½credit)
Prerequisite: None
Course Description:
Consumer Education is a 1 semester required class for grade 12 and fulfills the Illinois Consumer Education Requirement. This course provides students with an understanding of the concepts and principles involved in managing one’s personal finances. Topics may include savings and investing, credit, insurance, taxes and social security, spending patterns and budget planning, contracts, and consumer protection. This course may also provide an overview of the American economy.
BU302 BUSINESS LAW ( ½ credit)
Prerequisite: None
Course Description:
Business Law is a 1 semester elective course for grades 10, 11, and 12. This course will help students understand the basics of business law. Contracts, property, employment, organizational and financial laws will be discussed. This is a very interactive class and students must participate and be able to present their ideas in a “business” setting.
BU303 DESKTOP PUBLISHING ( ½ credit)
Prerequisite: Computer Concepts
Course Description:
Desktop Publishing is a one semester elective course for grades 10 – 12. This course is designed to bring students up-to-date with computer technology and the skills needed to achieve in their future career choices. Software used in this course will include Microsoft Publisher (create documents such as publications, graphic objects, web documents), InDesign (work with images and graphics), and Photoshop (pixels, gradients, images, production and productivity techniques). InDesign can be used by the Journalism class for designing the school newspaper. Photoshop can be used by the yearbook students to alter pictures. This is a very hands-on course.
BU401 ACCOUNTING ( ½credit per semester)
Prerequisite: None
Course Description:
Accounting is a full year skill level course for grades 10, 11, and 12 students who are pursuing a strong background in business, marketing, and management. This course includes planned learning experiences that develop initial and basic skill used in systematically computing, classifying, recording, verifying and maintaining numerical data involved in financial and product control records including the paying and receiving of money. Instruction includes information on keeping financial records, summarizing them for convenient interpretation, and analyzing them to provide assistance to management for decision making. Accounting computer applications will be integrated throughout the course where applicable. In addition to stressing basic fundamentals and terminology of accounting, instruction will provide initial understanding of the preparation of budgets and financial reports, operation of related business machines and equipment, and career opportunities in the accounting field. Processing employee benefits may also be included. Practice sets with business papers may be used to emphasize actual business records management.
English Department
4 English credits are required to meet graduation requirements
EN101 ENGLISH I ( ½credit per semester)
Prerequisite: None
Course Description:
English I is a full year required course for Grade 9. During this course the student will read and discuss selections in various literary genres. This survey will provide the background necessary to appreciate classical and/or modern literature. The course will also focus on improving basic writing and grammar skills through regular writing exercises and grammar studies as well as vocabulary study. These exercises will include, but not limited to, focused revision of selected writings, paragraph compositions, and short essays. Research writing will be introduced including proper MLA citation method. Students will do exercises pertaining to research writing and will write a short research paper.
EN201 ENGLISH II ( ½credit per semester)
Prerequisite: Recommended completion of English I
Course Description:
English II is a full year required course for Grade 10. This course will involve reading poetry, short stories, plays and novels, as well as vocabulary, grammar and composition writing. The basic structure of the short story will be covered as well as many literary devices. Students will work to improve their writing skills through essay and composition writing. Students will go beyond the basics and build on their present skills in these areas to prepare them for English III. In addition we will spend time preparing for the PSAE/ACT which students will take their junior year.
EN301 ENGLISH III ( ½credit per semester)
Prerequisite: Recommended completion of English II
Course Description:
English III is a full year required course for Grade 11. This course offers the student a chronological survey of American Literature with an emphasis on various types of literature written by U.S. authors; autobiographies, histories, dramas, essays, short stories and poetry. The selections assigned for class study will reflect the historical, political, and social growth of America, beginning in colonial times and continuing up to the present. We will start with Native American literature through romanticism and transcendentalism. Next we will cover the Civil War period literature and end with modern, contemporary literature. Writing correlated to the various units will stress critical thinking and literary analysis. Weekly grammar lessons and/or daily language skill builders will be used to reinforce grammar skills. A research project will be completed and presented. In addition, throughout the semester we will be doing exercises to prepare for the PSAE/ACT.
EN401 ENGLISH IV ( ½credit per semester)
Prerequisite: Recommended completion of English III
Course Description:
English IV is a full year required course for grade 12. The focus of this course is on literature, composition, and employability skills. During this course students will read, discuss, and analyze selected readings from various genres. Writings will correlate to the readings and stress critical thinking and literary analysis. Composition will focus on writing essays with emphasis on the basics of writing, elements of style, correct usage and conventions, and grammar. Students will also study research and citation methods culminating in a research paper. Employability skills will focus on identifying job skills, workplace preferences, job searches, interviews, and written communications. A portfolio demonstrating the student’s understanding of his employability and containing samples of written communication pertaining to a job search is the final project for this section of the course.
*EN402 ENG 101 (½ credit 1st semester)
(3 transferable college credits)
Prerequisite: Qualifying score on LLCC Placement Test -Accuplacer
(Students may attempt this test two more times at LLCC)
Or ACT English and Reading Score of 22
Grade of “C” or better in English III
Course Description:
Students are required to take a full year of English their senior year. Their choices are English IV or English 101 and English 102. ENG 101 is a dual credit, college level course, and as stated above, has required prerequisites. ENG 101 is taught first semester, earning 3 college credits with LLCC. This is the first course in a two-semester sequence of composition. The focus is on writing and reading essays, thinking logically and analyzing literature.
*EN409 ENG 102 (½ credit 2nd semester)
(3 transferable college credits)
Prerequisite: Qualifying score on LLCC Placement Test called the Accuplacer
Or ACT English and Reading Score of 22
Grade of “C” or better in ENG 101
Course Description:
ENG 102 is a dual credit, college level course taught second semester, earning 3 college credits with LLCC. This is the second course in a two-semester sequence of composition. The focus is on argumentative writing and using research correctly including both the MLA and APA methods of citation. While the students will continue to read literature, the main course work will involve writing research papers.
EN203 STRATEGIC READING( ½ credit)
Prerequisite: None
Course Description:
Strategic Reading is a one- semester required course for grade 11. This course is intended to improve a student’s
vocabulary, critical-thinking, analysis skills, reading rate and comprehension level. Strategies will be offered for
time management, note-taking, outlining, understanding and evaluating the important points of a written text. This
course is intended to help students prepare for standardized tests (PSAT, ACT, PARCC). Test-taking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills will be developed through study, lecture, and practice drills.
*EN307 (2750)FILM, CULTURE, LITERATURE (½ credit)
(3 transferable college credits)
Prerequisite: Minimum GPA 3.0
Course Description:
This course is dual credit, one semester college level elective course for grades 11 & 12, earning 3 college credits through SLU. This course introduces literary study within the context and theme of Film and Culture. It introduces students to important theories and methods of literary analysis in drama and film. Through critical reading and viewing, discussion, lecture, and written analysis, students explore a diverse selection of dramatic works and films, developing a mature appreciation of their structure and of the rich significance of their language and film techniques. This course promotes an appreciation of literature as creative acts and expressions of the human search for meaning. It engages students in literary ways of knowing. Methods include close reading, close viewing, comparative textual and film analysis, and argumentative writing. This course follows the guidelines set forth by St. Louis University. The fee for this class is $65 per credit hour for a total of $195. This is billed directly from SLU and payment plans are available.
*EN303 (2250) THE STUDY OF CONFLICT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
( ½ credit)
(3 transferable college credits)
Prerequisite: Minimum GPA 3.0
Course Description:
This course is dual credit, one semester college level elective course for grades 11& 12, earning 3 college credits through SLU. This course is taken to satisfy the lower-division Core Literature requirement of the College of Arts and Sciences. It introduces students to important theories and methods of literary analysis. Through critical reading, discussion, lecture, and written analysis, students explore a diverse selection of imaginative works, developing a mature appreciation of their structure and of the rich significance of their language. This course promotes an appreciation of literature as creative acts and expressions of the human search for meaning. This course follows the guidelines set forth by St. Louis University. The fee for this course is $65 per credit hour for a total of $195. This is billed directly from SLU and payment plans are available.
EN300 SPEECH I ( ½credit)
Prerequisite: None
Course Description:
Speech is a one-semesterrequiredEnglish course for grade 11. Through activities and practical application, students will develop communication skills that may be used in group discussions, speeches in front of an audience, and a variety of other speaking situations. Developing strategies to build self-confidence, conducting interviews, writing speeches, and incorporating presentation aids are among the topics covered in this class. Assessment is based on written tests, participation in class activities and discussions, and class presentations.