English
ENGLISH 10-1, 20-1, 30-1
This program sequence is designed for students whose post-secondary plans include university study and/or a career that involves the development, production, teaching and/or study of literature and media. Be sure to check post-secondary admission requirements to confirm if English 30-1 is required.
ENGLISH 10-1 AP, 20-1 AP
These pre-AP courses will develop and refine students’ critical thinking abilities, including style analysis techniques and practice in analytical writing. Assessment will be the same as the dash-1 stream, although the literature studied may be different. These courses are recommended prior to taking English 30-1AP, but not mandatory.
ENGLISH 30-1 AP
Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition is a higher level, enriched program endorsed by the College Board. The course embodies higher level thinking and analysis skills; works of literary merit will be studied in detail, ranging from the medieval era to the modern period. As students prepare for the AP exam, they will also focus on specific writing forms including the critical analysis of prose and poetry. Students will write the AP exam in May, and depending on their result and post-secondary admission requirements, may be able to replace a first year English course.
ENGLISH 10-2, 20-2, 30-2
This program sequence is designed for students who need more assistance in developing reading and text study skills. This strand features the study of text at a variety of different levels of sophistication for students more diverse in their aspirations.
ENGLISH 10-4, 20-4, 30-4
Knowledge and Employability courses will be available to students who meet the criteria and have unique learning needs. These courses will provide students with opportunities to experience success and become well prepared for employment. Enrollment in these courses will include consultation with and the informed consent of parents/guardians and the student.
Math
Students entering Grade 10 must register in one of the following courses: Math 10-3, Math 10 Common, or Math 10 Common AP. Successfully completing any of these courses enables students to advance to the next level. We recommend that students register in the following courses based on their Grade Nine mathematics mark. Please refer to the following table and to the course descriptions to get a sense of which course you should enroll in. The minimum requirement for the general high school diploma is 10 credits in mathematics. Students wishing to enter post-secondary school should set up an appointment with our Career Practitioner, Graduation Coach, or Guidance Counselor to determine which courses are required by a specific faculty or program of study. Students should check with their Math teacher for the approved list of graphing calculators once they arrive at Austin O’Brien. Please note that students must supply their own approved graphing calculator.
MATH 10C (COMMON):
Students who have achieved 65% or greater in grade 9 Mathematics should enroll in this course. The Math 10 Common course framework was developed by seven ministries of education (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan and Yukon Territory) in collaboration with teachers, administrators, parents, business representatives, post-secondary educators and others. The topics that are being taught in this course are: Measurement, Algebra & Number and Relations & Functions.
MATH 10-3, 20-3, 30-3 (WORKPLACE MATHEMATICS):
This course route should be the one a student would register in if their grade 9 Final Mark was below 65%. This course sequence is designed to provide students with the mathematical understandings and critical thinking skills identified for entry into the majority of trades and for direct entry into the work force. Topics
include finance, geometry, trigonometry, and measurement. Students will fulfill their high school Math credits requirements after completing two 5-credit courses.
MATH 10-4, 20-4 (KNOWLEDGE AND EMPLOYABILITY MATHEMATICS):
Knowledge and Employability courses will be available to students who meet the criteria and have unique learning needs. These courses will provide students with opportunities to experience success and become well prepared for employment. Enrollment in these courses will include consultation with and the informed consent of parents/guardians and the student.
MATH 20-1, 30-1: PRE-CALCULUS
Students should choose the Pre-Calculus stream if they want to study mathematics or sciences at a university, college, or technical institute and go on to a related career. The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of students
who plan to enter post-secondary programs such as engineering, mathematics, sciences, some business studies, or other programs that require advanced math skills. Math 30-1 is a prerequisite for Mathematics 31 and may be required for post-secondary calculus courses. This stream of courses includes topics such as permutations and combinations, relations and functions, sequences and series, and trigonometry.
MATH 20-2, 30-2: PRINCIPLES OF MATHEMATICS
Students should choose the Principles stream if they wish to attend a university, college, or technical institute after high school, but do not need calculus skills. The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of students wishing to study at the post-secondary level in diverse fields, including arts, education, nursing, medical technologies, and some apprenticeship programs. This path will fulfill most students’ post-secondary needs. The program is designed with a great deal of flexibility, so that the student can switch sequences in Grade 11 or Grade 12 if their interests change. This stream of courses includes topics such as relations, functions and equations, probability, statistics, and trigonometry.
MATHEMATICS 31
This course is designed for highly motivated academic students who wish to pursue a first-year university course in calculus. Math 30-1 must be taken as a prerequisite for the course. Topics are included from both differential and integral calculus. Math 31 is highly recommended for students who intend to register in the Faculty of Science and is required for some faculties at the University of Alberta, such as Engineering.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT MATHEMATICS
MATH 10-C AP, MATH 20-1 AP, MATH 30-1 AP, MATH 31 AP
Students who wish to enroll in this program should have a grade 9 Math mark of 80% or better AND be passionate about Mathematics. Previous data has demonstrated that marks alone are NOT a good basis for successful candidates in this program. This program requires students to be motivated, committed, and consistent in their study of Mathematical Theory as many topics and chapters contain enhancements or extensions to the regular Alberta curriculum standards. However, the evaluation of student ability will be based on the respective course structure that Alberta Learning has put in place. Students in their second year of this program will be expected to write the Math 30-1 Diploma examination. It is our intention that students complete the Advanced Placement Calculus AB exam in early May of their third year. This program enables those students that choose to apply, be given credit for advanced placement of a first year University Calculus course.
STATS 35: ADVANCED PLACEMENT STATISTICS
This stand-alone course is designed to prepare students to write the AP Statistics exam in May. Successful students will then be able to apply for advanced placement of a first-year university Statistics course. Students should be
highly motivated and be prepared for the rigors of a university caliber course. The major themes are Exploring Data, Sampling and Experimentation, Anticipating Patterns, and Statistical Inference.
Science
Science is a human activity which is directed towards increasing our knowledge about the composition and behavior of matter, both living and non-living. Many of the issues that society must face will be science related. As citizens of one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, we must be informed so that intelligent decisions may be made.
SCIENCE 10
Science 10 is the prerequisite for all 20 level science courses. This is a general science course that includes units in biology, chemistry, physics, and energy flow in global systems. Science 10 is an appropriate fit for students who achieved a mark above 65% in Science 9.
SCIENCE 14 – 24
This program sequence meets the requirements for an Alberta High School Diploma. Science 14 is an appropriate fit for students who achieved a mark below 65% in Science 9.
Note: An alternative route of Science 10-4 and 20-4 may be suggested depending on Grade 9 achievement.
Note: It is strongly recommended that students taking a specific science course at the 20 level should have a minimum of 65% in the corresponding section in Science 10. For example, a student who earns 65% in Science 10 but failed the Chemistry section of Science 10 is not advised to enroll in Chemistry 20. In
addition, students planning to take Biology 30, Chemistry 30, Science 30, or Physics 30, must have at least 60% in the prerequisite 20 level course. Teacher recommendation may also be considered.
SCIENCE 20/30
Science 20 and 30 are general science courses that cover topics in biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science. Science 20 is a course that is suitable for students who achieved between 50-60% in Science 10 and who would like to go on to take Science 30 in grade 12. Typically, students do not enroll in Science 20 if they
are taking any other 20-level science course. Science 30 is accepted for entrance to all Alberta universities. Any 20-level science course (except Science 24) can be used as a prerequisite for Science 30. Consequently, students do not necessarily need to take Science 20 in order to enroll in Science 30. Many students find that the mark they earn in Science 30 helps them increase their overall average which they use to apply to their post-secondary program.
Note: Students with only Math 20-3 do not have the mathematical background to be successful in Science 30 and are required to have successfully complete Math 20-2.
BIOLOGY 20-30
This program sequence begins in Biology 20 with a study of ecology, human physiology, photosynthesis/ respiration, and evolution. Biology 30 continues with human physiology, cellular reproduction, genetics, and population biology.
CHEMISTRY 20-30
This program sequence begins in Chemistry 20 with a study of bonding, solutions, acids and bases, and chemical analysis. Chemistry 30 examines thermochemistry, electrochemistry, chemical equilibrium, and organic chemistry.
Note: Students who wish to take Chemistry 30 should have earned at least 60% in Chemistry 20 and should have completed Math 20-1.
PHYSICS 20-30
This program sequence begins in Physics 20 with a study of kinematics (motion), dynamics (forces), circular motion / energy, simple harmonic motion and waves. Physics 30 students study momentum and impulses, forces and fields, electromagnetic radiation, and atomic physics.
Note: Students who wish to take Physics 30 should have earned at least 60% in Physics 20 and should have completed Math 20-1.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT SCIENCE
SCIENCE 10 AP
This program offers all the regular Science 10 curriculum plus enriched Biology and Physics. This course will prepare the student to enroll in the Biology 20 AP and/or Physics 20 AP courses. Students who achieve a mark of 80% or greater in Science 9 see the most success in this sequence.
BIOLOGY 20-30 AP
This is an enriched Biology program designed to prepare students to write the AP Biology exam. Pre-req of 75% in Science 10 or Science 10 AP.
PHYSICS 20-30 AP
This course will prepare students to write the AP Physics exams. In addition to the regular Physics curriculum, students will do further enrichment. Pre-req of 75% in Science 10 AP or Science 10.
PSYCHOLOGY 20-30 AP
Psychology 20-30 AP is a one semester combined course where students recieve six credits on their Alberta transcript. This course introduces students to the scientific study of human behaviour and mental processes. This course will prepare students to write the AP Psychology exam.
Social
Social Studies provides opportunities for students to develop the attitudes, skills, and knowledge that will enable them to become engaged, active, informed, and responsible citizens. Recognition and respect for individual and collective identity is essential in a pluralistic and democratic society. Social Studies helps students develop their sense of self and community, encouraging them to affirm their place as citizens in
an inclusive, democratic society.
SOCIAL 10-1/20-1/30-1
This program stream sequence is designed for academic students who enjoy learning about global issues. Students in Social 10-1 explore the origins of globalization and its impact on the municipal, provincial, federal, and international levels of government. Social 20-1 students will explore the complexities of nationalism – its benefits and its drawbacks – as it occurs in Canada, and around the world. Students in Social 30-1 will
explore the origins and complexities of ideologies, particularly the differences in and developments of both classical and modern liberalism. Successful completion of Social 30-1 is a requirement for entrance to most university, and some other post-secondary, programs. Prerequisite: 65% in Grade 9 Social Studies
SOCIAL 10-2/20-2/30-2
This program sequence begins in Social 10-2 where students explore the history of globalization and its effects on all aspects of our world. Students in Social 20-2 examine historical and contemporary understandings of nationalism both in Canada and throughout the international community. In Social 30-2 students examine the origins, values, and components of competing ideologies. Students also study responses to capitalism, and the events these competing ideologies caused across the world.
SOCIAL 10-4/20-4
Knowledge and Employability courses will be available to students who meet the criteria and have unique learning needs. These courses will provide students with opportunities to experience success and become well prepared for employment. Enrollment in these courses will include consultation with and the informed
consent of parents/guardians and the student.