Major Courses in High School

In some countries, “high school” signifies a post-primary or post-junior high education period. And the major high school courses are built in such a way that prepares you for advanced studies in any field.

High school is generally seen as an academic level that provides an education more progressive than elementary or middle school but less refined than college grades 9, 10, 11, and 12.

The accepted age range of students in high schools varies based on state or country. However, the most common age range is 13- 18.

High school is a time of increasing independence and responsibility as opposed to lower levels of education. However, upon gaining entry into high school, one major worry students have is finding out the required major subjects, extracurricular activities, etc., to participate in or offer.

As believed, there is a new structured way of choosing courses to offer, although the work in high school builds on what you have learned in middle school, giving you more advanced knowledge of many academic subjects.

This article will discuss the major list of courses/classes you need in high school.

Full List of High School Classes
What are The Major Courses Offered in High School?
- Other Common Electives
Recommendations

Check Out: How to Get a Copy of Your High School Diploma With Ease

Full List of High School Classes

Below is a full list of classes/courses offered in American high schools, including the major ones:

English

American literature
British Literature
Contemporary literature
Creative writing
Communication skills
Debate
English language and composition
English Literature and Composition
Humanities
Journalism
Literary analysis
Modern literature
Poetry
Popular literature
Rhetoric
Technical writing
World literature
Works of Shakespeare
Written and oral communication

Foreign Languages

American Sign Language
Ancient Greek
Arabic
Chinese
French
German
Hebrew
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Latin
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish

Science

Agriculture
Astronomy
Biology
Botany
Chemistry
Earth science
Electronics
Environmental science
Environmental studies
Forensic science
Geology
Marine biology
Oceanography
Physical science
Physics
Zoology

Math

Algebra 1
Algebra 2
Calculus
Computer math
Consumer math
Fundamentals of math
Geometry
Integrated math
Math applications
Multivariable calculus
Practical math
Pre-algebra
Pre-calculus
Probability
Quantitative literacy
Statistics
Trigonometry

Business

Accounting
Business law
Business management
Consumer education
Entrepreneurial skills
Introduction to business
Marketing
Personal Finance

Cultural anthropology
Current events
European history
Geography
Global studies
Human geography
International relations
Law
Macroeconomics
Microeconomics
Modern world studies
Physical anthropology
Political Studies
Psychology
Religious studies
Sociology
US Government
US History
Women’s studies
World History
World Politics
World religions

Computer Science/Information Tech

Animation
App development
Audio Production
Computer programming
Computer Repair
Film production
Graphic design
Media technology
Music Production
Typing
Video game development
Web design
Web programming
Word processing

Physical Education

Aerobics
Dance
Gymnastics
Health
Lifeguard training
Pilates
Racket sports
Specialized sports
Swimming
Weight training
Yoga

Vocational Education

Auto body repair
Auto mechanics
Building Construction
Computer-aided drafting
Cosmetology
Criminal justice
Driver education
Electronics
FFA (Future Farmers of America)
Fire Science
Heating and cooling systems
Hospitality and tourism
JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps)
Metalworking
Networking
Plumbing
Production technology
Refrigeration fundamentals
Robotics
Woodworking

Visual Arts

3-D art
Art history
Ceramics
Digital media
Drawing
Film production
Jewelry design
Painting
Photography
Printmaking
Sculpture

Performing Arts

Choir
Concert band
Dance
Drama
Guitar
Jazz band
Marching band
Music theory
Orchestra
Percussion
Piano
Theater technology
World music

Family and Consumer Science

Chemistry of foods
CPR training
Culinary arts
Early childhood development
Early childhood education
Family studies
Fashion and retail merchandising
Fashion Construction
Home economics
Interior design
Nutrition

What are The Major Courses Offered in High School?

In every school, irrespective of the department you choose to belong to, some major subjects are inevitable and compulsory.

It is important to note that classes taken in various high schools are determined by the curriculum of one’s school and the school’s requirements for graduation.

That is, subjects offered in each school might be entirely different. However, some courses are commonly offered worldwide.

The most common major classes offered in high school include:-

English Language.
Maths.
Science.
Social Studies.
Foreign Language.

You Can Also Check: Can High School Students Take College Classes?

#1. ENGLISH LANGUAGE

During your stay in high school, they require a lot of English courses, some of which will help you fulfill the college’s requirements that you plan on going for after high school.

However, studying the English language and literature is a vital part of high school for every student, irrespective of their post-school plans. In addition to reviewing significant pieces of literature, English classes teach teens about writing and speaking.

English language, being the language of the Englands, is a major class in high school because it enables one to communicate effectively, that is, express oneself successfully, write creatively, and think critically; it also increases one’s level of understanding and also reading effectively.

Its study also teaches the students literature and other arts like research, drama, etc.

English courses in high school include:-

• Vocabulary and Grammar.
• Literature.
•Writing.

English language study is critical irrespective of one’s future ambition and is a major high school class.

Most curriculums request that English be studied for at least four years in high school.

#2. MATHEMATICS.

Mathematics is required by the high school for graduation for a duration of about 3 to 4 years.

Basically, mathematics is a class that is cumulative in nature. That is, it progresses and unfolds in a sequential format. What would be learned in a new class utterly relies on what has been known.

According to Common Core standards for maths, whose aim is to make an improved standardized maths curriculum.

This standard states that six(6) maths courses must be attempted during high school. They include:-

Algebra.
Functions.
Modeling.
Geometry.
Statistics.
Probability.

This standard is widely known but is not followed as it should be. Instead, most high schools offer the following classes in a progressive nature:-

Algebra l.
Geometry.
Algebra lI.
Trigonometry.
Pre-calculus.
Calculus.

#3. SCIENCES

Science is any field or department of systemized knowledge considered a distinct field of investigation or object of study.

In most high schools, it often includes laboratory components that enable students to learn to perform experiments and especially on their own. They also follow a sequential format like maths.

Its study is widely required for 3 to 4 years.

Its main courses include:-

Elementary science.
Earth science/physical science.
Biology.
Chemistry.
Physics.

Social studies, a social science, studies human behavior, relationships, resources, and institutions.

Basically, social studies cover various fields of study in conjunction with culture, government, and general interactions of people within a complex national and worldwide context.

The main goal of learning social studies is to help students become good citizens wherever they find themselves, understand Economics, have a good sense of politics, and respect History.

Due to the admission requirement of colleges for social studies, the following social studies courses are important in high school:-

Histology.
Government.
Civics.
Culture.
Psychology.
Economics.
Geography.

Its study is required for about 2 to 3 years in high school.

Check Also: When Should High School Students Apply For College?

#5. FOREIGN LANGUAGE

While studying a foreign language, you tend to enable and ease worldwide communication; it also provides job opportunities, boosts your confidence, and gives room for studying in foreign nations.

Most high schools offer several years of a foreign language; some of which include:-

Spanish.
French.
Germany.
Mandarin Chinese.

Other possible language offerings include Russian, Latin, American Sign Language, and German.

Most colleges require about 2 to 3 years of high school foreign language study.

Major College Elective Courses

Asides from your major classes, there are usually abundant opportunities to take electives in various areas of study. All of which would help build or equip the child for the future.

Sometimes, a student may be free to choose one class from a preferred group of options required in the school’s curriculum. In others, a student may be opportune to be less occupied, and he or she would choose to study something based on their interests and aspirations.

Instances of elective classes may include:

Physical education
Business, law
Cooking and other life skills
Arts, such as music, photography, or ceramics
Computer applications, graphic design, or web design
Psychology
Trade field studies such as auto mechanics or nursing
Personal finance etc.

Other Common Electives

Other major common high school courses include the following:

Journalism/publishing (yearbook, school newspaper, television production)
Vocational education
Foreign languages (French, German, Italian, and Spanish)
Family and consumer science/home economics
Computer science/information technology
Business Education
Performing arts
Visual arts
Some high schools in the US offer drivers’ education. In certain schools, students can take it during school as a regular course for a credit. Meanwhile, some schools provide drivers’ education courses only after school.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do I Carefully Select My Elective?

It is highly advisable to see the school guidance counselor when making these critical subject decisions; however, note that whatever elective you will pick should be based on the following:

Which Electives Your School Offers: The elective you could offer would depend on your school’s elective courses, as no school could provide all the electives in the world.

The Electives You’ll Be Able to Take: The elective you can take can be identified on your own or with your guidance counselor by drawing up a rough plan of the classes you need to take to graduate or the ones you need to get your preferred college requirements.

How Rigorous You Want Your Electives to Be: To enter some top colleges, you need rigorous electives however, do not allow the coursework to overweight your grades.

Electives Related to Your Academic Focus The elective you would select should largely depend on what you want to focus on.

Electives that interest you or that you know you would enjoy.

How Many Electives Can I Offer?

The number of elective classes in high school is determined by each high school. While most colleges typically expect between 5-7 elective credits during high school, students are certainly not limited by these averages. Students can explore any interests, skills, and career paths through elective studies if it doesn’t affect their grades.

Will College Look at Your Senior GPA?

Many colleges ask for a final transcript after you finish your senior year of high school. Colleges require your final transcript as confirmation that you graduated from high school, which is usually an admissions requirement. Colleges also want to see that you’ve maintained (or improved!) your grades during your senior year of high school. Evidence that you’ve continued to work hard in your classes tells colleges you’re ready to work hard at their university.

Conclusion

While deciding on the courses to take in high school, one needs to be very careful as it is a cardinal point of achieving one’s future ambition.

One may require to put some factors into consideration.

They include:

One’s future ambition.
Or one’s abilities, talents, and areas of strength.
One’s school’s requirement for graduation.

In essence, it is important to first go through the subjects needed to graduate, and then one can go ahead and choose subjects that interest you and contribute to fulfilling your future ambition.

To a large extent, many of the classes you are to study are decided by the high school’s requirement for graduation as they allow a set curriculum needed to be treated to proceed to college.

If you need the advice of an expert as you don’t still seem to know what you would offer, you can consult your school’s guidance and counselor as this decision, if chosen right, can help succeed on the SAT and other standardized tests and even get you into your dream college for your dream course.

Decisions about classes to take are to be pondered upon and taken before one resumes school as this gives time to think wide and hard and not take those decisions whilst under pressure.

The major classes in high school are those courses that, irrespective of your field or area of specialty or even future ambition, must be offered.

These classes differ slightly from school to school, but the adore presented information is based on a lot of research before collation, and the following conclusions were made. Meanwhile, we hope you found our list of high school classes very insightful.

References

blog.prepscholar.com – Which Foreign Language Should You Take in High School?

thoughtco.com – How Many Years of Social Studies Do You Need?

blog.prepscholar.com – The High School Science Classes You Should Take

varsitytutors.com – What are the High School Science Courses?

mathnasium.ca – What Are Great Math Classes You Can Take in High School?

blog.prepscholar.com – The High School Math Courses You Should Take

theclassroom.com – Why Is English Class Important?

varsitytutors.com – What are the High School English Courses?

blog.collegevine.com – A Complete List of all High School Classes

blog.prepscholar.com – The Complete List of High School Classes

ohe.state.mn.us – Recommended High School Classes & Graduation Requirements

alleducationschools.com – What Does the High School Core Curriculum Include?

uopeople.edu – Why Is Social Studies Important? 8 Reasons To Study

testive.com – Testive – High School Classes: The Complete List

verywellfamily.com – What School Subjects Do You Need in High School?

Major Courses in High School

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