2023/24 course directory
***Students seeking to enroll in additional classes not offered by OPCA may select from courses offered through Florida Virtual School. These courses include available Honors and AP classes. Please see the following link for a list of courses available: www.flvs.net
***Eligible juniors and seniors who wish to participate in Dual Enrollment can choose from a wide variety of classes offered through Florida State College of Jacksonville. Please see the following link for a list of courses available: www.fscj.edu
BIBLE
Bible Doctrine
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 9th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: This practical study is designed to reach both the heads and hearts of students while equipping them with important Biblical doctrine that can be effectively and intellectually communicated to others as to their beliefs based on the Word of God. This material covers of the major doctrines such as: The Bible, God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, man, salvation, the church, angels, and end times.
Genesis – First Things
Credit: .5 (one semester)
Offered to grades: 9th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: The Book of Genesis details creation, man, marriage, Satan, sin, the promise of a Savior, salvation by faith, etc. Familiar accounts such as man’s beginning, the fall of mankind, the Flood, and the patriarchs of Scripture are discussed in this enlightening text. Material is designed so that students can understand and apply the information learned to everyday life as well as promote spiritual growth.
Jesus and His Followers
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 9th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: Jesus Christ occupies center stage in world history, and He is the theme of both the Old and New Testaments. This practical study explores the Savior’s earthly life and His long-lasting effect impact on mankind. Students will be challenged to examine their relationship to Christ as well as learn how to apply God’s Word to their lives.
Kings of Israel
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 9th -12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: Students will learn of the tragic life of King Saul, followed by the glorious reign of King David and his son, King Solomon. After Israel is divided, students will focus on the main events of southern and northern kingdoms. An in-depth study of Bible greats such as Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Daniel, Esther, Ezra, and Nehemiah will also be studied in this text.
Life Management under God
Credit: .5 (semester)
Offered to grades: 9th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: This study provides students with a Godly view of topics such as relationships, safety, sex, drugs, job success, responsibilities, preparation for marriage, and important issues such as abortion and evolution.
Revelation
Credit: .5 (semester)
Offered to grades: 9th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: Students will be provided with an overview of church history that highlights the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. It also provides a brief study of important future events such as the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Second Coming of Christ, and the His Millennial Reign.
English/Language Arts
English I
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grade: 9th
Prerequisite: None
Description: Knowledge acquisition should be the primary purpose of any reading approach as the systematic building of a wide range of knowledge across domains is a prerequisite to higher literacy. At this grade level, students are working with universal themes and archetypes. They are also continuing to build their facility with rhetoric, the craft of using language in writing and speaking, using classic literature, essays, and speeches as mentor texts.
The benchmarks in this course are mastery goals that students are expected to attain by the end of the year. To build mastery, students will continue to review and apply earlier grade-level benchmarks and expectations.
English II
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grade: 10th
Prerequisite: English I
Description: Knowledge acquisition should be the primary purpose of any reading approach as the systematic building of a wide range of knowledge across domains is a prerequisite to higher literacy. At this grade level, students are working with universal themes and archetypes. They are also continuing to build their facility with rhetoric, the craft of using language in writing and speaking, using classic literature, essays, and speeches as mentor texts.
English III
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grade: 11th
Prerequisite: English II
Description: Knowledge acquisition should be the primary purpose of any reading approach as the systematic building of a wide range of knowledge across domains is a prerequisite to higher literacy. At this grade level, students are working with universal themes and archetypes. They are also continuing to build their facility with rhetoric, the craft of using language in writing and speaking, using classic literature, essays, and speeches as mentor texts.
English IV
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grade: 12th
Prerequisite: English III
Description: Knowledge acquisition should be the primary purpose of any reading approach as the systematic building of a wide range of knowledge across domains is a prerequisite to higher literacy. At this grade level, students are working with universal themes and archetypes. They are also continuing to build their facility with rhetoric, the craft of using language in writing and speaking, using classic literature, essays, and speeches as mentor texts.
Fine Arts
Advanced Band
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 8th – 12th
Prerequisite: Intermediate Band
Description: This year-long, advanced course, designed for wind and percussion students with extensive experience in solo performance and larger performing ensembles, promotes significant depth of engagement and lifelong appreciation of music through performance and other experiences with sophisticated instrumental music, as well as creativity through composition and/or arranging. The course includes the development of advanced instrumental ensemble techniques and skills, extended music literacy and theory, and deep aesthetic engagement with a broad spectrum of high-quality repertoire, ranging from early music to the contemporary. Musical independence and leadership are particularly encouraged in this setting.
Advanced Chorus
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 8th – 12th
Prerequisites: Beginning or Intermediate Chorus
Description: Designed for students with previous participation in a high school chorus who have demonstrated a capacity for developing advanced listening/aural skills and advanced knowledge of vocal techniques, musical literacy, and choral performance. Chorus V focuses on development and application of these skills and provides opportunities for aesthetic engagement and making individual musical choices, where appropriate, while preparing a variety of high-quality choral literature.
Beginning Band
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 8th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: Beginning band is an exploratory course designed for students who are interested in starting an instrument for the first time. Since the course is designed to provide students with an introductory experience on band instruments, prior musical experience is not required. The primary focus of the course is on learning to read music while learning the skills of playing an instrument. The students in beginning band will perform at least two concerts during the year.
Beginning Chorus
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 8th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: This is an introductory course that explores choral music from a wide variety of cultures and time periods through study and performance. No prior singing experience is required. The core curriculum emphasizes the basics of vocal technique, sight-reading, music theory, and music history. Students in beginning chorus will perform at least two concerts during the year.
Drama I
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 9th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: This course provides comprehensive instruction and skill-building activities along with opportunity to participate in eight fully developed performance projects.
Intermediate Band
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 7th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: The primary focus of this course is on the development, continuation, and expansion of basic skills begun the previous year in beginning band that are necessary for effective instrumental music performance. In addition to continued refinement of individual performance skills, greater emphasis is placed on ensemble performance skills. Students will continue to develop their knowledge of music theory; begin to listen to, analyze, and evaluate music; and use critical thinking skills to make refinements to their performance. Individual and ensemble performance skills will be expanded through musical expression and technical accuracy. Students in intermediate band will perform at least two concerts during the year.
Intermediate Chorus
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 8th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: The primary focus of this course is on the development, continuation, and expansion of basic skills begun the previous year in beginning chorus that are necessary for effective choral music performance. Students will delve deeper into tone production, sight-reading, music theory, critical listening, and music history. In addition to continued refinement of individual performance skills, greater emphasis is placed on ensemble performance skills, such as singing harmony. Students in intermediate chorus will perform at least two concerts during the year.
Speech
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 9th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
This course is designed to build student facility in structuring various types of speeches, researching information, audience analysis, presentation of speeches and building self confidence in public speaking situations. Students will critique speeches, paying attention to content, organization, language, and delivery style, and produce and present well-structured, developed speeches.
2D Studio Art
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 9th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: Students experiment with the media and techniques used to create a variety of two-dimensional (2-D) artworks through the development of skills in drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, and/or design. Students practice, sketch, and manipulate the structural elements of art to improve mark making and/or the organizational principles of design in a composition from observation, research, and/or imagination. Through the critique process, students evaluate and respond to their own work and that of their peers. This course incorporates hands-on activities and consumption of art materials
Practical Arts
Creative Photography I
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades 9th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: Students explore the aesthetic foundations of art making using beginning photography techniques. This course may include, but is not limited to, color and/or black and white photography via digital media and/or traditional photography. Students become familiar with the basic mechanics of a camera, including lens and shutter operation, compositional foundations, printing an image for display, and evaluating a successful print. Student photographers may use a variety of media and materials, such as 35mm black and white film, single lens reflex camera, digital camera, darkroom, computer application, filters, various papers, digital output, photogram, cyanotypes, Sabatier effect, and pinhole photography. Craftsmanship and quality are reflected in the surface of the prints and the care of the materials. Photographers use an art criticism process to evaluate, explain, and measure artistic growth in personal or group works. This course incorporates hands-on activities and consumption of art materials.
Culinary Arts I
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 9th – 12th
Prerequisites: None
Description: This course covers the history of the food service industry and careers in that industry. Also covered are safety in the workplace; employability skills; leadership/teamwork skills; care and use of commercial culinary equipment; basic food science; basic nutrition; and following recipes in food preparation labs.
Digital Design I – II
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 9th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: A digital design course teaches students the best ways to convey messages through a digital medium. Organizing information and presenting it in a way that connects with an audience is the ultimate goal of good design, but students also learn how to use specialized programs to complete their tasks, including Adobe Flash, Photoshop, Google SketchUp and more. Participants in these types of courses are able to utilize the industry standards of quality design as they create projects using their own artistic expressions.
Digital Information Technology
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 9th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: This course provides a basic overview of current business and information systems and trends, to introduce students to fundamental skills required for today's business and academic environments. Emphasis is placed on developing fundamental computer skills. The intention of this course is to prepare students to be successful both personally and professionally in an information-based society.
Industrial Arts
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades 10th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: The purpose of this program is to prepare students for employment as maintenance repairers, building maintenance workers or project crew workers. The content includes but is not limited to janitorial tasks, basic carpentry, electrical, plumbing, air conditioning, and masonry practices.
Foreign Language
American Sign Language I (FLVS)
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 9th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: This course introduces students to the target language and its culture. Students will develop communicative skills as well as cross-cultural understanding. An emphasis is placed on proficient communication in the language with introductions to connections, comparisons, and communities.
American Sign Language II (FLVS)
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 10th – 12th
Prerequisite: American Sign Language I
Description: American Sign Language II reinforces the fundamental skills previously learned in American Sign Language I. It develops increased receptive and expressive skills as well as cultural awareness.
Spanish I
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades 9th – 11th
Prerequisite: None
Description: Spanish 1 introduces students to the target language and its culture. The student will develop communicative skills in all 3 modes of communication and cross-cultural understanding. Emphasis is placed on proficient communication in the language. An introduction to reading and writing is also included as well as culture, connections, comparisons, and communities.
Spanish II (FLVS)
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades 10th – 12th
Prerequisites: Spanish I
Description: Spanish 2 reinforces the fundamental skills acquired by the students in Spanish 1. The course develops increased listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills as well as cultural awareness. Specific content to be covered is a continuation of listening and oral skills acquired in Spanish 1. Reading and writing receive more emphasis, while oral communication remains the primary objective. The cultural survey of the target language-speaking people is continued.
Health/Physical Education
Beginning Weightlifting
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 10th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: The purpose of this course is to develop the physical skills necessary to be competent in many forms of movement as it relates to weight training. The integration of fitness concepts throughout the content is critical to the success of this course.
HOPE
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 9th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: This course includes one semester of health education and one semester of physical education. HOPE is designed to promote healthy living through proper diet, exercise, and personal hygiene. Students will gain knowledge for preventing sickness and disease as well as administering first aid. Students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to live a healthy, active lifestyle.
Team Sports I and II
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 10th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: The purpose of this course is to develop the physical skills necessary to be competent in many forms of movement, knowledge of team sports concepts such as offensive and defensive strategies and tactics, and appropriate social behaviors within a team or group setting. The integration of fitness concepts throughout the content is critical to the success of this course.
Weight Training
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 10th – 12th
Prerequisite: Beginning Weightlifting
Description: This course is designed to extent the knowledge gained in Weight Training I. The goal is to further improve muscular strength and enhance body image. Safety practices, assessment of skills, and fitness activities are discussed in this course.
Mathematics
Algebra I
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 8th – 9th
Prerequisite: None
Description: Instructional time will emphasize five areas: (1) performing operations with polynomials and radicals, and extending the Laws of Exponents to include rational exponents; (2) extending understanding of functions to linear, quadratic and exponential functions and using them to model and analyze real-world relationships; (3) solving quadratic equations in one variable and systems of linear equations and inequalities in two variables; (4) building functions, identifying their key features and representing them in various ways and (5) representing and interpreting categorical and numerical data with one and two variables.
Algebra II
Credit: 1(year)
Offered to grades: 10th – 12th
Prerequisite: Algebra I, Geometry
Description: Instructional time will emphasize five areas: (1) extending arithmetic operations with algebraic expressions to include radical and rational expressions and polynomial division; (2) graphing and analyzing functions including polynomials, absolute value, radical, rational, exponential and logarithmic; (3) building functions using compositions, inverses and transformations; (4) extending systems of equations and inequalities to include non-linear expressions and (5) developing understanding of the complex number system, including complex numbers as roots of polynomial equations.
Geometry
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to Grades: 9th – 10th
Prerequisite: Algebra I
Description: Instructional time will emphasize five areas: (1) proving and applying relationships and theorems involving two-dimensional figures using Euclidean geometry and coordinate geometry; (2) establishing congruence and similarity using criteria from Euclidean geometry and using rigid transformations; (3) extending knowledge of geometric measurement to two-dimensional figures and three-dimensional figures; (4) creating and applying equations of circles in the coordinate plane and (5)developing an understanding of right triangle trigonometry.
Math for College Algebra
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 10th – 12th
Prerequisite: Algebra I, Geometry
Description: Instructional time will emphasize five areas: (1) developing fluency with the Laws of Exponents with numerical and algebraic expressions; (2) extending arithmetic operations with algebraic expressions to include rational and polynomial expressions; (3) solving one-variable exponential, logarithmic, radical and rational equations and interpreting the viability of solutions in real-world contexts; (4) modeling with and applying linear, quadratic, absolute value, exponential, logarithmic and piecewise functions and systems of linear equations and inequalities; (5) extending knowledge of functions to include inverse and composition.
Pre-Calculus
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 11th – 12th
Prerequisite: Algebra II
Description: instructional time will emphasize six areas: (1) extending right triangle trigonometry to unit circle trigonometry and trigonometric functions; (2) extending understanding of functions to trigonometric; (3) developing understanding of conic sections; (4) representing and performing operations with complex numbers and vectors in the coordinate plane; (5) extending understanding of relations in the plane using parametric representations, including polar coordinates and (6) analyzing arithmetic and geometric sequences and series
Science
Agricultural Science
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 8th – 11th
Prerequisite: None
Description: This course is designed to develop competencies in the areas of agricultural history and the
global impact of agriculture; career opportunities; scientific and research concepts; biological and physical
science principles; environmental principles; agriscience safety; principles of leadership; and agribusiness,
employability, and human relations skills in agriscience. Laboratory-based activities are an integral part of this
course. These include the safe use and application of appropriate technology, scientific testing and
observation equipment.
Biology
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 10th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: The purpose of this course is to provide students with a non-evolutionary study of God’s amazing design of the environment in which we live. This class provides the foundation for future studies such as chemistry, physics, and other fields. Students will explore areas of botany, zoology, microbiology, physiology, cytology, genetics, and ecology.
Chemistry
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 10th – 12th
Prerequisite: Biology
Description: The purpose of this course is to provide a rigorous study of chemical composition, chemical reactions, and atomic structure. Additional topics highlighted in this course are as follows: periodic table, bonding, gas laws, energy and order, nuclear chemistry, and organic chemistry.
Environmental Science
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 10th – 12th
Prerequisite: Biology
Description: Environmental Science explores the various fascists of the environment in which we live. This study integrates physical, biological, chemical, zoological, and many more. For the kinetic learner, Environmental Science provides a fascinating hands-on approach as they uncover the intricate parts of the exciting world God has made.
Physical Science
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 9th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: The purpose of this course is to provide students with foundational principles designed to prepare them for chemistry and physics. Students will explore the foundations of chemical reactions, scientific measurements, the different forms of matter, and study the properties of magnets and electricity.
Physics
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 11th – 12th
Prerequisite: Chemistry or Algebra II
Description: This course presents the theoretical and practical aspects of physics as students study friction, gravity, energy, momentum, thermodynamics, and more.
Social Science
American Government
Credit: .5 (one semester)
Offered to grades: 9th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: The purpose of this course is to teach students the firm Christian foundation that the United States was founded upon. Students will explore a detailed presentation of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and emphasis on limited government that was intended by our Founding Fathers. This course examines the responsibilities and role in which all three branches of government have in our society.
American History
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 10th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: This course provides a narrative study of American history from the time before there were boundaries and state lines all the way to America’s involvement in space exploration. This course explores the events, wars, invention, and more that have thrusted America to become one of the most powerful countries in the world.
Economics with Financial Literacy
Credit: .5 (one semester)
Offered to grades: 9th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: The purpose of this course is to explain economic principles of production, supply and demand, competition, inflation, and saving. Personal economic concerns like budgeting, credit, and banking will also be examined. This text explains how Biblical principles are applied to all areas of government.
World Geography
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 9th – 11th
Prerequisite: None
Description: The primary content emphasis for this course pertains to the study of world cultural regions in terms of location, physical characteristics, demographics, historical changes, land use, and economic activity. Content should include, but is not limited to, the use of geographic tools and skills to gather and interpret data and to draw conclusions about physical and human patterns, the relationships between physical geography and the economic, political, social, cultural and historical aspects of human activity, patterns of population growth and settlement in different cultures and environments, the interaction between culture and technology in the use, alteration and conservation of the physical environment, and the interrelationships and interdependence of world cultures.
World History
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 10th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: From the beginning of civilization to the 20th century rise of globalism; this course enables students to see God’s purpose and plan in human events. Students will study the beginning of nations at the Tower of Babel, the beginning of writing in Sumer, the rise of republican government in Rome, the revival of humanities in the Renaissance, the rise of exploration from Europe, and the consequences of Communism in Russia. This study also provides detailed timelines of events, plus maps of the world which provide students with a firm grasp of world events and cultures.
Additional Electives
Family Consumer Science
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 8th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: This is a one semester course that primarily allows students to develop cooking skills. Along with learning to cook all types of food comes budgeting, organizing, sewing, and entertaining. Students will also learn how to develop nutritional, healthy habits as well as proper etiquette.
Intensive Math
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 7th – 11th
Prerequisite: None
Description: This course supports students who need additional instruction in foundational mathematics skills as it relates to core instruction. Instruction will use explicit, systematic, and sequential approaches to mathematics instruction addressing all strands including number sense & operations, algebraic reasoning, functions, geometric reasoning and data analysis & probability. Teachers will use the listed benchmarks that correspond to each students’ needs.
Intensive Reading
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 10th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: The purpose of this course is to provide instruction that enables students to accelerate the development of reading and writing skills and to strengthen those skills, so they are able to successfully read and write grade level text independently. Instruction emphasizes reading comprehension, writing fluency, and vocabulary study through the use of a variety of literary and informational texts encompassing a broad range of text structures, genres, and levels of complexity.
Psychology
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 10th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: This text introduces Christian high school students to the study of the human mind and prepares them for the worldview challenges embedded in modern psychology’s theories and schools–of-thought. Students will understand how the Christian worldview contrasts with the psycho-dynamic, behavioristic, humanistic, and emotion, development, memory, sensation, abnormal psychology, social psychology, treatment, and more.
SAT/ACT Prep
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 10th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: This course is designed to successfully prepare students for nationally standardized test such as the SAT/ACT. Students will strengthen their test taking skills by practicing problem solving, verbal competence, and enhance critical thinking skills.
Peer Counseling I-III
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 10th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: The primary goal of this course is to expose students to the idea of actively serving others in various capacities and the impact their efforts have on those around them. The goal is to promote student involvement in their community as well as making them aware of the needs of others both socially and culturally.
World Religion
Credit: 1 (year)
Offered to grades: 11th – 12th
Prerequisite: None
Description: The primary content emphasis for this course pertain to the study of major world religious traditions of Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Shintoism and Taoism. Students will identify criteria upon which religious beliefs are based, and analyze relationships between religious and social and political institutions, trace the major developments of the world’s living religions, distinguish the similarities and differences among the world’s major religious traditions, synthesize information and ideas form conflicting religious beliefs, and interpret the development of a society as reflected by its religious beliefs.