General Studies

Second semester

Have you ever wondered how websites like Netflix and Amazon know which products to suggest to you next? Or how the NBA uses past performance to inform recommendations for athletes? Or how facial recognition software works? This course will explore questions such as these by using programming and statistics to understand big data and to automate analysis of large sets of data. Topics may include dataset acquisition and analysis, data mining, data visualization, descriptive and predictive modeling, machine learning, and neural networks. This course will use Python as a programming language, in order to access the extensive graphing and statistical tools of the Python libraries. Though prior coding experience is recommended, it is not required. In addition to analysis and coding projects, students will also complete short reading and writing assignments relating to data science concepts, recent research, and current topics in the news. Students may take this as either a Mathematics or a General Studies course. Prerequisite: Introduction to Statistics, concurrent enrollment, or permission of instructor. Suggested course: Computer Science 1: Python, or the equivalent.

First or second semester

Students explore fundamentals of computer science, including computational thinking, programming, and data structures, and then apply them in practice. Topics may include variables, functions, loops, conditionals, arrays, algorithm design, and the software development process. Students learn Python, a common language for scientists and web developers alike. Students will create various projects incorporating the fundamental constructs they have learned. At the end of this course, students will be prepared for Data Science and Analytics as well as Computer Science II. No prior coding experience necessary.

First semester
10th - 12th grades

Students develop a solid understanding of the fundamentals of computer science, including computational thinking, the software development process, programming, and simple data structures, and apply them in practice using Java as the development language. Programming topics may include variables and data types, methods, loops, conditionals, arrays, classes, and objects, and simple inheritance. Software development topics may include simple requirements analysis, algorithm design, prototyping, debugging, and iterative development. Students will create various projects incorporating the fundamental constructs they have learned. At the end of this course, students will be prepared for Computer Science III. Prerequisite: Computer Science I, a summer or online programming course, or permission of the instructor.

Second semester
10th - 12th grades

Students pursue advanced study in computer science and apply knowledge gained in earlier courses to solve more complex problems, using Java as a development language. Topics may include advanced object-oriented design concepts such as inheritance, polymorphism, abstract classes, interfaces, and generics; advanced data structures such as multi-dimensional arrays, arrayLists, linked lists, stacks, and queues; and searching, sorting, and recursive algorithms. Students may work both individually and in teams to gain experience with different stages of the development process, including requirements analysis, algorithm design, prototyping, debugging, and iterative development. Students will create various projects incorporating the topics they have learned. Prerequisite: Computer Science II or equivalent prior experience with instructor permission.

Full year

Students learn journalistic writing, photography, digital newspaper production skills, and advertising sales. They write news stories, editorials, feature stories, and headlines. They learn about photojournalism using a digital camera and about newspaper layout using desktop publishing software. With these skills, they produce the school newspaper. As students advance each year, they develop more journalism and leadership skills and fill more responsible positions on the newspaper staff. Lead photographers or graphic designers may receive fine arts credit for this course with instructor approval.

Grades 9-12
First and second semesters

Where did my teacher put that assignment on Schoology? How can I get in the habit of using my planner? Why do I keep forgetting to turn in my assignments?

Work together with other students to learn how to make student life easier for you. Investigate ways to improve organization and break large projects into manageable action steps, and learn how to ask for what you need and keep track of all the pieces of your life that will help you thrive. Receive direct coaching on particular study skills related to classwork, including note taking, reading comprehension strategies and test preparation. As you learn helpful strategies, share them out with the broader community over Twitter, Instagram, and at assemblies. A maximum of 10 students ensures individualized access to teacher support.

11th or 12th grades
Second semester

“There are two paths in life: should and must. We arrive at this crossroads over and over again. Every day, we get to choose.” - Elle Luna, The Crossroads of Should and Must

In this course, students fulfill their LaunchPad requirement during a semester course. This course is designed to be a culmination of students’ experiences at UPrep with a focus on student-driven learning and connection to community, launching students into post-secondary opportunities where their skills meet their passions. LaunchPad has several key learning objectives: 1. To connect students to a wide array of people, professions, and organizations across the greater Seattle area 2. To strengthen students’ networking and communication skills through real-world application 3. To strengthen students’ capacity for designing and managing their own learning experiences 4. To let students experience their interests “in the field,” learning what it means to work in authentic environments and alongside professional mentors
 

First intensive

This project-based learning course focuses on innovation, entrepreneurship, and societal needs. Students learn how to take an idea and transform it into a business or a social venture. The course is highly interdisciplinary, integrating concepts and skill development in a range of areas including business, finance/accounting, law, engineering and design, intellectual property, marketing, government regulation, and sociology. The course taps into the tremendous resources found in the local community, both for subject matter expertise (guest lectures) and for real-world, on-site visits to witness entrepreneurship in action within one of the country’s most vibrant startup ecosystems. As a final project, students develop a business plan and investor pitch deck that is ready to present to investors for potential seed stage or angel investment. The class develops the business plan collaboratively and gives a presentation to actual angel investors and/or social venture capitalists in the Seattle community at the conclusion of the class.

9th - 12th grades
First intensive
Application to Global Link required

This interdisciplinary Intensive explores global connections in the Pacific Northwest and cross-cultural immersion through a combination of classroom learning and a local-based overnight travel experience. This course is built around the signature experiences of Global Link—a team of students and staff who learn how to navigate and connect with different cultures and new living environments. Students accepted into the course are placed into Global Link teams that will focus on a specific theme and participate in an expedition-style travel experience during the 2nd week of the January intensive. Themes for January 2022 include photography & culture, cooking & culture, and outdoor recreation & culture.

11th or 12th grades
First or second intensive

LaunchPad is a two-week, real world experience for students to step off-campus and work in an environment that speaks to their personal passions and/or their professional, vocational, or academic curiosities. As an evolution of UPrep's Senior Project, students may meet this graduation requirement in junior or senior year, independently or within a designated, LaunchPad-eligible course.

From shadowing software engineers to maintaining hiking trails to helping manage a Pilates studio to producing original music, LaunchPad gives students the chance to engage with the world beyond UPrep and practice the skills they’ll need after they graduate.

The LaunchPad graduation requirement may be met through Independent LaunchPad, Semester LaunchPad, Student Produced Works, or a number of subject-specific courses marked "LaunchPad eligible."

Second intensive
Grades 11, 12

This course is a three-week, outdoor education experience focused on student leadership, teamwork, and stewardship based partly in Seattle and partly in the greater North Cascades. The course emphasizes self-awareness, judgment, and decision making, as well as multidisciplinary skills such as wilderness first aid and risk management. The course provides myriad opportunities for students to embrace and refine their leadership skills, and increase their self-confidence, technical abilities, intuition, compassion, and common sense. Ultimately, Outdoor Leadership is grounded in experiential education, including many hands-on, real-world scenarios that develop problem solving, critical thinking, risk mitigation, and cooperative skills.