2025-2026 Morristown Beard School US Curriculum Guide by MBS Communications

UpperSchool CurriculumGuide

MBS Mission and Values

OUR MISSION

Withinacultureofsupportandcollaboration,MorristownBeardSchoolstudentsdiscoveranddeveloptheirindividual pathwaystoacademicsuccessandpersonalfulfillmentwhilebecomingenlightened,morallyresponsiblecitizensofthe world

OUR VALUES

Thebedrockofourcurriculumistoproviderigorousacademicpreparationforcollegeandbeyond Equally,weencourage allmembersoftheMBScommunitytocultivatealifeguidedbymoralprinciples AtMBS,wevalue:

Personal Responsibility isthefoundationofcharacter Itrequiresintegrity,personalaccountability,andthe highestmoralstandardsinallcommunication,decision-making,andactions

Awareness Of Diverse Perspectives enhancesallaspectsoflearning.Themorestudentsencounter, understand,andrespectotherpointsofview,themoredeeplyengagedtheybecome,bothacademicallyandsocially. Empathyisapowerfulforceincreatingpositiveinteractions

Engagement inallaspectsofschoollifeencouragesrisk-taking,createsamorefulfillingeducationalexperience,and enhancespersonalgrowth

Tenacity isessentialinovercomingobstaclesasitredefinesfailuresasnecessarystepsofthelearningprocess

Independence Of Mind allowsustoquestiontrendyorconformistthinking,andhelpsusasindividualsto examinecriticallyourdecisionsandassumptions

Humor And Humility arecentralcomponentsoftheresiliencerequiredtomeettheinevitablechallengeswe encounternotonlyinschool,butalsoinlife. AtMBS,wevaluetheabilitynottotakeourselvestooseriously,even whenweareengagedinthemostseriousofendeavors.

Curricular Philosophy of MBS

Ensuringthegrowthandwell-beingofourstudentsliesatthecenterofallourdecisionsatMBS.Wemaintaina balancedapproachtorigorousacademics,enrichingco-curricularandextra-curricularactivities,andanengaging familyandcommunitylife. Asstudentspursuetheirindividualpathstoacademicsuccessinourcommunityof learners,theyareguidedbyhighly-dedicatedteacherswhoarefullyversedinthelatesteducationalresearch,with particularemphasisonthefollowingkeypracticesinallsubjectareas:

CRITICAL THINKING facilitatesgreaterunderstandingofcomplextopicsandsituations Studentslearntoask questions,identifyproblems,synthesizekeyconcepts,anddesigncreativesolutionsinpursuitofknowledge

RISK-TAKING isencouraged Oureducationalprogramrecognizesthisasavalidlearningmodality,evenwhen aninvestigationdoesnotproceedasexpected Playandasenseoffunarekeycomponentsinnurturing appropriateintellectualrisk-taking

WRITING isameansofthinkinganddevelopingthoughts,notjustawaytorecordpre-existingideas Analytic andreflectivewritingshouldnotbetheexclusivedomainofthetraditionaltext-baseddisciplines,butshouldbe activelyencouragedacrossthecurriculum

QUANTITATIVE REASONING isvaluedasameansoflogicalprocessingbothinandbeyondthemath classroom.Developingasoundquantitativemindsetiscrucialtounderstanding,critiquing,anddrawing conclusionsinourincreasinglydata-intensiveculture.

INNOVATIVE CONNECTIONS acrossdisciplinesinspireoriginalapproachestosolvingproblemsandprepare studentsforlifebeyondtheclassroom.

The Morristown Beard Advisor System

TheMBSUpperSchooladvisoryservesasa“homebase”forstudentsandfaculty.Itisadailygatheringwherestudents developstrongandsupportiverelationshipswiththeirpeersandafacultymemberwhostrivestoknowthechildbeyond thestudent.Theadvisorysystemfostersstudents’academic,social,andpersonalgrowthandhelpsthemmanagethe demandsof MBS’sacademicandextracurricularprograms.Advisorsserveasmentorswhosupportstudentswhile encouragingthemtoadvocateforthemselvesandbalancetheirvariouscommitments.

Theadvisorservesastheprimaryliaisonbetweenstudent,parent/guardians,andteachers.Studentsmeetwiththeiradvisor eachmorningduringadvisorycheck-inandduringweeklyextendedadvisorperiods.

Advisorssupporttheiradviseesinnumerousways,includingthefollowing:

● workingwithadviseestosetgoalsandassessprogress

● monitoringcourseselectionsandschedulerequests

● servingasanadvocateinschoolmatters

● showinganinterestinextracurricularandathleticcommitments

● facilitatingadvisorydiscussionsandactivities

● facilitatingparent/guardianconferences

● communicatingwithteachersandparent/guardianswhenneeded

● servingasthefirstpointofcontactwhenissuesarise

Advisorsareavailabletoreceivephonecallsand/oremailsfromparents/guardians,gatherinformation,andexchange informationthatishelpfultostudentswiththeapplicabledean,divisionalhead,applicablecounselor,and parent/guardians

TherearetwoformalmeetingsarrangedinNovemberandAprilforadvisorstomeetwithparents,butparentsmayalsocall oremailadvisorsatanytime Alladvisorsareaskedtowritealetterofintroductiontotheiradvisees'familiesinSeptember Ifaparentcontactsanadvisorwithaquestionaboutaspecificclass,theadvisorshouldasktheparenttocalltheteacherof thecoursedirectly.

Ifparents/guardianshavequestionsabouttheadvisingprocess,theyshouldcontacttheDirectorofStudentActivitiesor HeadofUpperSchool.

Community Service

TheCommunityServiceProgramisanintegralpartoftheMBScurriculum.Eachsemester,UpperSchoolstudentsare requiredtoperformaminimumofeighthoursofcommunityserviceandtowritereflectionsabouttheirexperiences. Failuretosuccessfullycompleteasemestercomponentbythedeadlineresultsinafailinggradeforthatterm,whichwill remainpermanentlyonthetranscript.Thestudentwill,however,stillberequiredtocompleteeighthoursofservice successfullyforthatsemester Onceastudenthascompletedall16hoursofservice,alongwiththereflections,thestudent willreceiveaPassgradeforthefinalyear-endgrade

Inordertograduate,seniorsmustsuccessfullycompletetheirCommunityServiceprogram

Global Studies

MissionStatement:TheMBSGlobalStudiesProgramiscommittedtofosteringacommunityofglobally-mindedindividuals byempoweringstudentswithdiverseandenrichingglobalexperiences Throughimmersivelearningandmeaningful community-buildingopportunities,weaimtoignitecuriosity,nurturecompassion,andinstillasenseofresponsibilityinevery student Ourmissionistocultivatewell-rounded,thoughtfulcitizensoftheworld,whoareequippedtonavigatethecomplexities ofourinterconnectedglobalsocietywithunderstanding,empathy,andacommitmenttopositivechange.

MorristownBeardSchooloffersnumerouscultural,curricular,andservicetripsabroadeachyear,providingstudentsaccess torich,academiclearningexperiencesoutsideoftheclassroom.Ourfaculty-ledspringandsummertripsallowstudentsto broadentheirhorizons,connectmeaningfullywithdiversecultures,anddeepentheirlearningbeyondtheclassroom. WhethertravelingabroadorexploringwithintheUnitedStates,MBSstudentsventureoutwithpurpose,reflectwith insight,andreturnwithastrongerconnectiontotheworldaroundthem.

FinancialaidquestionsshouldbedirectedtotheDirectorofEnrollment.

MorristownBeardSchoolalsopartnerswithnumerousoutsidevendors,offeringourUpperSchoolstudentsan opportunitytostudyabroadforasemester,ayear,orasummer PleaserefertotheFamilyHandbookforadditional informationonpoliciesandproceduresrelatedtotheMBSStudyAbroadProgram

ServicetripsinyearspasthaveincludedHabitatforHumanitybuildsinNorthCarolina,SouthCarolina,Alabama,and Florida StudentshavealsotraveledinternationallytositessuchastheDominicanRepublicandPanamatoprovideservice tolocalvillages

SeethewebsiteformoreinformationaboutourGlobalStudiesProgram

Senior Project

TheSeniorProjectisacapstoneexperienceandagraduationrequirement.AspartofMBS’sefforttopowerfullyprepare ourstudentsforlearningandlife,ourseniorsaretaskedwithdiscoveringanddelvingintoanareaofinterestbeyondour standardcurriculum.Theycanexplorecareeroptions,service-orientedendeavors,academicprojectsorcreativeprojects.

Itconsistsoffourmajorelements:

● Findingaproject,settingitup,andgettingitapproved

● Spendingtimeon-siteinareal-worldenvironment

● CompilingacomprehensivewrittenFieldJournal

● Deliveringanoralpresentationattheproject’sconclusion

EachofthesefourmajorelementsmustbesuccessfullycompletedforthestudenttopasstheSeniorProject

Upper School Programs & Courses

Ourcurriculumoffersarigorousacademicprogramtochallengeeverystudentandsatisfyabroadrangeofinterests. MBSstudentscanalsoparticipateinanarrayofco-curricularoptionstogainadeeperunderstandingofthemselveswhile contributingtothecommunitybeyond.

Weencourageourstudentstotakerisks,toengagedeeplyinlearning,andtobecomeindependentthinkers.AtMBS,we teachthevaluesandhabitsofmindthatwebelievewillprepareyoungpeoplenotonlyforsuccessincollege,butalsofor livesofmeaningandfulfillment

Academic Departments, Courses, and Requirements

Theschoolyearconsistsoftwo16-weeksemesters.Studentsarerequiredtotakeaminimumofsixcoursespersemester. Seniorsmustpassalloftheircoursestograduate Exceptionstoanyoftheacademicrequirementslistedbelowmustbe approvedbytheHeadofUpperSchool

Studentsgenerallygobeyondtheseminimumrequirementsinpursuitoftheiracademicinterests,andweencouragethem todoso

Ouracademicdepartmentsandasamplingoftheirrelatedcourses/electivesarelistedbelowalongsideacademic requirementsforallstudentsattheSchool

Course Requirements

English

Math

History

Science

Arts

WorldLanguage

Wellness

4years

3years(IntegratedMath1,2,3)

3years

3yearslaboratoryscienceswithnorepeat

2yearsfulfilledthroughtheArtandDesignorPerformingArtsProgram

3consecutiveyearsofthesamelanguage

Wellness9(fullyear);Wellness10(onesemester),IntegrativeHealth (onesemester),WellnessElective(onesemesteringrade11or12)

Classof2025only:Wellness9(oneyear),Wellness10(onesemester),Integrative Health11

Theminimumnumberofgraduationcreditsis24.Themajorityofstudentsgraduatewith28credits.

Upper School Signature Programs and Practices

TheUpperSchoolatMBSfeaturesanever-evolvinggroupofSignatureProgramsbuiltuponforward-thinkingacademic research.Wecontinuallyseektopushtheboundariesofourteachingandlearning,andourSignatureProgramsreflectthis commitment.OurSignatureProgramsareanimportantreasonwhyourstudentsreporthighlevelsofpreparedness(and consequently,achievement)throughcollegeandbeyond.

Advanced Topics

MBSfacultycreateamenuofAdvancedTopicsforseniorsandselectedjuniorsthatequalorexceedAPcoursesintermsof conceptualchallenge,complexityofmaterial,developmentofcriticalskillsandoverallpreparationforcollegeacademics. Theyarethereforeamongthemostacademicallyrigorouscoursesweoffer.Thesecourses,whichareonesemester,are proposedbyfacultywithaparticularinterestandexpertiseinagivenfieldandaresubjecttoathoroughpeer-review process,overseenbyacommitteeofexperiencedteacherswithcollegeteachingbackgrounds,beforebeingauthorizedbythe School Theseminarformatpromotescriticalthoughtanddiscussion,requiresstudentstoworkindependentlyandis flexibleenoughtoencompassabroadrangeofcoursethemes InallAdvancedTopicscourses,thelevelofreading,writing andcriticaldiscussionequalsthatfoundinafirst-yearcollegecourse AdvancedTopicscoursesareinterdisciplinary,small, andenrollmentisbypermissionoftheinstructor

Advanced Topics Oﬀerings

StudentswishingtotakeanAdvancedTopicscoursemustsubmitacompletedquestionnaireandagradedwritingsample totherelevantinstructor.Interviewsmayberequired.

Chemical Engineering Process Design (11, 12)

Inthiscoursestudentswillhavetheopportunitytodelveintochemicalengineeringprocessdesigninorderto understandthescopeandimpactofprocessdesignontheworld Chemicalengineeringisinherentlyinterdisciplinary andhasmanyapplicationsinpharmaceuticals,energygeneration,foodandconsumerproducts Howareicecream barsmade?Plasticbags,shampoo?Howaretheseprocessesandfactoriesdesigned?Wheredothewastematerialsend up(lifecycleanalysis)?Thecoursewillintroducestudentstotheholisticanalysisofanindustrialprocess,andteach themsoftskillsofcommunicationforconductingmeetings,presentations,andworkingonteams.

Whoisitfor?Studentsinterestedinchemicalengineering,industrialprocessdesign,andthereal-worldapplicationsof scienceinindustriessuchaspharmaceuticals,energy,andconsumerproducts.

Conspiracy Theories: Why We Believe (11,

12)

Themoonlandingswerefaked!TheJFKassassinationwasaCIAinsidejob!VaccinescauseAutism!Alienslandedin Area51!TheEarthisflat!QAnon!Birdsaren’treal!NewJerseydrones!ThisAdvancedTopics(AT)coursedelvesinto thepsychology,science,andsocialimpactofconspiracytheories.Ituncoversthefactorsthatmaketheseideasso compellingandoffersarigorousexplorationofhowandwhytheydevelop.Studentswillbeexposedtologicasa scientificdiscipline,learningtoapplylogicalreasoningandcriticalanalysistoevaluateclaims,dissectarguments,and

assesstheevidencebehindcontentiousideas.Thecourseequipsstudentswiththetoolstoapproachcontroversial topicswithskepticismandanalyticalrigorwhilemaintainingempathyfordifferingviewpoints.

Whoisitfor?Juniorsandseniorswhoarecuriousaboutscience,psychology,andadvanceddiscussionsonhuman behaviorandbeliefsystems

Contemporary German Through Language and Media (11, 12)

ThisAdvancedTopics(AT)courseoffersanintroductiontotheGermanlanguagewhileexploringGermany’scultural andsocietalimpact ThroughcriticallyacclaimedfilmslikeDasLehrerzimmerandtheiconicTVseriesTatort, studentswillexaminethemesofidentity,community,andsocialchange Languageinstructionfocusesondeveloping communicationskillstonavigatebasicinteractionsanddiscusspersonalandacademictopicsinGerman.By combininglanguageacquisitionwithculturalanalysis,thiscourseequipsstudentstoapproachglobalissueswitha criticalandinformedperspective.

Whoisitfor?Juniorandseniors–studentsinterestedinglobalculturesandadvanced,interdisciplinarystudiesof languageandsociety.

Ethics of Artiﬁcial Intelligence (11, 12)

Artificialintelligencehascriticalethical,psychological,andsocialimplications Applicationsaboundfor healthcare,security,e-governmentandthepublicsector,transportation,logistics,education-withnew applicationsappearingallthetime AI technologiesimpactfairnessandequity,jobdisplacement,potential erroringandmisusebymalevolentactors,privacy,andsecurity Inthiscourseweenterthisnewworld,helping youtonavigatethechallenges We'lllearnabouthowAI works,exploreapplications,andapplyethics-from classicalphilosophicaltheoriestomodernethicsoftechnology-tothesenewconcerns.We'llalsoaskifA.I.canever achieveconsciousness.

Whoisitfor?Studentsinterestedintechnology,ethics,andthesocietalimplicationsofartificialintelligence, includingitsimpactonprivacy,fairness,andjobdisplacement.

Is 21st Century the New Renaissance? (11, 12)

Theemergenceofnewmediaandspreadingofinformationthatchangeseverything Newutopias,newformsoffreedom, globalization,wars,pandemicsandapocalypticanguishes Aretheseexclusivelytwenty-first-centuryarchetypes?Notquite ThemenandwomenoftheRenaissancelivedthroughitall Thiscoursewillallowstudentstoexperienceoneoftherichest periodsinthehistoryofWesternculture,refractedthroughseverallensesofhumanisticscholarship Asidefrommaking connectionsacrossacademicdisciplinesofarthistory,literature,comparativephilosophy,religiousstudies,theatre,and history,studentswillexplorethevariouswaysourprosperoustwenty-firstcenturyresemblesRenaissancelife

Whoisitfor?StudentsinterestedinexploringhistoricalconnectionsbetweentheRenaissanceandmodernglobalissues acrossart,philosophy,andculture.

Italian Language and Architects of Humanism (11,

12)

ThisAdvancedTopics(AT)courseimmersesstudentsintheItalianlanguagewhileexploringthehumanisticandartistic achievementsoffigureslikeDante,LeonardodaVinci,andMichelangelo Inarigorous,fullyimmersivesetting,students willdevelopproficiencyinspeaking,listening,reading,andwritingItalian.Throughculturalanalysis,studentswillengage withItaly’shistory,geography,andtraditions,exploringhowitsintellectuallegacycontinuestoshapethemodernworld. ThecoursechallengesstudentstoconnectlanguagelearningwithcriticaldiscussionsonItaly’ssocio-culturalcontextand artisticheritage.

Whoisitfor?JuniorsandseniorswithapassionforworldlanguagesandculturewhohaveexcelledinanotherRomance language.

Medicine: Analysis and Decision (11,

12)

ThisAdvancedTopics(AT)courseoffersarigorousinvestigationintotheintersectionofscience,healthcare,andpublic policy.Studentswillexplorethescientificunderpinnings,policydecisions,andlessonslearnedfromhistoricalcasessuchas thethalidomidetragedyandtheTuskegeestudy.Throughcasestudies,studentswillanalyzecomplexdata,engagein evidence-baseddecision-making,andsynthesizetheirfindingsintoprofessionalpresentations.Thecoursesharpenscritical thinkingskillsandpreparesstudentstotacklereal-worldproblemsinmedicineandpolicy.

Whoisitfor?Juniorsandseniorswithinterestsinhealthcare,science,orpolicy,seekingachallengingandinterdisciplinary academicexperience

Advanced Studies Program & Advanced Placement

AdvancedStudiescourses:Inanefforttoprovidearigorousalternativetothestandardizedcurriculumandtesting ofAdvancedPlacement(AP)courses,theUpperSchooloffersasuiteofdiscipline-specific,year-longAdvanced Studies(AS)coursesthatequalorexceedAPcoursesintermsofconceptualchallenge,complexityofmaterial, developmentofcriticalskillsandoverallpreparationforcollegeacademics.

AS AND AP COURSES ARE HOUSED WITHIN DEPARTMENTS AND INCLUDE:

ArtandDesign APStudioArt

ComputationalandInformation Sciences

English

HistoryandSocialScience

Mathematics

ComplexSystemsScience

LiteraryStudiesinAmericanVoices APEnglishLiteratureand Composition

TheMedievalWorld Economics

Science

WorldLanguage

Earned Honors Model

OrganicChemistry

APUnitedStatesHistory APEuropeanHistory

APStatistics APCalculusAB APCalculusBC

APBiology APChemistry

RomanLiteratureoftheGoldenAge APFrenchLanguage APSpanishLanguage

MBSrecognizesthatatthecoreofbeingan“Honors”studentiswillingness,commitment,andpassion,andthatthosecan onlyemanatefromastudent.Accordingly,theMBS“EarnedHonors”programgivesstudentstheagencyandautonomyto decideforthemselveswhethertheyviewthemselvesasan“Honors”studentinaclassordiscipline.Iftheydo,theyare committingtotakingonextraindependenceintheirlearning,todedicatingthemselveswithspecialpatiencetotheprocess eachdisciplinedemands,andtostrivingtoapplytheskillsofadisciplinewithahighlevelofsophistication.

Ratherthantellstudentsthattheyshouldviewthemselvesas“honorstudents,”theEarnedHonorsprogramMBSasks studentstoembracethatidentityforthemselves,andthenholdsthemaccountabletoacorrespondingsetofstandardsand criteria.ThecriteriaareenumeratedintheMBS“HonorsStudentProfile,”whichholdsacrosstheschool,forallHonors students,evenasitfindsvariousinterpretationsfromdepartmenttodepartment.Itisintendedtoclarifyforstudentsthe habitsofmindthatdistinguishlearningatanHonorslevel:

MBS Honors Student Proﬁle

Astudentearninghonorsconsistentlydemonstrates:

● Enhancedinvestmentinthelearningsituationsofaparticulardiscipline:

● Patiencewithstruggleduringaprocess(includingreadinesstoencounterdiscomfort,ambiguity,anduncertainty);

● Independentinitiativeinapplyingsophisticatedskillstonovel,open-ended,andcomplexproblems

Attheendofthesemester,studentsaregradedformasteryofadisciplineregardlessofwhethertheyareearninghonors Butstudentsearninghonorsareconsistentlyconfrontedwithlearningsituations,includingassessments,projects, homework,andclassactivities,demandingenhancedengagement,independentinitiative,andpatiencewithstruggleduring aprocess Thoselearningsituationswillsometimesinvolveadditionalworkandsometimesinvolvegreatercomplexitywith lessteacherscaffolding

InEarnedHonorscourses,studentsandfacultysignacontractcommittingthemselvestoearning“Honors”inmid-fall Duringthefirstpart oftheyear,teachersgivestudentstheopportunitytoattemptassessmentsattheHonorslevel,gaining asenseforwhatearning“Honors”meansinaparticularclass Fortheremainderoftheyear,theyareheldtoHonors criteriaintheirworkinandoutoftheclassroom

Humanities Program

TheMBSUpperSchoolhumanitiesprogramisanapproachtoteachingthatasksstudentstoplacethestudyof History,EnglishandWorldLanguagesindialogue,recognizingthatthesedisciplinesallowustointerrogateand makesenseofthehumanexperience.Bythinkingcriticallyandcreatively,studentsinvestigateculturesand communitiesaroundtheworldandacrosstime,whiletracingthethreadsthathaveshapedhistory.Emphasizing multiculturalawarenessandperspectives,thehumanitiesprogramurgesstudentstobringtherichnessofthe worldintofocus.

Theprogramemphasizesanalyticalandcreativemodesofwriting,patternrecognition,presentations, inquiry-basedlearning,closereading,developingandhoningargumentsandexplanations,discerningunderlying connections,andpracticingcivildiscoursethroughdiscussion-drivencoursework.

Independent Studies

OurIndependentStudyprogramencouragesMBSstudentstoexploreareasofinterestthatfalloutsidethe traditionalcoursecatalog.Undertheguidanceofselectedfacultymemberswithaspecialexpertiseorinterestin thefield,yourstudentwillworktodevelopascopeandsequencecurriculum,createauthenticclass-specific content,anddesignoriginalassessments.TheOfficeoftheAcademicDeanmanagestheprocessandrequirements foranindependentstudyapplicationpriortothebeginningofthesemester.

IndependentStudiesareidealformotivated,high-achievingstudents

Interdisciplinary Concentrations Program

TheInterdisciplinaryConcentrationsProgram(ICP)offerspathwaysforstudentseagertoexploreanaspectoftheworld thattranscendssingleclasses,disciplines,andextracurricularpursuits.Studentsmayapplyforanyoneoffour

ConcentrationpathwaysattheendoftheirFreshmanyears:“ArtsandInnovation,”“GlobalCitizenship,”“Ethics, Leadership,Justice,"and"DataAnalysis&ResearchMethods."

Workingweeklywithaconcentrationadvisorandcohortofpeers,studentswillprogressthroughSophomore,Junior,and Senioryearcommittingtocommunityserviceopportunities,electives,discussions,retreats,andindependentprojectsthat furthertheirjourneydownaConcentrationpathwayintothecomplexitiesofourtwenty-firstcenturyworld.

Learn more about the ICP: https://www.mbs.net/academics/interdisciplinary-concentrations-program

Centers for Learning

Decadesofacademicresearchhighlighttheimportanceofbothmeaningfulteacher-studentengagementandhighly experientiallearningintheintellectualgrowthofyoungpeople.Accordingly,MorristownBeardSchoolhasthoughtfully createdfourCentersforLearningtobestengenderthehigh-leveldevelopmentofseveralessentialskillsinyourchild.

CAW: The Center for Academic Writing actsasasupportsystemforstudents,and,inconcertwithourphilosophy, allowsthestudents,themselves,totakeonanimportantleadershiproleoncampusaswritingtutorsinthecenter.

CTL: The Center for Teaching & Learning empowersallstudentstobetterunderstandthemselvesandtheirown learningstorieswhile,atthesametime,developingstudents’self-advocacyandself-efficacy

CID: The Center for Innovation & Design providesmorethan8,000squarefeetofflexibleandinnovativespace wherestudentsdesign,build,andproblemsolveastheyengageinmultidisciplinaryprojects

CQR: The Center for Quantitative Reasoning providesawarm,welcomingspaceforstudentsseekingassistance orextrapracticeonspecificmathematicaltopicsonadrop-inorappointmentbasis

Seethewebsiteformoreinformationaboutthecenters

Department and Course Listings

ART & DESIGN

Mission Statement: ArtandDesignisamulti-disciplinaryprogram,providingstudentsthetechnology,resourcesand mind-settocreativelymovefromabstracttoartifact

UpperSchoolArtandDesignisamulti-disciplinaryprogram Thedisciplineofdesignthinkingcomprisesthecoreofthe program,andthepedagogicalfocusstressespersonalcreativity,collaboration,teambuilding,problemsolving,storytelling andmediaauthorship Usingeithertraditionalmediaorcomputersasfundamentaltools,movingfrom“abstract”through “artifact,”studentsareencouragedtoadopta“design”mentalityandseehands-onprojectworkasaunified,connected activityheldtogetherbysomeformof"narrative"orstory-themestructure.Studentsareencouragedtodevelopand discovernewskills,takeprideintheircreationsandacquirearespectandappreciationfortheworkoftheirpeersandother designersandartists.

ENTRY-LEVEL COURSES

Foundations: Studio (9, 10)

Foundations:Studioisforninth-gradersandtenth-graderswithastronginterestinpursuingstudioarts Theclasswill developstudents’skillsinvisualproblem-solving,perspective,thedesignthinkingprocess,ideationandcommunicating throughsketching Studentswilllearnhowtoapplytheprinciplesofartanddesign,includingcomposition,balance, emphasis,value,lineandcolortheory

Inaddition,studentswillapplytheseskillsintraditional-mediaprojects Skillscoveredwillincludepaintmixing,shading withdryandwetmedia,andenlargementusinggrids

Foundations: Digital (9, 10)

Foundations:Digitalisopentoninth-gradersandtenth-gradersinterestedinpursuingdigitalgraphicdesignand maker-spacecourses Theclasswilldevelopstudents’skillsinvisualproblem-solving,perspective,thedesignthinking process,ideationandcommunicatingthroughsketching Studentswilllearnhowtoapplytheprinciplesofartanddesign, includingcomposition,balance,emphasis,value,lineandcolortheory

Inaddition,studentswillapplytheseskillsindigital-mediaprojects.Skillscoveredwillincludedrawingontablets,working withvirtuallayers,vectordrawing,filemanagement,andothercomponentsofdigitalliteracyandmediaauthoring.

Artisan Tools and Techniques (10, 11, 12)

ArtisanToolsandTechniquesisanintermediateartanddesignclass,whichservesasaprerequisiteforGlassDesign It blendstraditionalcraftsmanshipwithmoderntechnologyinthishands-oncourse Inthissemester-long,project-based coursestudentswillexploreartisancraftssuchaswoodworking,mosaic,stainedglass,anddigitalfabrication Studentswill

becomefamiliarwithstudioproceduresthroughprojectsanddeveloptechnicalskillsassociatedwithmetalwork,glass cutting,andmore.ArtisanToolsandTechniquesisofferedinthefallandspring.

Digital Photography (10, 11, 12)

ThisIntroductoryDigitalPhotographycourseisforanystudentwithastronginterestinphotography Thecoursewillgo beyondfundamentalpoint-and-shoottechniquestoprovideadeeperunderstandingandopentherealmofpossibilities availableinthedigitalmedium Topicsandprojectscoveredmayincludeequipmentuse,aperture,shutterspeed, composition,focalpoints,contrastandlightingaswellasthemessuchasportraiture,natureandmotionamongothers A basicknowledgeofdigitalcamerasishelpful,butnotnecessary Inordertoenrollinthecourse,studentsmustprovidetheir owndigitalcameras

INTERMEDIATE COURSES

ArchitecturalDesignStudio(10,11,12)

Art2(10,11,12)

Art3(11,12)

Ceramics(10,11,12)

Ceramics2(10,11,12)

DigitalIllustration(10,11,12)

GraphicDesign&Marketing(10,11,12)

GraphicDesignAgency(10,11,12)

EngineeringDesign(10,11,12)

ArchitecturalModeling(10,11,12)

Printmaking(9,10,11,12)

INTERMEDIATE ARTISAN COURSES

GlassDesign(10,11,12)

FiberArts(10,11,12)

ADVANCED-LEVEL COURSES

Art4(12)

AdvancedPlacementStudioArt(12)

InteractiveArchitecture(11,12)

COMPUTATIONAL & INFORMATION SCIENCES

TheComputationalandInformationSciencesDepartmentoffersamulti-disciplinarycourseofstudythatexploresthe applicationofcomputerprogramming,modelingandsimulationtorealworldproblemsolving Thereisaparticular emphasisoninformationvisualizationandmediacreation Throughoutthecourseofstudy,topicsrangefromcomputer graphics,3Danimationandcomputermusictoenvironmentalmodeling,informationtheoryandcomplexadaptive systemsanalysis

TheDepartmentoffersacoresequenceoftwocoursesincomputersciencethatisroughlyequivalenttothefirstyearofa collegecomputersciencemajorandacourseinscientificcomputing.Thiscoresequenceisexpandedwithaselectionof coursesinappliedcomputationalsciencecoveringsuchtopicsascomplexsystemsandchaostheory,machinelearningand aerospaceengineering.

YEARLONG COURSES

Computer Arts and Sciences 1: Introduction to Problem Solving and Design (9, 10, 11, 12)

ComputerArtsandSciences(CASci)1isanappropriatecourseforstudentsinterestedinimprovingtheirproblemsolving skills Thiscourseisintendednotonlyforstudentscontemplatingacareerincomputersciencebutalsoforthosewith generalcuriosity.Nopreviousprogrammingorextensivecomputerexperienceisneeded.CASci1usestheScheme programminglanguageandisbroadlysimilartotheCS1courseatcollegeslikeNortheastern,BrownandWPIbutata moreappropriatepace.Studentassessmentisbasedonaportfolioofworkdevelopedthroughouttheyearandaseriesof “MasteryChallenges”designedtoprovideascopeforcreativity.

Languageused:Scheme

Computer Arts and Sciences 2: Algorithms and Data Structures (Honors) (10, 11, 12)

ThiscoursecontinuestheproblemsolvingfocusofCASci1andutilizestheJavalanguagetointroducethestudentto objectorientedanalysisanddesign Thereisaparticularemphasison3DgraphicsandanimationusingOpenGL CASci2 isbroadlyequivalenttoacollegeCS2courseondatastructuresandalgorithms Studentassessmentisbasedonaportfolio ofworkdevelopedthroughouttheyearandaseriesof“MasteryChallenges”designedtoprovideascopeforcreativity

Languageused:Java

ComplexSystemsScience(AdvancedStudy)(11,12)

SpaceFlightEngineering(Honors)(11,12)

SEMESTER COURSES

CGIAnimation(9,10,11,12)

CASciStudio:AdvancedProjects(Honors)(11,12)

EcologicalEconomics(EarnedHonors)(11,12)

ENGLISH

Mission Statement: Asstudentstraveltheirownuniquepathsthroughourcurriculum,theydeveloptheskillstonavigate challengingtexts,thinkcritically,andexpressthemselvesconﬁdentlyinbothwrittenandspokenword.Studentsalsolearnto appreciateandtelltheirownstoriesbyexploringthoseofothers,andindoingso,theydevelopawarenessofthemselves,their communities,andthehumancondition.

Englishpromotesanintegratedseven-yearsequenceofstudiesthatteachesskillsfromGradeSixtoTwelve.Inproportionto cognitiveandintellectualopportunitiesateachlevel,studentslearntoreadandwritecritically,withincreasing sophistication,astheydiscoverhowtoaskappropriatequestionsoftextsinallthegenresandwritewithananalyticalclarity

thatpromotescreativelydevelopedideas.Worksarechosenbothfortheirliterarymeritandglobalawarenessofthehuman condition.Asstudentsprogressthroughtheprogram,theydeepentheirunderstandingofthedynamicrelationship betweenreadersandtexts.Classdiscussionprogressivelynurturesskillsinhigherorderthinkingwithanemphasison articulateself-expression.Teacherscreateopportunitiesforproject-basedlearningthataugmentstheemphasison traditionalmeansofanalyticalcommunication

InterdisciplinaryworkiscardinalintheDepartment IntheMiddleSchool,interdisciplinaryworkarisesfromteachers' intentionalcollaborationwiththeircolleaguesinsocialstudies,math,science,languages,andfinearts IntheUpperSchool, theHumanitiesprogramingrades9and10facilitatesthestudyofcommonthemesastheyariseinEnglishandHistory Grade12providesarichselectionofelectivesthatanticipatesthethematicandstructuralorientationofcoursesstudents canexpecttoencounterincollege

HONORS PLACEMENT IN ENGLISH COURSES

AllHumanitiesEnglishGrade9and10sectionsaswellasEnglish11:AmericanNarrativessectionswillemploytheearned honorsmodel,whichallowsanystudenttoearnhonorsstatusforthecoursebymeetingasetofclearlydefinedcriteria Seniorelectivecourseswillemploytheearnedhonorsmodelasdescribedabove EnrollmentinAdvancedPlacementand AdvancedStudiesCoursesisbydepartmentalrecommendation

Humanities English 9

ProvidingadynamicframeworkforthestudyofEnglishandHistory,thiscourseencouragesexplorationofkeythemesin worldhistory,literature,politics,religion,art,andmusic Inparticular,thecourseexaminesthechangingnatureofcultural valuesandtherelationshipbetweencommunitiesandtheindividual Asstudentsexplorehowindividualshavemademoral, spiritual,andintellectualsenseoftheirworlds,theyhoneskillsascriticalandcreativereaders,thinkers,andwriters With respecttotheanalyticalessay,emphasisisplacedonthecreationofthesisstatementsandlogicallycoherentparagraphs togetherwiththediscoveryandintegrationofappropriatetextualevidence Studentsaretaughttechniquesofannotating text,notetaking,andmeansofaccessingprimaryandsecondarysources AnchortextsincludePatronSaintsofNothingand Othello HumanitiesEnglish9isanEarnedHonorscourse

Humanities English 10

ProvidingadynamicframeworkforthestudyofEnglishandHistory,thiscourseencouragesexplorationofkeythemesin worldhistory,literature,politics,religion,art,andmusic.Inparticular,thecourseexaminesthechangingnatureofcultural valuesandtherelationshipbetweencommunitiesandtheindividual Asstudentsexplorehowindividualshavemademoral, spiritual,andintellectualsenseoftheirworlds,theyhoneskillsascriticalandcreativereaders,thinkers,andwriters Studentscontinuetodevelopskillsinwritinganalyticalessays,andemphasisisplacedontechniquesofclosereadingthat encouragethediscoveryanduseoftextualevidencecapableofpromotingargumentsofincreasingsophisticationand insight IntheGrade10CapstoneProject,studentsreflectontheirevolutionaswritersoverthecourseoftheyear, analyzingtheiropportunitiesandchallengesaswriters AnchortextsincludeMacbethandPersepolis HumanitiesEnglish 10isanEarnedHonorscourse StudentsmusttakeHumanitiesEnglish10onanEarnedHonorsbasistobeeligiblefor advancedEnglishclassesin11thgrade

English 11: American Narratives (fall and spring Semesters)

ProvidingadynamicframeworkforthestudyofAmericanliteratureandhistoryfromtheColonialperiodtothepresent, thisyear-longcourseencouragesexplorationofkeythemesinAmericanhistory,prose,poetry,drama,politics,religion,art, andmusic.Inparticular,thecourseexaminesthechangingnatureofAmericanculturalvaluesandtherelationshipbetween communitiesandtheindividualintheUnitedStatesitselfandtheworldatlarge.AsstudentsexplorehowAmericanshave mademoral,spiritual,andintellectualsenseoftheirexperience,theyhoneskillsascriticalandcreativereaders,thinkers,and writers.Aswellascontinuingtodevelopskillsinwritinganalyticalessays,studentsareexpectedtoworkindependentlyas theyoriginate,frame,andexecutedistinctivepointsofview.Throughclassdiscussionsandwritingassignments,students continuetodeveloptheirskillsinformalandcontextualanalysis.AnchortextsincludeTheGreatGatsbyandARaisinin theSun.OthertextsmayincludeToniMorrison'sTheBluestEyeandaglobalselectionofshortstoriesandpoetry.(English 11:AmericanNarrativesisanEarnedHonorscourse)

ADVANCED COURSES

AdvancedStudies:LiteraryStudiesinAmericanVoices(11)

APEnglishLiteratureandComposition(12)

SEMESTER ELECTIVES

EnglishElectiveHonors

SemesterelectivesinEnglishareopentoseniorsonly AllsemesterelectivesemploytheEarnedHonorsmodel BeyondtheHero:LegendsRetoldandReimagined(12)

CreativeWritingTechniques(12)

DystopianLiterature(12)

TheEthicalLife(12)(cross-listedwithHistory) Journalism(12)

TheLanguageofLeadership(12)

Literature,Food,andIdentity(12)

MonstersandMadness(12)

SavageSatire(12)

WhoDunIt?TheHistoryoftheDetectiveNovel(12)

WritingourLives(12)

WritingtheSitcom(12)

CENTER FOR ACADEMIC WRITING: WRITING STUDIES

Notadepartmentinthetraditionalsense,WritingStudiesisapedagogicalmovementthatpromoteswritingasa meansoflearningacrossallcontentareas.LocatedintheMBSCenterforAcademicWriting,theprogram promoteswriting-across-the-curriculum(WAC)effortsbasedontheknowledgethat,whengivenfrequent opportunitiestowriteanalytically,studentsthinkmorecriticallyandcreatively,engagemoredeeplyintheir learning,andtransferwhattheyhavelearnedfromcoursetocourse,contexttocontextmoreefficiently.Writing Studiesincludesavarietyofstudent-centeredtutorialsandworkshopsaswellasanupper-levelcoursedesignedto trainpeertutorstoworkintheCenterforAcademicWriting

CAW: Writing Center Theory and Practice

Thisyear-longhonorscoursecombinesclassroomworkandfieldworktopreparestudentsforatutoringrolein theCenterforAcademicWriting(CAW) StudentswilldiscoverthatconsultingintheCAWinvolvesmuchmore than"lookingover"apaper.Writingcenterconsultinghasarichtheoreticalbasethatdrawsonknowledgefrom thefieldsofcompositionstudies,education,andpsychology,andrequiresskillsincriticalreading,activelistening, inquiry,flexibility,andempathy.Duringthefallsemester,studentswillhonetheirwritingandreadingskillsand explorethedynamicsoftutoring,enablingthemtobecomefacilitatorsfortheirpeers.Duringthespringsemester, studentswillnotmeetasaclass,butwillcompletepracticumworkonanindividualbasisintheCenterfor AcademicWriting.Uponsuccessfulcompletionofthecourse,studentswillbeinvitedtocontinuetoserveas volunteerwritingtutorsduringtheirsenioryear.PleasenotethatthiscoursedoesnotfulfillEnglishcore requirements

HISTORY & SOCIAL SCIENCES

Mission Statement: Bylinkingthepastandpresent,theMorristownBeardHistoryDepartmentfostersskillsessentialto theunderstandingofthehumanexperience,whileguidingstudentsontheirindividualpathstobecomingengagedand empatheticglobalcitizens

TheUpperSchoolhistoryprogramfeaturesclassroomactivitiesdesignedtobringhistorytolife,linkthepastwiththe present,promotecriticalthinkingandbuildacademicskills Weofferarigorousandglobalcurriculumofyear-longcourses andsemesterelectives Ourenthusiasticfacultyusearangeofteachingmaterialsandmethodsnotonlytoimpart knowledgeandunderstanding,butalsototapintostudentcreativityandencourageactive,participatorycitizenship Studentslearntovaluequestioningandtobedecision-makers;theylearnhowtoconductresearch,applyknowledgeand expressthemselves Teachersemphasizecriticalthinkingandwriting,andbelievethathistorycanbemaderichwithdrama, triumph,andtragedy,full-bloodedcharactersandlessonslearnedforthe21stcentury.

GRADUATE PROFILE

HONORS PLACEMENT IN HISTORY COURSES

AllHumanitiesGrade9and10sections,USHistory11:TheAmericanExperience,andjunior-seniorelectiveswillemploy theEarnedHonorsmodel,whichallowsanystudenttoearnhonorsstatusforthecoursebymeetingasetofclearlydefined criteria ConstitutionalLaw,HumanRightsinLatinAmerica,andBehavioralEconomicsarehonorslevelelectives requiringteacherrecommendationandinstructorapprovalforenrollment Junior-SeniorSocialScienceelectivesdonot employtheEarnedHonorsmodel

FULL YEAR COURSES

Humanities History 9

ProvidingadynamicframeworkforthestudyofEnglishandHistory,theninth-gradehumanitiescourseencourages explorationofkeythemesinworldhistory(fromprehistorictimestothelate18thcentury,withconnectionsmadeto currentevents),literature,politics,religion,art,andmusic.Thecourseexaminesthechangingnatureofculturalvaluesand therelationshipbetweencommunitiesandtheindividual Asninth-gradersexplorehowpeopleofthepastmademoral, spiritual,andintellectualsenseoftheirworlds,theywillhonetheirownskillsascriticalandcreativereaders,thinkers,and writers (HumanitiesHistory9isanEarnedHonorscourse)

Humanities History 10

ProvidingadynamicframeworkforthestudyofEnglishandHistory,thiscourseencouragesexplorationofkeythemesin worldhistory(fromthelate18ththroughthe20thcentury,includingcurrentevents),literature,politics,religion,art,and music Inparticular,thecourseexaminesthechangingnatureofculturalvaluesandtherelationshipbetweencommunities andtheindividual Asstudentsexplorehowindividualshavemademoral,spiritual,andintellectualsenseoftheirworlds, theyhoneskillsascriticalandcreativereaders,thinkers,andwriters Studentscontinuetodevelopskillsinwritinganalytical essays,andemphasisisplacedontechniquesofclosereadingthatencouragethediscoveryanduseoftextualevidence capableofpromotingargumentsofincreasingsophisticationandinsight HumanitiesHistory10isanEarnedHonors course

US History 11: American Experiences

ProvidingadynamicframeworkforthestudyofAmericanhistoryfromthePre-Columbianperiodtothepresent,this year-longcourseencouragesexplorationofkeythemesinAmericanhistory,prose,poetry,drama,politics,religion,art,and music Inparticular,thecourseexaminesthechangingnatureofAmericanculturalvaluesandtherelationshipbetween communitiesandtheindividual,intheUnitedStatesitselfandtheworldatlarge AsstudentsexplorehowAmericanshave mademoral,spiritual,andintellectualsenseoftheirexperience,theyhoneskillsascriticalandcreativereaders,thinkers,and writers.Aswellascontinuingtodevelopskillsinwritinganalyticalessays,studentsareexpectedtoworkindependentlyas theyoriginate,frame,andexecutedistinctivepointsofview.Forthisreason,the culminatingassignmentistheMBS Junior CapstoneProject thatrequiresstudentstowriteanextendedresearchpaper.USHistory11:TheAmericanExperienceis anEarnedHonorsCourse.

FULL YEAR ADVANCED COURSES

NoteonAdvancedPlacementandAdvancedStudiescourses:StandardizedAdvancedPlacementaswellasfaculty-designed AdvancedStudiescoursesareequivalentinrigorandcommitmenttoacourseusuallytakenduringthefirstyearofcollege. Studentsmaybeexpectedtocompletepre-coursesummerwork,andshouldexpectadditionaltimecommitments throughouttheyear.AllAPstudentsarerequiredtotaketheAdvancedPlacementexaminMay;nostandardizedtestis requiredofAdvancedStudiescourses.EnrollmentinAdvancedLevelCoursesisbasedonhighperformanceintheprevious year ’shistorycourseandthesuccessfulcompletionofacoursespecificplacementprocess.

APUnitedStatesHistory(11)

APEuropeanHistory(12)

AdvancedStudies:TheMedievalWorld(12)

AdvancedStudies:Economics(11,12)

HISTORY/SOCIAL SCIENCE ELECTIVES

Allhistoryandsocialscienceelectives employtheEarnedHonorsmodel.

BehavioralEconomics (12)

ChinaUnderMaoZedong(11,12)

ConstitutionalLaw (12)

HistoryoftheMiddleEast(11,12)

CriminologyStudies(11,12)

DiversityandPublicPolicy(11,12)

EcologicalEconomics(11,12)

EconomicsofInnovation(11,12)

TheEthicalLife(cross-listedwithEnglish)

HistoryoftheMiddleEast(11,12)

Historyofthe90s(12)

IntegratedMarketingCommunications(12)

LivingConstitution(11,12)

PrinciplesofEconomics(11,12)

TheSociologyofDiversity(11,12)

TheVietnamWar(11,12)

MATHEMATICS

Mission Statement: TheMathematicsDepartmentproducesstudentsﬂuentinquantitativeandabstractreasoning.We emphasizetheimportanceofconstructingandevaluatingsoundargumentswhilefocusingonconnectionswithinandbeyond mathematics.Withinthisframework,weaimtocultivateresilience,criticalthinking,creativity,andintellectualcuriosity.

Integrated Math Program

TheIntegratedMathProgramconsistsofthreefull yearcourses:IntegratedMath1,2and3 Combiningbothtraditionalandcontemporary approaches,thisstructurerepresentsanevolution inmathcurriculumdesignallowingstudentsa muchgreateropportunityforgrowthand developmentinmathematicalthinking.In adoptingthisnewprogram,MBSputsitself squarelyinlinewithstate-of-the-artmath programsthatreflecttheprofessionalconsensusoftheNationalCouncilofTeachersofMathematicsPrinciplesand Standards Whiletheprogramcoversallofthetraditionalareas(Algebra1,Geometry,Algebra2andPre-Calculus), IntegratedMathblendsthesedifferentstrandsofmathematicsthrougheachofitsthreelevelsandfocusesonconnections amongformerlyisolatedtopics,suchasalgebraandgeometry Thisapproachrevealsamoreorganicpictureofthefieldof mathematicsandfostersdeeperinsightintoitsintricaciesandbeauty Itallowsalllearnerstograspfoundationalconcepts suchasequations,functionsandtrigonometrythroughdifferentmodesofrepresentation,includinggraphical,hands-on, geometric,andsymbolic IntegratedMathemploysthetechniqueof"spiraling"sothateachlevelofthecurriculumbrings studentsbackthroughtheseessentialconceptsinordertoachievedeeperlevelsofmastery

GRADUATE PROFILE

Integrated Math 1 (9)

IntegratedMath1(IM1)initiatestheUpperSchoolmathsequencebyengagingstudentsinfoundationalconcepts,skills andhabitsofthought.Thecourseincorporatesbothalgebraicandgeometricelementscoveringconceptssuchaslogic, algebraicmodeling,propertiesoflinesandtriangles,systemsofequations,andpropertiesofpolynomialswithfactoring. Pedagogicaltechniquesandassessmentsarediversetoallowformultiplewaysoflearninganddemonstratingmathematical knowledge.(EarnedHonorsoption)

Integrated Math 2 (9, 10)

IntegratedMath2(IM2)continuestheIntegratedMathsequencebybuildingonthefoundationalconceptsacquiredin IM1.Studentswillencounterthought-provokingproblemsthatrequirestrongconnectionsbetweenalgebraandgeometry. Topicsincludeapplicationsofsystems,behavioroffunctions,transformations,righttriangletrigonometry,andquadratic equations.Eachtopicrequiresanaddedlevelofsophisticationandabstractionasstudentsachieveahigherlevelof mathematicalfluency.

Integrated Math 2 Honors (9, 10)

IntegratedMath2Honors(IM2H)continuestheIntegratedMathsequencebybuildingonthefoundationalconcepts acquiredinIM1 Topicsincludeapplicationsofsystems,behavioroffunctions,transformations,righttriangle trigonometry,andquadraticfunctions Thesetopicswillbecoveredatanincreasedlevelofrigoranddepth,requiring

studentstobeindependentthinkerswhocanrecognizehowtoapplyexistingskillsinunfamiliarcontexts.Thisfast-paced coursewillrequireahighlevelofnotationalfluencyandastrongfoundationofalgebraicandgeometricconcepts.

Integrated Math 3 (9, 10, 11)

IntegratedMath3(IM3)completestheIntegratedMathsequencebybuildingontheconceptsandskillsacquiredinIM2 whileincorporatinganotherlayerofdepthandrigor.Thecentralthemeoflearningmathematicsthroughproblemsolving andexplorationcontinueswithtopicsincludingastudyofpolynomial,rational,logarithmicandexponentialfunctionsas wellascirclesandunitcircletrigonometry.AftersuccessfullycompletingIM3,studentshavethebackgroundtotakea varietyofmathelectives.

Integrated Math 3 Honors (9, 10, 11)

IntegratedMath3(IM3H)completestheIntegratedMathsequencebybuildingontheconceptsandskillsacquiredinIM2 whileincorporatinganotherlayerofdepthandrigor.Thecentralthemeoflearningmathematicsthroughproblemsolving andexplorationcontinueswithtopicsincludingastudyofpolynomial,rational,logarithmicandexponentialfunctionsas wellascirclesandunitcircletrigonometry.Thesetopicswillbecoveredatanincreasedlevelofrigor,requiringstudentsto beindependentthinkerswhocanrecognizehowtoapplyexistingskillsinunfamiliarcontexts.Thisfast-pacedcoursewill requireahighlevelofnotationalfluencyandastrongfoundationofalgebraicandgeometricconcepts.

APCalculusAB(11,12)

APCalculusBC(12)

APStatistics(12)

Calculus(11,12)

CalculusHonors(11,12)

Pre-Calculus(10,11,12)

Pre-CalculusHonors(10,11,12)

StatisticsandProbability(H)(12)

TopicsinMath(12)

SEMESTER ELECTIVES

ProbabilityTheory(H)(10,11,12)

StatisticsandDataAnalysis(10,11,12)

PERFORMING ARTS

Mission Statement: ThePerformingArtsprogramfosterscriticalthinking,discipline,andasenseofcommunity,allina creativeandrigorousenvironment Throughavarietyofperformanceandlearningopportunities,studentsdiscoverand cultivateanenduringconnectiontotheintrinsicvalueoftheperformingartsinthehumanexperience.

MorristownBeard'sPerformingArtscurriculumfeaturesbothperformance-basedandartsliteracyclasses.Thisallows studentswithpreviousexperiencetoenhanceexistingskills,whilealsoencouragingstudentswithouttrainingtoexplorethe worldthroughtheuniqueprismoftheperformingarts.IndependentStudyopportunitiesinallaspectsoftheperforming

artscanalsobearranged.Co-andextra-curricularofferingsincludesemiannualvocal,instrumental,anddanceconcerts,a fallplay,wintermusical,springperformingartsfestival,andparticipationinvariousoff-campusevents.Pasttheatrical performancesincludeBeMoreChill, InherittheWind,TheLaramieProject,TheMiser,MotherCourage,SweeneyTodd, andSweetCharity.Fordetails,seetheArtssectionofthewebsite.

Studentsinterestedintheplayormusicalareencouragedtoenrollindance,acting,orchorus.

THEATER COURSE OFFERINGS

Acting(9,10,11,12)

Stagecraft(10,11,12)

TechnicalTheater(9,10,11,12)

MUSIC ENSEMBLES

AllMusicEnsemblescanberepeatedforcredit.Completionofoneyearofamusicensemblecountsasaprerequisitefor AdvancedcoursesintheCID.Studentswhohavecompletedovertwoyearsofanensemblecoursewillreceivean "Experienced"designationbeforethecoursetitleontheirtranscript.

Chorus(9,10,11,12)

UpperSchoolOrchestra(9,10,11,12)

JazzEnsemble(9,10,11,12)

ContemporaryPercussionEnsemble(9,10,11,12)

DANCE COURSE OFFERINGS

ThefoundationoftheMBSDancecurriculumisthethree-yearsequencefromintroductorythroughAdvancedDance. Thesefull-yearcoursesincludeextensivewarm-up,aswellasexercisestodevelopproperalignment,flexibility,coordination andstrength Variousstylesareexploredthroughoutthesequence,includingjazz,modernandlyrical Dance(9,10)

IntermediateDance(10,11,12)

AdvancedDance(9,10,11,12)

MorristownBeardDanceEnsemble(9,10,11,12)

Tap(9,10,11,12)

INTRODUCTORY MUSIC CLASSES (SINGLE SEMESTER)

PianoSkills(9,10,11,12)

Foundations:Music(9,10,11,12)

MusicTheoryandComposition(9,10,11,12)

Songwriting(9,10,11,12)

INTERMEDIATE COURSES: PERFORMING ARTS IN THE CID

StudioRecordingTechniques(10,11,12)

ADVANCED COURSES: PERFORMING ARTS IN THE CID

ElectronicMusicComposition(10,11,12)

SCIENCE

Mission Statement: AtMBS,studentsareinspiredbythewondersoftheworld.Ourprogrampreparesstudentsforcivic responsibilityandglobalstewardshipthroughexperientiallearningandbydevelopingtheirunderstandingofthepowerand limitationsofscientiﬁcinvestigations.Studentsdeepentheircriticalthinkingandacquirequantitativeandqualitativetools necessarytomakeresponsibleandinformeddecisionsasscientistsandcitizens.

Thesciencecurriculumincludesathree-yearsequenceofcoursesdesignedtointroducestudentstothebroad,basicareas andelementsofscience.Theyareofferedindifferentversionsinordertoenhanceopportunitiesforstudentsuccess(see coursedescriptionsbelow) InadditiontothecoresubjectsofPhysics,Chemistry,andBiology,allstudentsareencouraged totakeEnvironmentalScience,andqualifiedstudentsmaytakescienceelectives,AdvancedPlacement,andAdvanced Studiescourses

IncomingstudentsenteringMBSingrades10,11or12,whohavepursuedcoreupperschoolscienceclassesinanalternate ordertothatofferedatMBS,shouldcontactthesciencedepartmentchairtodiscusstheirplacement

Earned Honors in Science Courses

StudentsinChemistry,Biology,andEnvironmentalSciencemayworktoachieveHonorscreditforthecoursebymeetinga setofclearlydefinedcriteria.

Physics (9)

Thisinvestigation-basedcourseintroducesbasicphysicsconceptsandgivesafoundationforfurthersciencecourses.The majorgoalsaretodevelopphysicalintuition,critical-thinking,andproblem-solvingskills.Activities,demonstrations, laboratoryexperiences,andprojectsareintegralpartsofthecourse,helpingstudentsdevelopskillsinorganization, observation,datacollection,reporting,andanalysis.Topicsmayincludestraight-linemotion,projectileandcircular motion,workandenergy,waves,sound,lightandcolor,andelectricityandmagnetism,alongwithpossiblespecialtopics.

Mathematical Physics Honors (9)

MathematicalPhysicsHonorsisgearedtowardsstudentswithverystrongalgebraskillsandwhoareintentonpursuing furtheradvancedsciencecoursesatMorristownBeardduringtheirupperclassmenyears Thecoursecoversthesamegeneral areasasthe“standard”Physicscourseofferedinfreshmanyear,namelyelectricity,wavesandmechanics,whiletackling conceptswithgreatermathematicalsophisticationandexpandingcontentcoveragetoabroaderrangeofmaterial,witha specificfocusontopicsofinteresttostudentswhomayeventuallypursueanengineeringdegreeorotherscientificmajors incollege Areasofemphasisrelatedtoelectricitymayincludesemiconductors,capacitors,diodes,andtransistors,whilean expandeddiscussionofwavesmayincludepropertiesoflight,suchasrefraction,reflection,andpolarization Theextended studyofmechanicsmayincludeanintroductiontodrag(fluiddynamics),rotationalmotionandstatics Thecoursewill emphasizestudent-drivenresearchanddesign,whileaimingtousephysicstosolvereal-worldproblems.Throughoutthe course,scientificrigorandquantitativeanalysiswillberequired.

Chemistry (10)

ChemistryandQuantitativeChemistryintroducestudentstothefundamentalideasofchemistry Topicsmayinclude atomictheory,thePeriodicTable/periodicity,chemicalbonding,structure/propertyrelationships,energytransformations, gaslaws,equilibrium,acid/basechemistry,electrochemistryandkinetics Experimentsandproblemsrequiring independentdecision-makingareintegraltothecourse (EarnedHonorsoption)

Quantitative Chemistry Honors (10)

QuantitativeChemistryHonorsaddressesthesamematerialasChemistrywithagreateremphasisonthemathematical aspectsofchemistry

Biology (11)

Thiscoursetouchesonallareasoflifescience,frommolecularinteractionstointeractionsbetweenorganismsandthe environment Labsarearegularandimportantpartofthecourseintegratingtheuseofcommontoolsandtechniques,both classical(microscope)andmodern(electronic),allowingstudentstostudytheformandfunctionoflivingthings Labwork fosterscriticalthinkingandproblemsolving (EarnedHonorsoption)

Experimental Biology Honors (11)

ExperimentalBiologycoversthesameareasofknowledgeasBiology,butplacesgreateremphasisonthedesign,execution andinterpretationoflabexperiments,applyingandsynthesizinglabdataandcourseconcepts.

Environmental Science (11, 12)

Humansocietyfacesanumberofpressingchallengesrelatedtotheenvironment,includingglobalclimatechange,theuse ofrenewableandnon-renewableresources,andwaterandairpollution.Thepolicyandpoliticaldecisionsrequiredin responsetotheseissuesdependintimatelyonourunderstandingofcomplexphysicalprocessesandsystems.Inthiscourse wewillinvestigatetheinteractionsbetweenhumansocietyandtheEarthSystem.Thefocusofthecoursewillbeoncase studiesinvolvingtheformulationofpoliciesinresponsetovariouspressuresandthreatsthatarisebetweensocietaland naturalsystems Examplesare:climatechangeandenergypolicy;coastalfloodingandtheimplicationsforlandusepolicy;

volcanicandearthquakehazardsanddisasterresponsepreparations;extremeweathereventsandthespreadofsuburbiato evermoreremoteregions.(EarnedHonorsoption)

ADVANCED COURSES AND FULL-YEAR ELECTIVES

AdvancedStudies:OrganicChemistry(11,12)

APBiology(11,12)

APChemistry(11,12)

SEMESTER

ELECTIVES

AdvancedPhysics1&2(H)(11,12)

AnatomyandPhysiology(H)(11,12)

AtmosphericScience(10,11)

EngineeringandRobotics(11,12)

ForensicScience(11,12)

GeneticsandBiotechnology(H)(11,12)

Oceanography(10,11)

SportsMedicine(alsolistedunderWellness)(11,12)

WELLNESS

Mission Statement: Wellnesseducationaimstoproduceapositiveattitudetowardlifelongwellnessaddressingbiological, social,andpsychologicaldimensionsofhealth,throughdevelopingtheskillsneededtopromoteoverallwell-being

WellnessisacornerstoneofaMorristownBeardSchooleducation OverthesequenceofWellnesscourses,studentsare askedtoexplorewhatpromotesandwhatinhibitstheflourishingofhumanlife,bothindividuallyandsocially Studentsin WellnesscoursesnotonlygainnewknowledgebutdrawtogethertheirlearningfromMath,theArts,theHumanities,and theSciences,recognizingthebreadthofskillsandcontentthatbearonthestudyofWellness,andappreciatingthatWellness permeatesthelifeofthemindandbodyalike Aboveall,WellnessatMorristownBeardSchoolencouragesstudentstomore fullycomprehendthatWellnesscannotbeseparatedfromtheethicalandthecultural:acorecomponentofourWellness programissustainedtraininginculturalcompetenceandethicalleadership

Wellness 9

Inthisyear-longcourse,studentswillengageinawidevarietyofindividualandteamactivitiesthatpromotelifelong wellness Unitsincludeteamsports,suchassoccer,basketball,andracketsports,aswellaslifetimewellnessactivities Duringthefirstsemester,studentswillrotatethroughmini-sessionsonleadershipandcommunicationaswellasdigital, information,andsocialmedialiteracy Thecoursealsoincorporatescharacterbuildingandproblemsolvingactivitiesthat enhancecommunicationskillsandcriticalthinking Eightweekswillbespentintheclassroomcoveringtopicsincluding personalhealthandmanagingrisk,culturalcompetencyandethicalleadership,nutritionandhealthyeatingpatterns,eating disorders,andthehumanstressresponse.StudentswillalsobetrainedinthebasicsofCPR/FirstAid.Studentswillthen examinerisksassociatedwithalcoholandvapingonbothapersonalandsocietallevel.Thecourseincludesdiscussionof humansexuality,reproduction, andsexuallytransmitteddiseases.

Wellness 10

Inthissemestercourse,studentswillengageinawidevarietyofindividualandteamactivitiesthatpromotekinesthetic learningandlifelongwellness Unitsincludeteamsports,suchasflagfootballandvolleyball,racketsports,aswellaslifetime wellnessactivitieslikeyogaandgolf Studentswillalsoengageinunitsonculturalcompetencyandethicalleadership Additionally,studentswillworkoncross-curricularassessmentsthatwillaskthemtoapplywhattheylearninother disciplinestosportsandphysicalfitness Assessmentsincludethehistoricalaspectsofsport,thephysicsinvolvedinathletics, sportscommentaryandwriting,andstatisticalanalysis

Integrative Health 10

Inthissemestercourse,studentswillbeintroducedtotheprinciplesofintegrativehealth.Integrativehealthprovides studentswithaholisticunderstandingofwellness,includingmental,emotional,functional,communal,andsocialaspects Studentsareprovidedwithtoolsforunderstandingthemselves,others,andtheworld,andtheinterdependenceofthethree Throughconversations,activities,andassessments,studentsapplyandintegrateconceptsintotheirlivesanddevelop long-termcompetencies Thecourseincludesdiscussionofhumansexuality,reproduction, andsexuallytransmitted diseases

WELLNESS ELECTIVES

AbnormalPsychologyandCounselingTheories(11,12)

FundamentalsofPsychology(fullyear)(H)(12)

IntroductiontoPublicHealth(11,12)

Nutrition(10,11,12)

PeerGroup(11,12)

ThePsychologyofSocialMedia(11,12)

TheScienceofHappiness(11,12)

SportsMedicine(alsolistedunderScience)(11,12)

WORLD LANGUAGE

Mission Statement: TheWorldLanguageDepartmentbelievesmeaningfulcommunicationisfundamentalto alllanguagelearning.Wepracticethelanguageincontext,developingculturalawarenessaswellaslinguistic competencies.Studentslearnaboutwhatcanbesaidinaworldlanguageaswellashowtosayit.Ourprogram embracesprogresswhileacknowledgingthatlearningalanguageinvolvescyclesofaccelerationandadjustment.

LANGUAGE STUDY AT MBS

TheWorldLanguageDepartmentoffersbeginnertoadvancedclassesinFrench,LatinandSpanish.Freshmen comingfromtheMBSmiddleschoolareplacedthroughacombinationoftestingandteacherrecommendation. NewMBSstudentstakeaplacementtestandtypicallyenrollinIntroductory,Novice,FoundationalorBuilding language(seebelow) Thegraduationrequirementisthreeconsecutiveyearsofthesamelanguage(French,Latin orSpanish)intheUpperSchool

WORLD LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY CURRICULUM

TheWorldLanguageproficiencycurriculumisdesignedtoallowstudentstomoveforwardthroughlanguageata pacethatprovidesthemopportunitiesforsuccess Thiscurriculumreflectsthemostcurrentresearchinthefield oflanguageinstructionandisinformedbybenchmarksandbestpracticesdefinedbytheAmericanCouncilfor theTeachingofForeignLanguages.Thecoursesaredefinedbyperformanceobjectivesratherthantimespent learningthelanguage.Theseperformanceobjectivesprovideinformationforstudentsaboutwhattheymust consistentlydemonstratetoreachaparticularlevel,puttingthemincontroloftheirownprogress.Teacherswill exposestudentstolanguageinamannerthatallowsthemtomeetbenchmarksforthelevelabovetheircurrent level.Thusstudentscanmovethroughthesequenceatapacethatfitstheirlanguagedevelopment,advancingpast levelsiftheydemonstratecompetenceintherelevantbenchmarks.Thesequenceisillustratedbelow.Students demonstrateextraordinaryachievementbyadvancingtoExperiencedandAdvancedcourses

SAMPLE STUDENT TRAJECTORIES

GRADUATE PROFILE

THE MBS UPPER SCHOOL PROGRAM

French and Spanish

Theultimategoalofsecondlanguagestudyistheabilitytocommunicateeffectivelyinavarietyofsituations.This requiresthatstudentsdeveloporal,aural,written,grammatical,lexicalandculturalformsoflinguistic competency Weendeavortodevelopallformsofcompetencythroughuseofavarietyofapproaches,withspecial emphasisonappropriateuseofthetargetlanguageinvariouscontexts Asstudentsreachupperlevelcourses, increasedemphasisisplacedonhigherorderthinkingcarriedoutinthelanguagebeingstudied Avarietyof assessmentpractices(oral,aural,written,project-based,formativeandsummative)measuresstudentprogress acrosstherangeofrequiredabilities Whilemasteryofvocabularyandbasicstructuralelementsoflanguageis required,theMBSlanguageprogramstrivestomaintainavibrantandstimulatingatmosphereoflearningin whichstudentengagementandactiveparticipationinclassactivitiesarestronglypromoted

Latin

InadditiontotheabilitytocomprehendancientLatintexts,thestudyofLatindevelopsahostofskillsthatare applicableinalldisciplines Ittrainsthemindtoobservetextcarefullyandanalyticallyandtoreachappropriate conclusionsbasedonbothdetailandcontext Itpromotesanalyticalandsyntheticthinking,intellectualand linguisticrigor,andeffective,clearcommunication Italsocontributestogainingself-knowledgethroughlearning abouttheoriginsofWesternCivilization BeginningwiththestudyoftheelementarycomponentsofLatin, studentsprogressivelyacquiremorecomplexdecodingabilitieswhichleadtothedevelopmentofreading proficiency LatinstudentswillalsodelveintovariousaspectsofRomanliteratureandhistory,cultureand mythology,therebyobservingconnectionsthatdemonstratethecontinuedrelevanceoftheclassicallegacyto contemporarycivilization

Travel and Immersion Programs

IncoordinationwiththeGlobalStudiesProgram,theWorldLanguagedepartmentparticipatesintheSchool's globaloutreacheffortsbyorganizingtripstoFrancophoneandHispanophoneregionsoftheworldaswellasto thosecountriesimportanttothestudyoftheclassicalworldanditslanguages RecenttripsincludeMontreal, Rome,CostaRica,Cuba,Panama,SpainandSicily

OVERVIEW OF COURSE OFFERINGS

Introductory-ExperiencedFrench,AP

Introductory-ExperiencedSpanish,AP;HeritageandBilingualSpanish

Introductory-AdvancedStudiesLatin

INTRODUCTORY, NOVICE, FOUNDATIONAL AND BUILDING LANGUAGE

Languageinstructionbeginswiththedevelopmentofstrongbasiccommunicationskillsinmanyroutinetopics suchasgreetings,introductions,personalandfamilyidentity,basicneedsandwants,likesanddislikes, introductiontofood,timeandweather,schoollifeandleisureactivities Studentscontinuetopracticethefour basiclanguageskills(listening,speaking,readingandwriting)astheystrivetowardscompetencyintheabove

areas.Cultureisintegratedintotheclassroomthroughuseofauthenticmaterials(audio,audio-visual,textual, internetandprint-based).Whileinitiallythefocusofinstructionisnotongrammarorvocabulary,ahighlevelof masteryrequiresthatvocabularybeacquiredandthatstudentsbeknowledgeableaboutthebasicstructural featuresoflanguage(e.g.tense,conjugation,gender,agreement).Bytheendofthissequenceofcourses,students willhaveactivelylearnedavarietyofcommunicationfunctions(suchasnarration,description,comparingand contrasting),willhavepracticedvariousmodesofcommunicationinbothwrittenandoralform(interpersonal, interpretive,presentational)andwillhavereadshortfictionandverse

INTRODUCTORY

Benchmarkuponcompletion:Thestudentcommunicateswithlimitedflexibilityinvocabularyandstructure, usinghigh-frequencywordsandrotephrases

IntroductoryFrench(9,10,11,12)

IntroductoryLatin(9,10,11,12)

IntroductorySpanish(9,10,11,12)

NOVICE

Benchmarkuponcompletion:Thestudentcommunicateswithemergingflexibilityinvocabularyandstructure, usinghigh-frequencyvocabularywords,rotephrasesandsimplesentences

NoviceFrench(9,10,11,12)

NoviceLatin(9,10,11,12)

NoviceSpanish(9,10,11,12)

FOUNDATIONAL

Benchmarkuponcompletion:Thestudentcommunicateswithgrowingflexibilityinvocabularyandstructure, andusessimplesentenceswithconfidenceinthepresenttense

FoundationalFrench(9,10,11,12)

FoundationalLatin(9,10,11,12)

FoundationalSpanish(9,10,11,12)

BUILDING

Benchmarkuponcompletion:Thestudentcommunicateswithgrowingflexibilityinvocabularyandstructure, andusessimpleandoriginaldiscoursewithemergingabilityinthepasttenses

BuildingFrench(9,10,11,12)

BuildingSpanish(9,10,11,12)

BuildingLatin(9,10,11,12)

INTERMEDIATE AND EXPERIENCED SPANISH AND FRENCH; CONTEMPORARY HISPANIC NARRATIVES

Inthesecourses,conductedprimarilyinthetargetlanguage,studentswillcontinuetopracticecommunication abilitiesinmanyevery-daycontexts,butwithemphasisondevelopingvocabulary,structuresandusagethatreflect

moresophisticatedthinkingabilitieswithinthetargetlanguage(evaluation,analysis,synthesis,creativewriting). Growthispromotedthroughin-depthprojectsandtasks,andgreatercontactwithauthenticmaterials.Courses progressivelyemphasizeworkinginthelanguageasmuchasonthelanguage;assuch,studentparticipationinthe targetlanguageisrequired.Asinthelowerlevels,allfundamentallanguageskillsareencouraged(listening, reading,speaking,writing),butwithincreasedexpectationsforsustaineddiscourseinthetargetlanguageand creativeuseofpreviouslypracticedskills Ahighdegreeofproficiencyinpreviouslystudiedmaterialisimplicitin upper-levelclasses

IntermediateFrench(9,10,11,12)

IntermediateSpanish(9,10,11,12)

ContemporaryHispanicNarratives(9,10,11,12)

ExperiencedFrench(9,10,11,12)

ExperiencedSpanish(9,10,11,12)

HERITAGE SPANISH LANGUAGE

Thisisayearlongcoursedesignedtoengageandpromoteahighlevelofspeaking,thinking,andwritingfor Hispanicheritagespeakers Uponcompletionofoneortwoyears,studentswillenterExperiencedandAdvanced Spanish,respectively TheHeritageSpanishcoursewillrunyearly,witheachyearalternatingbetweenAandB years,withAyearsfocusingonauthentic,non-fictionmemoirsandhistoricaldocumentshighlightingthediverse voicesencompassedintheLatinAmericanidentity ByearswillfocusonliteraryfictionfromLatinAmerica,and thedominantstylistictrendsthatrepresentnovels,poetry,andshortstoriesfromthispartoftheworld Thisisa seminarstylecoursewithcopiousrelianceupontreatmentanddiscussionofprimarysourcematerial Therewill bestudentpresentations,frequentwritingassignmentstocultivatewrittenexpressionandonemajorprojector paperpersemester.

HeritageandBilingualSpanishLanguage(9,10,11,12)

INTERMEDIATE AND EXPERIENCED LATIN

IntermediateandExperiencedLatincontinuethedevelopmentofreadingandcomprehensionskills Reading Latinistheprimarymeansofinputformorecomplexsyntacticformssuchassubordination,participles,andthe subjunctivemood,butstudentsalsoenhancetheircomprehensionthroughspeaking,writing,andlistening exercises.Continuedstudyofmorphologyanditsapplicationcomplementthepracticeofclosereading.Students alsobegintomakeforaysintoliterature,art,poeticmeter,figuresofspeech,andcomparativeanalysis.

IntermediateLatin(9,10,11,12)

ExperiencedLatin(9,10,11,12)

ADVANCED LANGUAGE COURSES - AP AND ADVANCED STUDIES

AdvancedStudies:LatinLiteratureoftheGoldenAge(11,12)

APFrenchLanguage(9,10,11,12)

APSpanishLanguage(9,10,11,12)