For those who are wondering about the curriculum that is used by Penn Foster, the answer depends on the level of education. For instance, the curriculum that is used for high school is different compared to the one that is used for college. For college, the curriculum that is used by Penn Foster can also vary, depending on the program.
As the curriculum used by Penn Foster varies, in this post, the focus will be on the curriculum of Online High School Diploma.
Orientation:
- Introduction to Personality Types: Your Own Genius: In this course, the students will be able to explore the potential that they have. Aside from that, they will also learn about theories about personality and the possible ways that personality is formed.
Humanities:
- Digital Citizenship: In this course, the students will learn the way to become a strong Digital Citizen. Not only that, they will also learn the method to use technology and to describe why it is important to have access to technology.
English:
- Reading Skills: In this course, the students will learn about techniques that are able to apply to any kind of reading. These techniques include reviewing, predicting, scanning, finding the main idea, and drawing conclusions.
- Basic English: In this course, the students will learn how to make their English skills better, which is useful for them to effectively communicate with others.
- Practical English: In this course, you will learn how to expand vocabulary, master word usage, and strengthen writing.
- Written Communication: In this course, the students will learn to write an essay among some other things.
- Literature: In this course, the students will learn to read more effectively, use new vocabulary to discuss, and so on.
Math:
- General Math 1: In this course, the students will learn about the solid foundation so that they will be able to use mathematics in their course, life, and career.
- Consumer Math: In this course, the students will learn how to apply math knowledge that they have learned to areas of their everyday life.
- General Math 2: In this course, the students will learn to solve word problems using equations, and so on.
Science:
- Earth Science: In this course, the students will learn about geology, oceanography, meteorology, environmental science, and astronomy.
- Biology: In this course, the students will learn about the origin of life, the relationships among all living organisms, and the way the body works.
- Physical Science: In this course, the students will learn about energy, heat, sound, electricity, and so on.
Social Studies:
- American History: In this course, the students will learn about US history from the earliest human settlements in North America thousands years ago to this day.
- Civics: In this course, the students will learn about the basic purposes of government and how modern governments differ from one another.
- World History: In this course, the students will learn about how people adapted to live in different environments, developed tools and technology, created political instructions to govern, and so on.
Health & Physical Education:
- Fitness and Nutrition: In this course, the students will learn about some components of nutrition, cardiorespiratory exercise, safety issues, and stress management techniques.
Electives: Vocational:
- Auto Repair Technician: In this course, the students will learn about the automobile repair field, engine parts and operation, and engine types.
- Child Care Professional: In this course, the students will learn about the benefits of child day care, licensing requirements, managing staff, and details on child growth and development.
- Medical Administrative Assistant: In this course, the students will learn about what it is like to work with doctors in healthcare field. The topics that they will learn include time and stress management, strategies, law and medical ethics, and so on.
- Small Business Management: In this course, the students will be introduced to the way to prepare to start their own business. Plus, they will also learn the basics of a business plan.
- Veterinary Assistant: In this course, the students will learn about the skills that are needed to be a Veterinary Assistant.
Elective: Academic/College Preparation:
- Algebra: In this course, the students will learn about the basic operations with signed numbers, monomials, and polynomials. Aside from that, they will also learn about formulas, equations, graphing, exponents, roots, algebraic fractions, quadratic equations, and so on.
- Algebra 2: In this course, the students will learn about fundamental skills of mathematics and the skills in manipulating and solving linear, quadratic, exponential, radical, rational, polynomial, and logarithmic equations.
- American Literature: In this course, the students will learn the way to navigate the worlds that helped to shape America.
- Art Appreciation: In this course, the students will be introduced to forms of art throughout history, from prehistoric to modern. Besides, they will also discuss elements of design, symbolism, and many more.
- Chemistry: In this course, the students will learn about the structure and reactions of matter. They will discuss elemental symbols, chemical reactions, and so on.
- Geometry: In this course, the students will learn about properties of points, lines, planes, and angles, polygons, triangles, circles, and solids.
- Music Appreciation: In this course, the students will learn how to appreciate music, the role of composer and listener, and many more.
- Psychology: In this course, the students will be introduced to the roots and the development of modern psychology.
- Spanish: In this course, the students will learn about speaking, active reading and comprehensive listening.
Electives: General:
- Business Math: In this course, the students will learn about the basic math skills and principles and the study of a lot of different business math topics, including income, maintaining a checking account, interest, installment buying, discounts, and markups.
- Economics: In this course, the students will learn about the economic systems used in the world. Plus, they will also discuss the function of money, the law of supply and demand, as well as the role of banks and government within capitalist economies.
- English Communications: In this course, the students will learn how to avoid grammatical errors when writing sentences and paragraphs. Apart from that, they will also learn how to make words and how to improve their image by using the right word in the right place.
- General Science: In this course, the students will be introduced to some branches of science and engineering, such as oceanography, agricultural science, environmental science, biotechnology, and so on.
- Microsoft Word & Excel: In this course, the students will learn about the method to use Microsoft Word so that they will be able to create, edit and illustrate documents. Besides, they will also learn to use Microsoft Excel to be able to perform numerical calculations and so on.