Academic Departments

Advanced Studies

At Emma Willard School, we focus on what matters most in learning—relevance, enduring understanding, and multidisciplinary connection. Today’s high school students face new challenges that require deep topic knowledge and critical thinking. Enduring learning and academically rigorous curricula go beyond simply loading up on AP™ courses. Emma is responding to our changing world by designing our own unique advanced curriculum. Faculty members develop Advanced Studies (AS) courses that challenge our students and fuel their love of learning.

Peter Hatala, Director of Curriculum and Innovation

Moving beyond the AP allows us to offer a greater diversity of upper level courses, or to add new and timely features to “traditional” courses.

Headlines

List of 5 news stories.

Creating with Calculus
3/24/2022
By Melissia Mason

Last year, we announced a plan to “go beyond” Advanced Placement™ classes, replacing AP with our own Emma-specific Advanced Studies (AS) courses. Over the summer, faculty spent time together in a coordinated effort to dream of and plan for advanced classes that are student-centered, relevant, and meaningful. Mathematics Instructor Laslzo Bardos was among those faculty, pursuing a vision for “going beyond” with AS Calculus.
In Search of Deeper Learning
1/31/2022
By Director of Curriculum and Innovation Peter Hatala

As part of their work developing and honing curriculum aligned with our Academic Program Pillars, Emma Willard faculty recently spent a day in dialogue and planning with Dr. Jal Mehta, professor of education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Engaging Art History
12/14/2021
By Melissia Mason

Last year, we announced a plan to “go beyond” Advanced Placement™ classes, replacing AP with our own Emma-specific Advanced Studies (AS) courses. Over the summer, faculty spent time together in a coordinated effort to dream of and plan for advanced classes that are student-centered, relevant, and meaningful. History Instructor Emily Snyder was among those faculty, pursuing a vision for “going beyond” with AS Art History.
Defining Our Own Brand of Learning
7/21/2020
A redesigned focus around specific academic pillars
Emma Willard School To Offer New Advanced Curriculum
2/13/2020

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2021-2022 AS Courses

AS Rhetoric 1.5

AP English Lit & Comp 1.5

AS US History 1.5

AS Art History 1.5

AP Economics (AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics) 1.5

AP Intro Psychology 1.5

AP US Govt. and Politics 1.5

AS French V 1 .5

AS Spanish V 1.5

AS Latin IV 1.5

AP Chinese IV 1.5

AS Calculus AB 1.5

AP Calculus C 1.5

AS Statistics 1.5

AS Physics 1 1.5

AS Biology 1.5

AS Chemistry 1.5

AS Computer Science Principles 1.5

AS Computer Science A 1.5