Advanced Studies
Go Beyond!
Emma Willard School offers a unique Advanced Studies program to instill in each student a wide breadth of knowledge and the ability to demonstrate mastery of learning in a variety of ways.
Several Advanced Studies courses largely align with the Advanced Placement™ curriculum; however, Advanced Studies courses will not prepare students fully for AP exams. Advanced Studies teachers provide students with recommendations for additional resources for self-study to allow students to prepare fully for the AP exam.
To ensure students engage with a range of rigorous offerings across the program, the school offers guidelines on the number of AS courses a student may take in each grade year. Grade 9 students generally do not enroll in AS courses. Grade 10 students may choose one AS course, Grade 11 students up to two, and Grade 12 students up to three. Students seeking to exceed these guidelines may petition to enroll in additional AS courses.
Our Advanced Studies curriculum prioritizes deep, authentic learning over rote memorization and content coverage, preparing students to excel in their chosen discipline at the collegiate level and beyond. These classes challenge students to tackle complex problems and questions and give them the chance to conduct independent research on topics that compel them. Dr. Esther DettmarDean of Academics
Each year, Emma Willard students participate in advanced study in the following subjects:
| Art History Biology Calculus AB Calculus C Chemistry Chinese Language Computer Science A Computer Science Explorations |
Economics French Language Latin Literature Physics 1 Physics 2 Psychology |
Spanish Language Statistics Studio Art United States Government and Politics United States History |
![A teacher and a student in a science lab work on dissecting a giant grasshopper.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1785954322/emmawillardorg/auepivlrqmlhlfl1wx1t/AS_Entemology_2026_3.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1785954322/emmawillardorg/auepivlrqmlhlfl1wx1t/AS_Entemology_2026_3.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1785954322/emmawillardorg/auepivlrqmlhlfl1wx1t/AS_Entemology_2026_3.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1785954322/emmawillardorg/auepivlrqmlhlfl1wx1t/AS_Entemology_2026_3.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1785954322/emmawillardorg/auepivlrqmlhlfl1wx1t/AS_Entemology_2026_3.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1785954322/emmawillardorg/auepivlrqmlhlfl1wx1t/AS_Entemology_2026_3.jpg","width":2200}])
![Katie Duglin teaching class]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1784037918/emmawillardorg/nmxxiqjdeypvjcpofzkg/8G7A0079-Enhanced-NR_cropCustom.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1784037918/emmawillardorg/nmxxiqjdeypvjcpofzkg/8G7A0079-Enhanced-NR_cropCustom.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1784037918/emmawillardorg/nmxxiqjdeypvjcpofzkg/8G7A0079-Enhanced-NR_cropCustom.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1784037918/emmawillardorg/nmxxiqjdeypvjcpofzkg/8G7A0079-Enhanced-NR_cropCustom.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1784037918/emmawillardorg/nmxxiqjdeypvjcpofzkg/8G7A0079-Enhanced-NR_cropCustom.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1784037918/emmawillardorg/nmxxiqjdeypvjcpofzkg/8G7A0079-Enhanced-NR_cropCustom.png","width":2000}])
![Lillian H. ’27 in AS Spanish]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1772043521/emmawillardorg/rlz5u4niy0fz4bknincs/AS_Spanish_11_EDITS_cropped.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1772043521/emmawillardorg/rlz5u4niy0fz4bknincs/AS_Spanish_11_EDITS_cropped.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1772043521/emmawillardorg/rlz5u4niy0fz4bknincs/AS_Spanish_11_EDITS_cropped.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1772043521/emmawillardorg/rlz5u4niy0fz4bknincs/AS_Spanish_11_EDITS_cropped.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1772043521/emmawillardorg/rlz5u4niy0fz4bknincs/AS_Spanish_11_EDITS_cropped.png","width":1440}])
![History Instructor Emily Snyder]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1675372358/emmawillardorg/ymisffytteun7lg9n8aq/orig_news1333101_1234066.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1675372358/emmawillardorg/ymisffytteun7lg9n8aq/orig_news1333101_1234066.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1675372358/emmawillardorg/ymisffytteun7lg9n8aq/orig_news1333101_1234066.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1675372358/emmawillardorg/ymisffytteun7lg9n8aq/orig_news1333101_1234066.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1675372358/emmawillardorg/ymisffytteun7lg9n8aq/orig_news1333101_1234066.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1675372358/emmawillardorg/ymisffytteun7lg9n8aq/orig_news1333101_1234066.jpg","width":2200}])
![Chiara Shah teaching AS Computer Science]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1787078291/emmawillardorg/jlahdmfprvjr4knkx1y0/EmmaWillard101.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1787078291/emmawillardorg/jlahdmfprvjr4knkx1y0/EmmaWillard101.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1787078291/emmawillardorg/jlahdmfprvjr4knkx1y0/EmmaWillard101.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1787078291/emmawillardorg/jlahdmfprvjr4knkx1y0/EmmaWillard101.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1787078291/emmawillardorg/jlahdmfprvjr4knkx1y0/EmmaWillard101.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1787078291/emmawillardorg/jlahdmfprvjr4knkx1y0/EmmaWillard101.jpg","width":1620}])
![students mimicking the pose of a statue in the Chroma exhibit]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1687889315/emmawillardorg/dtvdurryb6brq7y4egj5/IMG_4840.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1687889315/emmawillardorg/dtvdurryb6brq7y4egj5/IMG_4840.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1687889315/emmawillardorg/dtvdurryb6brq7y4egj5/IMG_4840.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1687889315/emmawillardorg/dtvdurryb6brq7y4egj5/IMG_4840.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1687889315/emmawillardorg/dtvdurryb6brq7y4egj5/IMG_4840.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1687889315/emmawillardorg/dtvdurryb6brq7y4egj5/IMG_4840.jpg","width":2200}])
Whether you’re interested in studying multivariable calculus, Shakespearean tragedy, theatre, or global climate change, Emma has a course to fit your interest. Download our course catalog for more details and graduation requirements.