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Pathway Information

Pathways to Global Citizenship Information

The purpose of the Pathways to Global Citizenship program is to encourage students to identify and engage with topics of global significance while developing and refining skills in performance, research, critical thinking, evaluation and synthesis of ideas. As a result, the Pathways program provides thematically grouped plans across five academic houses. Upon entry to Gainesville High School (GHS) interested students will select a preferred academic pathway, intended to ensure that all candidates have a rigorous academic experience commensurate with their interests and academic goals.

Students will study four courses within their concentration to complete a pathway. Pathways associated with a normal graduation sequence in Mathematics, World Language and Culture, History, and Science require candidates to complete six courses within their concentration with at least two at the Advanced Placement level.

Pathways candidates are also afforded the opportunity to propose an Extended Learning Experience (ELE) capstone assessment. ELEs may be related to the student's pathway or in an area of creative or extracurricular interest. Students may complete an ELE and 40 hours of leadership or community service to earn distinction in their academic house. ELEs challenge students beyond the regular array of coursework through pursuits such as: advanced research, writing and directing a play, performing a music recital, interning with an engineering firm through a project, or studying a regional culinary style.

Pathways to Global Citizenship Goals

  • Identify and engage with topics of global significance
  • Develop skills in research, critical thinking, evaluation and synthesis of ideas
  • Offer candidates opportunities to explore academic interests
  • Encourage leadership and community involvement

Language & Culture Pathways Sample Electives

Students will select a pathway to explore interests in language, visual and performing arts, or various forms of writing, editing, and publication. Candidates for Writing and Communication or Fine and Performing Arts pathways will complete four courses within their concentration. Candidates studying the World Language and Culture pathway will complete six courses within their concentration, including at least two at the Advanced Placement level.

Examples:

Writing and Communication Example 1 Writing and Communication Example 2
  • Year 1 Option: Creative Writing I
  • Year 2 Options: Creative Writing II or Journalism I
  • Year 3 Options: AP Seminar or GEMS 11 or Journalism I or II
  • Year 4 Options: AP Research or GEMS 12 or Photo Journalism or Yearbook
  • Year 1 Option: Journalism 1
  • Year 2 Option: Journalism 2
  • Year 3 Options: AP Language and Composition or AP Seminar or Photojournalism
  • Year 4 Options: AP Literature or AP Research or Yearbook

World Language & Culture Example 1 World Language & Culture Example 2
  • Year 1 Option: Language Level 2
  • Year 2 Option: Language Level 3
  • Year 3 Options: Language Level 4 or AP Seminar
  • Year 4 Options: AP Language or AP Research
  • Year 1 Option: Language Level 1
  • Year 2 Options: Language Level 2
  • Year 3 Options: Language Level 3
  • Year 4 Options: Advanced Language Level 4

Fine and Performing Arts

Please meet with your teachers and school counselor to draft an appropriate 4-year plan.

Engineering, Math, & Automation Pathways Sample Electives

Students will select a pathway to explore interests in design, engineering, automation, and manufacturing. Candidates will successfully complete four courses within a concentration allowing for the exploration of interrelated concepts required of engineers, mathematicians, or physicists. Within the Mathematics pathway students will complete six courses within their concentration, including at least two at the Advanced Placement level.

Examples:

Math Example 1 Math Example 2 Math Example 3
  • Year 1 Option: Geometry or Algebra 2
  • Year 2 Options: Algebra 2 or Pre-Calculus AB/BC
  • Year 3 Options: AP Pre-Calculus or AP Calculus BC
  • Year 4 Options: AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, or DE Multivariable Calculus
  • Year 1 Option: Geometry or Algebra 2
  • Year 2 Option: Algebra 2 or Pre-Calculus AB
  • Year 3 Options: Statistics and AP Seminar
  • Year 4 Options: AP Statistics and AP Research
  • Year 1 Option: Geometry
  • Year 2 Options: Algebra 2
  • Year 3 Options: AP Computer Science Principles
  • Year 4 Options: AP Computer Science A

Engineering & Construction Example 1 Engineering & Construction Example 2
  • Year 1 Option: PLTW Intro to Engineering
  • Year 2 Option: PLTW Principles of Engineering
  • Year 3 Options: PLTW Civil Engineering/Architecture or PLTW Digital Electronics
  • Year 4 Options: PLTW Capstone
  • Year 1 Option: PLTW Intro to Engineering
  • Year 2 Option: Principles of Engineering
  • Year 3 Options: Production Systems
  • Year 4 Options: Constructtion Technology

Coding, Gaming, & Robotics Example 1 Coding, Gaming, & Robotics Example 2
  • Year 1 Option: PLTW Intro to Engineering
  • Year 2 Options: PLTW Principles of Engineering or AP Computer Science Principles
  • Year 3 Options: AP Seminar or Game Design & Development
  • Year 4 Options: AP Research or Advanced Game Design or PLTW Engineering Design & Development
  • Year 1 Option: PLTW Intro to Engineering or CIS
  • Year 2 Options: AP Computer Science Principles or Computer Information Systems
  • Year 3 Options: AP Computer Science Principles or Computer Science A or Robotics or Advanced CIS
  • Year 4 Options: Advanced CIS or AP Computer Science A

Science, Health & Medicine Pathways Sample Electives

Students will select a pathway to explore interests in health and preparatory coursework for post-secondary degrees in public health, science inquiry, or ecology. Candidates will complete four courses within their concentration, allowing for the exploration of connections among science, wellness, and biomedical science courses. Students studying in the Science pathway will complete six courses within their concentration, including at least two at the Advanced Placement level.

Examples:

Science

Please meet with your teachers and school counselor to draft an appropriate 4-year plan that includes at least two classes at the AP level.

Biomedical Science Example 1 Biomedical Science Example 2
  • Year 1 Option: PLTW Principles of Biomedical Science
  • Year 2 Option: PLTW Human Body Systems
  • Year 3 Option: PLTW Medical Interventions
  • Year 4 Option: PLTW Biomedical Innovation
  • Year 1 Option: PLTW Principles of Biomedical Science
  • Year 2 Options: PLTW Human Body Systems or AP Seminar or Biology 2 or Intro to Microbiology and Bacteriology
  • Year 3 Options: AP Biology or AP Chemistry or AP Research
  • Year 4 Options: AP Research or AP Biology or AP Chemistry

Global Ecology Example
  • Year 1 Options: Environmental Science or Earth Science or Biology
  • Year 2 Options: Biology or Chemistry
  • Year 3 Options: AP Biology or AP Chemistry or AP Environmental Science or Biology 2 or Oceanography
  • Year 4 Options: AP Biology or AP Chemistry or AP Enironmental Science

History, Political Science, & Criminal Justice Pathways Sample Electives

Students will select a pathway to explore interests in government, politics, sociology, and criminal justice. Candidates will complete four courses within their concentration, allowing for the exploration of interdisciplinary connections required in political science and criminology. Students studying the History pathway will complete six courses within their concentration, including at least two at the Advanced Placement level.

Examples:

History

Please meet with your teachers and school counselor to draft an appropriate 4-year plan that includes at least two classes at the AP level.

Political Science Example
  • Year 1 Option: Prep elective of your choice
  • Year 2 Options: AP World History or AP Seminar or Leadership 1
  • Year 3 Options: AP Seminar or Sociology or Leadership 2 or AP Human Geography or AP Psychology or AP Economics
  • Year 4 Options: AP Research or AP Psychology or Leadership 3 or AP Economics

Criminal Justice Example
  • Year 1 Option: Prep elective of your choice
  • Year 2 Option: AP Seminar or Criminal Justice 1
  • Year 3 Options: AP Research or Criminal Justice 2
  • Year 4 Options: AP Research or Criminal Justice 2 or AP Psychology or Sociology

Independent Study & Scholarship Pathways

Students within this house will develop a pathway to explore their interests and post-secondary goals. Candidates will collaborate with Gainesville High School staff to outline two- and four-year academic plans that incorporate areas of interest. Candidates will successfully complete four courses from their academic plan, creating an area of concentration. Students studying in the Business and Marketing Pathway will earn four credits within the concentration. Those in the Health and Fitness Pathway will study six courses in their concentration, including four Health and PE classes.

Examples:

Business and Marketing Example 1 Business Example 2
  • Year 1 Option: Digital Applications
  • Year 2 Options: Principles of Business and Marketing or AP Computer Science Principles
  • Year 3 Options: Design, Multimedia, & Web Tech or AP Computer Science A or AP Seminar
  • Year 4 Options: Advanced Design Multimedia & Web Tech or AP Research
  • Year 1 Option: Computer Information Systems
  • Year 2 Options: Advanced CIS or Accounting
  • Year 3 Options: Advanced Accounting or Business Management or Sports & Entertainment Marketing
  • Year 4 Options: Business Law or Sports & Entertainment Marketing
Health and Wellness Example 1 Health and Wellness Example 2
  • Year 1 Option: HPE 1
  • Year 2 Options: HPE 2
  • Year 3 Options: Principles of Weight Training or Advanced PE or Unified PE
  • Year 4 Options: Principles of Weight Training or Weight Training & Conditioning or Advanced PE or Unified PE
  • Year 1 Option: Principles of Business & Marketing
  • Year 2 Options: Nutrition & Wellness
  • Year 3 Options: Intro to Culinary
  • Year 4 Options: Leadership or Business Elective


AP Capstone and Gifted Education Example 1 AP Capstone and Gifted Education Example 2
  • Year 1 Option: Gifted Education 9
  • Year 2 Options: Gifted Education 10 or AP Seminar
  • Year 3 Option: AP Seminar or AP Research
  • Year 4 Option: AP Research or fourth year elective
  • Year 1 Option: Gifted Education 9
  • Year 2 Option: Gifted Education 10
  • Year 3 Options: GEMS 1 or third year elective
  • Year 4 Options: GEMS 2 or fourth year elective

Interdisciplinary Studies (student proposed)

Students propose and complete at least four thematically-linked courses as part of their 4-year plan. Please see Pathways Program Coordinator for more information.