Electives

Web Page Design (1 Semester)

This course is designed to familiarize the student with HTML, the native language of the Web. Then students progress into the scripting language, JavaScript. Once students are comfortable with source code, they begin a thorough study of the software application Adobe Dreamweaver, and learn the essential elements of effective web site development and design. Students complete various assignments that stress the mastery of HTML and JavaScript. Upon demonstrating that mastery, these students learn the fundamental operation of Dreamweaver. The course is concluded with a capstone project in which students work in teams to develop a web-site of moderate complexity.

Photoshop (1 Semester)

This course explores the basics of Photoshop, including selection, layers, painting, image sources and copyright, and resolution. As the introductory skills are mastered, the course progresses to cover simple automations, image repair, correcting image color and tone, a few fun filters, and a brief introduction to type.

Desktop Publishing – (1 Semester)

In this course students examine how to create and manipulate text in PageMaker. Students use a variety of text formatting options to gain better control over text placement and create sophisticated type effects. Students create sheets and apply styles to text to automate formatting. Tables are also created and formatted using Adobe Table and text is edited using the Story Editor. Students learn to use the Change command to change text and formatting, to use kerning and tracking to adjust text spacing, and add pull quotes, captions, and drop caps. Finally, you’ll create a table of contents and use Autoflow and the Book feature to create long documents.

Digital Video – (1 Semester – may be repeated)

This course will reinforce students understanding of the art and language of film. The curriculum for students in this class parallels the curriculum at the introduction and intermediate level. Students will improve on camera work, script writing, producing and creating collaborative and individual film projects. They will be responsible for the student video announcements that will be broadcast school wide. The class size will be limited.

Drama (1 Semester – may be repeated)

This course emphasizes the production of plays. Course content includes the jobs of all members of a production company and a survey of theater history. Students adapt a published short story or write an original one-act play for presentation. This activity-centered course requires participation outside of class. The class size may be limited based on the number of people needed for each production.

Psychology (2 days/week for 2 semesters)

This course meets two days a week for two semesters, with students earning ½ of a credit for each semester (1 credit total) and is open to juniors and seniors. Students essentially study the way that people think and act, examining the building blocks of the modern science of psychology. Major topics include a study of the brain and senses, sleep and dreams, memory, classical and operant conditioning, motivation, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and various theories of psychology. All theories are studied objectively and examined from a Christian world view.

Journalism (2 Semesters – may be repeated)

This one-year course is open to juniors and seniors who have an interest in learning and gaining hands-on experience with journalistic interviewing, reporting, and writing. The curriculum for this course includes the history of American media, determining and gathering news, interviewing skills, and the use of photography, as well as writing news, features, and sports stories. The publication of the bi-monthly GCA student newspaper, The Cougar Chronicles, and the annual yearbook are ongoing projects for this course.