Academic Concentrations

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – W.B. Yeats

A concentration is an overarching and interdisciplinary focus of study weaving together a series of classes, Connections projects, and Intersession programs. It carries with it the commitment to complete a capstone project within the area of study. The completion of a concentration will be noted on a student’s transcript. Students must indicate their interest and commitment to a Concentration in the spring of their sophomore year as a part of the course request process. Interested students should talk to the specific concentration advisor for more information and guidance. Certain prerequisites must be met to be accepted into the program.

Environmental Stewardship/Climate Justice (ESCJ).

Nancy Metzger-Carter, Concentration Advisor

Prerequisites

9th grade math and science
10th grade math and science
10th grade Environmental Leadership Connections Program

Additional Courses
Courses that fulfill this concentration are listed below (not all are available in the current academic year). Students must take a minimum of two of the following courses:

Oceanology
True Grit : History & Literature of the American West
Ecological Field Studies: Taylor Mountain Natural History
Native American Literature
Literature & History of the American Environmental Movement
Advanced Studies in Environmental Science

Other Requirements

Select one environmental and/or outdoor education themed Intersession course or a summer study/service program approved by the environmental stewardship advisor.
Select, or develop in consultation with the Director of Connections, an environmental- and/or outdoor education-themed Connections program for two quarters in the junior and senior years. Students may assist a faculty member in designing and offering an environmentally-themed exploratory course.
Complete a capstone project, which could be an academic research paper on a specific topic of their choice within the area of environmental stewardship/climate justice, a multimedia presentation to the community, or a different in-depth project to be developed with the Environmental Stewardship/Climate Justice advisor.

Global Citizenship

Florence Rink, Concentration Advisor

Prerequisites

9th grade humanities
10th grade humanities
Levels I-IV world language (graduation requirement is level III

Additional Courses
Courses that fulfill this concentration are listed below (not all are available in the current academic year). Students must take a minimum of two of the following courses:

Comparative Religions
African Studies
British Literature
Intro. to Economics or Advanced Studies in Economics
Comparative Revolutionary History
Intro. to International Relations
Race, Class & Gender in Modern America
Advanced Studies in Historiography
Advanced Studies in Art History
Lost Art Techniques of the Ancients
East Meets West in the Art of Puppetry

Other Requirements

Select one study/service abroad Intersession course or a summer study/service program approved by the Global Citizenship advisor.
Select or develop a global issues-themed Connections program for two quarters in the junior and senior years. Students may assist a faculty member in designing and offering a Global Issues exploratory course or be approved to teach such an exploratory course.
Complete a capstone project, which could be an academic research paper on a specific topic of the student's choice within the area of global citizenship, a multimedia presentation to the community, or a different in-depth project to be developed with the Global Citizenship advisor.

STEM

Lisa Zavieh, Sean Freese, Concentration Advisors

Prerequistes

Biology
Chemistry (any level)
Physics (any level)
Precalculus

Additional Courses

Courses that fulfill this concentration are listed below (not all are available in the current academic year). Students must take a minimum of two of the following courses:

Intro to Engineering
Intro to Programming
Intro to Robotics
AP Computer Science Principles OR* AS Computer Programming
Anatomy and Physiology OR* Genetics
AS Geology & Earth Science
AS Environmental Science
AP Statistics

Other Requirements

Select one STEM themed Intersession course or a summer research/internship position approved by the STEM concentration advisor(s).
Participate in, or develop, in consultation with the Director of Connections and the STEM concentration advisor, a STEM or STEM education-themed Connections program for the duration of junior year. Or, students may assist a faculty member in designing and offering a STEM-themed exploratory course.
Propose and complete a capstone project. Proposals are to be presented to and approved by a committee of the STEM concentration advisor and two additional faculty members or administrators.
Once approved, the capstone project may be completed as an independent study, or as part of a culminating summer research program. In both instances, the results of the capstone project are to be presented to the community in a manner to be developed with the STEM concentration advisor.

Sonoma Academy Is...

...the only private, independent, college preparatory high school in Sonoma County. On our beautiful campus nestled at the base of Taylor Mountain in Southeastern Santa Rosa, our students are able to explore their interests and passions in a rigorous and inspiring environment that develops a lifelong love of learning and prepares them for college and beyond.

Sonoma Academy admits students of any race, color, religion, ethnicity or national origin, citizenship, gender or gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or disability, to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnicity or national origin, citizenship, gender or gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and tuition assistance programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.