According to the College Board, by enrolling in this course, “students develop and use the same skills, practices, and methods employed by historians: analyzing primary and secondary sources; developing historical arguments; making historical comparisons; and utilizing reasoning about contextualization, causation, and continuity and change over time.” By dividing United States history, from 1491 to present day, into nine historical periods and seven themes, students will develop an understanding of early exploration, colonialism and settlement. Then, embark on topics such as power and politics, national identity, culture and society, geography and global interactions. Students are encouraged to have already taken a senior history course such as 20th Century World History 12 in preparation for this Advanced Placement course.

According to the US College Board, “AP Microeconomics focuses on the principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual decision-makers, both consumers and producers, within the economic system. AP Macroeconomics, conversely, focuses on the principles that apply to an economic system as a whole.” This course covers topics such as basic economic concepts, the nature and functions of product markets, supply and demand and theory of consumer choice.  Production and costs, firm behavior and market structure are also presented. Students will then develop an understanding of factor markets, derived factor demand and marginal revenue product. Lastly, hiring decisions in the markets for labor and capital and market distribution of income, market failure and the role of government are all examined.

Advanced Topics in Mathematics is intended for our top scholars who have already completed Pre-Calculus 12 and wish to continue studying mathematics at high school. Completion of Calculus 12 or AP Calculus AB is also an asset but not necessary as it can be taken concurrently. Students will explore topics that they would not typically see until university, providing them with an exposure to mathematics that is relevant to post-secondary pursuits in mathematics, engineering, computer science, or any science program. The main focus will be an introduction to linear algebra where students will learn topics such as: systems of equations, matrices, determinants, and vectors. This course will also include calculus topics from AP Calculus BC such as parametric, polar, and vector functions, and series (i.e. those that are not in AP Calculus AB).

In AP Research 12, students further their skills acquired in AP Seminar 11 by understanding research methodology; employing ethical research practices; and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information as they address a research question. Students explore their skill development, document their processes, and curate the artifacts of the development of their scholarly work in a portfolio. The course culminates in an academic paper of 4000-5000 words and a presentation with an oral defense.

The AP Spanish Language course emphasizes communication (understanding and being understood by others) by applying interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational skills in real-life situations. This includes vocabulary usage, language control, communication strategies, and cultural awareness. The course strives not to overemphasize grammatical accuracy at the expense of communication. To best facilitate the study of language and culture, the course is taught almost exclusively in Spanish.

The AP Spanish Language course engages students in an exploration of culture in both contemporary and historical contexts. The course develops students’ awareness and appreciation of cultural products (e.g., tools, books, music, laws, conventions, institutions); practices (patterns of social interactions within a culture); and perspectives (values, attitudes, and assumptions).

The AP French Language course emphasizes communication (understanding and being understood by others) by applying interpersonal, interpretive, and presentation skills in real-life situations. This includes vocabulary usage, language control, communication strategies, and cultural awareness. The course strives not to overemphasize grammatical accuracy at the expense of communication. To best facilitate the study of language and culture, the course is taught exclusively in French. The course engages students in an exploration of culture in both contemporary and historical contexts. The course develops students’ awareness and appreciation of cultural products (e.g., tools, books, music, laws, conventions, institutions); practices (patterns of social interactions within a culture); and perspectives (values, attitudes, and assumptions).

In AP Computer Science Principles, students will develop computational thinking vital for success across all disciplines, such as using computational tools to analyze and study data and working with large data sets to analyze, visualize, and draw conclusions from trends. The course is unique in its focus on fostering student creativity. Students are encouraged to apply creative processes when developing computational artifacts and to think creatively while using computer software and other technology to explore questions that interest them. They will also develop effective communication and collaboration skills, working individually and collaboratively to solve problems, and discussing and writing about the importance of these problems and the impacts to their community, society, and the world.

Different from AP Computer Science A which is taught in Java, this course does not have a designated programming language.  The programming languages that are most appropriate for the students will be selected and used in the course.

Students will be exposed to the following skill sets during the course of the year.

• Theory Fundamentals
• Intermediate Harmony
• Analysis and Music Appreciation
• Aural Skills
• Sight Reading and rhythm reading
• Music composition, orchestration and arranging
• Music Software and Technology

Students will take AP music theory exam in May and may have the option of doing the Royal Conservatory of Music Advanced theory exam.

This course focuses on problem solving and analysis, trying, where possible, to set the mathematics within a real world context. Students will typically take this to fulfill their Math 11 graduation requirement and as a terminal math course.  Critical thinking in a mathematical setting is the primary goal of the course.

Topics include; analyzing puzzles and games that involve numerical and logical reasoning, using problem-solving strategies. Solving problems that involve compound interest in financial decision making. Collecting primary or secondary data (statistical or informational) related to the topic. Assessing the accuracy, reliability and relevance of the primary or secondary data collected by:

• identifying examples of bias and points of view
• identifying and describing the data collection methods
• determining if the data is relevant
• determining if the data is consistent with information obtained from other sources on the same topic.

AP Art History is designed to provide the same benefits to secondary school students as those provided by an introductory college course in art history: an understanding and enjoyment of architecture, sculpture, painting and other art forms within historical and cultural contexts. In the course, students examine major forms of artistic expression from the past and present and from a variety of cultures. They learn to look at works of art critically, with intelligence and sensitivity, and to articulate what they see or experience.

Students examine the following spectrum: non-European artistic traditions, ancient through Medieval, and Renaissance to present.

This course is a detailed examination of our physical environment, including geomorphology, climatology, meteorology, soils, and natural vegetation. Human geography includes a study of energy resources, minerals, alternative energy sources, agriculture, transport and communications, industry, and land use choices. Project-based learning and map and photo interpretation also constitutes a significant part of the course content.

This senior level course will allow the students to be immersed into the theory and practical aspects of entrepreneurship. In addition to an extensive study of theory, the students will participate in “Project Innovation “ which will challenge them to run a business for a brief period with minimal funding, experience or help. The students will face some very interesting challenges and situations which will make the theory presented later more meaningful. For a large part of the year, the students will be required to create a venture from scratch and then implement that venture during the annual Brentwood Regatta in April. Students invest their own money and reap the benefits of their diligence and creativity. This project gives all of the students practical experience in many of the problems and challenges the entrepreneur faces each and every day.

Students will quickly realize that calculus is an exciting field of mathematics unlike any math course they have previously studied. They will learn the power of calculus as the mathematics that enables scientists, engineers, economists, and many others to model real-life, dynamic situations. Calculus 12 is a course designed to give students an appreciation for, and an understanding of, the concepts included in most first year university calculus courses. Although this is not a preparation course for the AP Calculus AB exam, upon completion of this course students will have covered the majority of the topics in the AP curriculum.

Students who choose English 12 (English Studies 12) spend less time studying poetry than do their Literature 12 cousins, and more time honing the rhetorical skills needed for post-secondary life.  English 12 students will read independently as well as assigned nonfiction, novels, short fiction, verse, and Shakespeare.  English 12 students will write approximately every two weeks in a variety of different styles.  English 12 students will speak informally and formally, at times from memory, at times with interpretive emotion.  

Students who choose Literary Studies 12 receive credit for both English Studies 12 and Literary Studies 12 as they will cover the curricula for both. The Lit canon includes: the greatest texts to ever touch paper, from Beowulf to Virginia Woolf. This course does not demand memorization, but it does demand a love of poetry and close reading. As Literary Studies 12 is often the time when many Brentwood students are introduced to the prose of Dickens, it also marks the first occasion when the young experience unadulterated bliss.

Grade 12 students who choose AP English Literature and Composition, in addition to covering the English Studies 12 and Literary Studies 12 curricula, are the kind of students who get excited about the textual differences between the quarto version of Hamlet and the folio version of Hamlet, and who look wistfully into bookshop window displays of 19th-century Russian novels.

Students will embark upon a mathematical journey unlike any that they have previously experienced. They will learn the power of calculus as the mathematics that enables scientists, engineers, economists, and many others to model real-life, dynamic situations. All students must possess a graphing calculator for use in this course, a course recommended for all students who will be required to take a calculus course (first-year mathematics) at university. This is essentially a first-year university course that will cover the following topics:  Functions and Historical perspective: A review of functions (this will be complemented by the Pre-Calculus 12 curriculum). Historical perspective. Origins of the calculus approach. Contributions by famous mathematicians. Continuity and Limit Theory: Secants and tangents. Limiting position/limiting value/instantaneous value. Limit notation. One-sided and two-sided limits. Continuous functions, discontinuities. Horizontal and vertical asymptotes, limits at infinity. Computation of limits. The Derivative: Differentiation from first principles. Derivative notation: Techniques of differentiation: Power Rule, Product Rule, Quotient Rule (plus Reciprocal Rule). Higher derivative. The Chain Rule. Implicit differentiation. Curve Analysis: Conditions for increasing, decreasing, concave up, concave down functions. Definition of point of inflection, critical point. Relative and absolute maxima/minima. First derivative test and second derivative test for classification of maxima/minima. Analysis of the properties of functions through: symmetry, intercepts, intervals of increase/decrease, infinite tendencies, asymptotes (horizontal, vertical, and oblique), concavity, points of inflection, periodicity. Applications of the Derivative: Applied maximum and minimum problems. Related rates. Kinematics — motion along a line. Rolle's Theorem. Mean Value Theorem. Specific Functions: Inverse functions. Continuity/differentiability of inverse functions. Logarithmic and exponential functions (review of log laws). Derivatives of exponential and logarithmic functions. Derivatives of trigonometric functions. Derivatives of inverse trigonometric functions. L'Hopital's rule for indeterminate forms. Integration: Analysis of the area problem. The indefinite integral. Integration formulae. Integral curves. Differential equations. Integration by substitution. The definite integral. The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. Average value of a function. Slope fields. Areas & Volumes: Area under a curve. Area between two curves. Reversal of variables/axes. Volumes of rotation computed by slicing (disks and washers) and cylindrical shells. Techniques for Integration: Integration by parts, trigonometric integrals, cyclic integrals, partial fractions. Enrichment: trigonometric substitution.

Students generate and analyze exponential patterns. They solve exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric equations and identities. Graphing calculators are used to represent and analyze exponential and logarithmic functions. In the transformations unit students perform, analyze and create transformations of functions and relations that are described by equations or graphs. The topics of chance and uncertainty are introduced in the statistics unit where students ultimately solve problems using probability theory including permutations and combinations. 

Pre-Calculus 12 is a course designed to give students who are interested in pursuing future studies that require calculus, the necessary foundation of algebraic skills.  The core curriculum consists of working extensively with functions: polynomial, radical, trigonometric, exponential, logarithmic, and rational.    Graphing calculators are used throughout the course as an exploration tool and links are made between the similarities and differences from one function to the next.  Function notation, operations and transformations are applied throughout the course.

The following mathematical processes are emphasized throughout the year: [C] Communication [PS] Problem Solving [CN] Connections [R] Reasoning [ME] Mental Mathematics [T] Technology and Estimation [V] Visualization

This course follows the BC provincial curriculum that covers the majority of the 20th Century and the incredible political, social and technological changes that marked the period from 1919 to 1991.  Students will examine the significant global impacts in the aftermath of World War I, the inter-war period, the causes, course and results of World War II, the post-1945 world to 1991, and the deterioration and ultimate collapse of communism in the West. In addition to political events, social and economic issues, such as the changing role of women and the impact of technology, are explored.

AP Art History is designed to provide the same benefits as an introductory college course in art history: an understanding and enjoyment of architecture, sculpture, painting and other art forms within historical and cultural contexts. In the course, students examine major forms of artistic expression from the past and present and from a variety of cultures. They learn to look at works of art critically, with intelligence and sensitivity, and to articulate what they see or experience. Students examine the following spectrum: non-European artistic traditions, ancient through Medieval, and Renaissance to present.   Course content spans a broad spectrum: ancient through Medieval including pre-history, the Ancient Near East, Egypt, Greece and Rome, early Christian, Islamic, Byzantine, early Medieval, Romanesque and Gothic. The course also examines the Renaissance to present including 14th through 16th centuries, 17th and 18th centuries, 19th century and 20th century. In May, students write the Art History Advanced Placement exam. 

The prerequisites for this class are Advanced French 10, French 11 Core or a strong immersion background. This class will work well beyond the BC curriculum, especially in writing and grammatical understanding. Students will be exposed to French in an engaging way through the storytelling method which will facilitate the genuine acquisition of the language. 

Listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills are emphasized, and supported by a sound grammatical preparation. This course is designed for the serious language student who aspires to communicate with a high level of fluency and mastery in Spanish and who wants to better understand the Spanish-speaking world. Students express preferences, give advice, describe activities, persuade, convince, ask and answer questions, express opinions, make predictions, and communicate precisely and concisely. This is done through a thematic approach. The topics studied are travel, health, the media, education, environment, current events and a variety of topics concerning society today. An historical and cultural look at the Hispanic world is also explored.

A thorough understanding of biology provides students with a foundation for studies in ecology, the environment and medicine. Anatomy & Physiology 12 is an in-depth coverage of human biology. Topics include biochemistry, cell structure and function, and circulatory, digestive, excretory, nervous, respiratory and reproductive systems in the human body. The curriculum may include discussion of many medical issues and emerging biotechnology.

Advanced Placement Biology is a two-year course that gives credit for both Life Sciences 11 and Anatomy and Physiology 12. A solid understanding of the additional, in-depth material taught in this course may provide students with first-year biology credit in university. Successful completion of the Advanced Placement Biology 11 program is a prerequisite for this course. Only serious science students with strong academic credentials should consider the AP option. In the second year of the course (12AP) students travel to the Bamfield Marine Research Station on the West coast of the island to study ecology through a variety of field and laboratory projects. The remainder of the first term is a study of human body systems before moving on in the second term to look at biology of plants and their evolution. Other advanced topics such as population genetics and the immune system are explored before a comprehensive review is conducted prior to the Advanced Placement exam in May.

This course is designed for students who intend to pursue physical science or engineering in university. Chemistry 12 is a physical chemistry course concentrating on quantitative and qualitative analysis of chemical equilibria. Reaction mechanisms, solubility products, acids and bases, oxidation and reduction reactions, and electrochemistry are all addressed in this curriculum. Although different in content, this material builds on the concepts covered in Chemistry 11. In addition, a thorough understanding of algebra will be required in this course because of its significant mathematical component.

AP Chemistry 12 covers all of the curriculum for both the provincial Chemistry 12 syllabus and the additional topics required for the AP syllabus. The latter includes some of the material and background developed in Chemistry 11 but also topics such as thermodynamics, entropy and enthalpy, free energy and the relationship of changes in these quantities to chemical reactions. Reaction kinetics is treated at a higher level and linked mathematically and empirically to reaction mechanisms. Acid–base chemistry and redox chemistry also receive more in-depth treatment as do the concepts of bonding and equilibrium.

This course is designed for students who intend to pursue physical sciences, astronomy or engineering in university. Physics 12 covers a broad range of classical physics material including kinematics and dynamics in multiple dimensions, circular motion and dynamics, gravity, statics and electromagnetism.

This integrated course requires a thorough understanding of Physics 11 and an aptitude for mathematics. Due to the emphasis on problem solving – both on theoretical problems and in the laboratory – the course is challenging to some students.

AP Physics 12 continues the work from AP Physics 11, adding the following topics to students' physics tool-kits: waves and sound; rotational motion; fluid statics and dynamics; thermodynamics with kinetic theory; PV diagrams and probability; electrostatics; electrical circuits with capacitors; magnetic fields; electromagnetism; physical and geometric optics; and quantum, atomic, and nuclear physics.

Only serious science and mathematics students with strong academic credentials should consider the AP option. This exposure to physics ideas will equip students with a level of depth and breadth that regular Physics 12 alone cannot provide. As such, students will have an unparalleled level of preparation for studies in physical science and engineering. In order to cover all of the material for this broadly based course, students must be prepared to learn concepts at an accelerated rate. 

In Geology 12 students learn about the physical environment of the Earth through a variety of means including the examination of rocks and natural features, both in the classroom and in the field. Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks are explained and compared in terms of their formation and composition. The Earth’s resources are considered in terms of mineral deposits, coal, petroleum and natural gas and their economic significance in our changing world. The development of the Geological Time Scale is explained and discussed with reference to relative and absolute age dating techniques and the fossil record. Plate tectonics and a study of the Earth’s internal processes is a key part of the course in explaining ancient and modern phenomena such as continental drift, mountain building, earthquakes and volcanic activity. The surface processes and the hydrosphere are also considered together with the features and processes associated with weathering, different types of erosion and glaciations. The course has strong links to both the Physical Geography 12 curriculum and AP Environmental Science.

The AP Macroeconomics course provides students with a thorough understanding of the principles of economics and how economists use those principles to examine aggregate economic behavior. Students learn how the measures of economic performance, such as gross domestic product (GDP), inflation, and unemployment are constructed and how to apply them to evaluate the macroeconomic conditions of an economy. The course recognizes the global nature of economics and provides ample opportunities to examine the impact of international trade and finance on national economies. Various economic schools of thought are introduced as students consider solutions to economic problems. Students are encouraged to have already taken Entrepreneurship 12 or Introduction to Business 11 in preparation for this course. 

This senior level course will allow the students to be immersed into the theory and practical aspects of entrepreneurship. In addition to extensive study of theory, the students will participate in “Project Innovation “ which will challenge them to run a business for a brief period with minimal funding, experience or help. The students will face some very interesting challenges and situations which will make the theory presented later more meaningful. For a large part of the year the students will be required to create a venture from scratch and then implement that venture during the annual Brentwood Regatta in April. Students invest their own money and reap the benefits of their diligence and creativity. This project gives all of the students’ practical experience in many of the problems and challenges the entrepreneur faces each and every day.

Students will look at many aspects of accounting, but of equal importance will be their exposure to the discipline required in accounting and the ethical implications in the overall business and economic community. Some of the key areas of study will be include basic accounting principles and the accounting cycle. Students will be expected to distinguish the basic forms of business ownership, be aware of the various career opportunities and accounting designations and become familiar with the use of computer technology in the accounting process and report generation. Students also study internal control systems in the management of a business, the analysis of a financial system of a business by reviewing financial statements and develop an understanding of the stock market activity and terminology.

Psychologists are interested in every aspect of human thought and behaviour. This focus explains why there are more than a dozen sub-fields of contemporary psychology. AP Psychology 12 introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of various topics: History and Approaches, Research Methods, Memory, Biological Bases of Behavior, Sensation and Perception, States of Consciousness, Learning, Thinking and Language, Motivation and Emotion, Developmental Psychology, Personality, Testing and Individual Differences, Abnormal Psychology, Treatment of Psychological Disorders, and Social Psychology. As students investigate normal and abnormal perceptions, thoughts, feelings, and actions through textbook readings, demonstrations and labs, they will learn and employ the scientific methods used by psychologists as well as work to meet the AP College Board outcomes for this quick paced course. They will learn to think with a psychological lens—with curiosity, skepticism, and humility. Students will expand their understanding of themselves and the people around them. Whether they choose to pursue a career in psychology or in some entirely different field, this course should enable students to recognize psychological principles encountered in everyday situations, and to apply the concepts to explore their own lives.

A broad understanding of the basic principles of ecology and the physical and chemical systems of our planet underpins this course which then goes on to explore contemporary issues within this context. Students are encouraged to research and debate the latest data on climate change, desertification, habitat loss and species extinction. Projects focus on solutions to minimize the negative impacts of poor environmental practices on ecosystems. Students are also encouraged to take an active role in the Brentwood Environmental Action Team and to participate in field trips.

In this course students explore all aspects of the judicial process. In addition to studying particular cases, students will research and present legal arguments in a debate format simulating a mock-environment. The Foundations of Law, including the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, plus family, civil and criminal law form the main elements of the course.

This rigorous course covers an introduction to comparative politics, sovereignty, authority and power; political institutions; citizens, society and the state; political and economic change and public policy. Six countries form the core of the AP exam: China, Great Britain, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria and Russia. Students are encouraged to analyze and critique political systems and their historical records as well as gain an appreciation of media influences and cultural bias. The political spectrum in all its hues and the machinery of government form a backdrop for discussions on current world events and future trends.

Offered as part of the Brentwood Arts progamme, this course will consider the design, construction and programming of both actively controlled mobile robots, as well as autonomous machines incorporating sensor feedback systems, employing the VEX Robotics and Cortex microcontroller platform and RobotC programming software.

Students will work primarily in small design teams, with the ultimate goal of challenging each other, as well as teams from other schools and jurisdictions in recognized robotics competitions.

While no previous experience with VEX and RobotC is required, students that have taken Robotics at Brentwood will be given preference, and will find this course a great opportunity to use their prior experience with VEX and unleash their creativity in problem-solving for this year’s robotics competition challenge. Self-motivation and interest in robotic systems as well as basic programming skills are recommended.

AP World History focuses on developing students’ abilities to think conceptually about world history from approximately 8,000 BCE to the present and apply historical thinking skills. Five themes of equal importance — focusing on the environment, cultures, state-building, economic systems, and social structures — provide areas of historical inquiry for investigation across different periods and regions. AP World History encompasses the history of the five major geographical regions of the globe: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania, with special focus on historical developments and processes that cross multiple regions.

This course provides an examination of social justice issues at the global and national level, and challenges students to assess how these issues are interconnected.  Through developing an understanding of the causes and impacts of social injustices, it is the hope that students will draw conclusions on the extent to which advocates, organizations and law makers can promote and protect human rights. Themes include values, morality and ethics in light of social service, and personal and social responsibility.  Global topics include education of girls in Afghanistan, Israel and Palestine relations, and decriminalization of homosexuals in places such as India. National topics include people with disabilities, LGBTQ, and ecological justice. The United Nations resolutions and declarations, as well as the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms will also be examined.