Departments & Courses

7 Credits Required
Freshmen must take:

• English (English I or English I Honors)

• Mathematics (Algebra I or Algebra I Honors; or Geometry or Geometry Honors; or Algebra II Honors)

• Science (Physical Science or Physical Science Honors; or Biology or Biology Honors)

• Theology I

• Social Studies (Civics or Civics Honors)

• Foreign Language (French, Spanish or Latin)

• Health and Physical Education (PE 9/10 or Summer PE)

• A full- or half-credit elective. Visit the Electives page for freshman-year elective options.

6.5 Credits Required (may take as many as 7)
Sophomores must take:

• English (English II or English II Honors)

• Mathematics (Geometry or Geometry Honors; or Algebra II or Algebra II Honors; or Pre-Calculus Honors)

• Science (Biology or Biology Honors; or Chemistry or Chemistry Honors)

• Theology II

• Foreign Language (second year in the same language)

• Health and Physical Education (PE 9/10 or Summer PE)

• Visit the Electives page for sophomore-year elective options.

6 Credits Required (may take as many as 7)
Juniors must take:

• English (English III, English III Honors or English III Advanced Placement)

• Mathematics (Algebra II or Algebra II Honors; or Pre-Calculus Dual Enrollment/Pre-Calculus, Pre-Calculus Honors, Calculus, Calculus Honors or Calculus AP)

• Science (Biology Advanced Placement; or Chemistry, Chemistry Honors or Chemistry AP; or Physics, Physics Honors or AP Physics C: Mechanics; or Environmental Science; or AP Environmental Science)

• Theology III

• U.S. History (U.S. History, U.S. History Honors/DE, U.S. History AP)

• Health and Physical Education (PE 11/12, FIT or Summer PE)

• Visit the Electives page for junior-year elective options

6 Credits Required (may take as many as 7) 
Seniors must take:

• English (English IV, English IV Dual Enrollment or English IV AP)

• Mathematics (Algebra III or Pre-Calculus Dual Enrollment/Pre-Calculus, Pre-Calculus Honors, Calculus, Calculus Honors, Calculus Advanced Placement or AP Calculus BC)

• Science (Biology Advanced Placement; or Chemistry AP; or Physics, Physics Honors or AP Physics C: Mechanics; or Environmental Science; or AP Environmental Science)

• Theology IV

• World History (World History, World History Honors, AP World History: Modern)

• Health and Physical Education (PE 11/12, FIT or Summer PE)

• Visit the Electives page for senior-year elective options.

St. Joseph’s Academy requires 25.5 units of high school credit for graduation:

• Four units of English

• Four units of mathematics

• Four units of science

• Three units of social studies

• Two units of health and physical education

• Two units of the same foreign language

• Four units of theology

• One unit of arts in the same discipline

• One-and-a-half additional electives units

St. Joseph’s Academy honors courses provide students opportunities to work at their fullest potential and to prepare themselves for admission to the more competitive colleges and universities. Honors courses are offered in English, mathematics, science, social studies and foreign languages. SJA offers 23 Advanced Placement courses, and students can earn up to 24 hours of college credit in dual-enrollment courses in U.S. history, English and math. Candidates for the Advanced Placement courses must have teacher recommendations, a 3.5 cumulative grade point average, acceptable standardized test scores and a strong work ethic. Honors and AP courses are calculated on a 5.0 scale.

The requirements for an honors diploma are a GPA of at least 3.8 after eight (8) semesters of work and the completion of 11 weighted courses over the four years. All honors and AP courses are weighted courses. 

The following criteria are the minimum course requirements each year. Please note these requirements do not add up to the required 11 weighted courses. The remaining four (4) weighted courses required to earn an honors diploma can be taken in any grade and can be chosen from any weighted course offered by SJA.

• A minimum of two (2) weighted courses must be taken during the freshman and sophomore years combined.

• At least two (2) weighted courses must be taken junior year.

• Among the weighted courses taken during the freshman, sophomore and junior years, two (2) must be AP courses and must be completed by the end of junior year.

• At least three (3) weighted courses must be taken senior year, and two (2) of those weighted courses must be AP courses.

• There is no AP score requirement to earn the honors diploma.

To earn an honors diploma, the student must earn all As and Bs in all courses but can earn one (1) C in a weighted course.