List of 4 items.

• Class IX

  ENGLISH: essays; grammar; sonnets; Macbeth; Pride and Prejudice; Their Eyes Were Watching God; practice in close reading and analytical writing; creative assignments.
  
  MATHEMATICS
  

  GEOMETRY: an intuitive and analytical approach to the mathematics of shapes and space. The properties of triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons and circles are studied through the use of logic and deductive proofs. Algebraic problem-solving skills are reinforced throughout.

  GEOMETRY WITH EXTENDED EXPLORATIONS: an investigation into geometric concepts through a more abstract lens. The course will explore the properties of triangles, polygons and circles from first principles through the use of logic and deductive proofs, geometry of motion and algebra of transformations, and will provide an introduction to Algebra II through mappings and functions. Computer software (Geometer’s Sketchpad) will be used to extend and explore concepts.
  
  

  TWENTIETH-CENTURY WORLD HISTORY: global history from the late nineteenth century to the present, with a strong emphasis on reading, interpreting and contextualizing primary sources.
  
  BIOLOGY: study of life processes, with emphasis on cell biology, DNA, biotechnology, genetics, evolution, plant reproduction and animal physiology. The course culminates with a field trip to investigate the ecology of an intertidal zone.
  
  MODERN LANGUAGES
  

  FRENCH II COMPREHENSIVE: for those who began in Class VII, a consolidation of the student’s knowledge of syntax and the beginning of the study of literature.

  FRENCH II: for those who began in Class V, a consolidation of grammar, expansion of vocabulary, and continuation of the study of short literary works and the skills of textual analysis.

  MANDARIN II: for those who began in Class V, continued study of listening, speaking, reading and writing with emphasis on formal grammatical structures; exploration of Chinese culture through project-based learning and trips to local Chinese communities.

  COMPREHENSIVE SPANISH I: an introduction to the language, emphasizing listening and speaking, vocabulary acquisition and grammar, as well as the culture and customs of Spanish-speaking countries.

  SPANISH II: for those who began in Class V, a thorough review of grammar and introduction of advanced structures, and the reading of adapted versions of classical literature such as Don Quijote de la Mancha as well as selections from the fiction, poetry and film of Latin American and Spanish authors; extension of oral proficiency through presentations on cultural and historical topics.

  
  LATIN II: completion of the introduction to basic vocabulary and syntax using the Cambridge Latin program, followed by stories from the Fabulae Faciles collection and excerpts adapted from Roman authors.
  
  DRAMA (half credit; throughout the year): introduction to the art of playmaking in all of its aspects, from the actor’s approach to the script to the creation of scenery, props and costumes. Particular attention is paid to vocal projection, physical poise and strengthened concentration. Students rehearse and perform a full-length play during the second semester.
  
  MUSIC (half credit; throughout the year):
  

  VOCAL TECHNIQUE AND LITERATURE: fundamentals of vocal technique and introduction to the solo song literature, ending with a performance. Participation in the Upper School Chorus is required (open also to X–XII).

  CHAMBER MUSIC/ORCHESTRA: study of standard chamber repertoire in small groups, ending with a performance. Participation in the Upper School Orchestra is required (open also to X–XII).

  INSTRUMENTAL TECHNIQUES: exploration of technique in a small group setting of like instruments. This course extends the work accomplished in Middle School instrumental classes and supports the repertoire played in the Upper School Orchestra. Each semester ends with a performance. Participation in the Upper School Orchestra is required (open also to X–XII).

  
  STUDIO ART (half credit; throughout the year): fundamentals of oil painting, color, collage and composition taught through direct observation and imaginative invention of still life. Participation in conceptual and historically based discussions, group critique and one museum study assignment are required.
  
  PHYSICAL EDUCATION: emphasis on lifelong fitness and exercise. Offerings vary by trimester, including courses on fitness, dance, sports, special programming and mindfulness. Students are required to complete one semester of Health in Class IX and to become certified in First Aid/CPR before graduation. This course, offered to Classes XI and XII, follows the American Heart Association training course for first responders.
  
  HEALTH: integrates the five core competencies of social and emotional intelligence into a solid health education. Curriculum covers mindfulness, values clarification, relationships, human sexuality, media literacy, drug and alcohol education. Classes are designed to promote small group discussion and culminate in a project in which students design public service announcements on topics of their choice.
  
  CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Activities in theMiddle and Upper Schools offer greater opportunities for girls to shape their own programs. Brearley’s numerous co-curricular activities include Middle and Upper School branches of the robotics team, coding and maker clubs, orchestra and chorus, math team, environmental action committee, student publications (the newspapers, literary magazines and yearbook), drama productions, debate team and an array of art courses, from photography to bookmaking.
  
  COMMUNITY SERVICE (required of all students in Class IX): The community service program, which is a requirement in Classes IX–XI, is founded on the premise that community service is a personal habit and works best when students are guided in their exploration of possible commitments. In Class IX, students participate as a group in a Saturday soup kitchen program and also research and engage in volunteer opportunities.

• Class X

  ENGLISH: American literature, novels, novellas, essays, autobiographies and poems from the Puritans through the moderns. Authors include Wheatley, Franklin, Douglass, Zitkala-Sa, Hawthorne, Melville, Cather, Baldwin and Morrison.
  
  MATHEMATICS
  

  ALGEBRA II: study of mathematical relations, functions and transformations; specific topics include polynomial and rational functions, trigonometric functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, and the complex number system. The TI 84 graphing calculator is used as a tool for extension, exploration and solution.

  ALGEBRA II WITH EXTENDED EXPLORATIONS: in-depth study of mathematical relations, functions and transformations; specific topics include polynomial and rational functions, trigonometric functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, and the complex number system. The TI-84 graphing calculator is used as a tool for extension, exploration and solution.

  ALGEBRA II AND PRECALCULUS: an in-depth study of Algebra II and Precalculus; specific topics include polynomial functions, rational functions, trigonometric functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, sequences and series, vectors, parametric equations, polar coordinates and graphs. An introduction to the study of Calculus will include the topics of limits, continuity and derivatives. This course prepares students for Advanced Calculus and may be taken with the permission of the Math Department.
  
  

  UNITED STATES HISTORY: an introduction to the political, economic, social and cultural issues of the society in which the students live, within an historical framework to explain how they came about. It balances the achievements and promises of the nation with its failures and challenges. Students read the US Constitution over the summer and start the fall with the years of the 21st century before going back to the beginnings of European colonization and a chronological overview that provides students the background they need to understand the present. It uses a textbook, extensive primary sources and group work, with focuses on media analysis, historiography and independent research projects. In the spring the class visits public servants in Washington, DC, to gain more understanding of how our government works.
  
  CHEMISTRY: an investigation into the nature of matter and chemical change. Topics include electron configuration, bonding, gas behavior, the concept of moles, stoichiometry, redox reactions, thermochemistry and acid-base chemistry. Whenever possible, the course explores the chemistry of environmental issues, and the year culminates with an independent research project (open also to XI and XII).
  
  MODERN LANGUAGES
  

  FRENCH III COMPREHENSIVE: for students who began in Class VII, emphasis on speaking, reading and writing through the study of increasingly advanced vocabulary and grammar; the examination of French society and culture, and the reading of literary and expository texts.

  FRENCH III: the expansion and refinement of speaking, writing and readinskills through the continuing study of grammar and the in-depth analysis and discussion of current events and literary works.

  MANDARIN III: for students who began in Class V, continued study of increasingly advanced syntax and vocabulary, with discussion of a broader range of issues in Chinese society, history and culture.

  COMPREHENSIVE SPANISH II: for students who began in Class IX, a continuation of the study of syntax and vocabulary. A variety of media resources are used to enhance not only the student’s reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, but also her cultural understanding of the Hispanic world.

  SPANISH III: for students who began in Class V, strengthening of communication skills and cultural competency in Spanish through the study of literary texts and films from Latin America and Spain; emphasis on textual analysis, cultural understanding and analytical writing.
  
  

  LATIN III: in the fall, readings from either Caesar’s De Bello Gallico or Cicero’s In Catilinam; in the spring, selections from Books I, II and IV of Virgil’s Aeneid.
  
  DRAMA (half credit; throughout the year): the actor’s art is the particular focus of the course: script analysis, developing a character, the actor as an interpreter of the playwright’s story. Students rehearse and perform a full-length play during the second semester.
  
  MUSIC (half credit; throughout the year): see Class IX.
  
  STUDIO ART (half credit; throughout the year): practice in refined observational drawing and mixed medium. One museum study assignment is required.
  
  PHYSICAL EDUCATION: see Class IX.
  
  CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: see page 19.
  
  ADVANCED SCIENCE RESEARCH SEMINAR: a three-year sequence; reading and discussion of peer-reviewed scientific articles with their authors who visit Brearley from various New York City research institutions; laboratory experiments that may include RNA interference, Polymerase Chain Reaction and DNA barcoding. The program accepts five to seven students from Class IX at the end of each year to comprise a group of fifteen to twenty-one students. Not for credit.
  
  COMMUNITY SERVICE (required of all students in Class X): see page 38.
  
  POETRY WORKSHOP: conducted as a workshop, this yearlong course focuses on student work and offers a rigorous apprenticeship to the art of poetry writing. Students learn to write about what they know (e.g., family, grief, place) as a metaphor for the broader human experience. Over the course of the year, they develop their skills in using imagery, figurative language, lineation, repetition, meter, rhyme and syntax. In addition to completing writing assignments, students are expected to read modern poetry and other relevant literature to deepen their understanding of their practice. Not for credit.
  
  SOPHOMORE SEMINAR: a yearlong class in health education, service leadership development and public speaking (required of all students in Class X).

• Class XI

  ENGLISH: fall elective in poetic analysis (for example, readings in Eliot, Hughes and Moore, or in Brooks, Lorde, Clifton and Nelson, or in Fu, Dickinson, Walcott and Ali); a required trimester on drama, including King Lear; and a spring elective on narrative works (for example, readings in Levi, Otsuka and Coates, or in Joyce, Ferrante and Nunez, or in Milton, or in Mistry and Lahiri).
  
  MATHEMATICS
  

  PRECALCULUS AND AN INTRODUCTION TO DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS: extended study of functions and trigonometry begun in Class X. Additional topics may include vectors, conic sections, parametric equations, polar coordinates, probability and statistics, and sequences and series. Calculus topics include limits and derivatives. This course prepares students for the study of AB Calculus.

  PRECALCULUS EXTENDED AND DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS: extended study of functions and trigonometry begun in Class X, as well as vectors, conic sections, parametric equations, polar coordinates and graphs, probability and statistics, and sequences and series. Calculus topics include limits, derivatives and applications of derivatives. This course prepares students for the study of BC Calculus.

  ADVANCED CALCULUS: differential and integral calculus of functions of one variable with applications; power series. Students wishing to take the College Board AP BC Calculus exam will find that this course provides suitable preparation.

  STATISTICS AND STATISTICAL MODELING: introduction to the practice of statistics. Topics include organization of data; probability and random variables; and drawing inferences from data. Computers and calculators are used extensively.

  INTERSCHOOL GAME THEORY (half credit; throughout the year): theoretical analysis of game theory taught through applications in economics, politics, business, evolutionary biology, religion, philosophy, computer science and sports, as well as through games such as poker and chess. Quantitative models are developed for strategic situations, and analysis includes optimization and graphical analysis. This course is offered through the Interschool consortium.

  INTERSCHOOL NUMBER THEORY (half credit; throughout the year): The study of number theory delves into the foundations of mathematics to understand the integers, their properties and the application of these ideas to other areas of mathematics. Topics may include infinity of primes, the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic, the Euclidean algorithm, the Greek notion of incommensurable lengths, alternate number systems and their properties, repeating decimals and their connection to infinite series, modular arithmetic, and notions of infinity that arise from counting the integers. This course is offered through the Interschool consortium.

  INTERSCHOOL PROBLEM SOLVING (half credit; throughout the year): A collaborative exploration of problem-solving skills and strategies including topics from combinatorics, number theory, advanced algebra, geometry, probability and graph theory. Problems studied include examples from past AIME and US Math Olympiad competitions. This course is offered through the Interschool consortium.

  
  HISTORY [The following list of electives is representative; some may not be offered in 2021–2022.]
  

  HISTORY OF CHINA, KOREA AND JAPAN: a survey of the history of the region, starting with the history of the 20th and 21st centuries in China and including China’s world role, then looking back chronologically at political, social and cultural developments in China, Korea and Japan, and culminating in consideration of the disparate Chinese, Korean and Japanese responses to European incursions in the modern period, the legacies of World War II and the division of Korea, and the position of Korea and Japan in the world today.

  MODERN EUROPEAN HISTORY: a survey of European history from the Renaissance to the present, with particular attention to nationalism and other sources of identity (open also to XII).

  MODERN LATIN AMERICA: an introduction to issues and themes in the history of Latin America since 1800 in which students explore political, economic, social and cultural developments that characterize the region as a whole, while keeping in mind the considerable variation among the countries of which it consists (open also to XII).

  HISTORY OF WARFARE: a survey of the history of war from the gunpowder revolution of the 15th century to the present. Students will examine the development of modern armies, military technology and insurgency warfare (open also to XII).

  MODERNISM IN ART: a study of significant developments in art beginning with the French Revolution up until the present (open also to XII).

  LAW, ECONOMICS AND PUBLIC POLICY: an introduction to the history and structures of American civil and criminal law, with a focus on the ways that law and economic thinking structure foreign and domestic policies (open also to XII).

  THE UNITED STATES POST-1945: a seminar-style research intensive course in which students evaluate historical events and ideas from 1945 on using advanced research methods to examine the relationship between the recent past and the present.

  URBAN HISTORY: an exploration of different ways of studying and analyzing urban environments locally and globally, using New York City as an initial case study, then moving to an exploration of the urban world outside the US and concluding with a consideration of mid-twentieth century ideas of urban planning and examples of utopian cities (open also to XII).

  WORLD ART: a survey of world art from prehistoric through the contemporary period. Formal, contextual and methodological problems in art history are explored in a wide range of cultures. Regular visits to local museums are part of the course (open also to XII).

  MODERN AFRICA: an exploration of twentieth-century African history, giving special attention to political, military and religious history (open also to XII).

  
  SCIENCE
  

  ADVANCED BIOLOGY: investigation of biological processes where major life innovations are placed in chronological and evolutionary context. Topics include ecology, gene regulation, cancer, bioethics, immunology; laboratory investigations include polymerase chain reaction and a fetal pig dissection; statistical analysis of data is stressed. Students create an in-depth research proposal in a field of their choice. Prerequisites: Biology and Chemistry (open also to XII).

  ADVANCED CHEMISTRY: a deeper exploration of equilibrium, acids and bases, and electrochemistry introduced in Chemistry as well as new topics such as kinetics, thermodynamics, redox titrations, molecular architecture and orbital hybridization. Prerequisites: Biology and Chemistry (open also to XII).

  CHEMISTRY: see Class X.

  PHYSICS: the investigation of the nature of forces and energy and their interactions with matter. Topics include mechanical, thermal, wave, electromagnetic and nuclear energy (open also to XII).

  ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY (full-year non-lab course): exploration of the role of science, economics and government policy in developing an environmentally sustainable world. Topics include human population growth, energy production, climate change, freshwater resources, agriculture, fisheries, waste management and biodiversity (open also to XII).

  
  MODERN LANGUAGES
  

  FRENCH IV: a consideration of classic and contemporary French literature and culture with an emphasis on speaking and writing. Students learn contemporary idioms, review grammar, and read and interpret texts from a variety of sources.

  FRENCH IV COMPREHENSIVE: greater independence in the use of the language through the study of complex grammatical structures and extension of vocabulary; analysis of cultural and linguistic materials; discussion and debate.

  MANDARIN IV: extensive reading of essays, stories, and newspaper and magazine articles; discussion of current events; analytical and creative writing; exploration of contemporary culture through television and other media.

  COMPREHENSIVE SPANISH III: for students who began in Class IX, continued study of grammar and, in particular, of advanced structures; readings from short stories, novels and adapted versions of literary masterpieces.

  SPANISH IV: for students who began in Class V, continued formal study of selected short stories, poetry and nonfiction about the history of Spain and Latin America; reinforcement of grammar usage and literary analysis reinforced through writing assignments and oral communication activities.

  
  CLASSICS
  

  LATIN IV: selections from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Ars Amatoria and Heroides, and from the poems of Catullus.

  GREEK I (half credit; throughout the year): introduction to Attic Greek. Topics include the principles of word formation and syntax, Aesop’s fables and the life of Alexander the Great (open also to XII).

  
  ART
  

  STUDIO ART (half credit; throughout the year): advanced work in the studio with in-depth exploration of various drawing and painting media. One museum study assignment is required.

  ART INTENSIVE (half credit; fall or spring semester): for curious and committed students, an opportunity to explore the visual arts and self-expression through a range of traditional and contemporary media, including painting, drawing, printmaking and simple bookmaking. Thought-provoking and interpretive concepts will be examined in a relaxed, inclusive studio setting focusing on student-driven projects.

  DRAWING (half credit; fall or spring semester): drawing as a way of thinking; an expansion of the student’s visual literacy and technique through intensive exposure and observation-based exercises. Fundamental concepts from earlier years are again brought to bear. Class critiques and one museum study assignment is required.
  
  

  DRAMA: PLAYWRITING (half credit; spring semester): introduction to the art and craft of playwriting. Students write and edit their own short plays; at the end of the semester there is a lightly staged presentation to the public using student actors.
  
  MUSIC: see Class IX.
  
  TECHNOLOGY: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE (half credit): introduction to the concepts of computer science utilizing the Python programming language. Topics include recursion, computer security, algorithm complexity and game programming.
  
  PHYSICAL EDUCATION: see Class IX.
  CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES see page 19 of Course of Study.
  COMMUNITY SERVICE (required of all students in Class XI): see page 38 of Course of Study.
  JUNIOR SEMINAR (required of all students in Class XI): a yearlong class that encompasses health education, life skills, college advising and the transition to college.
  POETRY WORKSHOP: see Class X.
  SCIENCE RESEARCH SEMINAR: see Class X.

• Class XII

  ENGLISH:  required unit of essays; electives from late fall through the winter term (for example, Russian literature; Magic Realism; Virginia Woolf and James Baldwin; or Memory, Identity, and Narrative; electives in the spring term determined by interests of students (in recent years, primarily individual projects in fiction, drama or writing).
  
  MATHEMATICS

  CALCULUS:  differential and integral calculus of functions of one variable with applications. Students wishing to take the College Board AP AB Calculus exam will find that this course provides suitable preparation.
  
  ADVANCED CALCULUS : see Class XI.
  
  LINEAR ALGEBRA:  vectors, linear transformations, general vector spaces and the algebra of matrices.
  
  STATISTICS AND STATISTICAL MODELING:  see Class XI. INTERSCHOOL GAME THEORY:  see Class XI.
  INTERSCHOOL NUMBER THEORY:  see Class XI.
  INTERSCHOOL PROBLEM SOLVING:  see Class XI.
  
  

  HISTORY:  see Class XI for list of electives.
  
  SCIENCE

  ADVANCED BIOLOGY:  see Class XI.
  ADVANCED CHEMISTRY:  see Class XI.
  ADVANCED PHYSICS:  an extended study, based on calculus, of relationships between forces, matter and energy. Selected topics include kinematics and dynamics, rotational mechanics, electrostatics, circuits, and nuclear and particle physics. Prerequisite: Physics.
  CHEMISTRY:  see Class X.
  PHYSICS:  see Class XI.
  ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY:  see Class XI.
  
  

  MODERN LANGUAGES

  FRENCH V:  culmination of the study of classic and contemporary French literature and culture. French, francophone and global cultural and societal issues are explored through discussion and textual analysis. The use of various media sources and classic and contemporary texts foster conversation and thoughtful debate.
  
  FRENCH V COMPREHENSIVE:  consolidation of language proficiency in reading, writing, speaking and listening; a deeper understanding of French literature, language and culture.
  
  MANDARIN V:  culmination of the study of Mandarin through reading, writing and discussion.
  
  COMPREHENSIVE SPANISH IV:  completion of the course of study begun in Class IX. Emphasis is placed on the discussion and written analysis of literary and cultural topics. Critical thinking is encouraged, reinforcing the four skills in the target language.
  
  SPANISH V:  culmination of the study of literature from different Hispanic countries; investigation of their art, film and nonfiction enhances students’ cultural understanding. Advanced grammar and literary analysis will be reinforced through analytical writing assignments and oral communication activities.

  
  CLASSICS

  LATIN V:  the study of a particular author or genre; for example, the speeches or letters of Cicero, the comedies of Plautus, Horace’s Odes or selections from the Roman historians.
  
  GREEK I:  see Class XI.
  
  GREEK II  (half credit; throughout the year): continuation of the study of Attic Greek. Students read adapted versions of the Apology, the Clouds and the histories of Herodotus.

  
  ART
  

  STUDIO ART:  see Class XI.
  ART INTENSIVE:  see Class XI.
  DRAWING:  see Class XI.

  
  DRAMA: ACTING AND DRAMATIC LITERATURE  (half credit; throughout the year): combines the study of major plays, predominantly modern, with the chance to perform in an intensive scene workshop. Playwrights in the syllabus include Williams, Miller, Ibsen, Wilson, Treadwell, Hansberry and Kushner. The class meets at least two evenings in the semester to attend professional theatre.
  
  MUSIC:  see Class IX.
  
  TECHNOLOGY

  INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE  (half credit): see Class XI.
  ADVANCED COMPUTER SCIENCE:  students will learn to write, test, and debug efficient programs using multiple classes and interacting objects. The focus is on object-oriented programming using Java, although students will be exposed to a variety of languages. Students who take this course will be prepared for the AP Computer Science A exam.

  
  PHYSICAL EDUCATION:  see Class IX.
  
  CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:  Brearley’s numerous co-curricular activities include Middle and Upper School branches of the robotics team, coding and maker clubs, orchestra and chorus, math team, environmental action committee, student publications (the newspapers, literary magazines and the yearbook), drama productions, debate team and an array of art courses, from photography to bookmaking. In the Upper School, students may participate in the Model UN and Model Congress programs and affinity groups like Asian Awareness or Umoja. Organizations like the Athletic Association and the Middle and Upper School Student Government groups are led by students elected from each grade and advised by faculty. These organizations offer opportunities for leadership, public speaking and the planning and execution of events.
  
  ADVANCED SCIENCE RESEARCH SEMINAR:  see Class X.
  
  POETRY WORKSHOP:  see Class X.
  
  SENIOR SEMINAR:  (required of all students in Class XII): a yearlong class that encompasses health education, life skills, college advising and the transition to college.