AP, Advanced Courses & Accelerated Sequences

Accelerated Sequences

The Andover curriculum offers accelerated sequences in most academic departments. It provides special programs in the modern world languages, designed to cover four years’ work in three, or five years’ work in four. The programs are open, on invitation of the departments, to especially able and ambitious students.

Advanced Placement Courses

A large number of Phillips Academy students take College Board Advanced Placement Tests in May to establish advanced placement in college courses or credit toward the college degree. Advanced Placement examinations are offered in American History, Art History, Art Studio (2), Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science (A and AB), Economics (2), English Language and Literature, Environmental Science, European History, French Language and Literature, German, Government and Politics (2), Latin Vergil and Literature, Mathematics (AB and BC), Music Theory, Physics (C), Psychology, Spanish Language and Literature, Statistics, World History, Chinese, and Japanese.

Six Course Load Policy

Because of both the rigor of individual courses and the Academy’s commitment to limiting class size, taking a sixth course after junior year, whether for credit or as an audit, is considered a privilege and not a right. If a student can be scheduled for six courses, approval of that program is automatic only if (a) the sixth course is Music 150–190 or Physical Education 100, or (b) the student has earned an honors average in the previous term.
In all other instances, the Advising Council will meet during the second week of classes to determine which students will be allowed to continue with six courses. Only in rare circumstances will a student with a grade of “3” or lower in a discipline in which s/he is continuing be allowed to take a sixth course other than Music 150–190 or Physical Education 100. No student with a grade of “3” or lower in any course the previous term will be allowed to take Theatre 520 as a sixth course.
Approval of a sixcourse load, whether granted automatically or by the Advising Council, is conditional upon a satisfactory record at the midterm. Any student with a single “D” or lower at the midterm or a nonmedical incomplete will be required to drop a course, returning to a standard fivecourse load. Students with one or more medical incompletes or a low “3” at the midterm will be allowed to continue with six courses only with the approval of the Advising Council. Thus, all students taking six courses must understand they may be asked to drop a course after midterm despite having done the work in that course for half of a term.

Four Course Load Policy

All students, including seniors, normally carry five courses each term. Fourcourse loads are granted only with permission of the Advising Council, which will consider the overall rigor of the proposed program and the student’s individual situation. At least three of the four courses must be designated advanced or honors courses (see below) for a fourcourse load to be approved, unless the student requesting a fourcourse program needs to attend to a significant academic or personal concern. Except in the spring term of senior year, a fourcourse load may not include two courses in the same department.

Courses Designated as Advanced

The following have been designated advanced courses (see guidelines): Art: 400 level and above; English: 400 level and above; World Language: 400 level and above, and 150, 195/0, and 250 courses taken after the diploma requirement has been fulfilled; History: 400 level and above; Mathematics: 510 and above; Music: 400 level and above; RelPhil: 400 level and above; Sciences: 500 level and above; Theatre: 510 and 520.

Independent Projects: The Abbot Independent Scholars Program (AISP)

The AISP provides selected Seniors (and the occasional younger student) who have exhausted the course offerings in their desired area(s) of study an opportunity to work independently with a faculty mentor for course credit. The number of credits assigned to a student’s independent project depends on the nature and scope of the planned work. Each project is graded on the standard 0–6 scale by the supervising faculty mentor.
Seniors who have completed a term of independent work successfully may apply to be Abbot Scholars in the spring term. As an Abbot Scholar, the student will pursue an independent project (typically a continuation or expansion of work done previously), prepare some form of public exhibition based on his or her work, and, together with his or her mentor, participate in a colloquium involving all Abbot Scholars and their mentors.
Additional information on the AISP and its application process is available on PAnet under Academic Resources, Student Information.

Special Courses in World Languages

Special courses covering the work of two years in one are open to qualified Seniors in German, Greek, Latin, and Russian. These 100/150 or 195/0 courses are designed primarily for students of proven linguistic ability wishing to begin a second or third language in their Senior year. Entering Uppers or Seniors who do not place out of the language requirement must study a world language until they either fulfill the threeyear requirement or graduate.