CSN Scholar Program

The goal of the Creative Scholars Program is to marshal the creative energies of the students to create original student work. This can be anything from a screenplay or musical score to an art exhibit or poetry slam. Students should be talented and passionate in either the Written, Visual, or Performing Arts and be dedicated to completing additional coursework in these areas. Each spring, the Creative Scholars cohort will put on an original, student-led production, with each member of the cohort contributing in the area(s) of his or her strength. Students interested in pursuing one of these areas in college are encouraged to apply, since the goal of this program is to create a body of work that can be submitted as a portfolio to post-secondary institutions.

Creative Scholars Requirements

In addition to CSN’s standard graduation credit requirements, the following are required for the Creative Scholars distinction:

• Maintain a 4.0 weighted GPA in all English and Art courses.
• Complete a portion of required service hours in a Creative area (writing, the arts, etc).
• Contribute to the Tessera student publication.
• Successfully complete two credits in Advanced Topics in Creative Studies, where students will create and perform in a spring production.
• Showcase your original work, whether written, visual, or performance, in the fall Evening of the Arts your senior year.
• Earn at least three credits in the following Creative courses (in addition to the two credits of art courses required for graduation):
  • AP Seminar (1 credit)
  • Creative Writing Honors (1 credit)
  • AP 2D Design (1 credit)
  • AP Art History (1 credit)
  • Third year of Theatre, Orchestra, or Performance Band (1 credit)
  • Fourth year of Theatre, Orchestra, or Performance Band (1 credit)

ADVANCED TOPICS IN CREATIVE STUDIES

This foundational course of the Creative Scholars program (which can be taken by any qualified upperclassman), provides students with the opportunity to create and perform an original production. Students will write the script, design the sets, perform the score, and manage all other aspects of a professional production. In the fall semester, students will focus on writing the script and finalizing their own pieces for the fall Evening of the Arts. In the spring, students will put on the performance. Prerequisite: Demonstrated passion and commitment to the creative arts, whether through superior performance in English or several years of experience in Theatre, Orchestra, or Performance Band.

Any exceptions to the above requirements must be approved by the Creative Scholars Committee.

The goal of the Global Scholars Program is to inspire students to explore global issues more fully both in the classroom and through community and international learning opportunities. This program will identify students interested in pursuing Global Studies or wishing to distinguish themselves by showing greater international preparedness and competency, achieved through fostering an understanding of the world, its people, and the issues that affect the quality of life enjoyed.

Students who fulfill the requirements of the three-year program will earn a Global Scholars endorsement on their CSN diplomas, attesting that they have completed requirements within each of the following rigorous areas: cross-cultural experience, service learning, world language proficiency, specialized global coursework, interdisciplinary Capstone course, and local community participation. The benchmarks are tailored to prepare students for future opportunities in college programs that aspire to similar goals at competitive colleges.

Global Scholars Requirements

In addition to CSN’s standard graduation credit requirements, the following are required for the Global Scholars distinction:

• Maintain a 4.0 weighted GPA in all Social Science and World Language courses.
• Earn at least four credits in World Language courses, including at least one AP World Language course.
• Earn at least five credits in Social Science courses. Along with the three core Social Science courses (World History, U.S. Government, U.S. History), students must earn two credits from among the following:
  • AP Comparative Government (1 credit)
  • AP Economics (1 credit)
  • AP Human Geography (1 credit)
  • AP World History (1 credit) - if not taken for the World History requirement
• As an upper school student, participate in at least one CSN Global Exchange opportunity, which involves both hosting an international student for two weeks and living with him/her for another two weeks. Need-based financial aid is available. Two alternatives are available: 
  • Hosting a CSN International student for an entire scho year.
  • Participating in a School Year Abroad (SYA) summer program.
• Regularly participate in at least one Social Science or World Language Competition team for at least three years, including at least one year of Model U.N.
• Complete the Seal of Biliteracy in either Chinese, French, or Spanish (students taking Latin are exempt from this requirement).
• Be an active member of either the Social Science or World Language Honor Society.
• For the CSN Community Service requirement (100 hours by graduation), at least a third of these hours should be related to an international topic, location, or organization.
• Complete both AP Seminar and AP Research, focusing on global topics and research questions in both courses. A substantial portion of the AP Research paper and presentation should be in your World Language concentration.

Any exceptions to the above requirements must be approved by the Global Scholars Committee.

The goal of the Human Performance Scholars Program is to introduce students to the multidisciplinary nature of sport science. It will provide an understanding and overview of the role and importance of sport, exercise and health. Human performance as a discipline, and the needed skills in various sub-disciplines will be examined along with career opportunities. Possible career areas include athletic administration, athletic training, sport psychology, strength & conditioning, personal training, coaching at high school and collegiate levels, and occupational/physical therapy. Students will be required to do an internship in their area of interest. This blend of coursework, research and practical experience will assist the student in determining their specific interest in the Sport and Exercise Science field.

Human Performance Scholars Requirements

In addition to CSN’s standard graduation credit requirements, the following are required for the Global Scholars distinction:

• Maintain a 4.0 weighted GPA in all Human Performance courses.
• Letter in or manage a CSN sport for at least three seasons. This can be the same sport or different sports.
• Complete at least one sports-related internship or program over the summer.
• Complete at least a third of CSN’s required service hours (100 hours by graduation) with a sports-related organization, both on- and off- campus.
• Earn five credits in the following Human Performance courses, which cannot count toward another graduation requirement:
  • Applied Sports Psychology & Contemporary Issues in Sports (10th Grade)
  • AP Seminar (10th/11th Grade) 
  • AP Research (11th/12th Grade)
  • Anatomy and Physiology Honors (11th/12th Grade)
  • AP Economics OR AP Statistics (11th/12th Grade) 

Any exceptions to the above requirements must be approved by the Human Performance Scholars Committee. 

The United States has developed as a global leader, in large part, through the genius and hard work of its scientists, engineers, and innovators. In a world that’s becoming increasingly complex, where success is driven not only by what you know, but by what you can do with what you know, it’s more important than ever for our youth to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to solve tough problems, gather and evaluate evidence, and make sense of information. These are the types of skills that students learn by studying science, technology, engineering, and math—subjects collectively known as STEM.

The goal of the STEM Scholars program is to immerse students in the world of math, science and technology studies. Although opportunities for growth are available for all students in these areas, the STEM Scholars program will help students make connections between various courses with an emphasis on problem solving, exploring through experimentation, research-based learning, and applying their skill base in activities that extend beyond the classroom.

STEM Scholars Requirements

In addition to CSN’s standard graduation credit requirements, the following are required for the STEM Scholars distinction:

• Maintain a 4.0 weighted GPA in all STEM courses.
• During the summer after sophomore and/or junior year, participate in an approved, STEM-related internship, summer course, or community service opportunity. 
• Complete the following core Science courses:
  • Biology Honors (or AP Biology if Biology was taken freshman year)
  • Chemistry Honors
  • Physics Honors or AP Physics 1
• Complete the following Technology course:
  • AP Computer Science Principles or AP Computer Science A
• Complete the following core Math courses:
  • Geometry or Geometry Honors
  • Algebra II or Algebra II Honors
  • Pre-Calculus or Pre-Calculus Honors
  • AP Calculus AB or AP Calculus BC
• Earn at least three credits in the following STEM courses:
  • Advanced Topics in Computer Programming I (1 credit)
  • Advanced Topics in Computer Programming II (1 credit)
  • Advanced Topics in Mathematics (1 credit)
  • AP Biology (1 credit)
  • AP Chemistry (1 credit)
  • AP Computer Science A or AP Computer Science Principles (1 credit) - whichever one was not taken to complete the above requirement.
  • AP Environmental Science (1 credit)
  • AP Physics C (1 credit)
  • AP Statistics (1 credit)
  • Anatomy and Physiology Honors (1 credit)
  • Competitive Robotics (0.5 credit)
• Regularly participate in at least one of the following STEM competition teams and/or clubs for at least three years:
  • Mu Alpha Theta
  • Environmental Club
  • Science National Honor Society
  • Robotics
  • Computer Programming Club
  • Another, approved STEM-related competition team or club
• Complete both AP Seminar and AP Research, focusing on STEM topics and research questions in both courses.

Any exceptions to the above requirements must be approved by the STEM Scholars Committee.

One of the key components for each concentration is the AP Capstone Program, which involves two specific AP courses. Both are required, with AP Seminar completed during the junior year, and AP Research during the senior year. The one exception may be in the Creative Scholars program, depending on a student’s concentration.

AP Seminar

AP Seminar is a foundational course that engages students in cross- curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Using an inquiry framework, students practice reading and analyzing articles, research studies, and foundational, literary, and philosophical texts; listening to and viewing speeches, broadcasts, and personal accounts. Students learn to synthesize information from multiple sources, develop their own perspectives in written essays, and design and deliver oral and visual presentations, both individually and as part of a team. Ultimately, the course aims to equip students with the power to analyze and evaluate information with accuracy and precision in order to craft and communicate evidence-based arguments.

AP Research

AP Research allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, or issue of individual interest. Through this exploration, students design, plan, and conduct a year-long research based investigation to address a research question. In the AP Research course, students further their skills acquired in the AP Seminar course 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 approximately 4000–5000 words (accompanied by a performance or exhibition of product where applicable) and a presentation with an oral defense. Prerequisite: AP Seminar.