Required Courses

Digital Multimedia

Digital Multimedia covers basic multimedia concepts, processes, and applications including games, print publications, presentations, tutorials, simulations, virtual reality, and web sites. Students will design, develop, and create various interactive multimedia projects culminating with an e-portfolio.

Foundations in Animation

Foundations of Animation prepares students to use artistic and technological foundations to create animations. The basic principles of digital animation are reviewed, including character development and story conception through production. Students learn the technical language used in the animation industry and basic animation methods. They will also learn techniques about various ways to plan, create, and prepare for animation in pre-production, production and post-production. This course prepares students for the Adobe Certified Associate for Flash/Animate Creative Cloud (CC) certification exam.

Fundamentals of Computing

Fundamentals of Computing is designed to introduce students to the field of computer science through an exploration of a variety of computing topics. Through creativity and innovation, students will use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to implement projects that are relevant to students’ lives. They will create a variety of computational artifacts through individual and team projects. Students will gain a fundamental understanding of the operation of computers, programming, web design, computational data, physical computing, machine learning, societal and ethical issues of computing. Students will also be introduced to computing careers and how computing is an essential supporting aspect of all other career fields.

Game Design and Development

Game Design and Development provides students with the opportunity to design and develop fully functional video games with product design documentation. This course emphasizes game control and logic, design tools, and the physics of games using computer programming.

Image Editing

Image editing tools are used by industry professionals to edit and enhance most images presented in magazines, newspapers, and other media. Image Editing is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to master image manipulation and photographic retouching. Students will explore the technical and artistic aspects of image editing by creating images to be used in various types of media. Successful completion of this course will prepare the student for industry certification.

PLTW Computer Science Essentials

Computer Science Essentials exposes students to a diverse set of computational thinking concepts, fundamentals, and tools, allowing them to gain understanding and build confidence. Students use visual, block-based programming and seamlessly transition to text-based programming with languages such as Python® to create apps and develop websites, and learn how to make computers work together to put their design into practice. They apply computational thinking practices, build their vocabulary, and collaborate just as computing professionals do to create products that address topics and problems important to them. 

PLTW Computer Science Principles

Using Python® as a primary tool and incorporating multiple platforms and languages for computation, this course aims to develop computational thinking, generate excitement about career paths that utilize computing, and introduce professional tools that foster creativity and collaboration. While this course can be a student’s first in computer science, students without prior computing experience are encouraged to start with Computer Science Essentials. Computer Science Principles helps students develop programming expertise and explore the workings of the Internet. Projects and problems include app development, visualization of data, cybersecurity, and simulation. PLTW is recognized by the College Board as an endorsed provider of curriculum and professional development for AP® Computer Science Principles (AP CSP). This endorsement affirms that all components of PLTW CSP’s offerings are aligned to the AP Curriculum Framework standards and the AP CSP assessment. 

PLTW Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity introduces the tools and concepts of cybersecurity and encourages students to create solutions that allow people to share computing resources while protecting privacy. Nationally, computational resources are vulnerable and frequently attacked; in Cybersecurity, students solve problems by understanding and closing these vulnerabilities. This course raises students’ knowledge of and commitment to ethical computing behavior. It also aims to develop students’ skills as consumers, friends, citizens, and employees who can effectively contribute to communities with a dependable cyber-infrastructure that moves and processes information safely. 

Optional 4th Course

This course is not required for Completer/CCR status.

Digital Publication Design

Digital Publication Design combines the business world with graphic design and allows students to use their creativity to produce business and personal publications. Students create, format, illustrate, design, edit/revise, and print publications including newsletters, flyers, brochures, reports, advertising materials, catalogs, posters, and other publications. Students who excel have the opportunity to earn nationally recognized Adobe certification.

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to develop an effective business plan for small business ownership. An important part of the course will be the incorporation of economics, ethics, legal aspects, logistics, research, staffing, strategies for financing, and technology.

Natural Hair Braiding

This Natural Hair Braiding project-based elective course provides students with the knowledge and skills to demonstrate knowledge and techniques associated with hair structure. African American history and computer science skills are integrated in the course content. A culminating activity for the hair braiding course is a one-day six-hour course that covers disorders and diseases of the scalp, sanitation and sterilization, policies and procedures, and the SC Board of Barber Examiners statutes, regulations, and an opportunity to earn the South Carolina Hair Braiding Registration. Integrating Twenty-first (21st) Century skills in the lessons equip students with the employability skills needed to successfully face challenges of the workplace. Students will demonstrate hair braiding technical skills by competing in district, state, and national competitions.