Upper School Course Descriptions
At Hudson College, we encourage students to express who they are and explore their interests and passions. We offer an individualized course of study for each student, specific to their goals. Our balanced curriculum offers a wide range of subjects and immersive activities—from the arts and sciences to technology and athletics—preparing students for any program at the university or college level.
Our unique three semester system also provides space in students’ daily schedules so they can focus on fewer courses at a time with less stress. From September to April, students have a designated Study Period to do homework, study for tests, and get help from teachers.
Students are allowed to take courses across grade levels in collaboration with parents, and with permission of the Principal. Course offerings are subject to change each academic year based on class sizes and interest. Detailed descriptions of all courses can be found on the course pages for each grade level, as well as on the Ontario Ministry of Education website.
This Course Calendar also provides students, parents and guardians with information about the Ontario Ministry of Education requirements for awarding the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), along with Hudson College’s academic policies. Use it as a planning tool to create your own Hudson path!
The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
The secondary school program is based on the credit system. In order to graduate with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma, students must successfully complete 30 credits of 110 hours each, complete the provincial literacy requirement, and 40 hours of community involvement activities.
Compulsory Credits
Courses are offered in four grades: Grade 9, 10, 11 and 12. 30 credits are required for graduation.
18 credits are compulsory credits that every student must take.
12 credits are optional credits that students may select from the many choices offered in the secondary school they attend.
Students must earn the following compulsory credits in order to obtain an OSSD:
4 ENGLISH*
2 SCIENCE
1 CANADIAN GEOGRAPHY
1 HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
0.5 CAREER STUDIES
3 MATHEMATICS, AT LEAST ONE IN GRADE 11 OR 12
1 CANADIAN HISTORY
1 ARTS (DANCE, DRAMA, MEDIA, MUSIC, VISUAL ARTS)
1 FRENCH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE
0.5 CIVICS
Student must also earn 3 additional credits consisting of 1 credit from each of the following groups:
1 additional credit in English, or French as a Second Language, or a Native language, or a Classical or an International language, or Social Sciences and the Humanities, or Canadian and World Studies, or Guidance and Career Education or Cooperative Education.
1 additional credit in French as a Second Language, or in Health and Physical Education, or the Arts (Art, Dance, Drama, Music), or Business Studies or Cooperative Education.
1 additional credit in French as a Second Language, or in Grade 11/12 Science, or a Grade 9–12 Technological Education or Cooperative Education.
Note: • A maximum of 3 credits in English as a Second Language (ESL) or English Literacy Development (ELD) may be counted towards the 4 compulsory credits in English, but the fourth must be a credit earned for a Grade 12 compulsory English course. • A maximum of 2 credits in French as a Second Language may count as additional compulsory credits. • A maximum of 2 credits in Cooperative Education can count as compulsory credits. Optional credits may include up to four credits achieved through Approved Dual Credit courses.
Age Requirements
With increasing demands to acquire a sound education, students need the opportunity to grow towards success. To that end, the current school leaving age is eighteen, or graduation. The goal is to encourage more students to graduate and fewer to leave school without being adequately prepared for work or further learning. Students, through their parents, who attend Hudson College certainly endorse this age requirement.