Compass
Two teachers, along with professionals from related industries, will deliver content that is relevant and applicable to the workplace.
Students will work in teams to complete a project for a local business. Watch Course Video
Once students have registered for a Compass Course, they will be asked to complete an application and interview.
The course grade is based on more than course assignments. Categories are 70% academic, 15% professionalism, and 15% project performance.
Students will practice employability skills such as workplace communication and emotional intelligence.
Students will work with a mentor that works in a field related to your Compass program. The expectation is that you e-mail weekly and meet monthly.
Compass strives to create a professional environment similar to what is expected in a workplace setting. Teachers will provide more details about the dress code during the first week of school.
Some of our courses have fees to assist with purchasing the consumable materials that students will utilize throughout the class. Click for more information.
graphic communications
9992 - GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS: 2 Terms / 4 credits, Grades 11-12 [Watch Course Video]
Prerequisite recommended: Introduction to Marketing or Applied Graphics or Graphic Design 1
Teachers: Dawn Johnson and Scott Tordeur
Eligible for Concurrent Enrollment Credits at North Hennepin Community College
This course is scheduled for 2 blocks for each of the 2 terms (4 credits): 9992A: Composition for College and 9992B: Advanced Applied Graphics. Graphic Communications is ideal for students who are interested in developing professional and technical skills required to advance their knowledge of graphic and creative design and packaging. This program will educate students in design methods, theory, and creative problem solving utilized in the industry today. Students will learn how to create visual concepts and evaluate not only how they communicate, but also how they are interpreted and perceived by consumers. Additionally, students will develop their professional writing and speaking skills alongside the formal rules of grammar, usage, and mechanics. This course will utilize a team-teaching environment using project-based learning with our business partnerships. In this course, students will learn interactive graphic and product design skills and how to apply those skills in various career fields. As part of the course, students will collaborate with local businesses to master the Adobe Creative Suite. Students within this course will work with clients to plan, design, and implement concepts into production.
business management & economics
9991 - BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS: 2 Terms / 4 credits, Grade 12 [Watch Course Video]
Prerequisite: Intro to Business or Accounting
Teachers: Paul Kimbler and Tim Masters
This course is scheduled for 2 blocks for 2 terms (4 credits): 9991A: Principles of Management and 9991B: Economics. Managers of today’s firms operate in a global environment and must be prepared to quickly react to changing business and market conditions. As a result, the study of economics and business management offers a perfect combination of theory and application. Business management is the study of how for-profit and non-profit organizations are structured and how they interact with each other, their customers, and the government. Economics is the study of how society allocates scarce resources. Global events have shown that organizational survival does not only depend on sound business management, but also on how well one can identify emerging trends, make sense of government policies, and adapt to changing external economic forces in order to optimize limited resources to create opportunities for future growth. Students will partner with businesses and apply critical thinking skills as they complete hands-on learning projects. In addition, students will conduct research on real-life problems/policy issues facing organizations in the 21st century, and work to develop timely and applicable solutions.
cybersecurity & applied mathematics
9993 (STEM) - CYBERSECURITY AND APPLIED MATHEMATICS: 2 Terms / 4 credits, Grades 11-12 [Watch Course Video]
Prerequisite: Any computer-related course and Geometry or Accelerated Geometry
Teachers: Kate Granlund and Tika Kude
Interested in a STEM career? Learn about Cybersecurity and Applied Mathematics by working with business professionals from the field. Cybersecurity is one of the hottest fields in computer science right now. This course will introduce students to the field of cybersecurity and digital forensics and will educate students in the theory, techniques, and analysis used within the field. In addition, students will apply mathematics to real-world problems and explore ways in which mathematics is used in various careers. Topics include risk analysis, virtualization, computer forensics, email investigations, networking basics, computer security policies, vertex-edge graphs, game theory, encryption and cryptography, probability, voting methods, and creative problem-solving. This course will utilize a team-teaching environment using project-based learning with our business partnerships.
ecology of foods & nutrition
9994 - ECOLOGY OF FOODS AND NUTRITION: 2 Terms / 4 credits, Grades 11-12
Teachers: Anne Swanson and Miriam Lejonvarn
Prerequisite: Biology or Biology X or Biomedical Biology
This course is scheduled for 2 blocks for each of the 2 terms (4 credits) 9994A: Ecology of Foods and 9994B: Nutrition. This course will examine the ecological connections between food production, human health, and ecological sustainability as well as investigate the social, economic, and scientific impacts on our food system from farm to fork. In addition, students will be introduced to the fundamental truths of nutrition principles, health promotion, and disease prevention throughout life. Opportunities to practice food safety and preparation will occur throughout the course, as well as opportunities to plan, plant, and maintain a garden at WHS.