As a college preparatory high school, our main academic goal is to prepare students for the challenging rigors of higher education. Mater Dei Catholic provides a curriculum in which students can investigate a broad educational spectrum. Students are required to take a full load of six courses per semester. Required and elective course offerings come from the following areas: Theology, English, Mathematics, Social Science, Science, World Language, Physical Education, Visual and Perfroming Arts, Speech.

The Academy of Science

Mater Dei Catholic High School's Academy of Science was founded to provide an exemplary science learning experience in two ways. First, the Academy engages students in practical and theoretical science through collaborations and partnerships with the scientific community. Second, the Academy challenges students with a rigorous academic program that encour- ages all students to achieve at the highest levels of excellence in preparation for college and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Students are introduced to field scientists and their work through partnerships and visits to The University of California San Diego's Physical Sciences Department, The Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, The Kyoto Prize lectures and the Scripps Research Institute. These partnerships will be continued and expanded in the years ahead to include future visits to their laboratories, providing mentors for our students from among the doctoral and postscientists, and summer internship opportunities in the laboratories and research facilities they represent.

Advanced Placement & Honors

Mater Dei offers a four year Honors Program with a total of 13 courses and an Advanced Placement Program with 11 courses. Honors courses challenge the student to think more analytically; to be creative and to immerse themselves in new and different ideas and issues.

Specific Honors courses are:

Freshmen: English, World Cultures, Algebra, Biology. Sophomore: English, Chemistry, Geometry.

Junior: English, Pre-Calculus, Spanish, French. Senior: Devoted to AP courses.

Advanced Placement courses are college level courses taught by specially certified instructors using college textbooks and giving college level exams. According to the College Board, freshmen do not take these courses. However, honors level course work is a substantial proportion for the rigors of Advanced Placement.

Specific Advanced Placement courses are:

Sophomore: European History.

Junior: Spanish Language, Calculus, Physics.

Senior: French Language, Spanish Literature, English Literature, American Government,

Environmental Science