Online Diploma Program
NOTE: GSSM is not accepting new applications for STEM Foundations in 2024-25. Check out our NEW online courses!
Online CoursesOnline Diploma Program
Graduation Requirements & Curriculum
Students in STEM Foundations take 5 courses each semester together with a seminar series. In their junior year, students take biology, chemistry, English, history, and math. Students take computer science, engineering, English, math, capstone research, and physics in their senior year. All students must meet the State of SC graduation requirements. We will work with students to help them meet any graduation requirements that are not part of our typical course load.
In addition to the typical semester courses, students participate in an Interim course each year. All students participate in a mentored research & inquiry experience during their time in the program.
The specific classes that STEM Foundations students take are as follows:
Junior Year:
- Biology and Chemistry: All students take yearlong, dual enrolled biology and chemistry classes.
Most students in STEM Foundations have taken honors biology and chemistry before enrolling in the program. These dual enrolled classes are different than the honors class students have already taken—they are taught at the college level and go in more depth. Students also receive college credit for these classes.
- Math: Students who have not yet taken precalculus will take a yearlong, honors precalculus class as a junior. Students who have already completed precalculus will take a dual enrolled Calculus 1 class.
- English: All students take two semesters of dual enrolled English. These classes give students two semesters of college credit for English.
- History
Senior Year:
- Math: Students who took precalculus as a junior will take yearlong, dual enrolled Calculus 1. Students who took Calculus 1 as a junior will take dual enrolled Calculus 2.
- English: All students take two semesters of dual enrolled English.
- Physics: All students take two semesters of dual enrolled, algebra-based physics.
- Engineering: All students take a semester honors introduction to engineering class.
- Capstone Research: All students take a semester honors class in which they conduct research.
- Computer Science: All students take two semesters of computer science.
We will work with individual students who have already taken a class that is equivalent to one on the list above to find a substitute class.