Curriculum Detail

Course Descriptions

Required and elective courses offered for the school year are listed in this section. Most, but not all, courses will also be offered in subsequent years. Course availability depends on enrollment. 

Explore Our Secondary Curriculum

Computer Science

Computer use, whether for research, multimedia projects, or other purposes, is integrated into all secondary curriculum areas. All students have access to software and the Internet via work stations in the Academic Center and the Ahmanson Library as well as email accounts, providing instant availability to a world of resources.

  • Generative AI as a Creative Collaborator

    Generative AI is revolutionizing creative expression, enabling artists, writers, and filmmakers to produce compelling digital content with unprecedented efficiency. This semester-long course introduces students to the fundamental principles of generative AI and its applications in text, image, and video generation. Co-taught by faculty from the Computer Science and Art departments, students will explore the mechanics behind AI-driven creativity, gaining hands-on experience with leading-edge tools such as OpenAI’s Sora, Dall.e, ChatGPT, RunwayML, and other emerging platforms. Through project-based learning, students will experiment with AI as a creative collaborator, using it to enhance storytelling, visual design, and digital art. They will critically examine the ethical implications of AI-generated media, including questions of authorship, bias, and the evolving role of human creativity in an AI-driven world. By the end of the course, students will have developed a portfolio showcasing AI-augmented creative projects while gaining a deeper understanding of the impact and potential of generative AI. (Grades 9-12; one semester)

  • *A Byte of Code

    This course provides students with an introduction to the fundamentals of programming in a fun environment with a focus on exploration and discovery. Students start programming using Python, a simple and easy to use language used in many professional programming environments, and move on to experiment with various other languages. We explore coding in many different contexts, including different considerations for computer, mobile, and web applications. By the end of the course students will be able to apply their new knowledge to writing sophisticated code which incorporates graphics, music, sound effects, and animation. (Grades 9-12; one semester)

  • *†AP Computer Science A

    This course prepares students to take the Advanced Placement Computer Science A level exam using Java. It includes computer programming, entering, compiling and running a program; variables and constants; math operations, arrays; decision making in programs--loops, functions, comparables; abstract and interface basics; object oriented programming; support and subclasses; hierarchies and inheritance; string functions and classes. (Grades 10-12; prerequisite: Programming in Java and/or department approval)

  • *Programming in Java

    This course provides students with an introduction to the Java programming language. There is no prerequisite for this course, and no prior programming knowledge is assumed. Students will learn to program in an object-oriented style and use programming techniques that are common throughout the industry. By the end of the course, students will be able to write simple applications incorporating object instantiation, expressions, string processing, arrays, and other data structures. This class combines in-class lecture and lab time and is a prerequisite for Advanced Placement Computer Science A. (Grades 9-12)

  • *Programming with Vex Robotics

    In this course, students will learn the fundamentals of programming by designing and coding using the Vex Robotics platform. Students will learn about the different components of a robot, how they work together, and how to program them to perform specific tasks. They will also learn about teamwork, problem-solving, and engineering design principles. (Grades 9-12)

Prerequisites + Recommendation for Courses

Some courses have prerequisites and/or require recommendation from the teacher and department chair. Students should direct questions regarding their course placement to their teachers in the spring, before or after their individual course request meetings with a principal, dean, or college counselor. Most honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses require certain grades in previous courses. A student must earn a grade of A- or higher (as determined by averaging the percentages of T1 and T2 grades) in a regular class in order to be granted the option to enroll in the next level of advanced study (usually honors or AP; in math, the next tier up of three).

Honors + Advanced Placement (AP) Courses

  • Generally move at a quicker pace and cover more material than regular college-prep courses of the same subject/name, with often higher expectations in terms of homework load
  • Are exempt from the policy that a student must have two or fewer major assessments on a day
  • Have prerequisite courses and/or grades for entry 

University of California (UC) Approved Courses

Courses marked with an asterisk (*) are approved by the UC, meaning that a C- or higher in that course counts towards satisfying UC requirements and count towards a student’s UC GPA. Many courses without the mark are pending approval. These courses also marked with a (†) have an Honors/AP designation (extra GPA point) with the UC. Read more details on UC requirements

Campbell Hall

4533 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Studio City, CA 91607
Phone: 818.980.7280
Campbell Hall is a K-12 independent, Episcopal, gender-inclusive day school. We are a community of inquiry committed to academic excellence and to the nurturing of decent, loving, and responsible human beings.

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Campbell Hall admits students of any race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletics and other school-administered programs.