This sculpture course offers an investigation of student driven ideas through the creation of three-dimensional art or sculpture. Students explore a wide variety of materials and techniques such as woodworking and carving, plaster sculpting, 3D modeling and printing, working in clay, learning handbuilding and wheel throwing, as well as working with other materials and techniques. Projects are thematic with a focus on student driven idea creation and development as well as making well crafted objects to communicate those ideas. Classes will be held in the new Innovation Hub. This course is offered to students in grades 9-12.

This is a multidimensional course that focuses on aesthetics, art history, and studio practicums in the visual arts. Emphasis centers on works of art as they are created, perceived, understood, and appreciated by human minds. Students are required to take the national AP exam at the end of the course. Previous honors or AP experience required or approval of the chair. 

This course introduces music students to musicianship, theory, musical materials, and procedures. The course integrates aspects of melody, harmony, texture, rhythm, form, musical analysis, elementary composition, and, to some extent, history and style. Musicianship skills such as dictation and other listening skills, sight-singing, and keyboard harmony are considered an important part of this theory course. Prerequisites include consent of the teacher based upon the ability to read and write musical notation or a minimum of one year of previous music performance or theory experience. This course is offered to students in grades 10-12. Students are required to take the national AP exam at the end of the course.

This course follows the standards and guidelines of the College Board’s review of student portfolios. Students produce a drawing, 2D or 3D design portfolio for submission to the College Board for portfolio scoring and the potential of earning college credit. Students develop an inquiry-based artistic investigation in the course that becomes the basis of their submitted portfolios. The submitted portfolio must demonstrate synthesis of ideas, materials and processes through practice, experimentation and revision of art methods and works. The documentation and physical preparation of the portfolio is a component of this course. The course is open to juniors and seniors based on a portfolio review or approval of the instructor. Students are required to submit a portfolio to the College Board at the end of this course.

This full-year introductory course is a project-based inquiry into the world of architectural design through the development of drawings and physical models. First semester student projects include the exploration of spatial considerations through the creation of architectural plans, elevations, sections and 3-D models. Second semester, student teams continue building skills from the first semester to design and document a project based on the best-practice delivery methodologies used in today’s architecture industry. This course is offered to students in grades 9-12. Successful completion of this course qualifies students to enroll in Honors Architecture 2 (A070).

This Service Learning Course challenges student artists to explore ideas and transform perceptions through art. This course provides the opportunity for students to engage with community partners to investigate contemporary issues through the artistic process. In-class studio time will develop artistic skills and studio habits by utilizing a variety of mediums and approaches to art making such as visual story-telling and animation. As an extension, the course will deepen critical thinking through the creation of an art series that explores the complex themes of social justice based on experiences with the community partner, field trips, class discussions and guest speakers. Students will meet with community partners outside of class three times per semester.  This course is offered to students in grades 10-12.

This course is designed for students with little to no experience playing the guitar. Beginning Guitar offers comprehensive instruction on the fundamentals of playing the instrument, including proper hand placement, basic chords, strumming techniques, and reading guitar notes and diagrams. Students will learn how to tune the guitar, develop good playing posture, and practice basic finger exercises to strengthen their hand muscles. Students will also be introduced to various music styles and genres such as classical, folk, jazz, and rock, allowing then to gain a well-rounded understanding of the guitar and its versatility. This class prepares students for Guitar Ensemble (A028). Guitar courses may not be taken in lieu of Physical Education.

This course is designed for students with no instrumental musical background.  This is a discovery course where students will be permitted to learn from a selection of instruments.  Students enrolled in this course will build and maintain musical stamina, vocabulary, and appropriate concert etiquette through the rehearsal and performance of level-appropriate music.  This course is designed to prepare students for either Concert Band (A005) or Symphony Orchestra (A016). This course is offered to students in grades 9-12. This course may be taken during the freshman or sophomore years in lieu of Physical Education.

Students in this year long foundational ceramics class will learn the techniques of wheel throwing, hand-building, extrusion and assembly in the context of making idea driven work where they practice employing their own artistic voice. Students will learn the material science of ceramics, firing processes and glazing techniques.

This advanced course is Loyola’s advanced treble choir for soprano and alto voices that have demonstrated the highest vocal and music reading ability. Chorale travels and performs at different festivals and competitions. This course may be taken during the freshman or sophomore year in lieu of Physical Education.

This course is for the high school musician who has previous instrumental experience in grammar/middle school. Students perform developmentally appropriate music and expand their musical vocabulary through the performance and critique of standard band repertoire.  This course is offered to students in grades 9-12. This course may be taken freshman or sophomore year in lieu of Physical Education.

This course welcomes students of all musical backgrounds; no experience or audition necessary. Singers in this course develop skills in harmonizing, vocal technique, and performing choral music from jazz to gospel, and gospel to pop. Enrollment involves participation in a small number of after-school concerts. This course may be taken during the freshman or sophomore year in lieu of Physical Education.

This intermediate choir welcomes singers with previous choir experience or musical training. This choir dives deeper into more complex harmonies, acapella singing, music reading skills, and vocal technique..This course may be taken during the freshman or sophomore year in lieu of Physical Education. 

This intermediate/advanced level dance course for juniors and seniors targets dancer technique in contemporary/lyrical, ballet, jazz, and modern dance. Other dance styles such as hip hop, musical theater, or social dance may be explored. Dance 3 places an emphasis on choreography, dance creation, and dance analysis. Dancers will create their own dances throughout the course for the Spring Dance Showcase. Dancers will also learn about the history of dance, performance qualities, and what it takes to create and put on a successful dance show. Field trips or in-school service opportunities may be offered. This course may be repeated for credit with the permission of the teacher. Students who have successfully completed Dance 1 & Health (P910), Dance 2 (P930),  or have permission of the teacher are able to register for Dance 3.

This is both a theoretical and hands-on full-year course that immerses students in all aspects of the visual side of print media.  Topics for study include design, layout, typography, color, illustration, photography, and information graphics. Students develop skills in digital typesetting, and the creation of digital documents including ads, posters, flyers, and graphics through a computer lab and studio experience.  This course is offered to students in grades 9-12. 

This performance-based course is for students who have successfully completed Beginning Guitar (A018) or who have previous experience and have auditioned for the instructor. Students will further their playing technique through ensemble literature, performances in large and small group settings, and solo guitar literature. This class is open to all grade levels. Guitar courses may not be taken in lieu of Physical Education. 

This course is open to students in grades 10-12. In this course, students will develop their interpretative and interpersonal skills through improvisation, character development, text analysis, and scene work. Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze a play with character in mind, develop relationships with fellow actors on stage, and play clear and effective character objectives. By the end of the year, students will understand different acting methods and create their own process for rehearsal and performance. Theatre Experience (A034) or Honors Theatre Studio (A037) or approval from the theatre teacher are required to take this course.

This full-year studio course is open to students who have successfully completed Architecture I (A067) and wish to further explore architectural design. The course is well-suited for students considering potential careers in Architecture, Interior Design, Industrial Design, Urban Planning or Landscape Architecture. The project-based curriculum builds upon the digital and analog skills learned in Architecture I (A067); in addition, students learn site analysis, program development and 3-D modeling to communicate concept, schematic, and final designs. Students also learn basic planning rules-of-thumb for including structural, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical elements in their architectural designs. The primary focus of the second semester is the annual design contest sponsored by the Chicago Architecture Center known as the Newhouse Architecture and Design Competition. Architecture 1 (A067) is a prerequisite of this course.

This advanced choir specializes in small-ensemble choral music being performed in top concert halls today. Chamber Singers participate in competitions and music festivals each season. Membership in Chamber Singers is by audition for highly motivated singers who have shown dedication and achievement in Loyola’s choirs. This course may be taken during the sophomore year in lieu of Physical Education.

This course is for the high school musician who has previous instrumental experience in grammar/middle school and/or an introductory high school music course. Students perform developmentally appropriate music and expand their musical vocabulary and fundamentals through the performance and critique of standard band repertoire. To achieve the honors credit associated with the class, students complete multiple assignments valued at different points based on the necessary level of work and are designed to increase the depth of learning. This course may be taken during the freshman or sophomore years in lieu of Physical Education.

This advanced level dance class for juniors and seniors targets dancers with a strong background and training in contemporary/lyrical, jazz, ballet, and modern dance, as well as strong choreography experience in creating their own dances.  Other dance styles may be explored, such as hip hop, musical theater, or social dance, in order to best prepare students for the Spring Dance Showcase in May.  Honors Dance students will help choreograph and direct the Spring Dance Showcase. Field trips or in-school service opportunities may be offered. This course may be repeated for credit with permission of the teacher. Students who have successfully completed Dance 1 & Health (P910), Dance 2 (P930), and Dance 3 (A048) or have permission of the teacher are able to register for Honors Dance.

This course is designed for students from grades 9-12 with prior musical experience in percussion or prior piano experience AND approval from the Band Director. Emphasis is placed on the fundamentals of a comprehensive percussion arts education, which includes skill development on concert, marching, and world percussion instruments. Concepts studied include performance of concert snare drum, bass drum, keyboard/mallet percussion, drumset, and rudimentary music theory. During the fall, Percussion Ensemble will focus on Marching Battery technique in conjunction with the full Marching Band. In addition to performing their own pieces, Percussion Ensemble members also perform with the Concert Band and/or Symphonic Band at all performances as well as during the Marching Season. Prospective students should contact the Band Director with questions about qualifications of the course.  This course may be taken in lieu of Physical Education during freshman or sophomore year.

Honors Photography 2 offers continued study of camera technique, shutter speed, aperture and studio lighting. Students will creatively problem solve using photo manipulation and alternative processes while developing their individual creativity. Students will continue to develop darkroom skills with innovative techniques. Adobe Photoshop will be used in photographic editing. The projects will combine camera technique, compositional choices and personal expression of ideas. Students are expected to develop an individual voice. Students must have a 35mm film camera or DSLR digital camera. Student must have completed Photography 1 or have approval from the department chair.

This course offers a continuation of the studio experience for students who completed Honors Studio 3 (A103) as freshmen or sophomores and want to develop skill, technique and variety in their work before enrolling in Advanced Placement Studio Art (A030). This course will allow students to explore, investigate and experiment with a range of approaches and materials as they begin to work with mini concentrations. Instructor recommendation and Department Chair approval are required.

A continuing experience in studio art for students looking to refine their skills in drawing, painting, and printmaking while broadening their scope of visual communication.  Students are encouraged to respond creatively to personal experiences and the world around them while developing an artistic voice.  Emphasis is placed on portfolio development. Studio Art 1 (A032), Art and Social Change (A038), or the approval of the department chair is a prerequisite of this course.

This course is an honors option available to students who register for Symphonic Band (A006). Approval of the band director is necessary and will be based on the student’s current musical ability, aptitude, rehearsal etiquette, and commitment to rehearsals and performances outside of the regular school day. To achieve the honors credit associated with the class, students complete multiple assignments valued at different points based on the necessary level of work and are designed to increase the depth of learning. This course may be taken during the freshman or sophomore years in lieu of Physical Education.

As the most advanced orchestra class available at Loyola Academy, this course is designed to prepare students for advanced music study. Admittance is by audition only and space is limited based upon instrumentation. This class will introduce students to professional

level literature, playing techniques, and a variety of performance experiences. If granted admittance, this course may be taken during the freshman or sophomore year in lieu of Physical Education.

This course is open to students in grades 10-12. In this course, students will learn the fundamentals of design and technical theatre production through the lens of set, costume, lighting, sound, and stage management. This is an experiential learning course that will provide the student with an opportunity for practical application of varied techniques and theories in planning and construction, as well as teach students how to lead and collaborate with a team. Safe use of power tools and specified construction equipment will be a core aspect of this course. Theatre Experience (A034) or Honors Theatre Studio (A037) or approval from the theatre teacher are required to take this course.

This course is open to students in grades 9-12, and recommended to students with previous experience in theater or a strong desire to engage in the theatrical arts. Students gain an introduction to how theatre works for an artist and audience. Students engage actively each day in acting, directing, playwriting, technical theatre skills, as well as theatre for social change. Emphasis is placed on the process of creating, as well as the work of the artists who create theatre and film. This course is project-based and it is meant to be a beginning course for future theatre studio courses. This course may be taken during freshman or sophomore year in lieu of Physical Education.

This course is designed for students from grades 9-12 with prior musical experience in percussion or prior piano experience AND approval from the band director. Emphasis is placed on the fundamentals of a comprehensive percussion arts education, which includes skill development on concert, marching, and world percussion instruments. Concepts studied include performance of concert snare drum, bass drum, keyboard/mallet percussion, drumset, and rudimentary music theory. During the fall, Percussion Ensemble will focus on Marching Battery technique in conjunction with the full Marching Band. In addition to performing their own pieces, Percussion Ensemble members also perform with the Concert Band and/or Symphonic Band at all performances as well as during the Marching Season. Prospective students should contact the Band Director with questions about qualifications of the course.  This course may be taken in lieu of Physical Education during freshman or sophomore year.

This full-year course is designed for beginning photography students. Students will learn how to use digital and analogue SLR cameras to create images grounded in the elements and principles of art. Editing images with Adobe Photoshop will be introduced. Students will gain a thorough understanding of the photographic process, from the initial photo shoot and contact sheet to the final printed product, culminating in the creation of a printed portfolio of their images. Students should have access to a digital camera, as a limited number are available for checkout.

This full-year conceptual art foundations course introduces students to a broad range of approaches to communicating visually. Students will gain an understanding of the foundations of art and the principles of design while also developing critical thinking and problem solving skills. Students will draw, paint, print and create 3D objects using multiple techniques and media. No previous art experience is necessary. This course is offered to students in grades 9-12.

This course is for the advanced high school musician and may be taken by approval from the band director. Students work on emotionally expressive and technically challenging music while refining musical and technical fundamentals. This course also focuses on refining other elements of music, such as history, music theory, performance and rehearsal etiquette. Prerequisites include Concert Band and/or by audition. This course is offered to students in grades 9-12. This course may be taken during the freshman or sophomore years in lieu of Physical Education.

This performance-based course is open to any student who plays Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Harp or Piano. Symphony Orchestra offers students the opportunity to explore and develop their musical abilities through ensemble playing, emphasizing teamwork, as students work together to create a harmonious sound, develop their listening skills, and practice precise timing in a group setting. Under the guidance of a skilled conductor, students rehearse and perform a wide range of genres such as classical, jazz, pop, and cultural music pieces, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of different styles and musical genres. This class introduces students to more advanced playing techniques in preparation for audition into the Honors Symphony Orchestra (A019). This class is open to all grade levels and may be taken during the freshman or sophomore year in lieu of Physical Education. 

This course is open to students in grades 9-12. Students actively explore the communicative art of live theater. Areas of concentration include acting, theater history, theater appreciation, technical theater, theater production, and play writing. Students participate in group projects that stress the collaborative aspects of the theater arts. This course may be taken during freshman or sophomore year in lieu of Physical Education.

This full-year course combines the art and technology of video production. Students will explore every aspect of making a video including writing, directing, editing, and producing. Throughout the year students will investigate the history of film/video and how to tell stories through scripts, working with actors, pre-production, editing, sound mixing/foley, and post-production. In addition, students will explore the science behind video production including the lighting design, acoustics, and the technology of Adobe Premier editing software. The course will culminate at the end of the year with a short-film festival of student works made throughout the course. Prerequisites include the completion of one Visual Arts or Theater class or department chair permission.