Registration Guidelines

English

All freshmen are automatically enrolled in English I.

Math

At this point you do not sign up for a mathematics course. Based on information in your admission folder, the Mathematics Department will send you a placement test in the near future. They will decide your placement based on the results of both the placement test and your previous performance in math.

Science

Virtually the entire Science curriculum is available. Where necessary, the chair of the Science Department will review your record to determine the appropriate level.

Language

For now, indicate the language you intend to study at Deerfield. If you have not studied this language previously, you will be enrolled in level 1. If you have already taken at least a full year of this language, teachers in the Language Department will review your record and determine your placement. Placement for French and Spanish will be largely determined by an online placement test, instructions for which can be found on the Back-To-School site. For students interested in taking Arabic, Chinese, and Latin, the decision will be based on your transcript.

History

If you want to take history, you have four choices: Africa and Latin America; Asia in World History; The West in the Ancient/Medieval World; and The West in the Modern World. Please rank all four of these choices preferentially.

Visual and Performing Arts and Philosophy/Religion

Deerfield has a two-term Visual/Performing Arts requirement and a one-term Philosophy/Religion requirement. Because these two requirements can share one slot in a year-long program, we couple them together under the heading “Humanities.” Students should complete their Humanities requirements before the end of the tenth grade, and many students choose to fulfill these requirements in the freshman year. There are several one- and two-term Arts courses from which to choose. Read the course catalog and pay close attention to the terms in which these courses are offered. Some Arts courses—Chorus, Bands, Chamber Music, Orchestra, Theatre, Dance, AP Drawing, AP Photo, and Topics—can be taken either as a fifth graded course, or as a sixth course pass-fail. In Philosophy/Religion choose from among four one-term courses: Ethics; Eastern Philosophy; Islam and the Qur’an; and Judeo-Christian Traditions. 

General Advice

1. In the worksheet provided, map out your four-year course program to ensure that you will fulfill all of Deerfield’s graduation requirements. These can be found in two online resources: Graduation Requirements; and the Four-year Planning Worksheet. Try for a gradual increase in the level of difficulty of your course load from freshman to senior year.
2. Remember to sign up for exactly FIVE graded courses each term. (You may choose a 6th pass-fail performing arts course.)
3. If you’re requesting history, be sure to rank preferentially all four non-U.S. choices.
4. Be sure to choose alternates for Visual and Performing Arts and Philosophy/Religion. (Note: Alternate choices do not have to be in the same discipline). PLEASE SELECT DIFFERENT CLASSES FOR ALL ALTERNATES.

English

All sophomores will be automatically enrolled in English II.

Math

At this point you do not sign up for a mathematics course. Based on information in your admission folder, the Mathematics Department will send you a placement test in the near future. They will decide your placement based on both the placement test and your previous performance in math, and we will enroll you in the appropriate course.

Science

If you have not already taken a year-long, high school physics course, you should enroll in physics. If you have taken high school physics, then you should enroll in chemistry. The chair of the Science Department will review your record to determine the appropriate level.

Language

For now, indicate the language you intend to study at Deerfield. If you have not studied this language previously, you will be enrolled in level 1. If you have already taken at least a full year of this language, teachers in the Language Department will review your record and determine your placement. Placement for French and Spanish will be largely determined by an online placement test, instructions for which can be found on the Back To School Site. For students interested in taking Arabic, Chinese, and Latin, the decision will be based on your transcript.

History

If you want to take history, you have four choices: Africa and Latin America; Asia in World History; The West in the Ancient/Medieval World; and The West in the Modern World. Please rank all four of these choices preferentially.

Visual/Performing Arts and Philosophy/Religion

Deerfield has a two-term Visual/Performing Arts requirement and a one-term Philosophy/Religion requirement. Because these two requirements can share one slot in a year-long program, we couple them together under the heading “Humanities.” Students should complete their Humanities requirements before the end of the tenth grade. There are several one- and two-term Arts courses from which to choose. Read the course catalog and pay close attention to the terms in which these courses are offered. Some Arts courses—Chorus, Bands, Chamber Music, Orchestra, Theatre, Dance, AP Drawing, AP Photo, and Topics—can be taken either as a fifth graded course, or as a sixth course pass-fail. In Philosophy/Religion choose from among four one-term courses: Ethics; Eastern Philosophy; Islam and the Qur’an; and Judeo-Christian Traditions.

General Advice

1. In the worksheet provided, map out your three-year course program to ensure that you will fulfill all of Deerfield’s graduation requirements. These can be found in two online resources: Graduation Requirements; and the Four-year-Planning Worksheet. Try for a gradual increase in the level of difficulty of your course load from sophomore to senior year.
2. You will receive incoming graduation requirement credit for some of the courses taken at your current school.
3. Remember to sign up for exactly FIVE graded courses each term. (You may choose a 6th pass-fail performing arts course.)
4. If you’re requesting history, be sure to rank preferentially all four non-U.S. choices.
5. Health Issues will be automatically assigned as a 6th non-credit course for one term. You do not need to do anything.
6. Be sure to choose alternates for Visual and Performing Arts and Philosophy/Religion. (Note: Alternate choices do not have to be in the same discipline). PLEASE SELECT DIFFERENT CLASSES FOR ALL ALTERNATES.

English

Rank preferentially your top 6 junior English options, each of which emphasizes a particular genre, historical context, or unifying theme in American Literature.

Math

At this point you do not sign up for a mathematics course. Based on information in your admission folder, the Mathematics Department will send you a placement test in the near future. They will decide your placement based on both the placement test and your previous performance in math, and we will enroll you in the appropriate course.

Science

If you want to take science, continue whatever sequence you have already begun. The Science Department recommends that students take one year of each science before returning for a second year in any one. The Chair of the Science Department will review your record to determine the appropriate level.

Language

For now, indicate the language you intend to study at Deerfield. If you have not studied this language previously, you will be enrolled in level 1. If you have already taken at least a full year of this language, teachers in the Language Department will review your record and determine your placement. Placement for French and Spanish will be largely determined by an online placement test, instructions for which can be found on the Back To School Site. For students interested in taking Arabic, Chinese, and Latin, the decision will be based on your transcript. If you are placed in level 1 of a language, you are expected to take two years in order to fulfill the Language requirement “as best you can.”

History

You should sign up for U.S. History, and you have two choices: U.S. History, and Honors U.S. History. If, however, you have already taken a full-year U.S. History course which includes a significant research paper experience, AND you are an NCAA hopeful athlete, you might be permitted to sign up for one of the following: Global H2O; India and China; Modern Times; Honors European History; or Ordinary People/Extraordinary Times.

Visual/Performing Arts

The entire Arts curriculum, including five AP courses and other term-long, two-term, and year-long courses, is available to you. Two-term courses can be complemented either by a spring-term elective (for which the catalog is distributed and sign-ups are gathered in January) or by one-term courses published in the Course Catalog. Some Arts courses—Chorus, Bands, Chamber Music, Orchestra, Theatre, Dance, AP Drawing, AP Photo, and Topics—can be taken either as a fifth credit course, or as a sixth course pass-fail.

Philosophy/Religion

Two, two-term courses—Political Philosophy; and Religions of the World—and one, one-term course—Eastern Philosophy—are available. Two-term courses can be complemented either by a spring-term elective (for which the catalog is distributed and sign-ups are gathered in January) or by one-term courses published in the Course Catalog.

General Advice

1. In the worksheet provided, map out your two-year course program to ensure that you will fulfill Deerfield’s graduation requirements as best you can. These requirements can be found in two online resources: Graduation Requirements; and the Four-year Planning Worksheet. Please note that you may be given credit for 9th- and 10th-grade courses taken in your previous school if they are similar to ones we offer.
2. Remember to sign up for exactly FIVE graded courses each term. (You may choose a 6th pass-fail performing arts course.)
3. Be sure to choose alternates for Science, Visual and Performing Arts, and Philosophy/Religion courses. (Note: Alternate choices do not have to be in the same discipline). PLEASE CHOOSE DIFFERENT CLASSES FOR ALL ALTERNATES.

English

Rank preferentially your top 6 choices from among the senior English options. If you wish to take two English courses, please so indicate on your Course Request Form.

Math

At this point you do not sign up for a mathematics course. Based on information in your admission folder, the Mathematics Department will send you a placement test in the near future. They will decide your placement based on both the placement test and your previous performance in math, and we will place you in the appropriate course.

Science

Virtually the entire Science curriculum is available. Where necessary, the chair of the Science Department will review your record to determine the appropriate level.

Language 

For now, indicate the language you intend to study at Deerfield. If you have not studied this language previously, you will be enrolled in level 1. If you have already taken at least a full year of this language, teachers in the Language Department will review your record and determine your placement. Placement for French and Spanish will be largely determined by an online placement test, instructions for which can be found on the Back To School Site. For students interested in taking Arabic, Chinese, and Latin, the decision will be based on your transcript. You are expected to fulfill the Language requirement “as best you can,” which might mean that you only take level 1 of a language.

History

Five courses are available: Honors Economics; Honors European History; India and China; Modern Times; and Ordinary People/Extraordinary Times. Be sure to include an alternate (which does not have to be a history course).

Visual/Performing Arts

The entire Arts curriculum, including five AP courses and other term-long, two-term, and year-long courses, is available to you. Two-term courses can be complemented either by a spring-term elective (for which the catalog is distributed and sign-ups are gathered in January) or by one-term courses published in the Course Catalog. Some Arts courses—Chorus, Bands, Chamber Music, Orchestra, Theatre, Dance, AP Drawing, AP Photo, and Topics—can be taken as either a fifth credit course, or as a sixth course pass-fail.

Philosophy/Religion

Two, two-term courses—Political Philosophy; and Religions of the World—and one, one-term course—Eastern Philosophy—are available. Two-term courses can be complemented either by a spring-term elective (for which the catalog is distributed and sign-ups are gathered in January) or by one-term courses published in the Course Catalog.

General Advice:

1. One-year seniors and post-graduates have one Deerfield diploma requirement: THEY MUST TAKE A FULL YEAR OF ENGLISH.
2. Remember to sign up for exactly FIVE graded courses each term. (You may choose a 6th pass-fail performing arts course.)
3.  Some senior courses run for two terms and finish at the end of the winter. In January a spring elective catalog will be available, and you will sign up for spring term electives to fill the slots vacated by two-term courses. You must complete your year-long courses.
4. Be sure to choose alternates for Science, History, Visual/Performing Arts, and Philosophy/Religion courses. (Note: Alternate choices do not have to be in the same discipline.) PLEASE SELECT DIFFERENT CLASSES FOR ALL ALTERNATES.