Art
Seoul International School offers a variety of courses to provide opportunities for students interested in art. Studio Art, Graphic Design and Ceramics classes are for all students interested in such courses. S.I.S. also provides Advanced Placement Drawing, 2-D Design and Art History courses for students who are considering their future career in fine arts and design areas.
Drama
Language Arts
The language arts program at SIS helps our students develop their communication skills in preparation for a university setting and beyond. Our program focuses on reading, writing, and presenting for a variety of purposes, settings, and media. Our coursework utilizes a variety of teaching methods that allow our students to challenge themselves and to showcase their talents and skills. For example, students are typically asked to write an essay, act out a play, debate an important issue, create/respond to a blog, write a newspaper article, critique a play, and present research as a part of a group. Students also learn and practice a variety of strategies to help them read challenging texts (fiction, non-fiction, and poetry). Texts are chosen because they are canonical, representative of a culture or time period, or by a notable author. The English Department challenges our students to become the best readers, writers, and presenters they can be. We actively support students with a Writing Center run by teachers, that is open throughout the lunch hour every day of the week. The Writing Center supports Language Arts assignments, as well as writing across the other disciplines.
Mathematics
The high school Math Department currently offers eleven math courses from Algebra 2 to A.P. BC Calculus, including Statistics and AP Statistics. The sequence is as follows: Geometry, Algebra II, Precalculus and Calculus and/or Statistics. Most of the students take math every year, although three years are required for graduation. In general, the majority of 9th graders take Geometry, 10th graders take Algebra II, 11th graders take Precalculus, and 12th graders take Calculus and/or Statistics. SIS students and parents understand how important math is and they emphasize doing well in it. Students score very high on SAT and A.P. Math, and do well in their college math courses later.
Music
The Seoul International School Music Program consists of seven music ensembles for students grades 9 to 12. These groups include the Concert Choir, Ambassadors, Ladies’ Choir, Advanced Band, Jazz Ensemble, Strings, and Symphony Orchestra. All groups perform a variety of literature throughout the year in concerts, recitals and KAIAC music festivals.
Physical Education
Science
The SIS science department provides a total of 10 science courses including four Advanced Placement classes. Every class provides a good opportunity to students wishing to extend their knowledge further into science. Five science teachers in High School teach the students with maximum hands-on activities in a laboratory setting using lectures, discussions, and laboratories.
Social Studies
The SIS curriculum is modeled on those commonly found in the U.S. but with reference to the school's international nature. The program focuses on developing advanced critical thinking skills and a strong ability to express themselves in different mediums. Students need a minimum of three credits in Social Studies to graduate, including compulsory courses in World History and U.S. History. Students are also offered a wide range of elective programs. U.S. History, World History, Human Geography, Economics, and Psychology are offered at the Advanced Placement level. Contemporary Asian Studies and Government/Comparative Politics are also offered.
World Languages
Two years of study in Spanish or Chinese are required at SIS; however, because students of foreign languages tend to show improvement in all language fields, students are encouraged to advance as far as possible with their foreign language. Because language skills are cumulative, with each course building on skills acquired in the previous course, Spanish and Chinese students must follow the sequence from level I through AP. The rare exceptions to this sequence are outlined in a document available through the Counseling Office.