The following courses will be offered in English.
Cryptology
Information is power. Even before the first written word, the need to safeguard information created an ongoing evolutionary battle between code makers and code breakers. Cryptology is the study of secret writing such as codes and ciphers. In this math course, students begin their journey with an exploration of many early techniques for creating secret writing, such as cipher wheels, the Caesar shift, monoalphabetic substitution, and the Vigenère cipher. They move on to learn about modern techniques including RSA public key cryptography. Delving deeper into modern techniques, students explore how data transmitted by computer can be secured with digital encryption. Discussions about the vulnerabilities of each encryption system enable students to attack and decrypt messages using techniques such as frequency analysis and cribbing. Students apply what they learn to encrypt and decrypt their own secret writing. Though the course’s central focus is on the mathematics of cryptology, the historical context of cryptography and cryptographic devices is provided to further develop students’ understanding of this branch of mathematics. For example, students examine the design and fallibility of the Enigma Machine, one of the most important cryptographic devices in history. For more information, please visit the sample course syllabus. Sample text: The Code Book, Singh. Prerequsite: Algebra I or the equivalent. If you are a student in Hong Kong and have completed 7th grade math, then you have fulfilled the prerequisite for this course. No documentation is required.
Probability and Game Theory
The study of probability and game theory is an excellent way for students to apply math to real-world situations. Unlike mathematical modeling, which is a broad field, game theory is a very specific branch of mathematics focusing on the application of probability to competitive behavior. Students investigate a variety of topics including voting patterns, coalition building, and bargaining. In this class, students use mathematical modeling as an important foundation from which they can pursue further investigations. The models of game theory are abstract representations of real-life situations. For example, the theory of Nash Equilibrium has been used to study political competition, and the Prisoner’s Dilemma has been used to analyze the social networks of different populations. The mathematics covered in this course includes concepts of probability and linear algebra. Class exercises involve individual and group work as well as possible class tournaments. For more information, please visit the sample course syllabus. Sample texts: Game Theory and Strategy, Straffin; Thinking Strategically, Dixit. Prerequisite: Algebra I or the equivalent. If you are a student in Hong Kong and have completed 7th grade math, then you have fulfilled the prerequisite for this course. No documentation is required.
Mathematical Logic
Reasoning and logic form the backbone of almost every academic discipline. From philosophical argumentation to the scientific method, clear reasoning and consistent logic are the building blocks of serious inquiry. This course introduces students to the basics of mathematical logic and formal proof. Students acquire a foundation in formal logic, the basis of rigorous mathematical proof. They gain an understanding of the major elements of mathematical logic: validity, soundness, formal proof, and counterexample. As they explore the tools of reasoning, they develop strong problem-solving skills and learn to think analytically. This course emphasizes how to organize knowledge and present solutions to problems in a simple, coherent, and systematic manner. Students analyze the structure of proofs and solve a range of meta-mathematical problems. By the end of the course, students are able to translate statements and arguments and to write their own proofs with increased elegance and assurance. For more information, please visit the sample course syllabus. Sample texts: Logic: Techniques of Formal Reasoning, Kalish et al.; Formal Logic: Its Scope and Limits, Jeffrey. Prerequisite: Algebra I or the equivalent. If you are a student in Hong Kong and have completed 7th grade math, then you have fulfilled the prerequisite for this course. No documentation is required.
Mathematical Modeling
Mathematics is more than just numbers and symbols on a page. It can be used to determine whether a meteor will impact Earth, predict the spread of an infectious disease, or analyze a remarkably close presidential election. Applications of mathematics are indispensable in the modern world. In this course, students learn how to create mathematical models to represent and solve problems across a broad range of disciplines, including political science, economics, biology, and physics. Students investigate voting systems by constructing mathematical models of how groups make decisions and how elections are decided. They consider how goods, property, and even political power can be fairly divided and apportioned. Students learn how to use Euler and Hamilton circuits to find the optimal solutions in a variety of real-world situations, such as determining the most efficient way to schedule airline travel. In investigations of growth and symmetry, students develop linear and exponential growth models and explore fractals and the Fibonacci numbers. Students leave this course with the ability to use the seemingly abstract language of mathematics to make the world in which we live a better place. For more information, please visit the sample course syllabus. Note: A graphing calculator, such as a TI-83, is recommended. Sample text: Excursions in Modern Mathematics, Arnold and Tannenbaum.
Fundamentals of Computer Science
In this course, students examine three major areas of computer science: theory and algorithms, hardware systems, and software systems. The theoretical component of the course covers the study of algorithms, Boolean algebra, binary mathematics, and the theory of computation. While studying hardware systems, students learn about the physical components of computers, digital logic, and computer architecture. In software systems, students are introduced to elements of programming languages, compilers, and computer graphics. The course also introduces operating systems, a key link between hardware and software, and computer networks. This course helps prepare students for AP Computer Science and gives them a good indication of what they might see as a computer science major in college. While learning a particular programming language is not a goal of the course, students apply and illustrate the concepts they are learning through work on programming projects. For more information, please visit the sample course syllabus. Sample text: An Invitation to Computer Science, Schneider and Gersting. Prerequisite: Algebra I or the equivalent. If you are a student in Hong Kong and have completed 7th grade math, then you have fulfilled the prerequisite for this course. No documentation is required. Lab Fee: $85 Back to top
Electrical Engineering
The impact of electrical engineering can be seen all around us. As electronic components continue to shrink in size, the future promises even more astounding progress in fields such as robotics, satellite communications, energy conservation, factory automation, oil and gas exploration, and electrical power generation and distribution. This course offers students an introduction to the field of electrical engineering. Students learn the basic physical science behind circuits and electronics, including electrical current, voltage, resistance, conductivity, work, energy, power, and magnetism. They apply these concepts to draw simple schematic series and parallel circuits, and they analyze the circuits using mathematical tools such as Kirchoff’s laws. In laboratory exercises, students build their own circuits using power supplies, resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, and transistors. They then measure the circuits’ properties to test their mathematical predictions. Sample text: Materials compiled by the instructor. Prerequisite: Algebra I or the equivalent. If you are a student in Hong Kong and have completed 7th grade math, then you have fulfilled the prerequisite for this course. No documentation is required. Lab Fee: $85
Fast-Paced Upper School Chemistry
This course covers material ordinarily included in a year-long introductory course in upper school chemistry (the usual prerequisite for honors or AP Chemistry). Topics covered include the periodic table, the atom, chemical bonding, nomenclature, the mole concept, stoichiometry, acids and bases, organic chemistry, thermodynamics, kinetics, and equilibrium. On the first and last days of class, students take a comprehensive test in chemistry to help assess their learning. Note: Students just completing 7th grade are urged to take CTY’s Introduction to the Biomedical Sciences before taking this course. This course is for students planning to continue on to honors or AP Chemistry or to other advanced work in chemistry. For more information, please visit the sample course syllabus. Sample texts: Prentice Hall Chemistry, Wilbraham; an accompanying lab manual. Prerequisite: Algebra I or the equivalent. If you are a student in Hong Kong and have completed 7th grade math, then you have fulfilled the prerequisite for this course. No documentation is required. Lab Fee: $85
Introduction to Biomedical Sciences
This course is an introduction to human biology and the science of medicine. Drawing upon basic biological and chemical concepts, students explore the intricate anatomical and physiological mechanisms underlying normal human function. Students then examine the abnormal functions which occur in selected diseases. In learning about diabetes, for example, students gain an in-depth understanding of the endocrine system, the pancreas, the metabolism of sugar, and the biochemical effects of glucose. Lab work covers techniques in histology, anatomy and physiology (including dissections), biochemistry, and molecular biology. Additionally, students learn to read critically and respond to articles in scientific journals and the popular media. Note: This course is designed for students who have completed only grades 7 or 8. Students who, by this summer, will have completed grade 9 or higher are not eligible. For more information, please visit the sample course syllabus. Sample text: The Human Body in Health and Disease, Thibodeau and Patton. Lab Fee: $85 Back to top
Crafting the Essay
Crafting the Essay begins with the premise that students are members of a writers’ community. Drawing on their own experiences, students write literary essays and personal memoirs as they explore the nature and function of nonfiction prose. Beginning with invention and moving through the drafting and revising stages, students complete four to six polished essays. Students examine their assumptions about language and truth and explore the creative elements of nonfiction writing. Activities help students practice the elements of lively, powerful prose: vivid, precise diction and specific details; figurative language, including metaphor; and variety in sentence structure. Students also experiment with different techniques for organizing essays and for beginning and ending their work effectively. In addition, instructors encourage students to discover a personal writing voice and consider how that voice relates to audience and purpose. Throughout the course, students read and discuss—often as models for their own writing—the prose of writers such as E. B. White, Maxine Hong Kingston, Joan Didion, and James Baldwin. Note: Crafting the Essay is a composition course that challenges CTY students of all ages and abilities, including students who already receive high marks in their English classes. When feasible, students in this course are grouped with others of approximately the same age. For more information, please visit the sample course syllabus. Sample texts: The Art of the Personal Essay, Lopate; Elements of Style, Strunk and White; The Woman Warrior, Kingston.
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