Our Program > Academics >  Upper  To receive a Nichols diploma, students must earn a minimum of 25 credits (a full year course or its equivalent in semester courses constitutes one credit). The normal course load during grades 9 - 12 results in a total of 26 credits. English (4 Credits) - Students must take English every year. Senior English consists of two semester elective courses. History (3 Credits) - Students are required to take Ancient World History in 9th grade, Modern European History in 10th grade, and U.S. History in either 11th or 12th grade. Science (3 Credits) - Students are required to take Physics in 9th grade, Chemistry in 10th grade, and Chemistry or Physics in 11th or 12th grade. Mathematics (3 Credits) - Students must pass Precalculus in order to fulfill requirements, except as noted in the next section. Math in Senior year is contingent upon completion of Math V with a C- or better. Foreign Language (3 Credits) - Students must successfully complete the third year of any one language (except as noted in the next section). Arts (2 Credits) Students are required to take one credit of Arts in the 9th grade year and one credit in the 11th or 12th grade. 9th graders can fulfill their requirement by taking Arts III. 10th graders may choose to take an art elective, Chorus or Orchestra to fulfill the sophomore elective requirement. 11th and 12th graders may complete their requirement by taking Chorus, Orchestra, or a full-year arts elective. PE/Athletics (4 Credits) - Each season (fall, winter, spring), all students are required to take physical education or a Nichols dance class, be a member of a sports team or its manager, or are granted a contract sport by the Director of Athletics. Electives (3 Credits) Senior Project (Pass or Honors) In the second semester of the senior year, Nichols students are required to research and develop a project that will facilitate meaningful learning to culminate their Nichols educational experience. Students research and write a proposal for their project, which is reviewed by a faculty committee who provide oversight to the proposal process. Following senior exams in mid-May, students begin their three-week senior project. The projects conclude with a senior project night in the first week on June. The senior project is a graduation requirement which receives a pass or fail grade. Additional Requirements In Math and Foreign Language, students may satisfy their requirements in each department if they have completed level three (in FL) or Precalculus by Junior year. In the event that a student completes both Math and Foreign Language requirements by the end of 10th grade, the student is then required to take at least one advanced course in either department before graduating. Sophomore Elective - All IV Formers (10th grade) are required to take either two semester electives or a full-year course. Chorus, Orchestra, or the beginning of a second Foreign Language will fulfill this requirement. Course Minimum/Maximum - Juniors or Seniors must take a minimum of five courses, and they must pass all those courses in their final year. This requirement negates the use of the "wild card" credit during senior year. Only the Academic Review Committee (ARC) may approve six courses and if schedule permits. AP Exam Policy Any student, whose cumulative average in an AP course is below B- two weeks prior to the AP exam, will be required to take a departmental final exam in addition to (or, with the instructor's permission, in place of) the regular AP exam. Drop/Add Procedure After the beginning of the year, we will make adjustments to students' schedules, for example, changing from AP to regular math or dropping a difficult sixth course. Only in very unusual circumstances, and only with the approval of the Academic Review Committee, may a student drop a year course after the third week of school or go below five courses. Students dropping a year or semester course after the second week of the marking period will have the designation of withdrawn passing or failing on their transcript, unless that designation is waived by the Academic Review Committee.