Guiding principles for operation

The curriculum operates with greater flexibility than that of regular high schools, and unspecified matters are handled in a way that expands student autonomy as much as possible.

Basic operation

1. Core credits
   • Students must obtain 155 credits for graduation.
   • Grade 10 students may take up to 24 credits per semester. However, students who have passed the PT test may take up to 27 credits.
   • Grade 11 and Grade 12 students may take up to 27 credits. However, students who have received the consent of the department head may take up to 30 credits. In this case, the student must obtain approval from the teacher in charge of the course and the department head, and submit the consent form for requesting excess credits to the relevant Office.
   • Students who exceed the maximum credits allowed for a semester must obtain confirmation from the teacher in charge.
   • Students must take at least 10 credits per semester.
   • Students can take courses of their choice within the maximum credits allowed for each semester.
2. Classes and credit assignment
   • A semester lasts for 16 weeks.
   • Classes for all courses run for 50 minutes.
   • One credit is given for completing 16 hours (one hour per week). For experimental and practical training, one credit is given for completing 32 hours (two hours per week).
   • Block scheduling may be implemented for classes of two credit hours or more, and classes of three credit hours or more and including two consecutive hours may be conducted as a combination of two-hour and one-hour sessions.
   • Courses offered as part of the self-designed curriculum are subject to approval by the principal.
3. Academic warning
   • The academy issues an academic warning to students whose GPA is below 2.0, and expels students who have received two academic warnings.
   • Academic counseling and guidance are reinforced to minimize the number of underachieving students.
   • An academic warning may be erased where students achieve a GPA of B0 (3.0) or higher in the subsequent semester.
4. The curriculum includes both accelerated and intensive courses, and places greater emphasis on the latter.
5. The curriculum is composed of convergence programs that nurture creative global leaders capable of transdisciplinary and creative thinking, and self-designed programs for students to enhance their competencies in various fields in a self-directed manner.
6. The curriculum is tailored to students’ academic abilities through level-based classes, advanced placement (AP), and placement tests (PT).
7. English-language lectures, international exchange programs, and a curriculum for international students are offered to enhance students’ global capabilities.
8. Various courses and programs are offered to help students maximize their interests and abilities.
9. All subjects enhance inquiry, discussion, and writing skills.
   • 1) Courses in natural sciences focus on discussion and experiments.
   • 2) Courses in humanities focus on writing activities.

Courses and registration

1. Prior to the registration period for each semester, departments will hold meetings to determine the courses to be offered in the subsequent semester. The Department of Academic Affairs will compile and announce the list of courses.
2. Core (required) courses
   • All core (required) courses must be completed by the fourth semester.
   • For core (required) courses, each department may offer level-oriented classes following discussions with the Curriculum Committee.
3. Core (elective) courses
   • Intensive (elective) courses can be chosen by students, regardless of their grades, based on their abilities and interests. They must be completed in accordance with the course hierarchy.
   • Students shall complete at least three intensive required courses in one subject among mathematics, computer science, physics, earth science, chemistry, and biology.
   • Different intensive (elective) courses are offered in Semester 1 and 2.
   • Special courses
     • A) Special courses may be offered for each subject following deliberation by the Curriculum Committee.
     • B) Special courses are specified as follows in student records.

    

   선택교과

   Classification	Course	Credit	Grade	Remark
   Intensive course (elective) in natural sciences	Special Topics in Mathematics (Algebra)	3	A+

4. Course registration
   • A course syllabus, in the prescribed format, shall be provided to students prior to the course registration period so that they are fully aware of the topics to be covered.
   • Intensive (elective) courses require a minimum of five students to ensure student-led, discussion-based learning.
   • Each class shall have a maximum of 16 students, and any larger class size is subject to approval by the principal.
   • Other details concerning course registration shall be determined by the Curriculum Committee.
5. Course retaking
   • Courses graded as F from among courses required for graduation must be retaken to achieve a higher grade.
   • Courses graded as C0 or lower may be retaken, and the highest grade possible for retaken courses is A-.
   • Retaken courses will have the previous grade deleted and replaced with the new grade, but marked as R (short for “retaking”) in the Remarks section.
   • Up to 15 credits may be retaken, and retaking fees shall apply. However, Grade 10 year required courses to the Pass/Fail system are not included in the retake credits.
   • Students may cancel course retaking within four weeks from the start of the semester, subject to approval by the principal.
   • Specific matters concerning course retaking shall be determined by the principal.
6. Changes to course registration
   • Changes to course registration shall be made within the first two weeks of the semester.
   • Changes to course registration shall be confirmed after approval by the principal.
   • Specific matters concerning changes to course registration shall be determined by the principal.
7. Cancellation of course registration
   • Course registration can be cancelled for 10th grade core (required) courses only.
   • The cancellation period shall be within 4 weeks of the start of each semester.
   • The cancellation of course registration shall be deliberated upon by the Curriculum Committee and determined by the principal.
8. Operation of summer and winter semesters
   • Where approved by the principal, summer and winter semesters may be held for students to earn extra credits.
   • Students who receive an F in Pass/Fail courses may be given the opportunity to retake such courses in summer/winter semesters.
   • Specific matters concerning the operation of summer and winter semesters shall be governed by Guidelines for Curriculum Operation.

Evaluation

1. Evaluation is performed in accordance with Regulations of the Korea Science Academy and Rules for Academic Record Management.
2. GPA is calculated on a 4.3 scale, and the grading table is as follows.

   평가

   Grade	A+	A0	A-	B+	0	B-	C+	C0	C-	D+	D0	D-	F
   Score	4.3	4.0	3.7	3.3	3.0	2.7	2.3	2.0	1.7	1.3	1.0	0.7	0.0

3. Grades are given for Semester 1, Semester 2, and summer/winter semesters.
4. Student evaluation is based on performance assessment, paper examination, and attendance.
5. The courses listed below and creative research activities shall be graded as Pass or Fail, and other courses shall follow the regular grading system.
   • Core (required) courses for 10th grade (Korean Students)
     - Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2, Computer Science 1, Computer Science 2, Physics and Exp.1, Chemistry and Exp., Biology and Exp., Korean 1, Korean 2, Understanding of Korean History, English Ⅰ, English Ⅱ, Music, Arts, PE 1, PE 2
   • Core (required) courses for 10th grade (Foreign Students)
     - Basic Mathematics, Mathematics 1, Basics of Physics Ⅰ, Basics of Physics Ⅱ, Chemistry and Exp.Ⅰ, Chemistry & Exp.Ⅱ Biology and Exp.Ⅰ, Biology & Exp.Ⅱ Korean 1, Korean 2, World History, Korean History, English Ⅰ, English Ⅱ, Music, Arts, PE 1, PE 2
   • Creative Engineering, Creative Convergence Design, and other PE/arts courses in humanities
   • Pass/Fail grading may be applied to selected courses listed in 1) ~ 3) following deliberation by the Curriculum Committee and approval by the principal.
6. The sum of A and B shall account for up to 70% of the total grades given, and course instructors shall determine grades based on individual student performance.
7. Where students face difficulties in taking certain courses due to physical disability, the curriculum may be adjusted following discussions by the relevant department and deliberation by the Curriculum Committee.
   • Where performance evaluation is difficult for a specific course, students shall receive scores that best reflect their performance (method of calculation shall be determined following discussion by the relevant department and deliberation by the Curriculum Committee).
   • Where 1) cannot be applied, students shall be allowed to take another course within the department.
   • Where 1) cannot be applied, students shall be allowed to take another course in a different department.

Graduation

1. The Principal shall give a high school diploma to those who have completed all courses, including a graduation thesis, and satisfied the graduation requirements.
2. To be able to graduate, a student must have acquired 127 credits from courses and 28 credits from creative research activities (155 credits or more in total).
3. Of 127 credits, a student must have obtained the minimum credits from each course category, and must complete at least three courses of one intensive required subject. In this case, the contents of intensive courses must be specified in the student record.
4. For competency-based leadership activities, a student must take at least 60 hours for each of the three categories (Career Development Activities, Cooperation Activity and Global Citizenship Activity), making up 270 hours or more in total before graduation.
5. A student must submit an original copy of official English test results in the 1st semester of Grade 12.
6. Criteria for English proficiency required for graduation are provided separately in the Student Academic Regulations.
7. If a student with a disability obtains an average of over 80% (criteria scores/total score) of the language proficiency criteria for students without disabilities in areas other than those affected by his or her disability (a sum of the scores that the student earned and the score for the affected area), he or she shall be considered to have satisfied the foreign language proficiency requirement. However, the area to be excluded and the decision of pass or fail shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Department of Humanities and Arts.
8. To graduate, a student must obtain at least 10 credits over three years in English lectures (EC) designated by the school.

Placement Test (PT)

1. Placement Test is designed to allow students who have achieved a certain level of academic performance in natural science and foreign language courses to take higher level courses without taking the course for which he or she passes the PT, so that high performers can obtain accelerated and intensive learning within the KSA curriculum.
2. PTs shall be taken prior to the course registration period in the 1st semester of the Grade 10 year.
3. A credit is given for the results of the PT only for the required courses in the 1^st grade, and other details and matters involving courses subject to PTs and evaluation criteria, etc., shall be set separately in the Guidelines for Curriculum Operation.

Advanced Placement (AP)

1. AP courses will be opened in accordance with credit recognition agreements with relevant universities.
2. Students may acquire credits by taking AP courses held at universities recognized by the Principal.

Operation of self-designed curriculum

1. For courses not offered by the school, students may design their own curriculum using online/offline educational resources.
2. Students shall prepare and submit a syllabus to the relevant department within 4 weeks of the start of the semester immediately preceding the starting of school, and apply for course offerings. The department shall review the request, and approve the course if found to be consistent with the purpose of curriculum operation. Details concerning operation shall be determined by the department.
3. Instructors shall be assigned to the above courses. The assigned instructors shall review external educational resources and syllabuses, support the opening and operation of courses, monitor student learning, and participate in evaluation.
4. Instructors shall evaluate students using the Pass/Fail system in consideration of their learning progress and outcomes.

KSA Honors' Program (KSA HP)

1. Outstanding students who meet certain qualifications may choose to study at KAIST by joining the KSA Honors' Program.
2. KSA HP subjects can be taught either by KAIST or KSA faculty.
3. Credits earned from KSA HP courses will be recognized as those earned at KSA, and if a student under this program is admitted to KAIST, the credits will be recognized as those earned at KAIST.
4. Specific details and matters involving the operation of the KSA HP program shall be determined by the Principal.

Curriculum for foreign students

1. The school may operate a separate curriculum for foreign students.
   • Among all core (required) subjects and those in humanities, separate electives for Korean and Social Studies will be operated for foreign students.
   • Intensive(elective) courses in natural sciences and English, Music, Arts and PE courses in humanities will be operated together for both Korean and foreign students.
2. Graduation requirements for foreign students
   • The Principal shall give a high school diploma to those who have completed all courses, including a graduation thesis, and those who have satisfied the remaining graduation requirements while in school.
   • To be able to graduate, a student must have acquired 128 credits or more from courses, and 28 credits from creative research activities (156 credits or more in total).
   • Of 128 credits, a student must have obtained the minimum credits for each subject category, and must complete at least three courses of one intensive required subject. In this case, the contents of intensive courses must be specified in the student record.
   • For competency-based leadership activities, a student must take at least 60 hours each for Career Development Activities, Cooperation Activity and Global Citizenship Activity categories, to make 270 hours or more in total.
   • A student must submit an original copy of official English test results in the 1st semester of Grade 12.
     • a) Criteria for English proficiency required for graduation are set in the Guidelines for Curriculum Operation.
     • b) If a student with a disability obtains an average of over 80% (criteria scores/total score) for the language proficiency criteria for students without disabilities in areas other than those affected by his or her disability (a sum of the scores that the student earned and the score of the affected area), he or she shall be considered as having satisfied the foreign language proficiency requirement. However, areas to be excluded and decisions of pass or fail will be determined by the Department of Humanities and Arts on a case-by-case basis.
     • c) A student who fails to meet the criteria stated in a) above must take another English course (e.g. English Communication Center Program) in the summer vacation or in the 2nd semester of Grade 12.
     • d) A student must achieve Level 2 or higher certification on the Korean language proficiency test, TOPIK. (If a student fails to meet the criteria stated in (D), he or she must take another Korean course in the 2nd semester of Grade 12).
3. Placement Test (PT) for foreign students
   • It is mandatory for foreign students to take PT for English courses.
   • It is optional for foreign students to take PT for core courses for 10th grade students in natural sciences, Social Studies courses and Korean course.
4. Evaluation of foreign students
   • Differentiated evaluation criteria can be used for classes consisting of only foreign students.
   • The same evaluation criteria must be used for classes with mixed Korean and foreign students.
5. Course re-taking by foreign students
   • A student can re-take a course for which he or she received a grade of C0 or lower, and can obtain up to an A- (as the highest grade) for the course that he or she is repeating.
   • A student may re-take up to 15 credits and shall pay fees for re-taking.
6. For matters involving curriculum operation for foreign students that are not specified above, KSA curriculum for Korean students shall apply mutatis mutandis.