Upper Level Signature Programs

STEAM

At Notre Dame Preparatory School, we take studies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) to a new level with STEAM: STEM + Art = STEAM.

Research conducted at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), funded by the National Science Foundation, demonstrates the interrelationship between STEM and art education. Creativity is at the core of all STEAM fields, whether it is the creativity involved in research, engineering, design or problem solving.

Of note, the University of Maryland Clark School of Engineering named NDP a Top Engineering Source School, and the Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland recognized NDP as an Emerging Leader.

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  • What distinguishes STEAM at NDP from other high schools?

    Notre Dame Prep's STEAM program develops students’ creativity, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial leadership skills through the integration of cutting-edge technology, innovative instructional approaches, and real-world learning experiences.

    As they progress through the program, students cultivate their confidence and 21st-century career skills as they engage in interdisciplinary coursework, receive support from teachers and professionals in the STEAM fields, participate in co-curricular learning opportunities, and intern with one of NDP’s many partner organizations. 

    A dedicated STEAM Director runs the program which is housed in the state-of-the-art Jane Kroh Satterfield Innovation Wing with resources for students to delve into design-build projects and gain hands-on experience with tools and technology.

    Notre Dame Prep graduates serve as online mentors for engineering students, and visiting engineer lecturers complement coursework, leading Middle and Upper Level students in design/build activities as well as providing a glimpse of the opportunity STEAM professions hold for women.

    Extracurricular activities, such as the Robotics Club and Coding Club, offer hands-on, engaging activities in which students can apply STEAM learning. For example, each year, engineering students design and construct sets for the school's theatre productions. Outside of the classroom, NDP offers numerous opportunities for real-life learning, including field trips, shadow days, and internships.

  • Core & Elective STEAM Courses

        • Introduction to Computer Science (offered for freshmen)
        • Three advanced programming courses: Coding Concepts with Python (offered for college credit), AP Computer Science A, and AP Computer Science Principles
        • Engineering Principles (offered starting in freshman year)
        • Engineering Design (offered starting in freshman year)
        • Advanced Engineering courses in Civil Engineering & Aerospace Engineering
        • Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Advanced Placement (AP) Science Courses
        • Medical Courses include Biology of Cancer, Biomedical Engineering, Genetics of Biotechnology, Infectious Disease, Anatomy & Physiology I & II (offered for college credit), Introduction to Sports Medicine
        • Algebra I & II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Statistics, AP Calculus, AP Statistics and AP Economics.
        • Digital Media I, II, & III
        • Intro to Architecture, Architecture II, Interior Design, Medical Illustrations, AP Art & Design, and AP Art History
     
    A complete description of all STEAM core courses and electives can be found in NDP's Upper Level Course Catalog.

  • STEAM Certificates and Pathways

    Students may elect to pursue a General STEAM Certificate through coursework and extracurricular activities. Students who pursue a STEAM Certificate have the unique opportunity to choose a course pathway that best meets their career interests. They may choose to follow a general pathway that encourages the exploration of courses in each of the STEAM disciplines, OR they may choose to follow a specialized pathway to focus their studies in Architecture & Design, Computer Science, Engineering & Manufacturing, or Medicine.

  • NDP maintains STEAM Partnerships with numerous organizations

        • Ciena
        • Coty
        • Exelon
        • Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University
        • Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
        • Knott Mechanical
        • National Aquarium in Baltimore
        • Northrop Grumman
        • Notre Dame of Maryland University
        • Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland
        • Stanley Black & Decker
        • University of Maryland at Baltimore
        • University of Maryland College Park
        • University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center
        • Washington Pediatric Hospital
        • Whiting-Turner Contracting Company

The Bette Ellis O’Conor Humanities Program

The Bette Ellis O’Conor Humanities Program comprises a community of scholars at Notre Dame Preparatory School dedicated to intellectual pursuit that transcends the boundaries of usual study. The program integrates curricula that are normally separated, allowing students to study in a collegial and dynamic environment that elicits passion for ideas and learning. An exciting course of study in which interdisciplinary connections are the goal, the Humanities Program allows students to explore the relationships between disciplines, particularly Art, English, Music, Religion, and Social Studies. Examining critical issues and ideas, the program encourages dialogue and diversity of perspective.

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  • Sophomore Humanities

    Sophomore students in the program embark on a journey of American studies. Joining Social Studies and English curricula, the course challenges students to consider the nature of America and how the relationship between art, literature, history, music, and religion has shaped both the nation and its inhabitants.

  • Junior Humanities

    Shifting to a focus on the world, the junior year interdisciplinary course couples a study of world religions with an investigation of world literature. Students study the global society in which they live, seeking the knowledge and wisdom such a global view provides. A separate course exploring the American perspective on twentieth century world history gives students the historical perspective of the religions and literature they study.

  • Senior Capstone

    The Humanities Capstone course is the senior English class for participants of the program. During their junior year, students collectively choose a focus of study, giving them the power to shape their own intellectual path. Whether the topic is the nature of evil, the purpose of art, the role of fear, the city of New Orleans, or the experience of time, students explore deeply a topic of particular interest to the class. As the culmination of the class and the program, all students complete a capstone project that allows them to incorporate their specific interests in responding to the key elements of the course topic. Paired with a faculty mentor for the project, each student challenges the holistic faculties she has developed throughout the program and is encouraged to engage in the kind of scholarship and collaboration that is normally reserved for college courses.

  • Culmination of Humanities Program

    There is an evening presentation in May to which parents, administrators, the benefactors of the program, and other guests are invited. Students present a summary of their projects and display them in the lobby for viewing. At that time, students are given certificates of completion for the program

Biliteracy Certification Recognition

Students who receive a Biliteracy Recognition Certificate have demonstrated intermediate-high proficiency in Spanish, French, or Mandarin. Focusing on writing, listening, reading, and speaking, this recognition indicates that recipients are able to interact with native speakers in everyday situations. Recognition often also enables students to enroll in higher-level language courses as college freshmen.

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  • Spanish

    The Upper Level program provides a minimum of six years of consecutive study of Spanish courses. These include:

        • AP Spanish Language and Culture
        • AP Spanish Literature and Culture
        • Spanish for Today
        • Conversational Spanish
        • Spanish IV Culture and Civilization
        • Spanish VI (20th Century Iberoamerican Literature)

  • French

    The Upper Level program provides a minimum of six years of consecutive study of French courses. These include:

        • French IV
        • French V
        • French VI (19th and 20th century Francophone Literature)
        • AP French Language and Culture
        • Conversational French

  • Chinese

    The Upper Level program provides a minimum of five years of consecutive study of Chinese including AP Chinese Language and Culture.

Notre Dame Preparatory School

815 Hampton Lane Towson, Maryland 21286
Telephone: 410.825.6202
An Independent, Catholic Girls School, Grades 6-12, Sponsored by the School Sisters of Notre Dame