9th Grade Courses

The 9th-grade standards emphasize reading, analyzing, and evaluating complex literary and informational texts from various cultural perspectives, particularly works originating outside the United States and the British Isles through 1599. Core skills developed include analyzing rhetorical strategies, interpreting an author’s style, applying language conventions effectively in writing and speaking, and creating and delivering both digital and collaborative presentations suitable for a target audience. At ASHS, these same objectives are explored through the lens of healthcare—students might analyze a physician’s memoir, evaluate persuasive writing on public-health topics, or craft research-based essays that model clear, ethical communication in medical and scientific settings. This integration strengthens literacy, empathy, and precision, all essential skills for future healthcare professionals.

In the Foreign Language courses at ASHS, students follow Alabama’s World Languages standards, which emphasize proficiency and cultural competence. While mastering another language, such as Spanish, students engage in healthcare-themed dialogues (for example, communicating with patients in a clinic setting) and immerse themselves in intercultural health contexts. This focus supports both language fluency and real-world application, equipping students to work in diverse medical environments and strengthening their readiness for global healthcare careers.

This freshman seminar course introduces students at the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences to the values, skills, and knowledge necessary for success in healthcare professions. Emphasizing empathy, communication, ethical behavior, and leadership, the course also prepares students to navigate residential life, collaborate with peers, and explore healthcare career pathways. Students will engage in reflective writing, communication practices, service learning, and hands-on projects that align with state and national standards.

This course explores the major developments of world history through the lens of health, medicine, and society. Students will study how civilizations understood disease, advanced medical knowledge, and responded to epidemics. Special emphasis is placed on the connections between scientific discovery, cultural practices, and public health policies. Students will analyze primary sources, engage in debates, and complete projects linking history to modern healthcare challenges.

In this course, students build on Alabama’s standards for mathematical practice and content by applying geometric and measurement concepts to real-world healthcare settings. For example, students might analyze the geometry of hospital floor plans, calculate the slope and angles for medical imaging devices, or determine optimal space usage in patient care areas. This approach reinforces reasoning, modeling, and precision as framed by Alabama’s College & Career Ready Standards for Mathematics.

Freshman Biology at ASHS aligns with the “2023 Alabama Course of Study: Science” by emphasizing science as both doing and knowing. Students explore life science through healthcare-centered topics—from the structure and function of human body systems to heredity and ecosystems of health—preparing them for careers in allied health and biomedicine. They engage in inquiry-based labs and data analysis related to patient care, disease transmission, or medical device testing, cultivating the scientific literacy and engineering practices required by Alabama’s science standards.

This course fulfills Alabama’s Computer Science requirement while introducing students to computing systems, programming, data analysis, and cybersecurity through the lens of healthcare. Students will gain foundational coding skills, explore healthcare information systems, and apply computational thinking to real-world medical challenges. The course also addresses ethical, legal, and social implications of technology in healthcare, preparing students for further study in health informatics or computer science.

This course is designed to provide students with a solid basis for moving ahead in any healthcare field they may choose. The topics covered include safety, infection control, legal and ethical practices, career exploration, employability skills, medical math, healthcare delivery systems, health and wellness, communication and teamwork, medical terminology, body organization, basic anatomy and physiology of each major body system, and entry level technical skills. This course is the prerequisite for all other health science courses. It is recommended for students who want to prepare for further study at the postsecondary level for a broad array of health-related fields.

Credentials: BLS First Aid, CPR, Stop the Bleed