Ever wonder what it’s like to be a hacker? Or think about who is trying to steal your passwords while you’re shopping online using the free Wi-Fi at your local coffee shop? Can someone be watching your personal, private information? Can anything be kept “secret” online? We depend more and more on the technologies we interact with every day. This creates the need for increased system and network security measures. And, it means we all need to know more about how to protect valuable and vulnerable information. This course:

• Introduces you to the tools, technologies, and methods needed to protect online information.
• Addresses how these issues are impacting safety and rights on a global and personal level.
• Updates you on exciting career possibilities available in the new and and high-demand field of cyber security.

Are you a gamer? Do you enjoy playing video games or coding? Does the idea of creating and designing your own virtual world excite you? If so, this is the course for you! Tap into your creative and technical skills as you learn about the many aspects involved with designing video games. You will:

• Learn about video game software and hardware, various gaming platforms, necessary technical skills, troubleshooting and Internet safety techniques.
• Learn about the history of gaming.
• Create your very own plan for a 2D video game by turning your hobby into a potential career and go from simply being a player in a virtual world to actually creating one.

In today’s world, we are surrounded by images. We are continually seeing photographs as they appear in advertisements, on websites, in magazines, and on billboards; they even adorn our walls at home. Have you ever wondered how professional photographers manage to take such sensational pictures? How are they able to find just the right way to capture an image or moment in time? Produce digital photography that can be shared with friends & on social media by understanding the principles of vivid photography unique to your style. Take better photos that have purpose and technical artistry.

• Learn about aperture, shutter speed, lighting, and composition.
• Gain the confidence and knowledge you need to become a serious photographer.
• Follow photography through its history.
• Improve your understanding of camera functions, techniques and what it takes to shoot quality portraits, close-ups, action shots, and landscape.

Are you always the first one to know what’s going on at school or in your town? Maybe your Facebook or Instagram accounts are the reliable place for others to find the latest breaking news? If so, you are just the kind of person every online, print, and broadcast news outlet is searching for, and Journalism: Investigating the Truth is the perfect course for you! Learn how to:

• Write a lead that really “grabs” your readers, interview sources effectively, and write engaging news stories.
• Explore the history of journalism and see how the modern world of social media can provide an excellent platform for news.
• Turn your writing, photography, and collaborative skills into an exciting and rewarding journalism career.

What comes to mind when you think of ‘marketing’? Perhaps a familiar television jingle plays in your head? Or maybe you think of those irritating sales phone calls? There’s no denying the sheer magnitude and power of the marketing industry. Every year companies spend approximately $200 billion promoting their products and services—and that’s just in the United States alone! You may be familiar with being on the receiving end marketing, but what’s it like on the other side?

• See how marketing campaigns, ads, and commercials are brought to life.
• Meet some of the creative folks who produce them.
• Learn about different marketing career opportunities and discover ways to be part of this exciting, fast-paced industry.

Since the beginning of time, people have gathered around fires to tell stories of angry gods, harrowing journeys, cunning animals, horrible beasts, and the mighty heroes who vanquished them. Mythology and folklore have provided a way for these colorful stories to spring to life for thousands of years. Mythology and Folklore: Legendary Tales will illustrate how these famous anecdotes have helped humans make sense of the world. Beginning with an overview of mythology and different types of folklore, you will:

• Journey with age-old heroes as they slay dragons, outwit gods, defy fate, fight endless battles, and outwit clever monsters with strength and courage.
• Explore the universality and social significance of myths and folklore
• See how powerful tales continue to shape society even today.

Mindshift: The Science of Learning takes students on an introspective journey through which they discover their unlimited potential. This course is a game-changer for our students and serves as a launching pad for a successful year at Futures Academy. Students will:

• Unpack the research that proves that intelligence is not fixed and understand that they have the capacity to learn and change by rewiring their brain.
• Recognize the power of grit and redefine the qualities of a genius.
• Reframe failure to recognize that perseverance is an incredible trait.
• Evaluate their priorities and learn strategies for managing their stress in order to confidently approach their responsibilities.

As Part B to our Mindshift Series, this course aims to elevate the happiness levels of our students. This course will:

• Equip students with the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly complex world.
• Utilize cutting-edge research from the fields of positive psychology, neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and beyond to increase happiness levels.

Our Mindshift: Study Skills course is designed to teach students new tools and strategies to achieve consistent academic success. Students will:

• Develop greater self-awareness of how to most effectively learn.
• Learn to be more efficient and effective with schoolwork and how to make grades more accurately represent intellectual potential.
• Improve organization, study habits, memory and note-taking skills.

*Not UC/CSU approved.

This course is designed to introduce students, safely and accessibly, to the basic postures, breathing techniques, and relaxation methods of yoga. Students will:

• Experience the benefits of stretching, moving, and breathing freely.
• Relieve built up stress, learn to relax, and ultimately get more out of day-to-day life.
• Promote vibrant health and tap the body’s latent energy reserves.

*Not UC/CSU approved.

There are so many different types of art in this world—fine art, classical art, visual art—but the impact of digital art and design is all around us, often in ways that you probably aren’t even aware of! After taking Digital Art and Design, you will:

• Enjoy a deeper understanding and appreciation for all things digital as you explore this special genre of art found in everything from advertising to animation to photography and beyond.
• Learn about the evolution of art, the basic principles of art and design, and the role of art in politics and society.
• Create your own digital art and make it come alive.