Homeschooling High School: Course Descriptions

Crafting Course Descriptions

Course Descriptions: What are they?

Course descriptions are short summaries of the courses your student has taken during their high school career. These should be compiled into a single document that may be uploaded as a supporting document in college applications. While these may not always be requested, some colleges will want to see them and it’s better to be prepared!

What makes something a course?

If you can dream it, it can be a course! While some courses may be straightforward based on a textbook or outside provider’s class, other courses may look pretty unconventional. Movies, travel, theater, museums, blogs, participation in an activity, written communication, homework, oral discussion, art, technology, contemplation, balancing a checkbook, song writing, attending lectures – all of these things can constitute or be part of a course. Don’t be afraid to customize a subject to fit the interests and learning style of your child - that’s the beauty of homeschooling!

What Should be Included in a Course Description?

Each course summary should be as short as possible and NEVER more than 1 page (a quarter or half a page is best). You should include:

Name of course
Instructor's name (if other than yourself)
Name of institution (if taken with an outside provider)
Course material
Scope of content
Method of evaluation

*NOTE: If you used a publisher’s curriculum then you can copy the course description from their website or textbook.

Course Description Examples

General Course Descriptions

Japanese 1: Met with Japanese tutor weekly, weekly homework. Textbook Genki I: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese I by Eri Banno

Science & Technology, Literary Analysis & Composition: Using various texts as an anchor, we will explore tales of Science & Technology. By understanding, analyzing, writing and rewriting, this course will empower students to interact with literature in a meaningful and sophisticated way. Using a personalized approach, the goal is to guide students to the next level in their thinking and composition. By dialing into your student’s particular strengths and style, we will work to further develop their voice with the support of specific feedback and tailored instruction. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton.

Film Appreciation: Watch and Analyze! Film Appreciation Basics Through Citizen Kane. Learn the basics of how to talk about film and then view the classic film Citizen Kane and discuss what we see like real film critics! Students will be introduced to basic film terminology and concepts and then asked to view the classic film Citizen Kane, through which they will be asked to apply the concepts they learned about in the first class. Additional films will include Running Man, Vice, RBG, Groundhog Day, What About Bob, Matrix 1 and 2, John Wick 1 and 2, Toy Story, The Post, The Killing Fields, Apocalypse Now.

BIO111 General Biology I with lab: This course is an introductory survey of biological principles and topics representing a range of levels of organization, including general background chemistry, cell biology, genetics, evolution and ecology. Evaluation: homework, section and final testing.

MTH119 Fundamental Statistics: This course provides a survey of statistical methods, with examples taken from sociology, psychology, education, and related fields. Topics include descriptive statistics, measure of central tendency and variability, probability, binomial and normal distributions, estimation, correlation, regression sampling

distributions, and hypothesis testing.

Rhode Island History: Rhode Island History course focuses on the geography and the historical development of the state from l636 to the present. Particular emphasis will be placed on the following areas: geography, settlement, The American Revolution, Industrialization, immigration and the Twentieth Century. Visit RI State House, Fort Wetherill, Gilbert Stuart Museum, Museum of Work and Culture. Evaluation: participation and oral discussion.

Course Description Based on Personal Interest and Self Study

(Credit for following three descriptions: Writing Course Descriptions for a High School Transcript by Stefanie Marsh for New Hampshire Homeschooling Coalition Workshop 2019)

Astronomy

Course consisted of self study of aspects of astronomy including lunar geography, the planets, asteroids, meteors and comets, use of binoculars and telescopes, telescope optics and physical limitations, the sun, major deep sky objects, stars and their spectra, and orbits. Extensive time was spent in actual observation of the night sky using binoculars and a 4.5’’ equilateral Newtonian reflector telescope.

Texts: Seeing the Sky, Fred Schaaf; Imaging Saturn, Henry S.F. Cooper, Jr.; Stargazing with Binoculars and Telescopes, John Mosley; Stars and their Spectra, James B. Kaler; Hubble’s Universe, Simon Goodwin; Turn left at Orion, Guy Consolmagno and Dan M. Davis; Skywatching, David Levy; Comets, David Levy; The Messier Objects, Stephen James O’Meara; The Hatfield Photographic Lunar Atlas, Jeremy Cook; Secrets of the Night Sky, Bob Berman.; Topics in Encyclopedia Britannica.

Course Description Derived from the Publisher’s Catalog

Algebra II

In addition to covering topics of second year algebra, this course covered a considerable amount of geometry. Specific algebra topics covered included: graphical solution to simultaneous equations, scientific notation, radicals , roots of quadratic equations including complex roots, properties of the real numbers, inequalities and systems of inequalities, logarithms and antilogarithms, exponential equations, basic trigonometric functions, algebra of polynomials, vectors, polar and rectangular coordinate systems, and a wide spectrum of work problems. Time was spent developing geometric concepts and writing proof outlines. Set theory, probability and statistics were also treated. Text: Algebra 2, John Saxon.

Course Description Based on a Teen Activity

Literature Discussion Group

This monthly group provides an opportunity for homeschooled teens to give their impressions and discuss themes in some classic books on high school and college book lists. Titles selected include Brave New World, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Sense and Sensibility, The House of the Seven Gables, The Importance of Being Earnest, Frankenstein, Cry the Beloved Country and the short stories: “The Death Disk”, Mark Twain; “The Cask of Amontillado”, Edgar Allan Poe; “The Lady and the Tiger”, Frank R. Stockton; and “The Patented Gate and the Mean Hamburger”, Robert Penn Warren. Students enjoy socializing and exchanging ideas over refreshments.

Course Description Based on a College Course

(credit: Hilary Sowa)

Advanced Chinese Class taught by I-Ling Hsu at University of Rhode Island

Textbook: Beyond the Basics: Communicative Chinese for Intermediate and Advanced Learners By Joanhua Bai, Juyu Sung, and Janet Zhiqun Xing

Intensive practice in spoken and written Chinese using contemporary writings and topics in Chinese-speaking countries. Emphasis on classroom discussion.

Method of Evaluation: Written Tests and Exams, Oral Assessments, Homework and Participation

Examples of Alternative Format

Additional Resources

Fearless Homeschoolers: How to Write Homeschool Course Descriptions for College Applications
It’s Not That Hard to Homeschool: The Complete Guide to High School Course Descriptions for Homeschoolers
The HomeScholar: Homeschool Course Descriptions: A “How-To” Guide

For more homeschooling high school information check out our Homeschooling High School Series

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Learning Through Travel: Why Homeschool Families Will Love The Capitol Collection

By Melissa Robb • February 12, 2026

Some of the best learning my family has done didn’t happen sitting at the kitchen table. It happened walking through old buildings, asking questions, and seeing things with our own eyes. State capitol buildings are among our favorite stops, we learn so much about a state by visiting these unique and beautiful buildings. If your family likes to travel—or even just take day trips— The Capitol Collection is a wonderful way to turn those outings into something meaningful and memorable. It is a souvenir passbook ($15) that helps families keep track of visits to state capitol buildings. Each visit becomes more than just a stop along the way—it becomes part of your family’s story. Turning Trips Into Adventures Kids love having a purpose, and visiting capitols gives them one. Instead of just passing through a city, they’re exploring, noticing details, and looking forward to marking another visit in their book. Over time, those pages fill up with memories, and the learning happens naturally along the way. It doesn’t feel like “doing school”—it just feels like life. That’s one of the things I’ve always loved about homeschooling. Learning doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful. Our Family’s Story This means a lot to me because of our own experience. Our family has visited 22 state capitols so far. Our first recorded visit was Pierre, South Dakota in 2009 when my son was 10 years old , and at first it was just something fun to do while we traveled. I never imagined how much it would shape him. One of my favorite memories is a tradition he started. Whenever a capitol had a rotunda, he would lie down on the floor and just look up at the dome. He would study the paintings, the shapes, the light—just taking it all in and thinking what that epic element represented. Those quiet moments often turned into some of our best conversations later. At the Oregon state house we were even able to go up INTO the dome, what a climb! Over the years, those visits led to many talks about history, government, and how laws are made. The experience stayed with him so strongly that he even wrote about it in his law school application essay . Visiting state capitols has expanded to exploring government building internationally such as the Reichstag in Germany and Canada’s Parliament in Ottawa. As a parent, it’s an amazing thing to see something that started as a simple family outing become part of your child’s future. Most recently, we visited Maryland’s capitol during a trip to Annapolis. My son is a young man now and living on his own, but when we travel together, this is still something we do. That’s what makes experiences like this so special—they grow with your children. Why Capitol Buildings Are Such Powerful Learning Spaces State capitol buildings offer a unique blend of subjects all in one place: Civics and government come to life when children see legislative chambers and learn how decisions are made. Local history becomes tangible through exhibits, memorials, and stories tied to each state. Art and architecture surround you, often reflecting the values and culture of the region. Critical thinking and curiosity grow naturally as kids ask questions and make connections. Best of all, these lessons don’t feel forced. They happen through exploration and conversation—often led by the child’s own interests. A Journey Worth Remembering Looking back, I’m so thankful we took the time to stop, explore, and learn together. Those capitol visits weren’t just educational—they were time spent together, sharing discoveries and building memories we still talk about years later. Whether your family visits one capitol or dreams of all fifty, the important part isn’t the number. It’s the time spent learning side by side. (There is a Facebook group for this hobby. It’s small but would be a great way for families to share their experiences!)

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