The 5 Most Unusual Classes at Evanston Township High School

Ever wish you could go back to college? Looking at the course catalog for Evanston Township High School this year, you might actually wish you could go back to high school instead. 

There are a variety of intriguing classes on this year’s course catalogue, which take ETHS students out of the classroom to an urban farm or allow them to build their own video games during the school day. Here’s a look at some of the unique opportunities at ETHS.  

Urban Agriculture

You can grow your own food in this course taking care of the ETHS “Edible Acre Garden,” which produces 2,000 pounds of food a year and was founded in 2009. Students will work on the “Edible Acre” and take trips to see sustainable agriculture in action around the Chicago area. Open to sophomores, juniors and seniors.

Cartooning

If you’re the type of person who doodles during class, this might be the perfect class for you. Students in Cartooning will learn lettering, character design, inking and page layout and explore the world of graphic novels. This class is open to all grades, although students must have taken at least one art class beforehand.

Game Design & Programming in Flash

In this course, students can build their own computer games individually or as a team, learning how to program basic animation, computer decision-making and collision-detection. All grades can take this course, although students must have taken one of several prerequisites in computer science.

Beginning Guitar

Impress the ladies—or the gents—with your strumming skills after taking beginning guitar. The class is open to all grades, and if you do well enough, you can take Intermediate Guitar.

Martial Arts

Learn yoga, tai chi, jiu-jitsu, jodo, capoeria, tae kwon do and self-defense in this class for juniors and seniors. Sounds like more fun than study hall.