International Student Program – Academic Success
Quick Links:
Advanced Placement (AP) Courses
Ball State Courses & Dual Credit
Other Academic Opportunities
Excel with a World-Class Education
The Indiana Academy awards the most advanced high school diploma available in the United States – the Core 40 with Academic Honors Diploma. This sets all Academy graduates up for success by the time students finish their senior year of high school.
The Indiana Academy has a proud history of academic excellence. All Academy students are college-bound and receive an advanced education. Every Academy class is college level, Advance Placement (AP), or dual credit. Our classes are taught by nationally ranked faculty who are experts in their fields. With a curriculum that offers over 50 dual credit classes, 7 world languages, 21 elective courses in science, 16 elective courses in English, 9 elective courses in social studies, as well as many other classes, students earn the very best U.S. diploma while being encouraged to explore their individual interests.
Academic advising is provided by the International Program Director. Upon arrival, students are given placement tests in computer applications, mathematics, science, and English to help determine which courses are most appropriate. The curriculum is then designed to meet the requirements of the Core 40 with Academic Honors diploma and the additional graduation requirements of the Indiana Academy. Students are given guidance and support in selecting additional courses based on their academic strengths, career/university goals after high school, and personal interests.
Academic Snapshot:
- University-format class schedule
- Full course catalog available on the Indiana Academy website at https://academy.bsu.edu/catalog
- All of the science and math AP courses available in Indiana
- Four levels of physics courses including General Physics, AP Physics I, AP Physics II, and AP Physics C.
- 21 elective courses available in science in addition to all available science AP Courses
- Approximately 50 dual credit courses worth 163 credit hours with Ball State University
- 7 world languages: Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Latin, Russian, and Spanish
- Academic credit for students working on creative projects. Examples include writing a novel, fashion design, or developing computer algorithms
- 16 elective courses in English
- 9 elective courses in Social Studies
- Numerous AP level courses
- High level math courses such as Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, and Differential Equations
Faculty:
- 30 faculty members
- All 30 have master’s degrees
- 9 have doctoral degrees
- Experts in content area
- Student-faculty ratio 10:1
Advanced Placement Courses (AP)*
EnglishAP English Language & Composition Foreign LanguageAP Spanish Language Mathematics – all availableAP Calculus AB |
Computer ScienceAP Computer Science Science – all availableAP Physics I |
Ball State University Dual Credit Opportunities: Reduced Cost University Credit*
The Indiana Academy has a partnership with Ball State University that allows Academy instructors to teach college approved courses. Students who choose to enroll in the dual credit option for select courses will receive high school and college credit upon completion of the class, at a significantly reduced price. This means Academy students earn credit towards their high school diploma and also receive a university transcript from Ball State University that they can present when applying to college. In the United States, this makes college applications very competitive and most dual-credit courses can be accepted as progress towards the receiving university’s diploma as well.
The cost is either $25 per credit hour or $250 per course. Around 50 courses are available through this option. Graduating students from the Indiana Academy average 24 college credit hours (1+ year of university credit). Depending on the student, credits earned can range from 3 – 50+ credit hours.
Computer ScienceAP Comp Science EnglishLinguistics MathematicsCalculus (1 Semester) |
ScienceGeneral Chemistry |
Social StudiesAmerican History I & II World LanguagesFrench I, II & III |
| *Courses subject to change. | ||
Enrollment in full time Ball State University Courses
With approval from their Academic Advisor, students may enroll directly into Ball State classes. College credit is awarded only for those who pay the corresponding tuition and other fees.
Audit actual Ball State University Courses
Students may also attend Ball State classes for a $55.00 audit fee. Audit courses earn high school credit. They are listed on the high school transcript as a college course, but no college credit is awarded.
Academic Support and Tutoring
All Indiana Academy teachers hold up to 5 office hours every week. Students are welcome and encouraged to visit teachers one-on-one during these hours to discuss class content or seek additional support with course material.
Free peer-tutoring services are available to help students who may find a particular class especially challenging. This is an organized program where peers approved by teachers can tutor other Academy students. To meet with a tutor, students must simply submit a request.
May Term
Each spring, after the completion of final exams, Academy student participate in a two-week long specialty course called “May Term.” Students are able to take a unique intensive course, work at an internship site, or travel nationally or internationally. May Term is an excellent opportunity for students to take an in-depth course or workshop in an academic area that is not normally covered in the normal Academy curriculum.
Past international May term trips have included travel to Japan, Canada, Norway, Costa Rica, Germany, China, Switzerland, and France, Ireland, and London – just to name a few. On average, there are 4-5 overseas trips offered to students every year.
Hands-On Career Internship Experience
Academy students may choose to participate in an “Internship” while working toward their Academy Honors Diploma. Internships are optional opportunities for students to learn from productive adults at a work site. Internships are an excellent opportunity for Academy students to improve their college competitiveness and gain real, hands-on experience in potential careers and fields of study. Students can earn one half credit per semester for successful participation in an internship site for 4 hours per week. Or up to one credit hour per semester for working at an internship site for 8 hours per week.
Numerous opportunities exist for students to compete in regional, state or national academic competitions and exams.
- National Language Exams with medalists in each
- Quiz Bowl Team Competitions
- Academic Super Bowl (state finalists in English, Math, Science and History)
- Business Professionals Association – Proceed to National Competition
- Model UN
- Science Olympiad
- National Leadership Conference in Medicine
- Various state music competitions
- National Merit Scholars
- Envirothon
- HOSA (Future Health Professionals Association) – 1st and 2nd place in state and regional competitions
- Senator Richard Lugar Symposium
