Transcript question - naming a class

[mlktwins]

My boys are currently enrolled in a local high school biology class with lab.  They are taking the honors version of the class.  Last year this class was titled Introduction to Biology.  This year, it was called Principles of Biology, but is the same content.  The teacher still has the class titled as Introduction to Biology and the boys' grades are entered into her system with this class title.  So...anything I print from there will have this class title.

Does it matter which one I put on the transcript?  I think Principles of Biology sounds better and it isn't an easy class as it is also preparing the kids to take the subject test afterwards.  Should I address it with the teacher and director or just put down what I want?

Thanks :-)

[Lori D.]

I always suggest making it as easy as possible to understand for the college admissions officers (or whoever else) who will be looking at the transcript.

To me, this means:
- use standard types of course names when possible
- save the "fancy" titles and use them as part of the description of how the course was accomplished in the separate Course Description document -- or, use them as the "subtitle" of the course name; example: "Literature: The Roots of Steampunk"
- include Honors or AP in the transcript course title, if that's the level of the course
- if including AP, you can ONLY say "AP History" if you submitted your list of materials to AP and were approved, OR if you outsourced to a class that has approved materials -- otherwise, you go with something like: "History, with AP"
- it if was dual enrollment through a community college or university, use that school's course title, and possibly include the course number

Also on the transcript, especially if you end up with a lot of different sources for course providers, I suggest numbering each course with a "superscript" number, and as a footnote at the bottom of the transcript with how each course was accomplished; example:

1 = home-based course
2 = outsourced class, XYZ High School
3 = outsourced class, PQR Homeschool Co-operative Course
4 = outsourced class, ABC Community College as dual enrollment/dual credit
5 = outsourced class, DEF University as dual enrollment/dual credit

Bearing all of that in mind (LOL), I would probably put "Honors Biology" on the transcript, and then in the separate course description document, say something like:

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Honors Biology, with labs, 1.00 credit
instructor: Teacher Name, course provider: XYZ High School

This course was outsourced to the XYZ High school, where the Honors level class, called "Principles of Biology" was taught by Teacher Name. Resources included ________ to cover topics such as ______________ in greater depth than the school's regular Biology class...
 

On a side note: I personally would avoid using " Introduction to Biology." Fairly often, the words "Introduction To _____"  are used for a LOWER level course (like in college, for a non-major version of the subject; or in high school, for a remedial level course). Just me, but "Principles of Biology" also sounds like a basic course, not Honors, so I wouldn't use it as the transcript course name either. Again, just me, but I wouldn't want to risk that a Honors level course could be mistaken for a regular or remedial level course. 😉 

Edited February 8, 2020 by Lori D.

[Farrar]

If it's not a course with a transcript, I think you can realistically call it what you want. Since "Honors Biology" or - to be totally clear - "Honors Biology with Lab" would be most common, I'd actually use that.

[RootAnn]

I agree w/both above. IMO, you will include nothing printed from the course when submitting your transcripts to colleges, so I don't see any issue with calling it like it is:  Honors Biology with Lab.

[EKS]

If you are the one granting the credit, you can call it whatever you want.  The provider is just a resource, like a textbook or a lab kit.

[mlktwins]

Thank you all so much!  I know I can change them over the next couple of years, but I want to get all my course descriptions, etc. in transcript form before the school year is out.

My boys love this teacher and she is so good with not only challenging them work wise, but really pushing great study skills.  Things I have always told my boys and beat them over the head with, but it was better coming from her I guess -- LOL.

We do plan to continue with her social studies classes at the same place and I do hope to use her as a recommendation when the time comes.  Hopefully she doesn't put down Intro to Biology when I have Honors Biology written down.

Thanks again for your input!  

[Lori D.]

1 hour ago, mlktwins said:

...We do plan to continue with her social studies classes at the same place and I do hope to use her as a recommendation when the time comes.  Hopefully she doesn't put down Intro to Biology when I have Honors Biology written down.

You can ask her at the time you request a letter of recommendation to make sure she says "an Honors Biology course entitled "Intro to Biology". 😉