Applied Learning

High School Applied Learning

In 2012, Concordia pioneered the High School Applied Learning (AL) program, offering college-level experiential courses alongside AP courses. We offer 11th and 12th grade students a variety of Applied Learning courses that are patterned on classes normally only available in higher education settings. These courses encourage academic vitality by asking students to identify and deepen their passion for a subject, allowing them to discovr unique connections between their studies and real-world endeavors. These specialized classes focus on academic rigor that values depth over breadth. Students employ higher order thinking and processing skills directly related to a field of study and practice the skills essential to a particular career field. They experiment with creative solutions to challenges and cultivate resilience in the face of new challenges or failure. In short, they learn by doing. All of our High School Applied Learning courses have an authentic application, which provides open-ended challenges that focus on deliverables and real-world benefits for audiences beyond the classroom. These courses adopt a flexible curriculum which responds to student input. They place an emphasis on interdisciplinary learning experiences not found in the traditional classroom, which enables students to apply knowledge and skills in novel settings.

Applied Learning Curriculum

Check Out All AL Courses In Course Selection Guide

Innovative courses have been developed by our faculty who have expertise in various areas such as Social Entrepreneurship, Big Data Analysis, and Business & Finance.

Some of the AL courses offered in 2025-2026:

AL Creative Writing and the Writer's Craft
AL Social Entrepreneurship
AL Business and Finance
AL Big Data Analytics
AL Engineering
AL Synthetic Biology
AL Graphic Design
AL Fashion, Textile, and Construction
AL Drama: Technique Design and Production
AL Journalism and Critical Discourse
AL Speech and Debate

Our Stories

Where Student Passions Become Real-World Designs

How often do students get to turn their passions into actual design pieces? At Concordia, our Applied Learning (AL) program says: “Why not?” In a recent AL Graphic Design course, our high schoolers got to flex their creative muscles on topics they’re genuinely passionate about.

Students Take on New Balance Marketing Task

What’s more exciting than watching our students break through the traditional classroom walls to tackle real-world problems? Especially when they’re crafting marketing strategies within the dynamic environment of a Global Fortune 500 company!

Bean to Brew: TCC’s Yunnan Trip

Ever wondered what social entrepreneurship truly means? At Concordia, it’s more than a concept—it’s a real-world journey. From planting and picking coffee beans to roasting, marketing, packaging, and even creating cultural products, our students are diving into every step of the coffee story.

Oxford Professor Viktor Mayer-Schönberger Inspires Concordia with Big Data Insights

Oxford Professor Viktor Mayer-Schönberger, a leading scholar and authority on big data and its societal implications, brought his thought-provoking seminar to our eager high school students and the Concordia community.

High School Duo Recognized for Trailblazing Scientific Research

Cathy and William (Class of '25) are flexing their scientific muscles on global stages. They just clinched a silver medal at the Korea Science & Engineering Fair (KSEF) out of 134 teams participating from around the world!

AL Business and Finance Students Present to BBDO and Mars Executives

This year's marketing challenge in collaboration with BBDO and Mars provided a transformative learning experience for our students in the AL Business & Finance course.

The Age of Big Data: How a Concordia High School Mathematics Teacher Helps Students See Five Years in the Future

What's hidden inside the numbers? Big Data analytics is "like the new oil", says Concordia's Dr. Peter Tong.

Concordia Students Solve Real-World Problems Using Design Thinking

Design thinking is a way to solve authentic challenges utilizing a human-centered approach.

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