High School Academy (HSAD-NI)

It is often said that the relation between China and the US is an important key to 21st century global developments. In China, students learn English from an early age and engage with U.S. culture through movies and television. They are well suited to participate, and be bridges, in the 21st century dialog between the countries. At the same time, differences between the countries in history, culture, and political and economic systems mean that many of the common English terms that are key to the dialog may have different meanings in the two countries. This course will try to equip students to participate in the dialog by focusing on, and learning how to discuss, some key terms and concepts that are core to the dialog—for example, the idea of the American and Chinese dreams, ideas of history and progress, the role of religious and Confucian tradition in modern life, and the idea of citizenship in each country.

Over the past 20 years, local and global economies have become increasingly interconnected through complex financial systems. Any student who aspires to be successful in business must understand how these financial systems work and impact one another. This course will provide you with an introduction to finance needed when leading a company in Shanghai in local commerce or global commerce. The course will start with the local Shanghai economy and then expand to the global economy to cover some of the most salient topics in finance: international finance; international monetary systems; global markets; international trade; business strategy; global business ethics; and entrepreneurship. The NYU Finance course will equip you with the tools to embark on an exciting academic and professional pathway in business.

Studying the past teaches students to be critical thinkers and, by applying these same approaches to the present, can help them have a better understanding of their current world. In addition, the methods of history teach students how to gather data, muster arguments, and organize their thoughts so that they can present them in a coherent argument either written or oral. A history course, therefore, is excellent preparation for entrance exams, college coursework, and any profession which requires the ability to read, write, and present oral arguments. This course looks at American history with a focus on freedom and how the definition of the concept and the application of its principles has modulated throughout the last 400 years. Case studies will cover significant events in the American experience with freedom and introduce how an historian approaches her craft, gathers her evidence, and presents her arguments. Students will gain practical experience with reading and writing through developing their own presentations of case studies.

Many problems in business and life are too big for one person to solve. Capacity to identify problems and to create solutions that others value is a skill possessed by leading entrepreneurs, who have built companies like Facebook, Apple, and Tom's Shoes, among others. Often, solving these problems would benefit society, while also being profitable, engaging, emotionally rewarding, and socially valued. Entrepreneurial Problem Solving will develop your ability to identify such problems, to solve them, and to market the solutions to the world. Some people say you cannot learn how to become an entrepreneur and that these skills are inborn in only a select few. This course aims to prove that everyone can learn how to find solutions to problems that may ultimately develop into successful businesses, which can create change in our world. The course will build upon exercises and projects connected to participants' lives. You will learn skills and perspectives that apply broadly—beyond just starting ventures—so that you can apply what you learn in many areas of your life. This course is social and interactive in nature.

From low-budget, independent features to major Hollywood productions, an increasing number of movies are being shot digitally. If you have an interest in a career in filmmaking, this program introduces you to the essential skills in digital filmmaking. This weeklong exposure will allow you to gain a thorough understanding of the technical aspects of this digital art form including lens usage, light metering techniques, blocking, and professional conventions. You will work in small production crews and share rotating responsibility, learning about writing, producing, storyboarding, cinematography, audio recording, and editing. In addition, you will explore how to develop creative concepts and how to capture them digitally--from the first shoot to the final edit. Morning and afternoon sessions provide hands-on instruction, which will conclude in a showcase screening of your final film. You will shoot outdoors at local venues in Shanghai.

In this course, high school students will gain a deep understanding of the practice of marketing, both as its own business as its role in an integrated communication environment. Through classroom lectures and discussions, site visits and experienced industry guest speakers, as well as the execution and presentation of multi-faceted team and individual projects, the course will define the parameters and possibilities within the field of integrated marketing. Students will have the opportunity to analyze how integrated marketing relates to relevant industry practices and how it continues to evolve and support overall communication functions within a business. The course will also cover current trends in marketing, successful marketing strategies, and career paths for students who want to pursue jobs in the marketing industry.

This course provides an introduction to several areas of applied psychology by developing an understanding of the brain, as well as how we think, learn, and behave in interaction with our environment. Students will gain an introductory understanding of psychological concepts, applications, and potential future areas of study and practice, including counseling, sports, health, education, developmental, and workforce psychology. Students will also gain a broad understanding of cognition and behavior, development, self-growth and relationships, motivation and learning, behavioral health, and counseling. Students will apply information learned to current events and discoveries for further understanding of core concepts studied and to selected areas of application. Course activities and project work will also support the student’s development of written and presentation skills, online research skills, critical thinking and analysis.

In this course, students will gain an awareness and understanding of domestic and foreign sports industry eco-systems, as well as the interactive relationships among key industry players—international federations (FIFA, FIBA, etc.), sports leagues (EPL, NBA, NFL, CSL, etc.), sports associations (USTA, CFA, etc.), sports bureaus, sports clubs (Bayern Munich FC, Evergrande Taobao FC, etc.), sports media (ESPN, CCTV-5, Tencent, Facebook, etc.), sports agencies (CAA, Live Nation, WME | IMG, etc.), and bloggers and fans. From macro to micro, students will delve into some of the emerging and evolving areas of sports business, including analytics, social media strategy, digital technology, and revenue-based facility design, among others. After completing the course, students will be able to 1) recognize the idiosyncratic nature of sports; 2) differentiate between domestic and international sport practices, leadership styles, and business operations; c) identify fundamental sports business concepts, issues, terminology, and transformative trends like globalization, analytics, and digital disruption; and d) better understand various career pathways within the world of sports.

For students who are planning to apply to college in the U.S., or considering this option, this two-week course will provide them with a foundational understanding of American higher education. Students will explore various types of post-secondary institutions to help identify colleges and majors that fit their interests and objectives. They will explore the different components of the college application process, learn about student-driven processes such as course selection and declaring the major, and practice techniques for effective interviewing and essay writing. Looking ahead to American college life, students will exercise critical thinking skills, acquire some core principles of academic writing and research, and improve presentation skills, all of which will help them achieve success during their university studies. Finally, there will be discussion about professional goal setting, requiring students to create an individual action plan to lead them from high school through university and into the workplace.