One of the eight new high school courses approved by the Chandler Unified School District Governing Board at its Nov. 13 meeting is a class not many other Arizona high schools are likely to have. Honors Semiconductors is the name of a course to be offered at Hamilton High School next year.
One of the eight new high school courses approved by the Chandler Unified School District Governing Board at its Nov. 13 meeting is one not many other Arizona high schools are likely to have.
At least, not in the 2025-26 school year.
Honors Semiconductors is the name of a course to be offered at Hamilton High School next year. The full-year, one-credit course won’t have specific prerequisites, but students must be concurrently enrolled in or have completed MAT 300, or Algebra 2.
The board approved next year’s high school and junior high school catalogs by approving the Nov. 13 consent agenda. Board member Kurt Rohrs praised staff and anyone else who helped put that course together.
“I don’t know if anyone else in Arizona offers that right now,” Rohrs said.
The course offering comes on the heels of high attendance at everything from summer camps to information sessions on anything related to semiconductors or semiconductor production, as shared by the board and administration.
The course also is starting at the same time Intel is wrapping up a multi-billion-dollar expansion of a fabrication plant in south Chandler.
The course can be offered for dual credit, but can’t be repeated.
The description of the introductory course states students will “delve into fundamental concepts of both DC and AC electrical circuits, analyzing various circuits, calculating expected values and verifying these calculations through hands-on measurements.”
The district states the course emphasizes practical application, with students working on standard sensors used in automation, exploring their correct operation and limitations.
Students are meant to learn about pneumatic circuits in automation and to gain skills in setting up and troubleshooting different configurations.
Essential safety protocols and an introduction to cybersecurity measures are included as well.
Since having some students job-ready at graduation for some careers has been a stated priority for Rohrs and some CUSD administrators, the course is meant to prep students for either a career in the semiconductor industry as a technician or moving to post-secondary education.
Other new CUSD high school courses for 2025-26 include Honors Robotics and Engineering Technologies 1 and 2, Creative Musicianship 1, The Mentorships-Internships-Careers program, English Literature and Performance, an E-Sports class and Targeted English Language Development.
The Targeted ELD course will also debut at the junior-high level, along with a “Discovering Your Path” course that helps CUSD junior high students with self-discovery and career exploration.
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Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
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