BVR-X courses embody the non-linear, trans-disciplinary nature of teaching and learning at Beaver. They allow students to delve deeper into the inquiry process and grapple with authentic and complex questions and to consider the interrelationships of these issues. BVR-X courses draw from different disciplines and also from a variety of fields like technology, media, entrepreneurship, science, art, and design.
To design BVR-X courses, we involve students by asking them what they are hoping to learn at Beaver. In short, our question is, “if you could learn anything at Beaver, what would it be?” From there, we design curriculum that will integrate the students’ ideas and the trans-disciplinary nature of our BVR-X courses.
Requirements
To graduate, a typical Beaver Upper School student will take 45 elective credits (nine, one-term elective courses); these courses count towards those electives credits.
BVR-X Courses
Data Analysis and Coding Lab
Data Analysis and Coding Lab
Did you know that the average person generates 1.7 megabytes of information or that it would take 181 million years to download all the data from the internet? Data drives our world but most of us don’t understand what it means, why we need it, and how it works. In this self-paced course, you will […]
Leadership and Social Change
Leadership and Social Change
Have you ever wondered why and how effective leaders, past and present, take action for social good? This course will explore different psychological theories of what guides or motivates an individual to act when confronted with issues of justice, equity, and humanity. We will look at past and current figures across multiple identities and delve […]
Urbanism + the Built Environment
Urbanism + the Built Environment
Using Boston’s landscape, students in this course will investigate the role of cities in shaping ecological and cultural systems that will influence the built environment in future design. Students will research and examine the history and legacy of social, cultural, and economic inequalities as they consider how today’s built environment addresses contemporary issues by reinventing, […]
Probability and Combinatorics (BVR-X)
Probability and Combinatorics (BVR-X)
How likely is an event likely to happen? This is an essential question that is asked by professionals in a host of different fields. Probability helps to quantify a response, often relying on algorithms of combinatorics to count the number of favorable outcomes in a given scenario. Maybe you want to understand the efficacy of […]
Socio-Economics of Sports
Socio-Economics of Sports
Sports are everywhere! We love and support our teams. But what role do sports play in society and how do they influence it? Sports teams generate billions of dollars every year, and sports events gather huge crowds in celebration akin to religious rituals. This BVR-X course will look into the workings of different sports; their […]
Philosophy: The Meaning of Life through Moral Dilemmas (BVR-X)
Philosophy: The Meaning of Life through Moral Dilemmas (BVR-X)
Have you ever wondered what the meaning of life is or if a decision you made was the right one? Have you ever played the game, “Would you rather…?” Then you have done philosophy! Philosophy equips us with critical thinking and logic to navigate the world around us. Every day, we are faced with taking […]
Human Communication
Human Communication
This course will explore the ways that humans communicate, and the ways that this communication affects society. Students will explore a variety of language systems including Sign Language and Braille. The class will discuss historical and current issues of communication such as colonial legacies, the influence of technology, and cultural differences. Students will be asked […]
Student Directed Project – SDP
Student Directed Project – SDP
A Student-Directed Project empowers students to do an in-depth exploration of a topic of interest throughout the term. The student designs, plans, and leads their research project in collaboration and with the guidance and support of a coach (faculty advisor). It allows students to delve deeper into their passion and to be the designer of […]
Screenwriting (BVR-X)
Screenwriting (BVR-X)
How do the stories that we write change when we know that they will be interpreted visually and audibly? In this course, students will craft compelling narratives written in the form of scripts. This class will also collaborate with Video Production. Together, we will view and critique film and brainstorm and workshop ideas, and students […]
Social Psychology: To be is to be perceived!
Social Psychology: To be is to be perceived!
How is our behavior influenced by our social environment? How does our perception of others affect what we do and our sense of identity? Whether we want it or not, people (others) influence how we act or behave (how we dress, what we say or don’t say, what we feel). In this social psychology course, […]
Costume & Fashion Design Studio (BVR-X)
Costume & Fashion Design Studio (BVR-X)
Drawing from many disciplines and utilizing a variety of skills and technology, students will learn to research and communicate their ideas through a series of student-driven individual projects and mainstage shows. Students will explore the visual communication, history, and impact of clothing both on the stage and in everyday life, and they will deepen their […]
Advanced Design & Tech (Honors) (BVR-X)
Advanced Design & Tech (Honors) (BVR-X)
Advanced Design & Tech is a one-term, process-to-production course designed to prepare students for 2 public performances at Beaver. The course begins by focusing on script analysis and design, and then students work as theater technicians and designers to bring the play to fruition with the Advanced Theater Acting and Advanced Costume Design classes. Technical […]
Design & Tech Studio (BVR-X)
Design & Tech Studio (BVR-X)
Design & Tech Studio is a course for students interested in Technical Theater and/or Theatrical Design. Drawing from many disciplines and utilizing a variety of skills and technology, students will learn to research and communicate their ideas through a series of student-driven individual projects and mainstage shows, allowing them to learn and utilize design and […]
Entrepreneurship with a Purpose
Entrepreneurship with a Purpose
Can entrepreneurship be the response to local and global challenges? Can it serve a purpose beyond being just a money-making endeavor? In this class, you will learn about how businesses are created and why some thrive and others fail. You will also design ideas to start your own business with empathy and a purpose in […]
Intro to Investing
Intro to Investing
Should you invest in the common stock of Apple Inc. or Exxon Mobil? How do you decide whether to get a car loan or a lease? How do you determine how much a small business is worth? In this course, we will learn about (a) the fundamentals of the stock market, investment vehicles, and basic […]
Advanced Theater (Honors) (BVR-X)
Advanced Theater (Honors) (BVR-X)
Advanced Theater is a one-term, process-to-production course designed to prepare students for two public performances at Beaver. The course begins by focusing on script analysis and character development and then students engage in the rehearsal process to bring the play to fruition with the Advanced Design & Tech and Advanced Costume design classes. Acting roles […]
Theories of Justice (BVR-X)
Theories of Justice (BVR-X)
Is economic inequality unjust? Is the government justified in restricting your freedom if it does so to improve your life? Using philosophical ideas by which one might understand justice, students will engage in conversations with experts and take part in a series of project-based learning activities as they examine complex problems and develop solutions to […]
Examples from BVR-X classes
Beaver alum Jordan Alloway ’17 speaks to students about sports media
Forensic Science: Students investigate fake crime scenes
Socio-Economics of Sports: Students hear from sports betting expert
