Inside the Signature Electives at TJHSST: What Makes the Curriculum Truly Unique

When most students think of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), they picture competitive math teams, world-class laboratories, and its reputation as one of the most advanced STEM high schools in the country.

But what truly sets TJ apart isn’t just its prestige or test scores—it’s the depth, originality, and scope of its elective curriculum.

While many high schools offer AP courses or a handful of science electives, TJHSST builds its upper-level curriculum around electives that are highly specialized, research-intensive, and designed to simulate real-world inquiry. These are not add-ons—they are the backbone of the TJ experience.

Let’s explore exactly what makes these signature electives so different—and why no other high school in the nation offers anything quite like them.

Science and Research-Based Electives: Learning at the Frontier

TJ’s science electives immerse students in college-level labs and investigations, often mirroring the work done in biotech startups, research universities, and advanced clinical labs.

DNA Science I & II

• What You’ll Learn: Gene cloning, CRISPR, gel electrophoresis, bacterial transformation, PCR, DNA sequencing.

• Why It’s Unique: Students complete multi-stage lab experiments that rival university bio labs, with real case studies and data interpretation.

Neurobiology

• What You’ll Learn: Brain structure and function, neural communication, EEG interpretation, neuropsychology.

• Why It’s Unique: The class uses live EEG kits, brain mapping tools, and explores both biological and cognitive neuroscience.

Marine Science Tech & Advanced Marine Biology

• What You’ll Learn: Marine biology, earth systems science, seismology, atmospheric and climate models.

• Why It’s Unique: Students use professional-grade software and satellite data to model global systems and forecast ecological changes.

Astronomy Electives

• Courses: Advanced Astronomy – Solar System , Advanced Astronomy – Universe , and Astronomy Research.

• Skills Covered: Celestial mechanics, cosmology, telescope image analysis.

• What Sets It Apart: Students work with professional datasets, modeling software, and often produce publishable findings.

Bionanotechnology

• What You’ll Learn: Nano-scale materials, biosensors, microfluidics, targeted drug delivery.

• Why It’s Unique: Students use nanofabrication techniques to solve current problems in medicine and diagnostics.

Biotech Research & Chem Analysis Research

• Research-focused courses where students work independently or in small teams to design original experiments

Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology Research

• Skills Covered: EEG analysis, cognitive testing, psychological experiment design.

• What Sets It Apart: True integration of biological and behavioral science, with emphasis on methodology and real-data analysis.

Quantum & Electrodynamics and Optics Research

• Skills Covered: Quantum theory, EM wave behavior, optics lab experimentation.

• What Sets It Apart: These advanced physics electives include college-level theory and simulation environments not found in standard high school programs.

Engineering and Computer Science Electives: Building the Future

TJ’s CS and engineering electives don’t just teach code or circuits—they push students to create functioning systems, often tackling real-world challenges using complex hardware and software.

Artificial Intelligence 1 & 2

• What You’ll Learn: Neural networks, supervised/unsupervised learning, NLP, reinforcement learning.

• Why It’s Unique: Students build full AI pipelines, using TensorFlow, scikit-learn, or custom neural architectures.

Computer Systems Research (CSR)

• What You’ll Learn: High-performance computing, parallel systems, OS-level design, distributed computation.

• Why It’s Unique: Students run simulations on TJ’s in-house supercomputer, learning how real servers process big data.

Computer Vision 1 & 2

• Teaches image recognition, video processing, OpenCV, and custom model training for object tracking and classification.

Mobile App Development & Mobile Web App Research

• Covers design, development, testing, and deployment of apps and web applications.

• Students often integrate APIs, Firebase, and front-end/back-end tools in production-level projects.

Interdisciplinary and Emerging Technology Electives

TJ doesn’t stop at traditional fields. It also leads in integrating science, technology, and ethics across disciplines—developing future scientists who can think across boundaries.

Bioinformatics

• Students explore genetic variation, bioinformatics, and precision health, working with NCBI genome browsers and SNP databases.

Design & Technology (D&T)

• A cross-disciplinary course blending industrial design, user experience, and functional product engineering.

What Supports These Electives: IBET and Senior Research Labs

IBEST (Integrated Biology, English, Statistics, and Technology)

All 9th grade students take IBEST, a year-long, team-taught program that fuses biology, technical writing, statistics, and experimental design.

• Students design and conduct group research projects.

• Learn how to write and present scientific papers.

• Gain a foundation in scientific reasoning, collaboration, and academic writing that prepares them for later electives and lab research.

Senior Research Labs

By 12th grade, TJ students choose from 9 dedicated research labs, functioning like mini college departments. Here are some of the most prominent labs:

Lab	Focus
Quantum Physics & Optics	Lasers, wave-particle duality, photonics
Biotechnology	Cell culture, genetic manipulation, biotech applications
Computer Systems	Distributed computing, hardware analysis, architecture
Chemical Analysis	Spectrometry, organic chemistry, wet lab analytics
Astronomy & Astrophysics	Data-driven space science, image analysis, telescope data

Each lab includes:

• Mentorship from a faculty research advisor

• Original research design and experimentation

Why TJHSST’s Electives Are in a Class of Their Own

Depth Over Breadth

Rather than offering “AP everything,” TJ offers focused, rigorous courses that explore one field deeply—and prepare students for actual careers in that domain.

Real Research, Not Simulations

Many students publish their findings, partner with university researchers, or submit original work to national science fairs.

Full Integration of Technology

These electives don’t just use tech—they are built around it. Machine learning, simulation modeling, robotics, and biotech are part of daily classroom work.

Cross-Disciplinary Focus

Students learn to think like researchers, not just students. Ethics, design, writing, and presentation are baked into even the most technical courses.

Final Thoughts

The TJHSST signature electives explained here represent more than a list of cool courses—they are the academic engine that powers the school’s national reputation.

For students who want to build prototypes, publish research, code systems, and push the boundaries of science and technology before college, these electives offer that opportunity.

They’re not just advanced—they’re unparalleled. And they’re what make the TJHSST experience unlike any other.

FAQ

Q1: When can students start taking electives at TJHSST?

A: Most electives begin in 10th grade, once students complete core freshman courses like IBET. Some electives have prerequisites, so planning ahead is key. By 11th and 12th grade, students have more freedom to specialize.

Q2: Do students have to apply or qualify for signature electives?

A: Generally, students do not have to apply—but many electives have prerequisites, especially in science, math, and computer science. For example, to take Artificial Intelligence, students often need to complete AP Computer Science first.

Q3: Can students take more than one elective at a time?

A: Yes! TJHSST encourages students to explore. It's common for upperclassmen to take 2–3 electives per year, especially in science and technology departments. Students balance electives with APs and required courses.

Q4: Are these electives AP or college-level?

A: Most electives are beyond AP level or do not align with the AP curriculum at all. Instead, they focus on research, lab work, and industry applications, much like early undergraduate courses.

Q5: Do electives help with college admissions?

A: Absolutely. TJHSST electives allow students to demonstrate genuine academic interest in areas like neuroscience, AI, or engineering. Many students use their coursework as the foundation for research papers, science fair projects, or summer internships—all of which stand out on applications.

Q6: How are electives graded?

A: Electives are graded like any other class, typically on an A-F scale. Many include labs, projects, presentations, and reports, rather than just tests and quizzes. Students often say electives are challenging but rewarding.

Q7: Can students create their own elective or research project?

A: Yes. Seniors can work in one of TJ’s 9 research labs or pursue independent mentorships off-campus. Many students also propose independent study electives under faculty supervision if they want to explore a very specific topic.