Curriculum

Students of the Academies of the Arcane Arts must familiarize themselves with the curriculum and consider the electives they will want to take throughout their academic career. It is recommended that by the end of either the first or second year students should have mapped out the electives they plan to take in order to produce an area of concentration and expertise as their electives will effect their baseline knowledge when interacting with magic as well as their career opportunities.

While most students will utilize the Standard Academic Planner with the assistance of an Academic Advisor to determine a personalized course of studies, others may elect to pursue one of the Specialist Academic Curriculums in order to meet the exacting requirements of highly selective vocations within the world of the Unseen such as the role of a Malady or a Witch-Hunter.

## Academic Philosophy

It is the academic philosophy of the academy that the purpose of an arcane education is to equip mages with the necessary awareness to avoid disastrous mishaps while also enabling them to participate in the economy and ecosystem of the secret world of The Concordance.

### Academic Assessment

A student’s aptitude in a given subject is judged per assignment by the professor, wherein the professor is expected to assess the students understanding of the subject, as opposed to their ability to merely repeat information. Students are given one of four reflective grades accordingly:

* Dissatisfactory
* Acceptable
* Superior
* Novel

**Dissatisfactory** assessments suggest that further learning on the topic is necessary and would generally be considered a failure to grasp the topics at hand. **Acceptable** assessments are the standard desired outcome of a class and suggest that all necessary learning has been gainfully completed. **Superior** assessments suggest the student is capable not only of fully understanding the topic, but that they should also be capable of peer education. Lastly, **Novel** assessments are rarely awarded to students who successfully engage in a praxis of research and discovery regarding the topic. Not all professors or classes permit the awarding of novel assessments.

### Curriculum Overview

Students must enroll at the age of 18, graduating at the age of 25 after seven years of critical education. While enrolled students will select electives to shape their education while also completing a standardized set of courses ensuring a minimum standard of arcane knowledge and awareness. Graduates are awarded a Bachelor's and a Master's degree (Post-Graduate) in a field appropriate to their areas of elective competencies. The Ministry of Familial Affairs maintains agreements with respected null universities around the world, while the Ministry of Propaganda aids in generating paper trails and false narratives to further verify the graduates records. Further education may be pursued as necessary at common universities or through remote and night-time courses at the university under the private tutorship of existing faculty.

### Career Advancement

Most strictly arcane careers provide on-the-job training and/or require special qualifications earned while in attendance of the school based on both electives taken and academic performance. Several jobs require additional mundane education, however the majority of magician careers place little value on post-graduate degrees. Most executive and higher educational functions require apprenticeship and tutorship to achieve.

### Earning Competencies

Students who complete a series of courses focused on the development of a specific skill or ability gain a Competency as an official denotation upon their academic record. Competencies are often used as prerequisites for many vocations post-graduation, as they express the magicians areas of successful study and practice. The null equivalent of a competency would be a "Major" or "Concentration", however unlike mundane academies which focus on developing a students skills in a single area, arcanist students are expected to earn three or more competencies. Competencies are each uniquely rated expressing the level of achievement earning a competency is considered.

### Statute of Curricular Justifications

With the curriculum remaining unchanged for many years concerns were recently raised in the 1970s to the Concordance regarding the schools competitive relevance to mundane academies, following the trend of parental involvement in education. The chief concerns raised were that the curriculum lacks in many of the standard prerequisite classes issued by null school boards. It was quickly assessed that the students of the various academies of the arcane arts indeed do receive satisfactory levels of basic education, and that no additional mandatory classes would be added to the curriculum as the Concordance felt students work best when they are not overburdened and are able to better focus on selective studies. For this reason the following justifications have been made regarding fundamental education.

* The majority of courses offered require a substantial amount of writing and reading that subsequently helps develop a student's basic language skills.
* Students encounter a sufficient level of arithmetic through the combination their introductory courses and the numerous scientific and arcane courses required by the standard curriculum.
* Important concepts in Unseen history are covered extensively throughout several courses and tie to mundane historical events cohesively enough to establish a reasonable understanding of world history. Meanwhile mundane history is not necessarily relevant to all students as many will not return to null societies following graduation, delegitimizing the need for dedicated mundane history courses within the standard curriculum.
* Students graduating from the Academies of Arcane Arts often graduate with superior intellectual competencies and ambition then their null counterpart, due in part to the competitive culture of the boarding school set fourth by the founders.

## Year One

The first year of a students education is dedicated to the mastery of the fundamental knowledges and awareness's a young arcanist needs to succeed and survive. Much of the year is focused on addressing the limitations and dangers of magic to ensure that future mistakes can be avoided.

### Fall Semester

#### Conduct & Concordance

*A course designed to introduce students to the basic laws of The Concordance as well as how to conduct oneself with the technological equipment commonly utilized within the world of the Concordance. The course is intended to run half the semester covering necessary topics before entering a voluntary status for students that wish for additional instruction and aid.*

#### Fundamental Mechanisms of the Natural World

*Introductory topics of Physics & Astronomy. The class works to establish a baseline understanding of earth and the natural laws that govern it and it’s sisters.*

#### Introduction to the Arcane

*An overview course of commonly held myths, as well as an introduction to the various schools of magic and the basic laws of arcanism. This course is also often touted as a language course as well due to its critical role in developing a student's esoteric vocabulary. Students will learn a simple hex for creating light as their first spell.*

#### Forbidden Magic

*First year students will learn about the various schools of arcane manipulation that have been deemed forbidden by the Concordance and reasoning for these rulings.*

### Spring Semester

#### Introduction to Herbology & Ecology

*Introductory topics of Herbology, focused more specifically upon Ecology, designed to give students a greater understanding of how all things interact with and affect all things within an environment.*

#### Core Concepts of Arithmetic

*A dedicated mathematics course designed to ensure students understand the use of formulaic expressions and the standard concepts of algebra and calculus as applicable to real world scenarios such as what may be realistically encountered while studying in their future courses.*

#### Anatomy & Vivamancy

*A critical course which introduces students to both the basic concepts of anatomy, as well as the dangers of vivamancy. One of the core intended goals of the course is to ensure students understand the limitations of magic where restorative potential is concerned. Students will learn a simple spell for cleaning superficial wounds.*

#### Physical Elective

*First year students must select an elective from the Health & Fitness section of elective courses. The recommended course for first year students is Aeromancy I.*

## Second Year

### Fall Semester

#### Introduction to Apothecary

*Second year students will be introduced to the topics of Apothecary, and educated upon common misconceptions about it's relationship to Alchemy. Students will build upon their knowledge of Herbology & Ecology gained in the first year to learn to identify the arcane potential found within reagents, as well as how to utilize reagents to brew simple tonics.*

#### Arcane Principles

*Students will advance their knowledge on utilizing arcane powers, learning several hexes while also confronting concepts such as mana and mana-theory. Students will also learn overviews of the leading theories on Discordance.*

#### Social Studies

*Students will learn academic language and definitions around politics and sociology, before learning about topics in world history both mundane and arcane.*

#### Physical Elective

*Second year students must select a Physical Electives from the Health & Fitness section of elective courses.*

### Spring Semester

#### Aegis Against Anathema

*Students will build upon their growing understanding of arcane usage to learn simple defensive and evasive spells in addition to undergoing controlled exposure to hazardous spells and entities. Students will also learn about anathema; entities and ruinous realms that threaten all of wixan kind.*

#### Arcanist History

*Students will learn about important topics in arcanist history such as the development of the Witch-Hunters, and the role of House Augustine throughout history. They will also learn about past arcane theories, and developments in wixan thought.*

#### Arcane Elective

*Second year students must select an Arcane Electives from the Arcane section of elective courses to hone their prior learnings.*

#### Physical Elective

*Second year students must select a Physical Electives from the Health & Fitness section of elective courses.*

## Third Year

### Fall Semester

#### Introduction to Divination

*Introduces the many forms of divination as well as the historical legacy of divination as one of the most significant forms of magic throughout history.*

#### A Brief History of Foci & Formula

*Building off of the students established understanding of magic, this course will introduce the topics of alternate forms of magic such as Runes and Witchcraft, while also educating students on how to adapt to new foci.*

#### Natural Elective

*Students must complete at least one Natural Elective as a part of their fundamental Novitiate education in order to meet the standards of comprehensive learning.*

#### Physical Elective

*Third year students must select a Physical Electives from the Health & Fitness section of elective courses.*

### Spring Semester

#### Aegis Against Anathema II

*Students will be expected to engage more directly with sources of Anathema in less controlled environments under professor supervision. The course is known for involving the actual casting of forbidden magic, particularly Summoning.*

#### Arcane Theory

*Building upon all prior coursework regarding arcane topics, Arcane Theory introduces a fundamental truth about magic to the aspiring Magicians. Students will study the fluidity of spellcasting, and be introduced to the concept of Spell-Formulation.*

#### Free Elective

*Students may select any elective from the course catalogue for which they meet the prerequisites.*

#### Physical Elective

*Third year students must select a Physical Electives from the Health & Fitness section of elective courses.*

# Electives

## Health & Fitness

### Aerobic Courses

#### Aeromancy I

*An introductory course to the topics of Aeromancy and the sport of ‘Dragon’s Joust’.*

#### Aeromancy II

*A twice repeatable course for non-competitive students. Requires competition of Aeromancy I.*

#### Aeromancy III

*A repeatable course for students in Division III of Dragon’s Joust. Requires Superior competition of Aeromancy II.*

#### Aeromancy IV

*A repeatable course for students in Division II of Dragon’s Joust. Requires Superior competition of Aeromancy III.*

#### Aeromancy V

*A repeatable course for students in Division I of Dragon’s Joust. Requires Superior competition of Aeromancy IV.*

### Martial Art Courses

#### Rapier I

*Requires one to be in their 2nd year to enroll. Rapier teaches a student the basics of how to handle a foil and largely involves drills and sets without sparring as the student is encouraged to master footwork and poise.*

#### Rapier II

*Requires the completion of Rapier I. Students will learn to defend themselves against offensive strikes and engage in live sparring under careful faculty supervision. Successful completion at a level of Superior enables on to enroll in the Fence & Foil club.*

#### Rapier III

*Requires the Completion of Rapier II with a less than Superior Assessment. A repeatable, and more individually focused course intended to aid students in achieving the necessary superior confidence required to become permissible to the Fence & Foil club.*

#### Rapier III-b

*Requires the Completion of Rapier II with a Superior Assessment. A repeatable course where exceptional students aid their peers in the development of their rapier skills earning 10 house points each for their volunteer efforts.*

#### Arming I

*An introductory course to utilizing weapons of war, students spend the first month of the course exploring different weapons, before selecting a weapon to focus on, thereafter they study historic texts on martial arts, and practice forms, culminating in a final assessment consisting of a duel. Students must win this duel to move on to the second course in the series.*

#### *Arming II-A*

*Requires the successful completion of Arming I with a Melee weapon. May not be taken after the completion of a students 4th year. Students will continue their studies with the blade by engaging in live sparring and continued study honing their defensive and offensive ability. Students must complete a series of duels with perfect performance to pass. This course may be repeated until passed.*

#### *Arming II-B*

*Requires the successful completion of Arming I with a Ranged weapon. May not be taken after the completion of a students 4th year. Students will continue to their studies with their chosen weapon through the use of more advanced ranges including mobile live fire, while also engaging in specter simulated duels. Students must complete a series of duels with perfect performance to pass. This course may be repeated until passed.*

#### Introduction to Battlemagic

*Requires completion of either series A or B of Arming II, or the completion of Rapier II with a rating of Superior of greater. Students will learn to cloak their weapons in simple enchantments and sustain a constant flow of arcane power into their armaments. The class will focus on mastering this concentration despite disruption and even pain or fatigue. This is considered one of the most challenging courses, as well as unpleasant. It is generally considered impossible to pass without being in good physical health. This course is repeatable until the completion of the 5th year or until deemed unfit for study due to underlying conditions of ill-fit health.*

#### Advanced Studies of Battlemagic

*Students must complete Introduction to Battlemagic with an advanced score or better to enroll. During their advanced studies students will begin imbuing their weapons with blunting enchantments in order to engage in live sparing. Students will no longer be paired exclusively with others utilizing weapons matching their own. Students will also study the mechanics of offensive weapon enchantments and their formulas.*

#### Battlemagic Practicum

*Students must complete Advanced Studies in Battlemagic with an advanced score of better to enroll. --------*

### Xenological Courses

#### Equestrian Studies

*An introductory course intended to give students a formative understanding of horse care and riding.*

#### Equestrian Studies, Advanced

*Requires the completion of Equestrian Studies. Students must enroll within the Fall Semester and are expected to continue their studies in the Spring Semester extracurricularly.*

## Natural Electives

#### Advanced Mechanisms of the Natural World

*An advanced course on physics with a focus on relativity and quantum states*

#### Introduction to Harmonics

*An advanced course combining physics and mathematics, harmonics is a foundational base of knowledge necessary to truly master elemental magic, planar magics, and translocation. Masters of the art consider it to be the key to countless if not infinite other forms of magical practice included, supposedly even Chronomancy.*

#### Harmonics Principles: Arcano-Quantum Theory

*A challenging course that builds upon Introduction to Harmonics and Advanced Mechanisms of the Natural World engrains the topic into Quantum theories of reality, exploring how the arcane forces, particularly mana and expressed magic interact with sub-atomic powers through resonances.*

#### Harmonic Principles: Quantum Harmonization

*Requires Superior rating or greater in Harmonic Principles: Arcano-Quantum Theory. An advanced course in recognizing and understanding quantum relativity, the goal of the course is to attune to one's own personal quantum harmonic signature in order to build a foundation for utilizing outwards projections of harmonic magic.*

#### Applied Harmonic Elementalism

*Requires the completion of Harmonic Practicum - Elemental & Advanced Elementalism I-II with superior assessments. Introduced as an introductory course to utilizing harmonic elementalism, the course helps to hone the students skills in applied usage of the devastating power, while also preparing them for future studies in Harmonic elementalism such as the eventual usage of **electrisity**. (Students will leave the course with a rudimentary ability to use Fire and Ice.)*

#### Philosophy of Rhetoric

*An advanced course in utilizing and understanding argumentative structure and social manipulation. This course will involve real-time out of class experimentation, and students taking the course are forbidden from admitting to their enrollment within it. The course is hosted in the third level of the dungeons.*

#### Philosophy of Consciousness

*An advanced course in understanding consciousness, free will, and human nature. This is a deliberation based class designed to measure how students approach epistemological growth and philosophy, as well as how they rationalize their understandings of the subject topics.*

#### Philosophy of Arcane Theory

*A course that covers both historical and modern theory on the origins of Arcane Ancestry, as well as the nature of the planes, discordance, and magic itself.*

#### Psychonautics; Principles & Theories

*Students must have completed their fourth year to enroll.*

#### Psychonautics; Advanced Divination

*Students must have completed their fourth year to enroll, as well as Psychonautics: Principles & Theories.*

#### Psychonautics; Alchemical Applications

*Students must have completed their fourth year to enroll, as well as Psychonautics: Principles & Theories.*

## Arcane Electives

#### The Alchemical Arts

*A course offered only to students who have successfully completed Philosophy of Consciousness & Philosophy of Arcane Theory with a superior and acceptable or greater assessment respectively. The course is designed to introduce students to the history of alchemy, as well as the commonly held goals of alchemists. Students will gain a basic understanding the the alchemical signs and elements as well as how to interact with decknamen while also being instructed on how to engage in alchemical epistemology.*

#### Apothecary I-III

*Advanced studies in concocting potions and salves.*

#### Advanced Topics in Divination

*Depending on the available staffing, advanced topics in divination allows a student to learn how to utilize specific divination magics from a specified discipline of the art, while the latter half of the semester is geared towards enabling a student to further develop and hone their skills with the craft through individualistic self driven study and dedication.*

#### Introduction to Elementalism

*An introductory course that covers the theory and practice of elemental magic, teaching students to utilize elementals spells such as firebolts, water and air manipulation, as well as the creation of tremors.*

#### Advanced Elementalism I-II

*Requires the completion of Harmonics with a superior assessment, as well as the completion of Introduction to Elementalism. Students learn in Advanced Elementalism how to verbalize the harmonic hums necessary to perform advanced elemental spells while also learning how to draw water from the air, create fire from heat, and manipulate stone. This course begins in the fall semester and continues into spring.*

#### Planar Studies

Requires the completion of *Planar Harmonics*.

#### Traveling & Translocation

Requires the completion of *Harmonic Practicum: Intonation - Extra Planar, Planar Studies, Ritual Casting for Travelers, and Harmonic Topics: Native Notation* with superior assessments. A infamously challenging course which covers the topics of how to translocate one's self within their current plane of existence.