Backyard Homesteading and Self-Sufficiency - Semester 4
UC A-G approved Backyard Homesteading and Self-Sufficiency - Semester 4 course delivered fully online through immersive VR and AI-enhanced instruction.
Section GUC A‑G Requirement
College-Preparatory Elective — 1 year required
Must be chosen from additional courses in categories A–F (beyond the minimum requirements) OR from other UC-approved college-preparatory electives, including computer science, business, statistics, and interdisciplinary STEM courses.
Why This Matters for College Admission
G electives are where students develop depth and signal academic passion. AI, cybersecurity, data science, and entrepreneurship courses are highly competitive differentiators for tech-oriented admissions profiles.
What You'll Learn
Apply environmental science principles to real-world sustainability challenges
Analyze ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, and biodiversity
Evaluate human impacts on climate, land use, water, and energy systems
Design evidence-based environmental solutions using scientific methodology
Interpret data from field studies, remote sensing, and laboratory investigations
Prepare for the AP Environmental Science exam
Course Structure
Foundations & Context
- Core vocabulary and concepts
- Skill baseline assessment
Core Content
- Primary content delivery
- Applied practice activities
Application & Synthesis
- Real-world application
- Final project or exam prep
Lectures & Reviews
Curated YouTube videos for Backyard Homesteading and Self-Sufficiency - Semester 4Hand-picked from credible educators — AP teachers, university lectures, and Khan Academy. Click a thumbnail to play in place; cookies are blocked until you click.
Backyard Ecosystems: A Homesteader's Guide to Permaculture
Open on YouTube6 Actionable Steps To Self Sufficiency
Open on YouTubeABUNDANT OFF GRID PERMACULTURE LIVING - The Farmer and The Ski Racer
Open on YouTubeComing from The VR School
Originals in productionOff-grid energy + water systems get covered shallowly on YouTube. A college-level treatment that ties the math to a working homestead is missing.
Off-grid Solar Sizing: load audit → battery bank → inverter selection
studio + spreadsheet walkthrough · ~25 min
- Run a daily-watt-hour load audit
- Size a 48V LiFePO4 bank for 3 days of autonomy
- Choose between hybrid and AC-coupled inverters
Greywater Recycling Codes + Reality: California Tier-1 systems, plant compatibility
site visit + plumbing diagrams · ~20 min
- Cite the relevant California Plumbing Code Tier-1 requirements
- Match plant species to expected greywater chemistry
- Design a laundry-to-landscape branch
Rainwater Catchment: roof-area math, first-flush diverters, treatment trains
field demo · ~18 min
- Compute annual capture from roof area and local precipitation
- Design a first-flush diverter sized to roof debris load
- Outline a potable-grade treatment train
These topics are commissioned for VR School production after Dr. Cheteni's review — recorded in our VR studio, taught by expert faculty. Backyard Homesteading and Self-Sufficiency - Semester 4 will receive these as immersive lessons alongside the curated YouTube library above.
Prerequisites & Requirements
Open to qualifying students in grades 9, 10, 11, 12; no prerequisites required
All students complete a placement conversation with our admissions team before enrollment is confirmed. Questions? Contact admissions.