Science

Aquatic Biology is an advanced biology course designed to introduce students to freshwater and marine ecosystems. Students will survey local aquatic environments, such as ponds and rivers, and study the ecological, chemical and physical importance of these ecosystems. This is a laboratory-based field course. Students will participate in physically demanding field studies that support the classroom content. $40.00 field trip fees.

• Credit: 0.5
• Level: 11-12
• Prerequisite: 2.0 Science Credits
• Fees: $10 Lab Fee

Meets Requirements in SCIENCE.  May be taken only once for credit.

Astronomy studies the matter of outer space. Topics include the history of the solar system, the forces of motion, physics of light, measurement of astronomical distances, planetary geology, and stellar life. Students learn to identify constellations by their patterns and the mythology that accompanies them. This course teaches chemical and physical processes using the cosmos for their application. Concepts are explored through planetarium visits, and night observations.

• Credit: 0.5
• Level: 11-12
• Prerequisite: 2.0 Science Credits
• Fees: $5

Meets Requirements in SCIENCE.  May be taken only once for credit.

Biology is the study of living organisms, the processes they undergo, and the relationships they share with each other in order to survive. The course will cover the following topics: scientific methodology, ecology, cellular biology, bioenergetics, genetics, natural selection, and environmental and ethical issues relating to life and the impact man has on Earth. The course will be inquiry-based and require extensive work in writing and data analysis. 

• Credit: 1.0
• Level: 9-12
• Prerequisite: None
• Fees: None

Meets Requirements in SCIENCE.  May be taken only once for credit.

Chemistry is a quantitative laboratory-based course covering the broad concepts upon which modern chemistry is based. These concepts include measurement, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, states of matter, atomic theory, chemical bonding, and periodicity. This course is designed to prepare students for post-secondary education.

• Credit: 1.0
• Level: 10-12
• Prerequisite: Completed Integrated Math II or Algebra I and Biology
• Fees: None

Meets Requirements in SCIENCE.  May be taken only once for credit.

Earth and Environmental Science is a course where students will discover relationships between Earth and the environment. This course covers basic Earth Science concepts. Topics of study include astronomy, geology, geologic time, meteorology, renewable and nonrenewable resources, and climate change. Students will be able to make informed decisions regarding the use and care of the resources the Earth provides.

• Credit: 1.0
• Level: 9-11
• Prerequisite: None
• Fees: None

Meets Requirements in SCIENCE.  May be taken only once for credit.

Students will learn how forensic scientists process evidence and analyze their findings in the context of crime scene investigation. Topics include fingerprinting analysis, Crime Scene processing and analysis, forensic anthropology, hair and fiber analysis, toxicology, and blood spatter analysis. This is a laboratory-based science class.

• Credit: 0.5
• Level: 11-12
• Prerequisite: 2.0 Science Credits
• Fees: $10 Lab Fee

Meets Requirements in SCIENCE.  May be taken only once for credit.

Anatomy and Physiology is the study of the form and function of our bodies. As a topic it is so rich that a lifetime of study would be rewarded with unending discoveries and wonder. This course will provide a rigorous introduction to the major systems of our body, with emphasis on the Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Digestive, Urinary, skeletal, muscular, Immune systems and more. Students will be engaged in learning about these systems in a variety of ways, not limited to classroom discussion, coloring and drawing, group activities and experiments, and a detailed dissection. This course will provide a strong foundation for students thinking about careers in biological research, nursing, medicine, or any related field. It is also appropriate for any student who is simply interested in learning more about how our bodies work.

• Credit: 0.5
• Level: 11-12
• Prerequisite: 2.0 Science Credits
• Fees: $20 Lab Fee

Meets Requirements in SCIENCE.  May be taken only once for credit.

This laboratory-based, college prep course focuses on the concepts that govern the structure and behavior of the physical world. Emphasis is on understanding the mathematical relationships that characterize the behavior of objects acted on by forces. Based on time and student interest, additional topics in modern physics, thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, and optics may be explored.

• Credit: 1.0
• Level: 10-12
• Prerequisite: Integrated Math III or Geometry
• Fees: None

Meets Requirements in SCIENCE.  May be taken only once for credit.

Zoology is designed to investigate all the major vertebrate groups, their comparative anatomy, evolutionary record, ecology, and behavior. It is an inquiry-based science class that includes dissections.

• Credit: 0.5
• Level: 11-12
• Prerequisite: 2.0 Science Credits
• Fees: None

Meets Requirements in SCIENCE.  May be taken only once for credit.

This course is intended to immerse students in the environment of a laboratory-based, college-level introductory Biology class. The major topics addressed include evolution, biodiversity, ecology, heredity, molecular genetics, biochemistry, and the cell. AP Biology follows the scope and sequence prescribed by the College Board and prepares students for the Advanced Placement Biology Exam.

• Credit: 1.0
• Level: 11-12
• Prerequisite: Biology & Chemistry (enrolled or completed)
• Fees: $99 AP Exam; Textbook/Workbook

Meets Requirements in SCIENCE.  May be taken only once for credit.

This course is designed to be equivalent to the general chemistry science course taken during the first year of college. The class will emphasize chemical calculations, mathematical formulation of chemical principles, and in-depth lab experiments and analysis. AP Chemistry follows the scope and content prescribed by the College Board and prepares students for the Advanced Placement Chemistry Exam.

• Credit: 1.0
• Level: 11-12
• Prerequisite: Integrated Math III or Geometry and Chemistry
• Fees: $99 AP Exam; Textbook/Workbook

Meets Requirements in SCIENCE.  May be taken only once for credit.

AP Environmental Science will provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world. Students will identify and analyze environmental problems, both natural and man-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and preventing them. AP Environmental Science follows the scope and sequence prescribed by the College Board and prepares students for the Advanced Placement Environmental Science Exam.

• Credit: 1.0
• Level: 11-12
• Prerequisite: Biology & Chemistry  (enrolled or completed)
• Fees: $99 AP Exam; Textbook/Workbook

Meets Requirements in SCIENCE.  May be taken only once for credit.

This course is designed to be equivalent to the first semester college physics course offered to science majors. The class will emphasize the motion of particles, forces, work, energy, collisions, rotation, rolling, torque, angular momentum, gravitation, and oscillations. AP Physics C follows the scope and sequence prescribed by the College Board and prepares students for the Advanced Placement Physics C Exam in Mechanics.

• Credit: 1.0
• Level: 11-12
• Prerequisite: AP Calculus AB and Physics
• Fees: $99 AP Exam; Textbook/Workbook

Meets Requirements in SCIENCE.  May be taken only once for credit.