SCIENCE

Biology 

Grade: 9 

Credit: 5

Prerequisite: None

College Prep Biology is devoted to the study of living things and their processes. Throughout the semester this course provides an opportunity for students to develop an understanding of the fundamental principles that characterize living organisms. Students will explore biological science as a process, cell structure and function, genetics, evolution, and the ecological roles of living organisms. The student will be involved in various hands-on activities and labs, which will stimulate interest in the subject matter.  Activities will include laboratory exercises, field experiences, use of electronic media, research, writing lab reports, and designing presentations.  Through these activities, students will acquire science skills necessary in understanding the process of life and will be prepared for the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment – Science (NJSLA-S).

Honors Biology 

Grades: 9 

Credit: 5

Prerequisite: Grade 9 No Prerequisite

In the Honors Biology course, students will expand beyond the traditional Biology topics however in greater depth, independently and at a faster rate. Honors Biology is devoted to the study of living things and their processes. Throughout the semester, this course provides an opportunity for students to develop an understanding of the fundamental principles that characterize living organisms. Students will explore biological science as a process, cell structure and function, genetics, evolution, and the ecological roles of living organisms. The student will be involved in various hands-on activities and labs, which will stimulate interest in the subject matter.  Activities will include laboratory exercises more closely related to those that will be performed in the AP Biology course as well as, field experiences, use of electronic media, research, writing lab reports, and designing presentations.  Through these activities, students will acquire science skills necessary in understanding the process of life and will be prepared for the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment – Science (NJSLA-S), as well as AP and college level biology.

Advanced Placement Biology (AP)

Grade: 12

Credit: 5

Prerequisite: AP level requires B average in Honors Biology, successful completion of summer assignment(s),  teacher recommendation, and the ability to read, write, and think critically

AP Biology helps students build an understanding of modern biology on the foundation of their prior learning in physics, chemistry, and biology. All the course topics build upon the knowledge from the first year course. AP Biology prepares students to take the AP Biology examination at the end of the course. This course also serves as a strong foundation for Anatomy and Physiology. The course will focus around the four Big Ideas set forth by the College Board for AP Biology.  A key goal of the course is to give students an integrated insight into the modern scientific view of the world. By the conclusion of this course students should have a perspective on the world, and how it works, which will empower them to follow their interests in any direction after high school, either on to college/university or their career. Students are not required, but strongly encouraged, to take the end of course exam in May. Students enrolled in this course have the option to also be enrolled in a dual enrollment program available through Rowan College at Burlington County. 

CHEMISTRY COURSE OFFERINGS 

Chemistry 

Grade: 10

Credit: 5

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Biology

Students will explore the fundamental principles of chemistry which characterize the properties of matter and how it reacts.  Computer-based and traditional laboratory techniques are used to obtain, organize and analyze data. Conclusions are developed using both qualitative and quantitative procedures. Topics include, but are not limited to: acid and bases, atomic structure, chemical bonding, chemical equilibrium, chemical quantities, chemical reactions, environmental chemistry, gas laws, properties of matter, the periodic table, scientific measurements,  solutions, and stoichiometry. This course is directly aligned to the New Jersey State Learning Standards for Science and prepares students for the NJSLA-S assessment.

Honors Chemistry 

Grade: 10 or 11 

Credit: 5

Prerequisite: Honors Level requires a B Average in Biology or Physics (Engineering/Aviation Students) and teacher recommendation

In the Honors Chemistry course, students will expand beyond the traditional Chemistry topics however in greater depth, independently and at a faster rate. This course is designed to give students an opportunity to study the topics of chemistry in depth, specifically what they are composed of, how their properties are related to their composition, and how one substitute interacts with another.  Computer-based and traditional laboratory techniques are used to obtain, organize and analyze data. Conclusions are developed using both qualitative and quantitative procedures. This course is directly aligned to the New Jersey State Learning Standards for Science and also prepares students for the NJSLA-S assessment.

Advanced Placement Chemistry (AP) 

Grades:  11 or 12

Credit: 5

Prerequisite: AP level requires B average in Honors Chemistry,  successful completion of summer assignment(s),  teacher recommendation, and the ability to read, write, and think critically

AP Chemistry is designed to prepare students to take the AP Chemistry examination. The course will explore and interpret advanced topics in chemistry. The course emphasizes learning through a hands-on, inquiry based method. It provides students with a college level foundation to support future advanced coursework in chemistry. Emphasis will be placed on atomic structure, intermolecular forces and bonding, chemical reactions, kinetics, thermodynamics and equilibrium. Students are expected to gain a deep understanding of all topics covered.  Students are not required, but strongly encouraged, to take the end of course exam in May .Students enrolled in this course have the option to also be enrolled in a dual enrollment program available through Rowan College at Burlington County.

PHYSICS COURSE OFFERINGS

Physics 

Grade: 11 

Credit: 5

Prerequisites: Successful completion of Biology and Chemistry

Physics is the study of matter and energy. This course is geared towards reinforcing skills in algebra in the areas of forces, motion, work, power, energy, and electricity. Students learn Physics in an applied career and college focused setting. They will apply the mechanics of physics to real-life situations. Through this process the ability to read and understand problems, break them down into their component parts and then create and present solutions will be developed. This course is aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Science and begins preparation for the NJSLA-S assessment.

AP Physics 1

Grade 10 or  11 

Prerequisite: Completion of Biology. AP level requires Honors Algebra II (or concurrently taking Honors Algebra II),  successful completion of summer assignment(s),  teacher recommendation, and the ability to read, write, and think critically.

AP Physics I is designed to be equivalent to a first year college course in Physics and has the potential to obtain college credit for this course by scoring well on the AP exam in May. Topics include: measurement and problem-solving velocity and acceleration using kinematics in one or two dimensions, universal gravitation, Newton's Law of Motion and forces, work, energy, power, mechanics, dynamics, vectors, systems of particles including waves and sound, linear momentum, circular motion, rotation, oscillations, gravitation, electrostatics, conductors, capacitors, dielectrics, electric circuits, and potential difference. This course is aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Science and begins preparation for the NJSLA-S assessment. Students enrolled in AP Physics 1 are not required, but strongly encouraged, to take the end of course exam in May.   Students enrolled in this course have the option to also be enrolled in a dual enrollment program available through Rowan College at Burlington County. 

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE COURSE OFFERINGS 

Environmental Science 

Grades: 11 or 12

Credit: 5

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Biology and Chemistry

The goal of this course is to introduce students to environmental science with a curriculum that is designed to enrich and change their day to day lives.  Major concepts that will be studied include: ecology, humans and their impact on the environment, earth's natural and renewable resources, as well as working toward a sustainable future.  This course will take you through many hands-on activities that are designed to stimulate interest in the subject matter, such as learning to grow your own garden.   The course is designed to be a project based learning class where the students will learn through various projects, laboratory exercises, and field experiences.

Advanced Placement Environmental Science (AP)

Grades: 11 or 12

Credit: 5

Prerequisite: AP level requires a B average in Honors Biology, successful completion of Chemistry,  successful completion of summer assignment(s),  teacher recommendation, and the ability to read, write, and think critically.

The AP Environmental Science course is designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college course in environmental science. This course is designed to provide students with scientific principles, concepts and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world and to analyze environmental problems both natural and human made. Students will investigate possible solutions to resolving these issues and preventing them in the future. Topics include Earth Systems & Resources, The Living World, Population, Land & Water Use, Energy Resources & Consumption, Pollution and Global Change. Students are not required, but strongly encouraged, to take the end of course exam in May.   Students enrolled in this course have the option to also be enrolled in a dual enrollment program available through Rowan College at Burlington County. 

OTHER COURSE OFFERINGS 

AP RESEARCH

Grades 11, 12 

5 Credits 

Prerequisite:  Successful completion of AP Seminar

 AP Research allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, or issue of individual interest. Through this exploration, students design, plan, and conduct a year-long research-based investigation to address a research question. In the AP Research course, students further their skills acquired in the AP Seminar course by understanding research methodology; employing ethical research practices; and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information as they address a research question. Students explore their skill development, document their processes, and curate the artifacts of the development of their scholarly work in a portfolio. The course culminates in an academic paper of 4000–5000 words (accompanied by a performance or exhibition of product where applicable) and a presentation with an oral defense.

Forensic Science (Elective)

Grades 11 or 12

Credit: 5

Prerequisite: None

Forensic Science will involve the application of science (chemistry, physics, and biology) principles to the investigation of physical evidence of crime scenes in criminal and civil cases. This course will focus on hands-on learning that will enforce the fundamentals of a criminal investigation and how those fundamentals and principles apply in a court of law. Topics in this course are not limited to the following: the History of Forensics, CSI & Fingerprint Analysis, Biological Evidence & DNA Analysis as well as Forensic Toxicology. This course will involve laboratory testing, data analysis, evidence collection, and guest speakers for their technical expertise. Students will be taught the proper collection of evidence, preservation, and laboratory analysis of various samples of evidence.  

Science Vs. Fiction (Elective)

Grades: 11 or 12

Credit: 5

Prerequisite: None

Is a modern day Jurassic Park possible? Will superheroes be in the future? As science and technology advancements continue to make new discoveries, the boundary between science fact and science fiction is blurred. This course, Science verse Fiction will investigate topics in science fiction, such as Jurassic Park, Superheroes, Star Wars, Time Travel, and Mythology to debunk fact from fiction. Students will analyze science fiction in movies, TV shows, comic books, video games, and novels to make connections to current scientific research in the real world. Throughout these investigations, students will be asked to consider bioethics, establish credible resources, and develop their critical thinking abilities. Students will participate in hands-on labs, experiments, debates, cases-studies, designing presentations, and writing formal reports. This course is designed to stimulate student interest by showcasing the interconnections in the science disciplines with common everyday occurrences in pop culture. 

Botany (Elective)

Grades: 11 or 12

Credit: 5

Prerequisite: None

Ever wonder what the connection of the green world around you is to Science? In this course, students will investigate the world of plants. This course is designed for students who wish to continue in their studies of life science with a focus on botany. Botany is the scientific study of plants and their relationship to the environment around you.  Topics include plant anatomy, seeded and seedless plants, adaptations, development, reproduction and plant behaviors.  In this course, students will investigate the growth, reproduction, anatomy, genetics, and ecology of plants.  This hands-on course will focus upon weekly projects that will help students gain an understanding of plants and their value to our community.  Hands- on components will involve ACIT’s Laboratory/Greenhouse as well as many outdoor experiences. Spending time using nature as the classroom environment will be a major goal of this course.

Dual Enrollment Introduction to Oceanography (DE) (Elective)

Grades: 11 or 12

Credit: 5

Prerequisite: 93 average in Honors Biology or teacher recommendation

Are you curious how the ocean affects the world around us? This course is an interdisciplinary introduction to oceanography focusing on biological, chemical, geological, and physical processes. It covers topics such as origins and structure of planet Earth and its oceans, co-evolution of Earth and life, plate tectonics, liquid water and the hydrologic and hydrothermal cycles, salinity and elemental cycles, waves and tides, ocean circulation, primary production and nutrient cycles, plankton and nekton, life on the seafloor, nearshore and estuarine communities,  and future environmental problems our oceans face.  This course is Dual Enrollment with Stockton University.  Students enrolled in this course have the option to also be enrolled in a dual enrollment program available through Stockton University.