Course Descriptions

SC1105Z Physical Science Honors Grade 9 5 credits

This is an honors level course for ninth grade students with a strong interest and ability in science and mathematics. The course is designed to introduce students to the relationships that exist between matter and energy. Through meaningful problem solving, laboratory investigations, and STEM projects, students will apply physical laws in order to become aware of the strong relationship between science and technology and between the process and content of science. Areas of concentration will include motion, forces, conservation laws, heat, electricity and magnetism, waves, and light and sound. Students will be prepared to successfully complete the Introductory Physics MCAS test and be better prepared for an AP science track. Suggested Entry Criteria: A- or better in eighth grade science and algebra, teacher recommendation.

SC1115Z Physical Science - Curriculum A Grade 9 5 credits

This course is designed to introduce students to the relationships that exist between matter and energy. Through meaningful problem-solving and laboratory investigations, students will apply physical laws in order to become aware of the strong partnership between science and technology and between the process and product of science. Areas of concentration will include motion, forces, conservation laws, heat, electricity and magnetism, waves, and light and sound. This course includes a wide variety of laboratory demonstrations and activities. Students will be prepared to successfully complete the Introductory Physics MCAS test.

SC2106Z Honors Biology - Curriculum H Grade 10 5 credits

Students in Honors Biology encounter the principles of biology through advanced readings, scientific inquiry and laboratory investigation. This course emphasizes the molecular aspects of life through the study of: biochemistry, cellular structure, function and replication, energy transfer in living systems, genetics and reproduction. The course includes significant study of evolution, scientific and technical literacy, as well as human and systemic applications. This laboratory, reading, and writing intensive course expects significant independence on the part of the student so that more class time can be devoted to in-depth discussion. Students should be willing to take responsibility for learning and appreciate their role as members of a learning community. The topics studied in Honors Biology are consistent with the Massachusetts Science and Technology Frameworks life science strand. Preparation for the Biology SAT II test will require independent study of some topics.

Suggested Entry Criteria: “B” or better in Honors level Physical Science or an “A” in A level Physical Science and science teacher recommendation.

SC2111Z Biology - Curriculum A Grade 10 5 credits

This course emphasizes the molecular, cellular, organismal and ecological aspects of the living world. Special emphasis is placed on characteristics or organisms, evolution of life, principles of heredity, molecular genetics, and the dynamics of ecosystems. Students complete approximately twenty laboratory exercises some of which require formal lab reports. Reading and writing assignments will include articles from science journals and magazines, and students will research and do a project on a topic in modern biology each quarter.

SC3106Z Honors Chemistry - Curriculum H Grades 11, 12 5 credits

This course is designed for students with a strong interest in science and who demonstrate a high level of mathematical competency. The course covers, in detail, a broad range of topics and is thus geared toward the highly motivated student who can manage the pace and academic rigor of the course. Honors Chemistry is a laboratory and writing intensive course. Students who take this course will need to study several other topics to be completely prepared for the SAT II subject test in chemistry.

Suggested Entry Criteria: Completed Algebra 2

SC3111Z Chemistry - Curriculum A Grades 11, 12 5 credits

This chemistry course offers students a rigorous course in modern chemistry, but at a more moderate pace than Honors Chemistry. Students in this course will have more time to review concepts, including mathematical calculations, than Honors Level Chemistry students. The course is laboratory intensive with emphasis on qualitative and quantitative experiments. Topics covered will conform to the Massachusetts State Frameworks for Chemistry and will prepare students for undergraduate General Chemistry.

SC3217Z Applied and Qualitative Chemistry - Curriculum A Grades 11, 12 5 credits

The Applied and Qualitative Chemistry program is designed to be a hands-on inquiry-based exploration of chemistry. It is designed to develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills related to chemistry, apply chemistry knowledge to decision-making about scientific issues, and recognize the importance of chemistry in daily life. Always focused on making the connections between science and technology and their impact on the quality of our lives, the study of chemistry uses multiple pathways of scientific reasoning with specific emphasis on written and oral communication as well as logical reasoning to explore atomic and molecular structure, chemical bonds, conservation of matter, reaction rates, organic chemistry, acid-base chemistry and biochemistry. Students will be expected to relate and use learned concepts in class through lab experiences, projects, tests, and common applications.

SC4010Z Advanced Placement Biology AP Grades 11, 12 5 credits

The Advanced Placement Biology Course is designed to be the equivalent of a college introductory biology course usually taken by biology majors during their freshman year. It provides students with the conceptual framework, factual knowledge, and analytical skills necessary to deal with the rapidly changing science of biology. As suggested by the College Board in its Advanced Placement Course Description, the course is divided into three major topic areas: 1) molecules and cells, 2) genetics and evolution, and 3) organisms and populations. Laboratory experiences comprise approximately 40% of the grade, and students are involved in original research during the year. In addition to reading from a college text, students will be required to read articles from outside sources including scientific journals.

Suggested Entry Criteria: B or better in Honors Biology or A- or better in Biology, Successful completion of chemistry is highly recommended, teacher recommendation.

SC4002Z Advanced Placement Chemistry AP Grade 12 5 credits

Advanced Placement Chemistry is designed to be the equivalent of a college introductory chemistry course usually taken by science majors during their freshman year. Students utilize a college textbook and the course moves at a brisk pace. The topics covered are those suggested by the College Board. Laboratory experiments with formal lab reports are a significant portion of the class and are reflected as such in the course grade.

Suggested Entry Criteria: “B” or better in Honors Chemistry or “A” in Chemistry; Successful completion of Pre-calculus is highly recommended, teacher recommendation.

SC4070Z Advanced Placement Environmental Science Grades 11, 12 5 credits

AP Environmental Science is designed to explore and investigate the relationships of the natural world, identify and analyze environmental problems, both natural and human made, evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them. The course follows the curriculum suggested by the College Board. A strong hands-on component with lab and field studies will be integrated.

Suggested entry criteria: Completion of biology, completed or concurrent chemistry, previous science teacher recommendation.

SC4007Z Advanced Placement Physics 1 AP Grades 11, 12 5 credits

This course is designed to be the equivalent of an algebra-based course in introductory college physics. The content of the course corresponds to the requirements of the College Board Advanced Placement Physics 1 curriculum. This involves Newtonian mechanics (including angular and rotational), work, energy, power, mechanical waves, sound, and electric circuits. The pace of the course is demanding in terms of both content and problem-solving. Students entering this class should be highly motivated in science and willing to apply themselves to studying an advanced curriculum. There will be an integrated lab component to the course and long-term STEM projects will be assigned both semesters.

Suggested Entry Criteria: Algebra 2

SC4008Z Advanced Placement Physics 2 Grades 11, 12 5 credits

This course is designed to be the equivalent of an algebra-based course in introductory college physics. The content of the course corresponds to the requirements of the College Board Advanced Placement Physics 2 curriculum. This involves fluids, thermodynamics, electricity & electromagnetism, optics, and atomic physics. The pace of the course is demanding in terms of both content and problem-solving. Students entering this class should be highly motivated in science and willing to apply themselves to studying an advanced curriculum: previous high-level coursework in Kinematics, Newtonian Mechanics, Mechanical Waves and basic Electricity is assumed. There will be an integrated lab component to the course and long-term STEM projects will be assigned both semesters.

Suggested Entry Criteria: B or better in previous AP Physics 1 class or Physics class, and Algebra 2

SC4011Z AP Physics C (Mechanics) Grades 11, 12 2.5 credits

AP Physics C is a laboratory science course that offers a conceptual and rigorous mathematical approach to physics, and an advanced understanding of high school math is assumed. This course forms the first part of a college sequence serving as the foundation in physics for students majoring in the physical sciences or engineering. Differential and integral calculus are applied to 45 topics outlined by the College Board for the AP Physics C: Mechanics exam. Topics included are kinematics; Newton’s laws of motion; work, energy and power; systems of particles and linear momentum; circular motion and rotation; and oscillations and gravitation. Methods of calculus are used wherever appropriate in formulating physical principles and in applying them to physical problems.

MUST ALSO BE ENROLLED IN AP PHYSICS C ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

Prerequisite: Calculus. Successful completion of a previous physics course is recommended. Teacher and Science Director approval is required.

SC4011Z AP Physics C (Electricity and Magnetism) Grades 11, 12 2.5 credits

AP Physics C is a laboratory science course that offers a conceptual and rigorous mathematical approach to physics, and an advanced understanding of high school math is assumed. This course forms the first part of a college sequence serving as the foundation in physics for students majoring in the physical sciences or engineering. Differential and integral calculus are applied to topics outlined by the College Board for the AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism exam. The course explores topics such as electrostatics; conductors, capacitors, and dielectrics; electric circuits; magnetic fields; and electromagnetism.

MUST ALSO BE ENROLLED IN AP PHYSICS C MECHANICS

Corequisite: Calculus. Successful completion of a previous physics course is recommended. Teacher and Science Director approval is required.

SC3252Z Anatomy and Physiology Grades 11, 12 5 credits

This course will concentrate on areas of anatomy and physiology not generally covered in depth in a first year biology course. It will provide a balanced and integrated introduction to the human body suitable for students with varying needs and interests but especially for those interested in allied health fields, pre-nursing, and pre-medical education. Students complete a required internship, projects, research papers, anatomical dissections, and other laboratory exercises that reinforce the basic principles of physiology and anatomy.

Suggested Entry Criteria: B- or better in Biology

* Students have the option of earning Honors Credit through more challenging research and project work.

SC7268Z Environmental Science Grades 11, 12 5 credits

Environmental science focuses on the study of how human activity affects habitats and the relationships among organisms and the natural world. The course will include the detailed study of the principles of ecology, including several hands-on investigations and research projects and papers. Students will investigate the earth’s natural resources, including biodiversity, soil, land, air, water, and energy, with the goal of understanding the delicate balance of life on earth. Problems such as pollution, overpopulation, and extinction are studied in a global context, and students investigate a wide range of solutions based on the in-depth study of environmental science. The principles of chemistry and physics are integrated into the course, as they relate to environmental science.

Suggested Entry Criteria: B- or better in Biology.

* Students have the option of earning Honors Credit through more challenging research and project work.

SC1292Z Engineering Grades 11, 12 5 credits This course will utilize the Engineering the Future curriculum developed by the Museum of Science (Boston), with particular emphasis on engineering design, manufacturing, construction, written communication, and mathematics. The school resources available in the technology resource center will be utilized for collaborative project design and construction, integrating concepts across the disciplines in the school's Maker space. Students work in a classroom and workshop setting with woodworking materials, metals, and laboratory equipment. By applying the mathematics of engineering and completing hands-on design projects, students learn about the different roles of mechanical, fluid and electrical engineering in the modern world. The course helps students pursuing a technical career to understand the many ways in which they may engineer the world of the future.

*Students have the option of earning Honors Credit through more challenging research and project work.

SC4116Z Physics* Grade 11, 12 5 credits

This physics course is for highly motivated students with strong scientific interest and mathematical ability. Students should be able to handle abstract ideas both conceptually and quantitatively, including their application to new situations. The major topics include force and motion, vectors and projectiles, energy and momentum, electricity and magnetism, and waves and light.

Suggested Entry Criteria: Algebra 2 (may be taken concurrently). Teacher Recommendation

**Students have the option of earning Honors Credit through more challenging research and project work.

SC7294Z Science Training and Research Grades 10, 11, 12 5 credits

All students begin their first year working to build a critical mass of understanding of an area of research related to: physical science, life science, computer science, mathematics, or social science. Initially, students are taught the process of online bibliographic research and are able to access many professional scientific databases. Students use library and Internet research tools to identify specific subjects currently being studied within their chosen area of interest.

Students find and study several scientific journal articles then present the information from some of their articles to the class. Once an extensive amount of background material is acquired and a strong sense of understanding is gained, students make contact with research scientists within their field of interest. Often these are the local authors of the articles they have read. At this time, the students ask the scientists to serve as mentors, assisting in carrying out a research project in the area of interest over the upcoming summers and following school years, or to help find appropriate scientists to do so.

During the summer following the first year of the course, students participate in research that they design and conduct under the supervision of their mentors. Most often this occurs at the lab where the mentors do their research.

Due to the extensive amount of time many of the research projects demand, and the continuity required, the majority of the research takes place over the next two summers (leading into Junior and Senior years) with some work being done to maintain the project during the Junior year of school. Students therefore must schedule their summers appropriately. Extensive summer jobs or multi-week vacations (unless related to the research project) have often been the reason students may not take the course.

As Juniors and Seniors students actively continue working on their project as well as write a research paper documenting their work and enter all possible science competitions to present their research.

SC7258Z Astronomy Grades 11, 12 2.5 credits

This half-year course provides a comprehensive introduction to astronomy, from the history of this early science to cutting-edge theories about the universe and its origin. Students will examine the Earth's place in space and the relationships among the Earth, Moon, and Sun. Our solar-system survey will encompass the planets, their moons, asteroids, comets, and the microscopic particles that give rise to the northern lights. The course will then take us step by step into the universe beyond the solar system: stars, galaxies, and the cosmos as a whole. Basic chemistry and physics are integrated into the course, as are high-school-level algebra and basic geometry. Students will also explore the concepts of space travel and rocketry by designing, building, and testing their own spacecrafts in Kerbal Space Program.

* Students have the option of earning Honors Credit through more challenging exercises, tests, and lab work.

SC7295Z Entomology Grades 10, 11, 12 2.5 credits

This course is designed as an introduction to insects and their allies. Morphology, anatomical adaptations, classification, identification, ecology, and social applications will be discussed throughout the course. Laboratory activities will include identification investigations, observing live specimens, preparing specimens, and dissection. An endangered insect species from the IUCN Red List of your choice will be researched and a proposal for conservation will be presented.

* Students have the option of earning Honors Credit through more challenging research and project work.

SC7298Z Geomorphology Grades 10, 11, 12 2.5 credits

The planet Earth is sculpted by tectonic plates, gravity, the movement of water and glaciers, air patterns, and other surficial processes. The topography of the land in turn affects the flow of matter and energy and how humans and other organisms are able to interact with it. In this course, students will explore the surface processes that have and continue to carve Earth into its current form, spend time outside observing examples of landmasses, construct a geologic history of the Greater Boston region, and build 3-dimensional models to test and represent their understanding.

* Students have the option of earning Honors Credit through more challenging research and project work.

SC7277Z Oceanography Grades 11, 12 2.5 credits

This half-year course, offered each semester, provides an introduction to oceanography, including the origin of the Earth and its oceans, the geography and geology of ocean basins, and plate tectonics. Students examine the chemistry of ocean water, marine sediments, and saltwater organisms and their unique adaptations. Waves and tides provide examples of the physical science supporting oceanography. Marine habitats are studied as examples of ecosystems impacted by the ocean environment. The course includes term research projects and one or more field trips. Basic principles of chemistry and physics are integrated into the course, as they relate to the study of Oceanography.

* Students have the option of earning Honors Credit through more challenging research and project work.

SC7288Z Physiology of Exercise & Activity Grades 10, 11, 12 2.5 credits

This course examines the physiological effects of exercise and activity with an emphasis on humans. Major topics include energy use & nutrition, the muscular, cardiovascular, and respiratory adaptations across the age span and special environments (high and low altitude, heat and cold). Must be currently enrolled or have completed biology. (not offered in the 2021-2022 school year)

* Students have the option of earning Honors Credit through more challenging research and project work.

SC7286Z Weather and Climate Grades 10, 11, 12 2.5 credits

With a planet in extreme environmental disruption due to the increasing effects of Global Climate Change, it has never been more important to study the science of weather and climate on planet Earth. This half-year course of introductory meteorology will explore how the orbital mechanics of the Earth alter the way it absorbs energy from the Sun, thereby causing the air and water on the surface of the Earth to cycle and cause the various weather phenomena we experience throughout our lives. In addition to learning about the complex global climate systems that influence our weather, students will learn the basics of observing the environment around them to forecast local weather to come. Students will be expected to collect field samples and measure weather conditions numerous times throughout the course, so prepare to be outside throughout the seasons both in class and for homework. (not offered in the 2021-2022 school year)

* Students have the option of earning Honors Credit through more extensive weather sampling and reporting, tests, and projects.