Physical Science - 1 Unit - Grade 9 

College Preparatory or Honors

Prerequisite: 8th grade placement based on data

Physical Science is the building block of high school science as it refines foundational concepts in chemistry and physics.  The course reinforces the skills in laboratory technique, experimental and engineering design, data analysis, technical writing, scientific research, and scientific reasoning and argumentation required for success in other science courses. Topics include atomic structure and periodicity of elements, properties and interactions of matter, chemical bonding and chemical reactions, forces and motion, energy and work, and electricity. Physical Science is not recognized as a laboratory science for college admission. 

[321108CW, CP: 321100CW, H: 321100HW]

Biology 1 - 1 Unit - Grades 9-10

College Preparatory or Honors

Prerequisite: 9th grade students are recommended for Biology H based on 8th grade data

Biology, the science of living systems, includes the following units of study: Cells as a System, Energy Transfer, Heredity, Biological Evolution, and Ecosystem Dynamics.  Students apply biological principles to processes of daily living, engineering and technology, and interactions with the environment through an emphasis on laboratory investigations. All Biology 1 students will take the South Carolina End of Course Exam which accounts for 20% of their overall grade. 

[CP: 322100CW; H-9: 322109HW; H: 322100HW]

Astronomy - 1 Unit - Grade 10-12 

College Preparatory 

Astronomy is the study of celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies, asteroids, meteors, and comets, and the interactions of those bodies within the universe. The course is designed for students with an interest in celestial bodies, the history of space exploration, and the technologies associated with human exploration and future colonization of space. Investigations with data analysis are an integral part of the course, as are mathematical problem solving related to the motion of celestial bodies and Newtonian laws.  Notes: Ninth graders who do not master Physical Science may be enrolled in Astronomy as their next science course and will complete Biology during their junior year. 

[CP: 325100CW]

Anatomy & Physiology 1 H - 1 Unit - Grades 11-12  

Honors

Prerequisite: Chemistry 1 H

Anatomy and Physiology is a rigorous course designed for students with a strong interest in the human body and its functions. Students will explore the structure and function of the body's major systems. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the interrelationships between body systems and how they maintain homeostasis. Students will engage in independent and collaborative research, real-world applications, and student-directed laboratory investigations, including dissections. This course prepares students for future studies in health sciences, medicine, forensic science, and related fields.

[H: 326309HW]

Biology 2 CP - 1 Unit - Grades 11-12

College Preparatory

Prerequisite: Biology 1 or Chemistry

Biology 2 CP builds upon the foundational concepts introduced in Biology 1, with an emphasis on applying these principles through problem-based learning. Throughout the course, students will delve into topics such as ecology, genetics, evolution, and cellular biology, working to solve real-world challenges. Research and laboratory investigations are key components of the curriculum, providing students with hands-on experience to deepen their understanding of biological concepts.

[CP: 322200CW]

Biology 2 H - 1 Unit - Grades 11-12

Honors

Prerequisite: Chemistry 1 H

Biology 2 extends the Biology 1 course to cultivate the understanding of biology through inquiry-based investigations as they explore topics like evolution, energetics, information storage and transfer, and system interactions.  The honors level provides a more rigorous study of physiology for students anticipating a career in science, engineering, or medicine. Note: Students planning to take AP Biology must enroll in Biology 2 H in the same academic year.   

[H: 322200HW]

Chemistry 1 - 1 Unit - Grades 10-12

College Preparatory or Honors

Prerequisites: Biology 1 (70% or higher in Algebra 1 is also strongly recommended)

Chemistry 1 is the gateway course for all higher level college preparatory sciences. Students taking the honors level of this course should be prepared for rigorous mathematical applications of the chemistry concepts under study. Topics of study include atomic structure, periodic law, chemical bonding and formulas, chemical equations, stoichiometry, acid-base theory, thermochemistry, and nuclear chemistry.  Coursework includes a minimum of 30% laboratory investigations emphasizing quantitative analysis of data and laboratory techniques. Students planning to pursue a STEM college pathway are strongly recommended to take Chemistry 1.   

[CP: 323100CW; H: 323100HW]

Chemistry 2 H - 1 Unit - Grades 11-12

Honors

Prerequisite: Chemistry 1 H (Algebra 2 is also recommended)

Chemistry 2 is designed for students who have an interest in careers in science, medicine, or engineering. It is an extension of Chemistry 1 with a deeper study of advanced bonding structures, thermochemistry, reaction kinetics, electrochemistry, nuclear chemistry, and organic chemistry.  The course relies heavily on student-directed laboratory investigations that require stoichiometric calculation and forensic analysis.  

[H: 323200HW]

Environmental Science - 1 Unit - Grade 11-12 

College Preparatory

Prerequisite: Biology 1

Environmental science teaches students about the natural world and how human activity affects it. Students will learn to understand the interconnectedness of natural systems, the cycles of energy flow, and how human actions impact these cycles, by using biology, chemistry, and geology concepts. Some topics that will be discussed are Ecology and energy flow, natural resources, sustainability, pollution, biodiversity, and climate change. Students will also learn to identify environmental problems and how to solve them. Environmental science is highly interactive, students will use hands-on activities, field work, modeling, and research to grasp concepts. 

[CP: 326100CW]

Marine Science - 1 Unit - Grades 11-12

College Preparatory or Honors

Prerequisite: Chemistry 1

Marine Science is a study of the marine environment and the organisms that live in it. Topics will include, but will not be limited to, the following: the origins of the oceans; the chemical, physical, and geological aspects of the marine environment; the ecology of various sea zones; marine communities; characteristics of major marine phyla/divisions; and the interrelationship between man and the ocean. Lab investigations are an integral part of this course. 

[CP: 322500CW, H: 322500HW] 

Physics - 1 Unit - Grades 11-12 

College Preparatory 

Prerequisites: Chemistry 1, Algebra 2; completed or concurrently enrolled in Precalculus

Physics includes the study of Newtonian mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermal energy transfer, and wave energy.  Laboratory investigations with data analysis are an integral part of the course.  Students will also engage in mathematical problem solving related to events in the everyday environment.  Students planning to pursue a STEM college pathway are strongly recommended to take Physics or AP Physics. 

[CP: 324100CW]

AP Biology/Biology 2 H - 2 Units - Grades 11-12

1 Unit of Honors Credit and 1 Unit of Advanced Placement Credit

Prerequisite: Minimum grade of 80% in both Biology 1 Honors and Chemistry 1 Honors

AP Biology is the equivalent of an introductory college-level biology course. Students taking AP Biology are required to take the AP exam in May and could receive college credit, depending on the exam score and the policy of the accepting college or university. Students should expect to spend a minimum of 25% of the course in a collaborative investigation setting, directing and monitoring their own progress. Topics of study are centered upon the four Big Ideas of biology:  evolution; free energy and homeostasis; information storage and transmission; and interactions between biological systems. 

Visit the Advanced Placement page for more information about AP courses.

[AP: 327209AW, Bio 2 H: 322200HW]

AP Chemistry/Chemistry 2 H - 2 Units - Grades 11-12

1 Unit of Honors Credit and 1 Unit of Advanced Placement Credit

Prerequisite:  Chemistry 1 H and Algebra 2 H

The AP Chemistry course provides students with a college-level foundation to support future advanced coursework in chemistry. Students taking AP Chemistry are required to take the AP exam in May and could receive college credit, depending upon the exam score and the policy of the accepting college or university. Students cultivate their understanding of chemistry through inquiry-based investigations, as they explore content such as: atomic structure, intermolecular forces and bonding, chemical reactions, kinetics, thermodynamics, and equilibrium.

Visit the Advanced Placement page for more information about AP courses.

[AP: 327300AW, Chem 2 H: 323200HW]

AP Environmental Science/AP Environmental Prep - 2 Units - Grades 11-12

1 Unit of Honors Credit and 1 Unit of Advanced Placement Credit

Prerequisites: 80% or higher in Biology 1 H, Chemistry 1 H, and Algebra 2 H

AP Environmental Science is the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college course in environmental science.  Students taking AP Environmental Science are required to take the AP exam in May and could receive college credit, depending upon the exam score and the policy of the accepting college or university.  Students engage in field investigations, research, and self-directed inquiry projects to explore the principles, concepts, and methodologies used to analyze natural and human-made environmental problems, including their relative risks, and alternative solutions for resolving or preventing them.  Topics of study are centered upon the six Big Ideas of environmental science:  science is a process; energy conversions underlie ecological processes; Earth is one interconnected system; humans alter natural systems; environmental problems; and sustaining systems.  Note: Participation in outdoor investigations is a daily expectation of the course and students must come to class dressed appropriately for the weather.

Visit the Advanced Placement page for more information about AP courses. 

[AP: 327701AW, AP Environmental Prep: 328974HW]

AP Physics/AP Physics Prep - 2 Units - Grades 11-12

1 Unit of Honors Credit and 1 Unit of Advanced Placement Credit

Prerequisites: 80% or higher in Biology 1 H, Chemistry 1 H, and Algebra 2 H; completed or concurrently enrolled in Precalculus Honors

AP Physics 1 is equivalent to the first semester of a typical introductory, algebra-based college physics course. Students taking AP Physics 1 are required to take the AP exam in May and could receive college credit, depending upon the exam score and the policy of the accepting college or university. The course is designed for students with no previous physics coursework. Topics of study are centered upon the six Big Ideas of physics: properties of objects and systems; fields that explain interactions; forces between objects; interactions between systems; conservation laws; and waves. Students should expect to spend a minimum of 25% of the course in a collaborative investigation setting, directing and monitoring their own progress. AP Physics is strongly recommended for students planning to pursue a STEM college pathway or students who plan to take engineering, chemistry, or physics in college.

Visit the Advanced Placement page for more information about AP courses.  

[AP: 328200AW, H:  328975HW]

DE Introduction to the Earth (GEOL 101) - 1 Unit - Grades 11-12 

Dual Enrollment
Prerequisites: Chemistry 1 and must meet college acceptance requirements

Origin and nature of the earth with emphasis on internal processes and phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building; surface processes, including landform evolution. Three lectures and three laboratory hours each week.  

Visit the USC Union page for more information about dual enrollment courses.

[421500EW]