Requirements for FCUSD graduation: 20 credits (10 credits Biology/10 credits physical science)
Requirements for UC/CSU a-g completion: 20 credits Lab Science
Meets graduation requirements: S
Meets UC a-g requirements: d
Biology is the first course in the California Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS) Three Course Model, and includes the Disciplinary Core Ideas related to Life Science and integrates a selection of the Earth and Space Science concepts. This course also incorporates the eight Science and Engineering Practices and seven Crosscutting Concepts related to the NGSS. In this course, students will explore concepts related to the interactions within ecosystems, energy dynamics, photosynthesis and cellular respiration, history of the earth’s atmosphere, natural selection, inheritance of traits, structure and function of organisms, system stability and response to change. Students should learn an appreciation for all living things and the critical importance of maintaining the delicate balance required for all living things to interact and live successfully.
Meets graduation requirements: S Recommended: i-ready minimum scaled scores of 605 in Reading and 515 in Math
Meets UC a-g requirements: d
This course is designed to prepare students for success in upper level advanced college level science courses. The course is based on the CA Next Generation Science Standards and includes the Disciplinary Core Ideas related to Life Science and integrates a selection of the Earth and Space Science concepts. This course also incorporates the eight Science and Engineering Practices and seven Crosscutting Concepts related to the NGSS. Students taking Honors Biology will explore amplified and enriched Biology concepts related, but not limited to: the interactions within ecosystems, energy dynamics, photosynthesis and cellular respiration, history of the earth’s atmosphere, natural selection, inheritance of traits, structure and function of organisms, system stability and response to change. Elements of critical thinking are required of students throughout the course. This course is not given an extra grade point in the GPA.
HONORS CHEMISTRY OF THE EARTH’S SYSTEMS Grade 10-12 Prerequisite: Biology and IM2
Meets graduation requirements: S/T/EL Recommended: IM3
Meets UC a-g requirements: d
This course earns students a weighted grade
Honors Chemistry of the Earth System is a course in the California Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS) Three Course Model and includes Disciplinary Core Ideas related to Physical Science integrating a selection of the Earth and Space Science concepts. This course also incorporates the eight Science and Engineering Practices and seven Crosscutting Concepts related to the NGSS. The following core ideas from Chemistry in the Earth System will be amplified in this course: structure and properties of matter, conservation and transfer of energy, periodic trends and organization, chemical bonding, chemical reactions and processes in everyday life, and chemical equilibrium and its role in Earth Systems. In addition, core ideas in engineering are used to explore applications of chemistry concepts, along with Algebraic processes to describe and predict phenomena. There will also be a strong math component in this course.
Meets graduation requirements: S/T/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: d
Physics in the Universe is a course in the California Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS) Three Course Model and includes the Disciplinary Core Ideas related to Physical Science and integrates a selection of the Earth and Space Science concepts. This course also incorporates the eight Science and Engineering Practices and seven Crosscutting Concepts related to the NGSS. In this course students will explore the following core ideas: forces and motion, energy transfers and conservation, the properties of waves, and the electromagnetic spectrum, and use these ideas to understand the processes that shape earth and space systems. Engineering Core Ideas are used to explore applications of Physics concepts.
Meets graduation requirements: S/T/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: d
The course will focus on the integration of structure and function of body systems needed to maintain homeostasis. It will integrate topics related to health and fitness such as nutrition, exercise, and kinesiology. It will also integrate specific topics related to the medical field. The course will require microscopy work as well as laboratory work involving dissections. Computers will be used to supplement laboratory work. This is a laboratory science class.
FORENSICS Grade 11-12 Prerequisite: C in two years of science and C in IM1
Meets graduation requirement: S/T/EL
Meets UC/CSU a-g requirement: d
Forensics is a third year science for students that are college bound and/or interested in the field of forensics. This class will introduce students to the fields of forensic science and provide a general overview of the forensic sciences. Students will participate in many qualitative hands-on labs and simulations that develop the practical and theoretical aspects of forensics. This class will integrate previous science courses and demonstrate to the students the relevance of science education for practical use.
Meets graduation requirements: S/T/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: d
This course earns students a weighted grade
The goal of the AP Environmental Science course is to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them. Environmental science is interdisciplinary; it embraces a wide variety of topics from different areas of study. This course prepares students to pass the AP exam. ACE approved. 11th and 12th grade students may be eligible for lower division college credits with approved applications.
AP BIOLOGY Grade 11-12 Prerequisite: Biology, Chemistry
Meets graduation requirements: S/T/EL Recommended: AP Chem, AP Stats, APES Meets UC a-g requirements: d
This course earns students a weighted grade
This course is designed to be the equivalent of a college introductory biology course usually taken by biology majors during their first year. Essential concepts include a grasp of science as a process rather than as an accumulation of facts; personal experience in scientific inquiry; recognition of unifying themes that integrate the major topics of biology; and application of biological knowledge and critical thinking to environmental and social concerns. Topics include molecules and cells, heredity and evolution and organisms and populations. This course prepares students to pass the AP exam.
AP CHEMISTRY Grade 11-12 Prerequisite: Chemistry and IM3
Meets graduation requirements: S/T/EL Recommended: Honors Chemistry
Meets UC a-g requirements: d
This course earns students a weighted grade
AP Chemistry is an alternative to college Chemistry 1A. It is designed strictly for advanced or gifted students who wish the opportunity to gain college credit for courses while in high school. The course applies advanced algebra to chemical principles. The course not only stresses the theoretical aspects of qualitative and quantitative chemistry but also emphasizes laboratory practices applying the theory. This course prepares students for the AP Chemistry exam. Honors chemistry is strongly recommended in order to be successful in this course.
Meets graduation requirements: S/T/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: d
This course earns students a weighted grade
AP Physics is equivalent to the first semester of an introductory college-level algebra-based physics course. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through inquiry based investigation as they explore topics such as Newtonian mechanics (including rotational motion): work, energy, and power; mechanical waves and sound; and an introduction to electrical circuits. This course will prepare the students to take the AP Physics 1 exam.
AP PHYSICS 2 only offered every other year starting 2023-24 Grade 10-12 Prerequisite: AP Physics 1, enrollment in pre-calculus
Meets graduation requirements: S/T/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: d
This course earns students a weighted grade
AP Physics 2 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. This course is useful for potential engineering, pre-med, science, and computer science majors, as well as anyone interested in Physics. The course covers fluids; thermodynamics; electrical force, field, and potential; electric circuits; magnetism and electromagnetic induction; geometric and physical optics; and quantum, atomic and nuclear physics. This course will prepare the student to take the Advanced Placement Examination for Physics 2. AP Physics allows time for thorough, in-depth, student centered inquiry activities allowing students to carry out careful experiments and design laboratory practical work to answer real world questions.