Science

Minimum Required to Graduate:  3 standard credits and 1 verified credit

SOL’s: Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry

Level 2 = Average, .0 wt

Level 3 = Honors, .5 wt

Dual Enrollment and AP (Advanced Placement) =  1.0 wt  

OPEN TO STUDENTS IN GRADES 9 - 12 AS LONG AS PREREQUISITE COURSES HAVE BEEN TAKEN OR OTHERWISE SPECIFIED

BIOLOGY  

Levels: 2 (431010 / 431015), 3-Honors (431020 / 431025)

•  Biology is the science that deals with life

•  Topics include specific organisms to the complex interrelationship of all living organisms, including man

•  Minimum science required for Governor’s School

EARTH SCIENCE  

Levels: 2 (419410 / 419415) , 3-Honors (419420 / 419425)

• Earth Science deals with Earth and its place in the universe

•  Topics included are geology, meteorology, oceanography, and astronomy

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE  (427000 / 427005)

Level: 2

•  This course will cover ecological principles that govern ecosystems, such as energy flow through food webs, population growth and nutrient cycles

•   Students will also study the effects humans have on ecosystems such as pollution, solid waste management, resource management and energy conservation

•  Emphasis will be placed on how each individual can make a difference in preserving our environment both now and in the future

CHEMISTRY  (441010 / 441015)

Level:  3-Honors

Prerequisite:  1 credit of Algebra I & 1 credit of Geometry

Co-requisite:  Algebra II or AFDA

•  Chemistry is the science which deals with the composition of matter including the many physical and chemical changes which matter undergoes

•  Experiments concerning such topics as the gas laws, acids, bases, solutions, and structure of matter

PHYSICS  (451000 / 451005)

Level:  3-Honors

Prerequisites:  1 credit each of Algebra I and Geometry

•  Physics is the science that deals with the physical changes in matter and energy relationships

•  Laboratory work will be completed by the students, which will help them to fit into today’s scientific world

•  Topics are covered in a much more quantitative manner than in the earlier grades

SCIENCE ELECTIVES

EARTH  SCIENCE II: OCEANOGRAPHY 

 Level: 2 (425000 / 425005), 3-Honors (425020 / 425025)

 Prerequisites:  1 credit of Earth Science

•  This level 2 science course is designed for the average student who is interested in the ocean environment

•  A survey of the history, instruments, and related sciences involved with oceanography will be presented

•  Application of the above to the local area of Hampton Roads will involve student research and laboratory investigation

BIOLOGY II: ANATOMY/PHYSIOLOGY (433000 / 433005)

Level:  3-Honors

Prerequisite:  1 credit of Biology

•  Physiology is in the study of biological processes, activities, functions, and structures

•  Chemical and physical principles are applied to the study of body systems in this advanced science course

•  Many highly quantitative laboratory studies will give the student valuable background for premedical and other scientific careers

BIOLOGY II: ECOLOGY (434000 / 434005)

Level: 2

Prerequisite:  1 credit of Biology

CHEMISTRY II:  FORENSIC SCIENCE  (442000 / 442005)

Level:  3-Honors

Prerequisites: 1 credit each of Biology & Chemistry

•  This course is a multidisciplinary laboratory course and will include concepts in chemistry, anatomy, physics, biology, mathematics, statistics, psychology, communications and law

•  Students will gain an appreciation of scientific concepts that are applied to real world situations

•  Emphasis will be placed on the role of chemical reactions and techniques used to analyze evidence

•  There will be a strong focus on problem solving and synthesizing evidence-based conclusions

•  After learning basic concepts, students will use critical thinking to explore scientific principles through forensic investigation of crime scenes

SCIENCE ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES

AP BIOLOGY  (437000 / 437005)

Prerequisites:  1 credit of Biology & Chemistry

•  This course is offered for students who wish to complete a college-level course while in high school

•  The course is offered to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement Examination

•  A minimum of three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory will be required per week

•  All students have the option to take the AP exam

AP CHEMISTRY  (447000 / 447005)

Prerequisites:  1 credit each of Chemistry, Algebra I & Geometry

•  This course is offered for students who wish to complete a college-level course while in high school

•  The course is offered to prepare students to take the AP exam

•  A minimum of three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory will be required per week

•  All students have the option to take the AP exam

AP PHYSICS I  (457100 / 457105)

Prerequisites:  1 credit each of Algebra I and Geometry

•  This course is offered for students who wish to complete a college-level course while in high school

•  The course is designed to correspond to a one-year college course in non-calculus-based physics and focuses on a complete spectrum of the topics appropriate to Newtonian physics

•  This course prepares the student to take the AP Physics I exam

•  Successful completion of the AP Physics I exam could be accepted as college credit in courses in which non-calculus-based physics is appropriate

•  All students enrolled in AP Physics I have the option to take the AP exam

AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE  (427020 / 427025)

Prerequisites:  1 credit each of Biology, Earth Science, and Algebra I

Co-requisites:  Chemistry and Algebra II

•  The goal of this AP science course is to 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 human-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them

•  AP Environmental Science focuses on the “real science” behind environmental problems and issues

•  Laboratory and field study are important elements of the course

•  All students enrolled in AP Environmental Science have the option to take the AP exam

•  Students desiring to take AP Environmental Science who have not taken Earth Science must meet additional criteria.  Please see your school counselor for details.

DUAL ENROLLMENT (DE) COURSES

DE COURSES: GRADES 11 - 12

DUAL ENROLLMENT BIOLOGY 101 & 102: GENERAL BIOLOGY 1 & II  (470010 & 470015)

• Focuses on biological processes with a chemical foundation

• Explores the core concepts of evolution; structure and function; information flow; storage and exchange; pathways and transformations of energy and matter

• Students earn 4 VPCC credits and 1 high school credit

• STUDENTS WILL NOT BE AWARDED CREDIT FOR BOTH DE BIO 101 AND DE BIO 106

DUAL ENROLLMENT PHYSICS 100: ELEMENTS OF PHYSICS (451010)

• Covers basic concepts of physics

• Students earn 4 VPCC credits and 1 high school credit

DUAL ENROLLMENT BIOLOGY 141 & 142: ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I & II  (470011 & 470016)

• Presents the study of anatomy and physiology

• Students earn 4 VPCC credits and 1 high school credit

DUAL ENROLLMENT GEOLOGY 105: PHYSICAL GEOLOGY (470201)

• Introduces the science of physical geology

• Explores the evolution of Earth's topographic and bathymetric features

• Students earn 4 VPCC credits and 1 high school credit

DUAL ENROLLMENT GEOLOGY 106: HISTORICAL GEOLOGY (470206)

• Traces the evolution of the earth and life through time

• Presents scientific theories of the origin of the earth and life and interprets rock and fossil record

• Students earn 4 VPCC credits and 1 high school credits

DUAL ENROLLMENT GEOLOGY 111 & 112: OCEANOGRAPHY I AND II ( 470210 & 470215)

• Examines the dynamics of the oceans and ocean basins

• Applies the principles of physical, chemical, biological, and geological oceanography

• Students earn 4 VPCC credits and 1 high school credit