THE FOLLOWING COURSES ARE ELECTIVES AND DO NOT COUNT AS A SCIENCE CREDIT REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION.
SC31032 AP BIOLOGY 🕜🕜🕜 ☀️ 🏆
YEAR CREDIT 1.0
Fee: $25 (plus $97 Exam Fee)
Satisfies one of the following: 1.0 Biology requirement, 1.0 elective, 1.0 Advanced Placement requirement
Grades: 11-12
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of "B" in Honors Chemistry or Chemistry or recommendation of current science teacher. A summer assignment is required.
◆ This is a college-level introductory course. It is taught as a second year biology course, however the intensive summer assignment provides the background knowledge necessary for self-motivated first year biology students. Course content follows the curriculum required by the College Board. Topics include molecules and cells, heredity and evolution, and organisms and populations. Extensive homework, note-taking from text, laboratory work, and outside readings are required. Students who don’t complete the summer assignment will be dropped during the first week of school. A more than substantial amount of homework is required for this class. A mandatory meeting will be held in the spring for interested students to review course requirements. Students are required to pay for and take the AP Exam in the spring in order to earn a weighted grade. (1715)
SC30732 AP CHEMISTRY 🕜🕜🕜 ☀️ 🏆
YEAR CREDIT 1.0
Fee: $25 (plus $97 Exam Fee)
Satisfies one of the following: 1.0 elective, 1.0 Advanced Placement requirement
Grades: 11-12
Prerequisites: Completion of Algebra 2; Recommended: a minimum grade of “B” in Honors Chemistry or an “A” in Chemistry, or the recommendation of the science department. A summer assignment is required.
◆ This college-level course uses math extensively in problem solving. Class involves, problems sets, laboratory with write-ups, and tests. A substantial amount of homework is required for this class. Students are required to pay for and take the AP Exam in the spring in order to earn a weighted grade. (1725)
EL36232 AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 🕜🕜🕜 ☀️ 🏆
YEAR CREDIT 1.0
Fee: $25 (plus $97 Exam Fee)
Satisfies one of the following: 1.0 elective, 1.0 Advanced Placement requirement
Grades: 11-12
Prerequisites: Completion of Physics, Chemistry; and completion or current enrollment in Biology. A summer assignment is required.
◆ This college-level course aligns with the College Board AP curriculum to be equivalent to a freshman Environmental Science class. The class will cover the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies to understand the interrelationships between humans and the natural world. Topics include ecosystems, biodiversity, populations, Earth systems & resources, land & water use, energy resources and consumption, atmospheric pollution, aquatic & terrestrial pollution and global change. This is a hands-on course, with many labs and a great deal of textbook reading. In addition, there are field trips each semester and guest speakers when available. This course includes a small summer assignment. Students are required to pay for and take the AP Exam in the spring in order to earn a weighted grade. (1752)
NOTE: Offered in odd numbered graduation years. Available in 26-27 School Year.
SC12222 HONORS PHYSICS 🕜🕜 🏆
YEAR CREDIT 1.0
No Fee
Satisfies one of the following: 1.0 Physics requirement, 1.0 Honors requirement, 1.0 Elective credit
Grades: 10-12
Prerequisites: Enrollment in Algebra 2, good math and problem solving skills.
◆ This is a good choice for 10 - 12 grade students who enjoyed their 9th grade conceptual physics course and would like to explore physics topics in more depth. This is especially important for 11th graders that would like to take AP Physics C their senior year. This class is challenging, using extensive math skills and problem solving. A significant amount of homework is required in this class. (1733)
SC30432 AP PHYSICS C 🕜🕜🕜 🏆
YEAR CREDIT 1.0
Fee: $25 (plus $97 Exam Fee x 2)
Satisfies one of the following: 1.0 elective, AP requirement
Grades: 11-12
Prerequisites: Calculus or concurrent enrollment and a previous physics course. If the previous physics course was Conceptual Physics, it is strongly recommended that student completes Honors Physics before enrolling in AP Physics C.
◆ The AP Physics C course is a calculus based physics course covering classical mechanics and electricity and magnetism intended for students pursuing a physics or engineering degree. Strong emphasis is placed on solving a variety of challenging problems, some involving introductory differential and integral calculus. Students are expected to be motivated and handle independent and small group work. Twenty percent of the class time is laboratory investigations. There will be a considerable amount of work outside of the classroom. Students are required to pay for and take both AP Physics C Exams in the spring in order to earn a weighted grade. (1738)
EL41701 EARTH SCIENCE 🏆
YEAR CREDIT 1.0
No Fee
Satisfies one of the following: 1.0 elective credit
Grades: 9-12
Prerequisites: none
◆ Earth and Space Science course explores Earth’s place in the universe and the examination of the processes governing the formation, evolution, and workings of the solar system and universe. Earth Science topics include: Astronomy (including formation of universe, processes and cycles of space, modeling stars and solar systems), Geology and Weather (including Earth’s history, Earth’s processes, modeling weather and climate, and exploring human and Earth relationships). Students will answer such questions as: “How and why is Earth constantly changing?” and “How do Earth’s surface processes and human activities affect each other?” (1701)
NOTE: Offered in even numbered graduation years. Available in 25-26 School Year.
EL45911 FORENSIC SCIENCE 1 🏆
FALL SEMESTER CREDIT 0.5
$15
Satisfies one of the following: 0.5 elective
Grades: 11, 12
Prerequisites: none
◆ Interested in learning how science is used to solve crimes? In this semester course, the student will learn how investigators process a crime scene and the roles of forensic investigators. The first semester also includes forensic anthropology and collection and analysis of fingerprints. The final exam consists of solving a mock crime and may involve extensive out-of-class work. This class contains mature subject matter. (1718)
EL46011 FORENSIC SCIENCE 2 🏆
SPRING SEMESTER CREDIT 0.5
$15
Satisfies one of the following: 0.5 elective
Grades: 11, 12
Prerequisites: Forensic Science 1 recommended, but not required
◆ In this semester course, the students will continue on from semester one to learn different topics in forensics. Students will learn about trace evidence, forensic toxicology, arson and explosives, ballistics, DNA, entomology, handwriting analysis, and forensic psychology. The final exam consists of solving a mock crime and may involve extensive out-of-class work. This class contains mature subject matter. (1718)
EL36122 HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY (Was HONORS HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY) 🕜🕜🕜 🏆
YEAR CREDIT 1.0
Fee: $30
Satisfies one of the following: 1.0 elective
Grades: 10-12
Prerequisites: Chemistry with a minimum grade of “B." NO summer assignment required.
◆ This course provides students with an advanced and detailed understanding of the structure and functions of the human body. It is intended to prepare those who are interested in further specialized work in the medical or biological sciences. Laboratory work including dissection and other hands-on activities will be used in teaching and reinforcing conceptual information. (1713)
EL29511 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
SEMESTER CREDIT 0.5
No Fee
Satisfies one of the following: 0.5 elective, 0.5 Practical Arts elective
Grades: 9-12
Prerequisites: None
◆ Students will learn anatomical terms, medical prefixes- root words- suffixes, diagnostic exams, basic anatomy and functions for each body system, and conditions/diseases for each body system. The Course will benefit any student with strong language skills that is interested in a health science career. It will require a lot of intense self study, and memorization. This is the first course in the pathway for the EMS pathway in the Los Alamos Early College and Career Academy. Grades 9-12
**Students interested in health careers are encouraged to take this class in 9th or 10th grade. (1520)