Science

Dominion High School science programs are designed to actively engage students in the process of science and use reasoning processes that build scientific thinking. These programs teach students to know, use, and interpret scientific explanations of the natural world; to generate and evaluate scientific evidence and explanations; to understand the nature and development of scientific knowledge; and to participate productively in scientific practices and discourse.

High School offerings are designed to prepare students for continued academic study and eventual entry into the workforce. A variety of courses in the different science disciplines are offered to students. Many students participate in science research through their honors courses, Independent Science Research, and by participating in the LCPS Regional Science & Engineering Fair. Rising 9th grade students are also offered the opportunity to enter the Academy of Science, the LCPS science magnet program. The department chair at Dominion is Mr. Brad George.

Research Earth Science Honors

Prerequisite: None

Earth Science is a study of the interrelationships between the Earth’s composition, structure, processes, and history and its atmosphere, meteorology, oceanography, and astronomy. Various scientists and their contributions are studied. Research Earth Science is designed to give students multiple experiences conducting research as a means to develop and reinforce earth science content knowledge and scientific thinking. Students interpret various maps, charts, and tables and utilize technology, including GIS and GPS to organize and analyze data. Students learn the role that scientific evidence and scientific thinking plays in development of new scientific knowledge in the earth science disciplines.

Students begin to develop expertise needed to conduct in-depth scientific research. In particular, students gain the ability to collect and communicate data with descriptive statistics and graphical representations. In addition, students learn skills to use data and scientific knowledge to develop conclusions about their research questions. All Research Earth Science students are expected to complete an in-depth, independent Science Research Investigation (SRI) as a required part of their course work. 

Environmental Science

Prerequisite: 2 Science Credits (Earth Science and Biology recommended)

Environmental Science provides the opportunity to synthesize information and knowledge of physics, chemistry, earth science, and biology while developing the Naturalist Intelligence. Students gain an understanding of ecological concepts including air, water, soil, biological diversity, and human impacts. Inquiry skills are developed through fieldwork, service projects, and collaborative investigation while using appropriate technology. Because of the interdisciplinary focus of the course, students are challenged with diverse topics, rigorous reading requirements, and opportunities for written and oral presentations. 

AP Environmental Science

Prerequisite: Any 2 Science Credits

This advanced course is a college-level, fast-paced course that follows the course outline of the College Board’s AP program. The goal of 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 or preventing them. Students have the opportunity to take the AP Environmental Science exam in May with the possibility of earning college credit.

Research Biology Honors

Prerequisite: None

Students taking Biology gain detailed knowledge of living systems. Areas of study include cellular organization and processes, molecular biology, classification of organisms, genetics, evolution, and ecosystems. Research Biology is designed to give students multiple experiences conducting science research as a means to develop biology content knowledge and scientific thinking. Students interpret biological information and utilize technology, and biological protocols to organize and analyze data.

Students learn the role that scientific evidence and scientific thinking plays in development of new scientific knowledge in the field of biology. Students are expected to collect and communicate data with descriptive statistics and graphical representations. In addition, students answer research questions using scientific data and draw conclusions using their biological content knowledge. 

During Research Biology, students develop the science thinking and process skills required to generate a scientific research question and design an investigation to collect data that will answer their question. Additionally, students develop a deeper understanding of the role of inferential statistics in data analysis and drawing conclusions.

All Research Biology students are expected to complete an in-depth, independent Science Research Investigation (SRI) as a required part of their course work.

AP Biology

Prerequisite: Academic or Research Biology AND Corequisite: Academic or Research Chemistry

This advanced course is a college-level, fast-paced course that follows the course outline of the College Board’s AP program. The course emphasizes cellular biology, biochemical processes of cellular respiration and photosynthesis, vertebrate anatomy and physiology, advanced genetics, evolution, plant anatomy and physiology, and ecology. Students have the opportunity to take the AP Biology exam in May with the possibility of earning college credit.

Research Chemistry Honors

Prerequisite: Algebra I

Research Chemistry is designed to give students multiple experiences conducting science research as a means to develop chemistry content knowledge and scientific thinking. Students interpret chemical information and utilize technology and chemistry protocols to organize and analyze data. Students learn the role that scientific evidence and scientific thinking plays in development of new scientific knowledge in the field of chemistry. Students are expected to collect and communicate data with descriptive statistics and graphical representations. In addition, students answer research questions using scientific data and draw conclusions using their chemical content knowledge. During Research Chemistry, students develop the science thinking and process skills required to generate scientific research questions and design an investigation to collect data that will answer their question. 

Additionally, students develop a deeper understanding of the role of inferential statistics in data analysis and drawing conclusions. All Research Chemistry students are expected to complete an in-depth, independent Science Research Investigation (SRI) as a required part of their course work. 

AP Chemistry

Prerequisite: Chemistry AND Biology (Strong Algebra II skills are needed. Students are most successful when they have earned an A in Algebra II and 475+ on the SOL) 

LCPS provides students the opportunity to earn college credit while fulfilling the AP Biology course requirements. Dual Enrollment/Advanced Placement Chemistry is a rigorous, college-level course that not only follows the course outline of the College Board’s AP program but also two full semesters of college chemistry (also fulfills college chemistry laboratory course requirements). This course emphasizes the fundamental laws, theories, and mathematical concepts of chemistry and atomic structure and chemical periodicity, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, nuclear chemistry, coordination complexes, and explores semi-micro qualitative analysis. Chemistry DE/AP is taught by LCPS teachers who are also adjunct faculty members at participating colleges. Students will also have the opportunity to take the AP Chemistry exam in May.

Honors Physics

Prerequisite: Algebra II (Recommend Prerequisite of Alg 2/Trig or Concurrent with Precalculus) 

This course uses a highly mathematical approach. Students learn and use many algebraic and trigonometric concepts while investigating physics content. Laboratory work includes graphical analysis. Topics include mechanics, electricity and magnetism, waves and optics, the Special Theory of Relativity, and atomic structure. Physics is designed as a challenging course requiring advanced reading, writing, and mathematical skills. Students who have previously completed Conceptual Physics are not awarded another science credit for taking Physics 670000 (DE or Conceptual Physics). 

AP Physics C

Prerequisite: 1 Physics credit (Honors is recommended)

Corequisite: Calculus

This course is a college-level, fast-paced course in Physics that follows the course outline of the College Board’s AP Physics program. Emphasis is placed on mechanics. Students study concepts in each of the following six content areas: kinematics; Newton’s laws of motion; work, energy, and power; systems of particles and linear momentum circular motion and rotation; and oscillations and gravitation. Pre-Calculus and Calculus are used to develop concepts and solve problems. Students have the opportunity to take the AP Physics C exam in May with the possibility of earning college credit.