Physical Science
Course Description Key
Descriptions of the courses offered at San Marcos High School are outlined in the following pages. Students should take note of the grade levels at which the course may be taken, prerequisites, and the length of the course (semester or year-long).
Some of the abbreviations commonly used in this section are explained below.
A-G Designation UC/CSU admission requirements (identifies courses that meet the entrance requirements of that school)
AP Advanced Placement (designates classes to prepare students for the Advanced Placement exams, which may result in a student’s receiving college credit for a course, even though the course was completed in high school
ELD English Language Development (designates English classes for those learning English as a second language).
(P) College preparatory (designates classes accepted by colleges and universities for purposes of meeting their entrance requirements)
(H) Honors (designates honors classes designed to prepare students for Advanced Placement classes)
CHEMISTRY IN THE EARTH SYSTEM(P) - 42100
Grade level: 10-11
A-G Designation: D - Science
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
Chemistry in the Earth System, a course based on the Next Generation Science Standards, explores the way in which matter interacts, combines and changes. This course explains how chemical processes help drive the earth system. By using science and engineering practices, evidence from experiments, research and observations, students will learn how to formulate questions, evaluate claims, use mathematics and computational thinking, and develop models to make interpretations investigate the natural world.
Grade level: 10-12
A-G Designation: D - Science
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
This is a laboratory science course designed for the college bound student with a possible career interest in agriculture. It meets the Physical Science portion of the science laboratory requirement for high school graduation and for the California State (CSU) and the University of California (UC) systems. Using agriculture as a learning vehicle, this course covers chemistry principles utilizing the new NGSS standards along with the state CTE framework. The course is centered on an extensive laboratory component in order to connect big ideas of chemistry with agricultural applications as well as written and oral reports, lectures, homework, quizzes and tests, FFA and agriculture projects. Agriculture Chemistry is the second year course in the agriscience pathway. Students who have taken Ag Biology are encouraged to enroll in Ag Chemistry and complete the agriscience pathway.
AP CHEMISTRY - 45202
Grade level: 11-12
A-G Designation: D - Science
Recommended Previous Course of Study: Successful completion of Chemistry with a grade of B or higher, successful completion of Geometry.
The AP Chemistry course is designed to be the equivalent of the general chemistry course usually taken during the first college year. Topics covered include: atomic structure, stoichiometry, thermodynamics, bonding, gas laws, solutions, kinetics, equilibrium, acids and bases, and electrochemistry. Students will also develop advanced inquiry and reasoning skills, such as designing a plan for collecting data, analyzing data, applying mathematical routines, and connecting concepts in and across domains. This is a fast-paced course that is significantly more challenging than college prep chemistry.
PHYSICS OF THE UNIVERSE (P) - 43100
Grade level: 11-12
A-G Designation: D - Science
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
Physics of the Universe is a laboratory-based college preparatory course. The course is defined in the 2016 California Science Framework, integrating Physics and Earth and Space Science standards from the California Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The course is divided into six units (instructional segments) centered on questions about observations of a specific phenomenon. As students achieve the Performance Expectations (PEs) within the unit, they uncover Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs) from Physical Science, Earth and Space Science, and Engineering. In each unit students engage in multiple Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) and Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs) as tools to make sense of their observations and investigations.
AGRICULTURAL PHYSICS (P) - 85123
Grade level: 10-12
A-G Designation: D - Science
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
This course gives students a good foundation in Physics with related Earth Science phenomena and Agricultural applications. The following topics will be covered: forces, laws of motion, structures, plate tectonics, momentum, collisions, universal gravity, Kepler's laws, planetary motion, waves, earthquakes, wave technology, the nature of light, optics and light spectra, electrostatics, electricity and circuits, magnetism and electromagnetic induction, energy, power plants, renewable sources, nuclear radiation and processes, and history of the Earth, stars and the universe. This course also provides an opportunity and expectation for student’s participation in the National FFA organization including FFA participation and a Supervised Agriculture Experience Project.
AP PHYSICS I - 45203
Grade level: 11-12
A-G Designation: D - Science
Recommended Previous Course of Study: Students should have completed Geometry and be concurrently taking Algebra II or an equivalent course
Students explore principles of kinematics, dynamics, gravity, energy, momentum, simple harmonic motion, and fluid mechanics. The course is based on helping students develop a deep understanding of foundational principles of physics in classical mechanics and modern physics by applying these principles to complex physical situations that combine multiple aspects of physics rather than present concepts in isolation. This course is equivalent to the first semester of a typical introductory, algebra-based physics course.
AP PHYSICS II - 45204
Grade level: 11-12
A-G Designation: D - Science
Recommended Previous Course of Study: students should have completed Geometry and AP Physics I
Students explore topics such as thermodynamics with kinetic theory; PV diagrams and probability; electrostatics; electrical circuits with capacitors; magnetic fields; electromagnetism; wave phenomena, physical and geometric optics; and quantum, atomic, and nuclear physics. The course is based on helping students develop a deep understanding of foundational principles of physics in classical mechanics and modern physics by applying these principles to complex physical situations that combine multiple aspects of physics rather than present concepts in isolation. This course is equivalent to the second semester of a typical introductory, algebra-based physics course.
AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE - 45205
Grade level: 11-12
A-G Designation: D - Interdisciplinary Science
Recommended Previous Course of Study: Completed one year of life and physical science
Advanced Placement Environmental Science is designed to be a college level lecture/laboratory course. The goal of this course is to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the inter- relationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made, and to evaluate the risks associated with these problems while examining alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them.