Course Title:  CP Laboratory Environmental Science

Course Length:  Full Year / Credits: 6

This is a lab-based course that is designed to cover Next Generation Science Standards, including Space Systems, the History of Earth, Earth Systems, Weather and Climate, Matter, and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, Natural Selection and Evolution, Human Sustainability and Engineering Design. This course provides opportunities for active investigation and researching a wide variety of sources for current information. Students will be expected to make informed choices based on available information that will help protect, repair, or improve our environment. 

Course Title:  H Laboratory Environmental Science

Course Length:  Full Year / Credits: 6

Pre-requisite: 93 average and teacher recommendation                                                                               

This lab-based course is designed in alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards for which students will engage in performance tasks that encompass the practices, crosscutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas of environmental science. This honors course covers Space Systems, the History of Earth, Earth Systems, Weather & Climate, Matter & Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, Natural Selection and Evolution, Human Sustainability, and Engineering Design. This course provides opportunities for developing models, planning investigations, and constructing explanations to explain natural phenomena in the world around us. Students will be expected to obtain, evaluate and communicate information that will help them argue from evidence the need to make choices that protect, repair, or improve our environment. Due to the increased rigor and depth of coverage in this course, it is recommended that students are concurrently enrolled in honors mathematics.

Course Title: Honors Laboratory Physical Science 9

Course Length: Full Year/ Credits: 6

Pre-requisite: Recommendation for honors math and honors science for freshman year and teacher recommendation

The Honors Physical Science 9 course presents an intensive study of matter, energy, and forces. Emphasis is placed on laboratory work, scientific thinking, organization of experimental data, and synthesis of organized information. Units in chemistry include chemical foundations, atoms & molecules, stoichiometry, chemical reactions, gas laws, atomic structure & periodicity. Units in physics include kinematics, Newton’s laws, energy, momentum & collisions. 

Course Title:  CP Laboratory Biology

Course Length:  Full Year / Credits: 6

Prerequisite:  Environmental Science

This is a lab-based course designed to cover biological concepts in structure and function, inheritance and variation of traits, matter and energy in organisms and ecosystems, interdependent relationships in ecosystems, as well as natural selection and evolution. This course provides opportunities for active investigation and research of biological phenomenon. Important biomolecules such as ATP, carbohydrates, and proteins are examined in terms of their role in energy transformation processes and metabolism. The biological role of DNA and RNA as the primary control of protein synthesis and cell duplication, human physiology, ecology as well as human impacts to the environment are studied. Laboratory experiments are designed to investigate these concepts. 

Course Title:  H Laboratory Biology

Course Length:  Full Year / Credits: 6

Prerequisite:  93 average from a CP course or 73 average from another honors course and teacher recommendation 

A more detailed treatment of topics covered in CP Biology/Lab with an emphasis on honing independent critical thinking and laboratory skills. Honors Biology is recommended for those students planning to pursue Advanced Placement Biology. 

Course Title:  Academic Laboratory Chemistry

Course Length:  Full Year / Credits: 5

Prerequisite:  Completion of CP Algebra 1 with a 72 or lower / Completion of Academic Algebra 1

This lab course covers the following topics:  the study of matter and energy and the changes associated with each, atomic structure, periodicity, chemical bonding, chemical nomenclature, formula writing, stoichiometry, gas behavior, and nuclear chemistry. This is a course designed for students in Academic level math.

Course Title:  CP Laboratory Chemistry

Course Length:  Full Year / Credits: 6

Prerequisite:  Completion of CP Algebra 1 with a 73 or better / Completion of Academic Algebra 2 with a 73 or better

This college preparatory course has a strong emphasis on laboratory experiences. The labs serve to connect the theoretical concepts explored in class with practical applications. Topics of emphasis are the study of matter, its properties, and structure, changes in matter and energies involved in those changes, reactivity, and stability. In addition, topics studied are atomic and electron structure, periodicity, chemical bonding, chemical nomenclature, formula and equation writing, stoichiometry, gas behavior, solutions, and nuclear chemistry. This course requires a scientific calculator.

Course Title:  H Laboratory Chemistry

Course Length:  Full Year / Credits: 6

Prerequisite:  Completion of Honors Algebra 1 with a 73 or better and Completion of Honors Biology with a 73 or better or enrolled in co-requisite.

Co-requisite:  CP Pre-calculus or H Algebra 2 

The honors course requires an increased dependence on the student's ability in reading, mathematics, and independent study. The accelerated pace of the course provides for extended laboratory work, additional laboratory experiences, and advanced topic discussions. Topics covered in the course are seen above under the CP Laboratory Chemistry description. This course requires a scientific calculator.  

Course Title:  CP Laboratory Physics

Course Length:  Full Year / Credits: 6

Prerequisite:  73 or better in CP Algebra 2 

This algebra-based college prep course has a strong emphasis on problem-solving and laboratory experiences. The labs serve to connect the theoretical concepts explored in class with practical applications. Emphasized topics include motion in one dimension, motion in two dimensions (including projectile and circular motion), forces, Newton’s laws, conservation of momentum, conservation of energy, universal gravity, and waves. Special attention is given to sound and light waves, electricity, and basic circuits. This course requires a scientific calculator.

Course Title:  H Laboratory Physics

Course Length:  Full Year / Credits: 6

Prerequisite:  73 or better in Honors Algebra 2 and/or 93 in CP Pre-calculus and teacher recommendation

Honors Physics deals with the same curriculum associated with the CP Physics/Lab course. However, the various topics are generally covered with greater emphasis on developing mathematical models and at an accelerated pace. Admission to this course requires recommendation from teachers of math and science. This course requires a TI-84 Plus graphing calculator.

AP SCIENCE COURSES

Course Title:  AP Environmental Science

Course Length:  Full Year / Credits: 6

Prerequisites:  Juniors with 1 year of Biology/Lab & Chemistry/Lab as a co-requisite or seniors with 1 year of Biology/Lab and 1 year of Chemistry/Lab  and teacher recommendation

AP Environmental Science provides 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. Complete with laboratory, students will experience the pace and depth of coverage of a college level environmental science course. Students should expect a significant amount of independent reading. Students in this course are prepared for and expected to take the Advanced Placement test in Environmental Science. 

Course Title:  AP Biology

Course Length:  Full Year / Credits: 6

Prerequisites:  Grade of 93 or better in CP or 73 or better in Honors Environmental Science, Honors Biology or Honors Physical Science 9 and teacher recommendation

The Advanced Placement Program is a cooperative educational endeavor of the College Entrance Examination Board. The student in this course may be able to receive college credit for Biology, based on his/her outcome on the Advanced Placement Examination in Biological Science given in May of each year. Students should expect a significant amount of independent reading. Major areas of study will include the chemical and cellular basis of life, the biology of organisms (tissues and organ systems), the perpetuation of life (cellular reproduction, development, and genetics), populations and communities, and the diversity of organisms (natural selection, taxonomy). For each subject area studied, the student will perform appropriate laboratory experiments in order to gain hands-on experience in biology. Students in this course are prepared for and expected to take the Advanced Placement test in Biology. 

Course Title:  AP Chemistry

Course Length:  Full Year / Credits: 6

Prerequisites:  CP/Honors Algebra 2 and CP/Honors Chemistry (73 or better in Honors Chemistry or Honors Physical Science 9 or 93 or better in CP Chemistry/Lab and CP Algebra 2) and teacher recommendation

Complete with laboratory, this second-year chemistry course is intended for students who plan to pursue a science-oriented program in college and who are interested, while still in high school, in gaining insight into the pace and depth of coverage of a college-level chemistry course. Major topics include atomic structure and properties, compound structure and properties, intermolecular forces, chemical reactions, kinetics, thermodynamics, equilibrium, and acid-base chemistry. Students in this course are prepared for and expected to take the Advanced Placement test in Chemistry. This course requires a scientific calculator. 

Course Title:  AP Physics C:  Mechanics

Course Length:  Full Year / Credits: 6

Prerequisite:  93 or better in CP Pre-calculus and completion of Physics or Honors Physical Science 9 and teacher recommendation

Co-requisite:  Calculus

This calculus-based course is modeled after a first year college mechanics course. Topics covered include kinematics, Newton’s Laws, work, energy & power systems of particles and linear momentum, circular motion, rotation and torque, and oscillations and gravitations. Students will deal with these topics in a formal, highly analytical manner. Laboratory experiments and demonstration activities complement the formal classroom instruction. Students in this course are prepared for and expected to take the Advanced Placement test in Physics C: Mechanics. This course requires a TI-84 Plus graphing calculator. (AP+PLTW)

ELECTIVE SCIENCE COURSES                  

Students with interest in Earth & Environmental Studies, Medicine & Biotechnology, or Engineering, should consider the following elective choices.

Course Title: CP Exercise Physiology

Course Length: Half Year/Credits 2.5

Prerequisites: Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors 

Exercise Physiology is a college prep level elective intended for students from grades 10-12.  The goal of exercise physiology is to bridge the gap between athletics and science.  Students will understand the anatomy and physiology of the body as it relates to fitness, instill the importance of a healthy lifestyle and exercise, promote injury prevention and treatment, as well as develop strategies for training children, elderly, special populations, and elite athletes, and prepare for careers in the health field (present and not yet conceived). 

Course Title: CP Human Ecology

Course Length:  Full Year / Credits: 5

Prerequisites:  Biology and completion of grade 10

Human ecology is a full year science elective course that studies the interrelationships that humans have with the other species on our planet and the interrelationship that we have with the nonliving environment. During this course students evaluate the impacts that our activities have had on our environment and they will develop an understanding of the changes that need to be made to solve the various problems that currently exist.

Course Title: CP Principles of Biomedical Science

Course Length:  Full Year / Credits: 5

Prerequisites: Recommended for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, strongly recommend a grade of B or better in previous science coursework

In this course, students explore concepts of biology and medicine as they take on the roles of different medical professionals to solve real-world problems. Over the course of the year, students are challenged in various scenarios including investigating a crime scene to solve a mystery, diagnosing and proposing treatment to patients in a family medical practice, tracking down and containing a medical outbreak at a local hospital, stabilizing a patient during an emergency, and collaborating with others to design solutions to local and global medical problems. This course includes college-level reading and writing. 

This course is eligible for Concurrent Enrollment.

*All students will be required to complete the national PLTW end-of-course exam (no exemptions).

Course Title:  CP Human Body Systems

Course Length:  Full Year / Credits: 5

Prerequisites:  Open to all juniors and seniors who completed Biology, or sophomores who completed Principles of Biomedical Science

Students will examine the interactions of human body systems as they explore identity, power, movement, protection, and homeostasis. Exploring science in action, students build organs and tissues, investigate movement, reflex and voluntary action, and respiration, and take on the role of the biomedical professional to solve real-world medical cases. 

This course is eligible for Concurrent Enrollment.

*All students will be required to take the national PLTW end-of-course exam (no exemptions).

Course Title: CP Medical Interventions

Course Length: Full Year/ Credits 5

Prerequisites: Principles of Biomedical Science and Human Body Systems

Students follow the life of a fictitious family as they investigate how to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease.  Students explore how to detect and fight infection, screen, and evaluate the code in human DNA, evaluate cancer treatment options, and prevail when the organs of the body begin to fail.  Through real-world cases, students are exposed to a range of interventions related to immunology, surgery, genetics, pharmacology, medical devices, and diagnostics.

This course is eligible for Concurrent Enrollment.

*All students will be required to take the national PLTW end-of-course exam (no exemptions).

Course Title: H Biomedical Innovations Capstone & Internship

Course Length: Full Year/ Credits: 5

Prerequisite: Principles of Biomedical Science, Human Body Systems, and Medical Interventions

In the final course of the Biomedical sequence, students will build on the knowledge and skills gained from previous courses to design innovative solutions for the most pressing health challenges of the 21st century.  Students address topics ranging from public health and biomedical engineering to clinical medicine and physiology.  They have the opportunity to work on an independent design project with a mentor or advisor from a university, medical facility, or research institution. This course includes a 20-hour shadowing/internship requirement. 

This course is eligible for Concurrent Enrollment.

*All students will be required to take the national PLTW end-of-course exam (no exemptions).

Course Title:  CP Astronomy 

Course Length:  Half Year / Credits: 2.5

Prerequisite:  Successful completion of 2 years of science with a grade of 73 or above

This course is designed as an investigation of the world “beyond” our earth. Topics of study will include the moon, moon-earth relationships, the solar system, stars, galaxies, and the universe. Special emphasis will be placed on the development of ideas from a historical perspective. Also included will be units pertaining to humans in space, extra-terrestrial communications and life, and the future of humans in space. An independent research project will be required of those enrolled in this course.

Course Title:  CP Meteorology 

Course Length:  Half Year / Credits: 2.5

Prerequisite:  Successful completion of 2 years of science with a grade of 73 or above

This course is designed as an investigation of the “world of air” around us. It is a non-technical treatment of the fundamentals of weather. Topics of discussion will include general features of the atmosphere, the water cycle, air motions, wind patterns, weather systems, weather instruments, measurement, forecasting, and climate. An independent project will be required of those enrolled in this course. 

Course Title:  CP Marine Science

Course Length:  Half Year / Credits: 2.5

Prerequisite:  Successful completion of 2 years of science with a grade of 73 or above

This course is designed as an investigation of the world beneath the ocean surface. Marine Science is the study of the physical and biological factors that make the seas a dynamic and fascinating place. Topics include the origin of the oceans, the anatomy of waves, global energy transfer, life in the ocean, the abyss, and other related topics.