Science

540.1 Anatomy and Physiology, Honors, Grades 11 or 12, Full Year 5.00 Fulfills requirement for a third year lab science course    This full-year version of Anatomy is designed for those students interested in exploring college degrees and/or careers in life sciences, pharmacy, medical, or other similar pathways.  Comprehensive investigations of human body systems will be the basis for this course.  It is recommended for students who are interested in studying life sciences in college or are considering a career as a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physical therapist, or other health-related professions. The ideal student has an allied health science career as a goal.  Extensive readings and outside work is required for this course.  This course is designed to study the structure and function of the human body systems through the use of required mammalian dissection. All students are encouraged to consider their ability to complete the required dissection before electing to enroll in this course.   Enrollment is subject to the placement process.  Prerequisites:  Successful of completion of Biology and Chemistry.

541.1 Anatomy and Physiology, Advanced College Prep, Grades 11 or 12, Full Year, 5.00 credits  Fulfills requirement for a third year lab science course    This full year ACP level is recommended for students interested in studying the structure and function of human body systems, as well as exploring their interest in health-related professions. The course is designed to study the structure and function of the human body systems through the use of required mammalian dissection. All students are encouraged to consider their ability to complete the required dissection before electing to enroll in this course.  Comprehensive investigations of human body systems will be the basis for this course. Prerequisites:  Successful of completion of Biology and Chemistry.

546.1  Weather and Climate, Advanced College Preparatory, Grades 11 or 12, Semester, 2.5 Credits

This course will examine the structure and composition of our atmosphere as well as the processes that drive weather and climate.  Students will explore topics including energy transfer in the atmosphere, atmospheric chemistry, atmospheric feedbacks, interactions between the geological processes and the atmosphere, meteorological observations, weather forecasting, severe weather, and climate and climate change.     Prerequisite: Successful completion of Chemistry. 

543.1 Astronomy and Planetary Exploration, Advanced College Prep, Grade 9 - 12, Semester, 2.50 credits

This course provides students with an understanding of the creation and evolution of the universe, stars, and planetary systems as well as the technologies used to explore them.  Students will study stars, stellar evolution, galaxies, planetary systems, the solar system and its planets and other bodies. 

548.1A  Great Diseases (Part A), Advanced College Prep, Grade 11 & 12, Semester, 2.50 credits

The goal of this class is to engage students in the science behind their real-world experiences of health and disease.  Disease provides this framework because it affects us all.  In addition, educating students about disease will enable them to make informed choices about their health. Topics for section A include infectious diseases and  neurological disorders.  The discussion on infectious disease and  neurological disorders will focus on key questions.  Infectious disease as a unit of study will answer the questions an informed citizen will want answered to understand how infectious disease impacts them.  Our studies will include a closer look at Covid-19.  Neurological disorders will be investigated through  the nervous system from the building blocks of our brains to how our brains control behavior. This is a stand-alone course, it may be taken in conjunction with section B, but it is not required.   Students will research topics, discuss case studies, participate in class discussions and complete a variety of projects and assessments throughout the semester. Prerequisites:  Successful completion of Biology and Chemistry.

548.1B Great Diseases (Part B), Advanced College Prep, Grade 11 & 12, Semester, 2.50 credits

The goal of this class is to engage students in the science behind their real-world experiences of health and disease.  Disease provides this framework because it affects us all.  In addition, educating students about disease will enable them to make informed choices about their health. Topics for this course include metabolic diseases and cancer.  The discussion on metabolic disease will focus on key questions.  How our bodies use food and what this means for our health will guide our exploration of metabolic diseases.   The cancer unit will focus on understanding cancer as a disease and the challenges of diagnosing and treating it. Students will research topics, discuss case studies, participate in class discussions and complete a variety of projects and assessments throughout the semester. This is a stand-alone course and may be taken in conjunction with section A, but it is not required.   Prerequisites:  Successful completion of Biology and Chemistry.

544.1  Forensics, Advanced College Preparatory, Grade 11 & 12, Semester, 2.50 credits
This course is designed to introduce the basic application of science to the law.  Scientists are often involved in the search for an examination of physical traces which can be used to establish or exclude a suspect’s association with a crime. Topics such as criminal investigations, fingerprinting, and DNA analysis will be covered. Inquiry-based and hands-on activities support data collection while reinforcing analytical skills and logical thinking. Prerequisites:  Successful completion of Biology and Chemistry.

551.1  Advanced Placement Biology, Grades 11 or 12, Full Year, 5.00 credits Fulfills requirement for a third year lab science course.   This is a rigorous second-year biology course that will prepare students to take the Advanced Placement Biology Examination.  The goal of the course is to help students develop a conceptual framework for modern biology and to help students gain an appreciation of science as a process.  This course is designed to be the equivalent of a college introductory biology course usually taken by biology majors during their first year.  Only students interested in a demanding, rigorous course who have an interest in the life sciences should enroll.  Students will be expected to complete formal laboratory reports. Summer and vacation reading assignments are required.  Extensive reading outside of class is expected of all students. Additional class meetings are necessary and will be scheduled at the beginning of the year. The curriculum is guided by the College Board® standards for advanced placement.  Students are required to take the AP Exam at the end of the course. Prerequisites: B+ or higher in both Pre-Advanced Placement Biology and Pre-Advanced Placement Chemistry and teacher recommendation.  This course is offered during even school years, 2022-2023, 2024-2025, etc.  

552.1  Advanced Placement Chemistry, Grades 11 or 12, Full Year, 5.00 credits
Fulfills requirement for a third year lab science course. This course is a college-level introductory course in chemistry presented from a problem-solving perspective. Only students interested in a demanding rigorous course that has an interest in science, engineering or mathematics should enroll. Topics include advanced treatments of atomic and molecular structures, chemical bonding, acid-base theory, thermodynamics, equilibrium, kinetics, and electrochemistry. The laboratory includes traditional qualitative analysis of unknowns as well as other advanced topics. Basic knowledge of the graphing calculator is assumed.  The curriculum is guided by the College Board® standards for advanced placement.  Prerequisites: Successful completion of Biology and Chemistry. Enrollment is subject to the placement process. This course is offered during odd school years: 2023-2024, 2025-2026, 2027-2028 etc.  

558.1 Advanced Placement Physics Year 1, Grades 11 or 12, Year, 5.00 credits Fulfills requirement for a third year lab science course.  This course is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course that explores topics such as Newtonian mechanics (including rotational motion); work, energy, and power.  Through inquiry-based learning, students will develop scientific critical thinking reasoning skills.  This course also includes a hands-on laboratory component comparable to introductory college-level physics laboratories, with an emphasis on inquiry-based investigations that provide students with opportunities to apply the science practices.   Students will complete a lab notebook of laboratory work. Students should be prepared to complete extensive reading and problem sets outside of class.  Summer and vacation assignments will be required.  This course fulfills the physics graduation requirement.   The curriculum is guided by the College Board® standards for advanced placement.  Students are required to take the AP Exam at the end of the course.  A graphing calculator is required.  Prerequisite:  Recommendation and concurrent enrollment in Precalculus, B or higher in Pre-Advanced Placement Chemistry or current 10th grade/11th grade AP or honors level science, strong graphing calculator skills and teacher recommendation.  This course may be taken as a second year physics course following the recommendation of a student’s current honors physics teacher.

553.1  Advanced Placement Environmental Science, Grades 11 or 12, Full Year, 5.00 credits
Fulfills requirement for a third year lab science course. The goal of the Advanced Placement 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 natural and man-made environmental problems; to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems; and to examine alternative solutions for solving and/or preventing them. Advanced Placement Environmental Science (APES) is designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester introductory environmental science college course.   This course connects concepts and principles from Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and Social Studies.  Students electing this course must complete a summer assignment that is due the first day of class.   The curriculum is guided by the College Board® standards for advanced placement. Prerequisites: Successful completion of Biology and Chemistry. Enrollment is subject to the placement process. 

572.1 Engineering and 3D Design 1, Advanced College Prep, Grade 9-12,  Semester, 2.5 credits

This course will give students an introduction to what it means to think like an engineer. Students will learn the engineering design process by engaging in build challenges that encourage them to think creatively and outside the box. After understanding this process, students will use the software Onshape to create digital 3D models of objects using Part Studio in order to solve real world problems. Students will print their creations using 3D printing and learn how to design with 3D printing in mind in order to bring their designs to life.

363.1 Advanced Placement Computer Science A, Grade 11 and 12, Full Year, 5.00 credits
Fulfills requirement for a third year lab science course. AP Computer Science A introduces students to computer science through programming. Fundamental topics in this course include the design of solutions to problems, the use of data structures to organize large sets of data, the development and implementation of algorithms to process data and discover new information, the analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing systems. The course emphasizes object-oriented programming and design using the Java programming language. AP Computer Science A is equivalent to a first-semester, college-level course in computer science. The curriculum is guided by the College Board® standards for advanced placement.  Prerequisite: Successful completion of Algebra II. 

512.1 Science Teaching Assistant, Advanced College Prep, Grade 12, Full Year, 5.00 credits

This class will provide students with the opportunity to practice their science knowledge by supporting the teacher in charge and supporting the students in the classroom. The TA will help with everyday classroom tasks such as: taking and posting notes in Google Stream, creating classroom materials, assisting with the labs by answering student’s questions, helping with the classroom discussions and assisting in the preparation of lesson plans. The assistant student may set up labs and create presentations for students under the supervision of the teacher. In addition, the TA student may review lessons or lectures on a one-on-one basis or in small groups. The TA will keep a log of what they have done each day. In addition, students will develop a portfolio with the class materials and notes that they have created for the class. The teaching assistant candidates should have already done three years of science (Honors and AP). Students should earn a certificate of completion. This class will be a pass/fail class. Interested students should make an appointment with the teacher they want to assist for approval prior to signing up for this course.