Science

Chemistry

Credit: 1 Credit (full year course)

*Fulfills NYS Graduation Requirement

**Bilingual Course Available

Prerequisite: Completion of Living Environment and/or Earth Science

Course Description: This course provides students with a thorough understanding of the basic concepts of chemistry. An emphasis will be placed on quantitative relationships between substances, using mathematical problem-solving activities. Topics covered include molecular concepts and structures, the relationship between matter and energy, periodic relationships, organic and nuclear chemistry, solutions, acids and bases, and kinetics. The interactions of science, technology and society will also be explored. This course is recommended for students pursuing higher level science courses. Students are required to take the Chemistry Regents examination.

Chemistry Honors

Credit: 1 Credit (full year course)

*Fulfills NYS Graduation Requirement

Prerequisite: Completion of Living Environment and/or Earth Science

Course Description: Chemistry Honors is a rigorous treatment of chemistry with a quantitative emphasis. It covers all the material found in the physical setting: Chemistry curriculum with an emphasis on the complex mathematical connections of matter in the physical world. This course is designed for strong science/mathematics students. This course is recommended for students pursuing higher level science courses. Students are required to take the Chemistry Regents examination.

Earth Science

Credit: 1 Credit (full year course)

*Fulfills NYS Graduation Requirement

**Bilingual Course Available

Course Description: This course allows students to study the earth as a complex system involving interactions among rock materials, water, air and living organisms. The basic principles of astronomy, geology, meteorology, and oceanography-related processes are reviewed in detail. Laboratory exercises reinforce the basic principles in each of the course topics. Students must be no more than one grade level below in reading ability and should have a strong background in mathematical skills such as graphing and the use of formulas/equations. A strong emphasis is placed on interrelating the earth science concepts and utilizing them in problem solving situations. Students are required to take the Earth Science Regents Exam. Additionally, a laboratory performance test is part of the Regents examination.

Enviromental Science

Credit: 1 Credit (full year course)

*Fulfills NYS Graduation Requirement

Course Description: This course surveys human effects on the environment from a scientific perspective. Major topics of study include, but are not limited to, biomes, populations, land management, pollution, and current environmental issues.

Forensic Science

Credit: 1 Credit (full year course)

*Fulfills NYS Graduation Requirement

Course Description: The purpose of this course is to review the methods used by police Forensic scientists to discover and analyze clues, which help solve crimes. This is an academic course based on and expanding the student’s background in the sciences by putting theories to practical use. The student will study famous cases, learn how to collect evidence at the scene of the crime, and analyze evidence such as fingerprints, firearms, hair fibers, documents etc.

Forensic - Syracuse University (SUPA)

Credit: 1 Credit (full year course)/4 Syracuse University Credits ($448)

*Fulfills NYS Graduation Requirement

*Open to students in grades 10-12

Course Description: This dual-enrollment Forensics course (Chemistry 113) is offered through Syracuse University Project Advance (SUPA). The course focuses on the application of scientific methods and techniques to solve crime. Recent advances in scientific methods and principles have impacted law enforcement and the criminal justice system. This course provides an understanding of the science behind crime detection. Specific scientific methods relevant to crime detection and analysis are presented in the course with an emphasis on the techniques used to evaluate physical evidence. These techniques include fingerprints, soil comparisons, and arson investigations, among others. Laboratory exercises will include techniques commonly employed in forensic investigations.

Living Environment

Credit: 1 Credit (full year course)

*Fulfills NYS Graduation Requirement

**Bilingual Course Available

Course Description: This course provides a broad understanding of the fundamental principles of biology and will address specific areas of biochemistry, human physiology, reproduction and development, modern genetics, modern evolution, and ecology. These concepts are developed through appropriate laboratory experiences that emphasize the disciplined approach of the scientist. Students are required to take the Living Environment Regents Exam.

Marine Biology and Oceanography

Credit: 1 Credit (full year course)

*Fulfills NYS Graduation Requirement

Course Description: Marine Biology is the study of marine life. Principal areas of instruction are Photosynthesis, Biochemistry of marine organisms, Cytology, Evolution and Classification, Invertebrates, Marine Vertebrates and Ecology. Oceanography will explore the features of the ocean floor, the effect of the oceans on weather and climate, the tremendous energy generated by waves and introduce students to the vast and wonderful animals that live in the oceans.

Physics

Credit: 1 Credit (full year course)

*Fulfills NYS Graduation Requirement

Suggested Prerequisite/Corequisite: Algebra II

Course Description: This course presents a modern view of physics based on conservation of matter, energy, and momentum. The topics of study include mechanics, waves, electricity, magnetism, and modern physics. This is a lab-oriented program designed to produce skill in problem solving, critical thinking and cooperative learning. It requires students to learn by doing and is a transitional course into college level educational processes. A good background in mathematics is strongly recommended for success in the course. Students are required to take the Physics Regents Exam.

Robotics

Credit: 1 Credit (full year course)

*Open to students grades 10-12

Course Description: Students will master the fundamentals of robotics and the engineering process while learning to use the Autodesk Inventor design software and the VEX Classroom& Competition Robotics Kits. Robotics uses a modular and projects-based curriculum that teaches the design process in an engaging, hands-on manner. Students will be guided through the design and construction of a mobile robot to play a sport-like game. At the culmination of this class, students will compete head-to-head against their peers in the classroom and/or in the VEX Robotics Competition.

Science Research

Credit: 1/2 Credit (half year course)

*Open to students grades 10-12

Course Description: In this course students will have the opportunity to be a part of an island wide initiative to use state of the art DNA Barcoding technology to classify living things and identify the biodiversity on Long Island. Student researchers along with their teacher will partner with the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory to conduct experiments and report experimental findings. Student research findings will be presented at the local, state, and national level. Further work in the course will prepare students to plan and execute an independent science research project that will be entered into the Intel ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair) and a chance to compete for over $4 million in awards.