Course Descriptions

AP BIOLOGY
AP Biology is designed to be the equivalent of a college introductory biology course usually taken by biology majors during their first year. After showing themselves to be qualified on the AP Biology Exam, some students, as college freshmen, are permitted to undertake upper level courses in biology or to register for courses for which biology is a prerequisite. Other students may have fulfilled a basic requirement for a lab science course and will be able to undertake other courses to pursue their majors. For students not electing to take the AP exam, the course will provide exposure to college level material and provide a conceptual framework for future collegiate science courses.

•CREDIT: 1.0
•COURSE STATUS: Elective
•GRADE LEVEL: 11 & 12
•PREREQUISITES: Recommended “B” average in Biology, Chemistry and Algebra 2
•REQUIRED: Calculator

CHEMISTRY 2
A continuation of Chemistry, it deals more with the quantitative aspects of Chemistry. This course is designed for the student who plans to take further science courses at the college level. Individual lab oriented.
•CREDIT: .5
•COURSE STATUS: Elective
•GRADE LEVEL: 11-12
• PREREQUISITES: Biology or Honors Biology, Recommended “B” average in Chemistry
• COST: Lab Notebook
•REQUIRED: Calculator  

AP CHEMISTRY
Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry is the equivalent to a freshman college chemistry course with respect to the subject matter covered and the laboratory experiments performed. The course is designed to prepare students for the College Board Advanced Placement Exam. Through the teaching of the concepts and frequent problem solving activities the students will have a better understanding of the application of chemistry. Laboratory work, writing skills, and practice AP exam questions will be stressed. Topics to be covered include: Structure of matter, States of matter; Stoichiometric relationships, Reactions; Descriptive Chemistry. There will be an emphasis on Equilibrium, Kinetics, and Thermodynamics. To promote the proper educational atmosphere necessary for this class, students should only sign up if they have a very serious intent to take the AP exam. A summer assignment is given.
•CREDIT: 1.0
•COURSE STATUS: Elective
•GRADE LEVEL: 11-12
•PREREQUISITES: Students must have completed Chemistry or Honors Chemistry completed Algebra 2 with Trig. (recommendation of “B” or better in those courses)
•REQUIRED: Calculator

AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
This is a challenging course designed to maximize student preparation for collegiate-level ecology courses. In this class, students will consider all aspects of environmental issues and will gain a deeper understanding of ecology, environmental protection, and the natural world. Through hands-on lab experiments and in-depth discussions, students will come to appreciate the threats that affect the environment and will better understand the actions that can be taken to protect the natural systems that make our lives possible.
•CREDIT: 1.0
•COURSE STATUS: Elective
•GRADE LEVEL: 10-12
• PREREQUISITES: Biology
• REQUIRED: Calculator

ASTRONOMY
Astronomy is the study of the universe. In this course, we begin by investigating the nuclear reactions that power the sun and other stars for billions of years. We then trace the evolution of stars from their formation in nebulas to their dramatic deaths as white dwarfs or supernovas. Finally, students use astrophysical concepts to scrutinize evidence supporting the Big Bang theory, and discover how scientists gather meaningful data to address seemingly impossible questions about the universe’s origins and evolution.
•CREDIT: .5
•COURSE STATUS: Elective
•GRADE LEVEL: 10-12
•PREREQUISITES: Biology and Chemistry OR teacher recommendation

EARTH SCIENCE
Earth Science is a class designed to provide the student with an understanding of the nature of the earth’s environment. How the forces of nature have changed the earth, and what effects Man has had on earth. Mapping, meteorology, and geology will be studied, with examples from Southeast Wisconsin used wherever possible.
•CREDIT: .5
•COURSE STATUS: Elective
•GRADE LEVEL: 10-12
•PREREQUISITES: Biology

AP PHYSICS 1
AP Physics 1 outlines the material covered in a college level introductory physics course and gives students the proper tools to successfully take the College Board AP Physics 1 exam. Students will be given a more detailed, algebra based, understanding of classical physics principles in motion, forces, and energy which form our understanding in modern technology. Students will also understand electrostatic forces, and electric energy including circuits.
•CREDIT: 1.0
•COURSE STATUS: Elective
•GRADE LEVEL: 11-12
•PREREQUISITES: Successful completion of Chemistry and Geometry
•REQUIRED: Calculator

MARINE BIOLOGY
Marine Biology is a semester course that will concentrate on the physical, chemical, geological and biological aspects of marine environments. After completing this course, students will have a basic understanding of the interrelationships that occur in the world’s oceans. This will be a lab based course that will use various resources such as the internet, distance learning lab, and guest speakers to bring clarity to the mystery of the oceans.
•CREDIT: .5
•COURSE STATUS: Elective

•GRADE LEVEL: 10-12
• PREREQUISITES: Biology 

FORENSIC SCIENCE
Forensic Science is a course designed to give students experiences with the equipment and people involved in the investigation and prosecution of those found breaking the law. Forensic Science integrates scientific processes with the reading, reasoning, writing, and laboratory skills used in modern criminal investigations. From the first indications of a crime to the final stages of prosecution, the investigative, analytical, and communication skills of various occupations will be examined. Topics of study include functions of the forensic scientist, crime scenes, types of physical evidence, fiber analysis, drug identification, toxicology, arson investigations, fingerprinting, ballistic evidence, and handwriting and voice analysis. The course focus will be on problem solving, designing experiments, testing and making conclusions based on empirical evidence. Writing will be an integral part of the course with students being expected to communicate laboratory reports, results, conclusions and analyze case studies.
•CREDIT: .5
•COURSE STATUS: Elective
•GRADE LEVEL: 11-12
•PREREQUISITES: Recommended B or better in Chemistry
•COST: Forensic Science Workbook fee; lab notebook 

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
This course is an in-depth study of medical terminology conducted by a body system approach. Prefixes, suffixes and root words are covered. This course also provides an overview of human anatomy. This course will provide students with an introduction to concepts and terms used in a variety of healthcare professions.
•CREDIT: .75 high school; 3.0 college credits
•COURSE STATUS: Optional Dual Enrollment
•GRADE LEVEL: 10-12 with a cumulative gpa of 2.5 (Gateway Requirement)
•PREREQUISITES: Biology & Chemistry or Chemistry concurrently.
•COST: Med Term Book

HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

In this course we will be studying human anatomy and physiology. Anatomy deals with the structure (morphology) of the body and its parts. Physiology studies the functions of these parts. The two disciplines are closely interrelated because the functional role of a part depends on how it is constructed. This is an accelerated college prep course that will prepare you for a future in a biological career.

•CREDIT: 1.0

•COURSE STATUS: Elective

•GRADE LEVEL: 11 - 12
•PREREQUISITES: Recommended “B” average in Biology and Chemistry 

BIOLOGY
Biology is the study of living things. Students will use experiments and models to explain how cells transform matter and energy as living things grow and interact. They’ll investigate relationships between an organism’s visible traits, their DNA, and the proteins in their cells. They’ll develop models to explain how environmental factors can change genes, resulting in unique adaptations. They will identify factors that support biodiversity and determine its importance for life on Earth. This course will prepare students to use scientific reasoning throughout their lives.
•CREDIT: 1.0
•COURSE STATUS: Required
•GRADE LEVEL: 9
•PREREQUISITES: None

HONORS BIOLOGY
This course is designed for gifted and talented freshmen who intend to continue into advanced science courses. Introductory biological concepts with laboratory emphasis are discussed. The pace is accelerated and exceptionally talented math and science students will be invited to take this course. Standardized test scores and teacher recommendation will be used for placement. Class size is limited to 4 sections.
•CREDIT: 1.0
•COURSE STATUS: Required
•GRADE LEVEL: 9
•PREREQUISITES: Teacher Recommended

CHEMISTRY Chemistry is the study of atoms and molecules, and how they interact. Students will investigate how matter and energy work on the smallest scales. They will identify patterns to explain how the parts of an atom determine what it is, how it acts, and what properties it has. They’ll investigate how atoms come together to form molecules and how different bonds affect the properties of substances. They’ll predict chemical reactions, and explain how factors like temperature and pressure change the way matter behaves.
•CREDIT: 1.0
•COURSE STATUS: Required
•GRADE LEVEL: 10-12
•PREREQUISITES: Biology or Honors Biology
•REQUIRED: Calculator

HONORS CHEMISTRY
This course is intended for gifted science students who intend to pursue advanced science courses their junior and/or senior years. Introductory chemical concepts such as chemical composition and changes will be examined. Students will also be challenged to think at the particulate level and describe complex chemical systems. This will allow them to use their critical thinking and problem solving skills to better show their understanding of abstract ideas. Students will show understanding through laboratory activities and scientific writing.
•CREDIT: 1.0
•COURSE STATUS: Required
•GRADE LEVEL: 10-11 

•PREREQUISITES: Teacher recommended
•REQUIRED: Calculator 

PHYSICS
Physics is the study of the fundamental forces that shape our world. Students will first explore motion and test mathematical ideas about how force, mass, and acceleration are connected. They’ll investigate the forces that change how things move and use this to explain how simple machines make work easier. They’ll communicate arguments about how energy exists differently as heat, electricity, and light. They’ll explore patterns and trends in how energy behaves as waves to understand how matter and energy interact.
•CREDIT: 1.0
•COURSE STATUS: Required
•GRADE LEVEL: 11-12
•PREREQUISITES: Biology & Chemistry
•REQUIRED: Calculator