Science (SCI)

All freshmen take this course.

This course engages student learning through labs that explore fundamental biologic concepts such as ecological systems and the environment, evolution, cellular systems, and genetics and biotechnology. The hands-on laboratories in this course provide an opportunity for students to apply content and become acquainted with laboratory techniques through the framework of the Pre-AP Biology Curriculum. Laboratory write-ups provide a means of utilizing scientific inquiry, thought processes, and interpretation of data in order to analyze, integrate, and synthesize the concepts students have studied in class. With the knowledge gained in this course, students will understand the study of life and its complexities in our environment.

All sophomores take this course.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Biology (CP, H, Pre-AP).

This course engages student learning through labs that explore fundamental chemical concepts such as structure and properties of matter, chemical bonding and interactions, chemical quantities, and chemical transformations. The hands-on laboratories in this course provide an opportunity for students to apply content and become acquainted with laboratory techniques through the framework of the Pre-AP Chemistry Curriculum. Laboratory write-ups provide a means of utilizing scientific inquiry, thought processes, and interpretation of data in order to analyze, integrate, and synthesize the concepts students have studied in class. With the knowledge gained in this course, students will understand the study of matter and its complexities in our environment.

All juniors take this course unless they enroll in AP Physics 1 or AP Physics C.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Biology (CP, H, Pre-AP) and Chemistry (CP, H, Pre-AP).

Seniors who started with Integrated Science 9 do not have to take this course unless they desire to take a science elective.

This course explores a variety of physical theories from classical kinematics and Newtonian mechanics to special relativity and elementary quantum mechanics. The course begins with an introduction to scientific thinking and fosters a discovery-based approach to understanding the fundamental principles of physics. This lab-intensive course is designed to help students develop their skills in experimentation, making and understanding measurements, mathematical modeling, spatial visualization, graphical analysis, inductive and deductive reasoning, technical communication, scientific writing, problem solving, and project planning. 

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Biology (CP, H, Pre-AP) and Chemistry (CP, H, Pre-AP).

Seniors who started with Integrated Science 9 do not have to take this course unless they desire to take a science elective; an alternative option to CP Physics.

AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course exploring topics such as Newtonian mechanics (including rotational motion); work, energy, and power; mechanical waves and sound, and fluid dynamics.  Through inquiry-based learning, students will develop scientific critical thinking and reasoning skills.  AP Physics 1 is organized around six big ideas, bringing together the fundamental scientific principles and theories of general physics.  These big ideas are intended to encourage students to think about physics concepts as interconnected pieces of a puzzle.  The solution to the puzzle is how the real world around them actually works.  The students will participate in inquiry-based explorations of these topics to gain a conceptual understanding of these physics concepts.  Students will spend less time in traditional formula-based learning and more effort will be directed to developing critical thinking and reasoning skills.  Laboratory Requirement: The course requires 25% of the instructional time to be in hands-on laboratory work, with an emphasis on inquiry-based investigations. 

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Biology (CP, H, Pre-AP) and Chemistry (CP, H, Pre-AP); successful completion of or concurrent enrollment in a Calculus-level math course.

AP Physics C is a calculus-based, introductory college-level physics course exploring topics such as Newtonian mechanics (including rotational motion); work, energy, and power; mechanical waves and sound; electrostatics, AC/DC circuits, electric and magnetic fields, induction, capacitors, and conductors. Through inquiry-based learning, students will develop scientific critical thinking and reasoning skills.  AP Physics C is organized around six big ideas, bringing together the fundamental scientific principles and theories of general physics.  These big ideas are intended to encourage students to think about physics concepts as interconnected pieces of a puzzle.  The solution to the puzzle is how the real world around them actually works.  The students will participate in inquiry-based explorations of these topics to gain a conceptual understanding of these physics concepts.  Students will spend less time in traditional formula-based learning and more effort will be directed toward developing critical thinking and reasoning skills.  Laboratory Requirement: The course requires 25% of the instructional time to be in hands-on laboratory work, with an emphasis on inquiry-based investigations. 

This advanced course covers functional anatomy in detail with emphasis on basic and complex principles and physiological activities of different systems of the body, laboratory experiments in vertebrate physiology, and the dissection of a mammal. Discussions, demonstrations, dissections, and experiments will familiarize students with the structure and function of the living body and its components. Classical anatomy and physiology will be presented with consideration given to the preparation of the student for success in health service fields and to improve the health of the student.  In this honors course, students utilize and expand upon their understanding of Biology and Chemistry in a way that is directly relevant to their lives.  This course is conducted at a fast pace and exposes students to the depth and rigor of a college-level science course.  

This Public Health course serves as an introduction to the public health field, exploring the fundamental determinants of health and their impact on individuals and communities. Key topics include identifying the principal determinants of health, understanding their effects on populations, examining the roles of government and public health professionals in healthcare delivery, and analyzing the historical impacts of public health interventions in modern society. Additionally, the course addresses critical and emerging public health issues both in the United States and globally. By providing a comprehensive overview of the various factors influencing public health, this course aims to inspire students to actively pursue innovative solutions to improve population health and enhance community well-being worldwide.

Students can earn college credit by passing the AP Biology exam. All students will take the exam. The curriculum will follow the Advanced Placement National guidelines as published by the College Board. The class will be conducted at the college level and students are expected to work accordingly. A significant portion of the content will be learned independently in this course. Allowances should be made for substantial study time. Throughout the year major themes of the biological sciences will be explored. Each of these major themes permeates every topic in biology and has great relevance to everyday life.

AP Chemistry a rigorous and academically challenging course designed to be the equivalent of the general chemistry course usually taken during the first year of college. For most students, the course enables them to undertake second-year work in the chemistry sequence at their institution or to register for courses in other fields where general chemistry is a prerequisite. This course is structured around six big ideas and seven science practices that capture important aspects of the work that scientists engage in, with learning objectives that combine content with inquiry and reasoning skills. 

This laboratory science course is intended to enable students to undertake, as first-year college students, a more advanced study of the topics in environmental science. The curriculum will follow the Advanced Placement National guidelines as published by the College Board. Students will be provided 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 manmade, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them.