.5 credit

Pre or co-requisite: algebra 1

Students receive a basic overview of drone technology, including how they fly and how they can be used to gather invaluable data for businesses, corporations and safety organizations.   Students will also gain knowledge and operational skills they need to pass the FAA Remote Pilot (Part 107) test and become a licensed drone pilot. 

(Not offered in the 2024-25 school year) 

1 credit  

Open to Grades 11-12

Prerequisite: Successful completion of biology or teacher recommendation.  Preference will be given to seniors 

This course will explore the major factors that affect aquatic and marine life.  Special emphasis will be placed on the marine environment.  The chemistry, physics, and biology of water and ecosystems will be thoroughly investigated.  Laboratory work to illustrate and reinforce these concepts will be carried out in small groups.  

1 credit

Open to grades 10-12 who have successfully completed regents earth science 

This course offers opportunities for students to develop an understanding of the concepts of geology through hands-on application of principles in the field and in the classroom environment.  The course is designed to give students a broad knowledge and experience base in physical geology.  Topics to be covered will include mineralogy, sedimentology, geomorphology, plate tectonics, correlation, geologic time, among others.  Fieldwork and individual projects will be included.

1 credit  

Open to Grades 11-12

Prerequisites: Successful completion of two years of high school mathematics and two years of high school science 

This course is a non-Regents course designed for students who desire a non-mathematical approach to physical science and its application in the real world.  The course will focus on “how things work” – with study of how the various types of equipment and appliances that we use in our daily lives work.  Students will be required to write reports throughout the course on various science topics and to make in-class presentations.  Students will be required to “teach” the content of their reports to the class and examinations will cover course content, current events and trends in science and on the “student-based” presentations.

Full Year 1 credit course: Open to grades 11-12   

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Regents Biology and Regents Chemistry with an A average in each or Honors Biology and Honors Chemistry with a B average in each.  A minimum grade of 85% is necessary on both the Chemistry and Biology Regents exams.

1 high school credit/8 college credits  

Prerequisite: Completion of Regents Chemistry with a minimum average of 90 or 

Completion of Honors Chemistry with a minimum average of 85.

Completion of Regents Geometry or better with a minimum of a 90 average.

This is the Freshman Chemistry course offered at Syracuse University under the direction of the Syracuse University Chemistry Department.  Upon successful completion, students will receive college credits from Syracuse University which most colleges will accept.   Students pay for their tuition, books and lab manuals.  Students are responsible for all college fees associated with the course.

1 credit

Prerequisite: Earth Science and the Living Environment

Corequisite:  Regents or Honors Chemistry

A grade of 85% on both the Earth Science and Biology Regents is strongly advised.

This course is intended to be a first-year college level class that will provide an advanced study of environmental science.  The AP Environmental Science course provides a means by which students identify and analyze environmental relationships, problems, and alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them.  Activities will be drawn from Earth Science, Biology, and Chemistry.  Laboratory exercises will be conducted.  In the fall and spring labs will be conducted outdoors on the high school/middle school campus.  In May, the students will take the Advanced Placement examination in Environmental Science and, based upon their score, may receive college credit, advanced placement, or both.

1 high school credit - 4 college credits

Open to Grades 11-12

Prerequisites: 85 or better in Regents biology and regents chemistry.

The SUPA Forensic Science course is intended to provide an introduction to understanding the science behind crime detection.  Scientific methods specifically relevant to crime detection and analysis will be presented with emphasis placed upon the techniques used in evaluating physical evidence.  Topics included are blood analysis, organic and inorganic evidence analysis, microscopic investigations, hair analysis, DNA, drug chemistry and toxicology, fiber comparisons, paints, glass compositions and fragmentation, fingerprints, soil comparisons, and arson investigations, among others.  Laboratory exercises will include techniques commonly employed in forensic investigations. 

 1 credit

Open to Grade 12 

Prerequisite: Honors Physics

Corequisite: Calculus

AP Physics C is a full year course devoted to mechanics.  This course is designed to follow Honors Physics, and is designed for students planning to specialize in a physical science or in engineering.  Calculus is used in problem solving and in derivations.

1 credit

Open to Grade 10

Prerequisite: Recommendation of freshman science teacher

Students are given the opportunity to research and learn about anything that interests them, from any research-based STEAM-related area, and begin designing and conducting an experiment within that area under the guidance of one of the top scientists in that field.  In this first year of a 3-year course, students learn fundamental research skills to find background information and current research being conducted in a research-based STEAM field.  Students are also asked to present their newly acquired knowledge, on a regular basis, to the class via PowerPoint presentations.

Once a significant amount of background material is acquired and a strong sense of understanding is gained, the student makes contact with a research scientist within their field of interest.  Very often this is one of the authors of the articles they have read.  At that time, the students ask the scientist to serve as a mentor, or to help find an appropriate scientist to serve as a mentor, in assisting them in carrying out a research project in their area of interest.  The initial stages of the research usually commence during the spring and summer as the student works with their mentor and learns many laboratory or analytical skills that will be integral to their future research.  Students can earn 2 college credits from SUNY Albany for working on their research during the summer months. In order to remain in the science research program, students need to maintain at least an average of 80 percent in the class throughout the school year 

1 credit

Prerequisite: Must have been enrolled in science research the previous school year.  Application process followed by Science Research teacher recommendation. 

During the second year of this three-year sequence, students will continue to research related literature in their field of interest. They will also continue to learn lab/analytical techniques and work on their research experiment under the guidance of their mentor. Further, they will design an experiment, and/or phase 2 of an experiment, based on the background information and past research that they have read about, to become a “local expert” on that subject.  They will conduct a guided, statistical analysis and interpretation of the results and be expected to give presentations of their findings to their class, their school district, and at regional and statewide symposia. Their presentations are based on the scientific Protocol listed above and incorporate visual presentation techniques (PowerPoint, Poster boards, etc.). Students will start writing a scientific research paper for their senior capstone project. They will meet with the class and the teacher regularly.  All steps in the student’s progress will be carefully and systematically monitored to assure that students engage in each phase of scientific research and have attained the desired capabilities. Students can earn 4 college credits for their work during the school year and an additional 2 college credits from SUNY Albany for working on their research during the summer months. In order to remain in the science research program, students need to maintain at least an average of 80 percent in the class throughout the school year 

1 credit

Prerequisite: Recommendation science research teacher. Student must have been enrolled in science research the previous two school years.

During this final year of the three-year sequence, students will finalize their authentic research experiment, under the guidance of their mentor. They will complete their senior paper, based on either two years of work or on the second summer's work, and may use this paper to apply to the Regeneron Science Talent Search, a senior-only competition. They will continue to give presentations of their findings to their class, their school district, and at regional and statewide symposia, including presentations at senior-only events such as WR-JSHS. They will enter all available science competitions. As in previous years, students will meet with the class and the teacher regularly and all steps in the students’ progress are carefully and systematically monitored to assure that students engage in each phase of scientific research and have attained the desired capabilities. Students can earn 4 college credits for their work during the school year from SUNY Albany. The seniors' work will be highlighted at the end-of-the-year symposium. In order to remain in the science research program, students need to maintain at least an average of 80 percent in the class throughout the school year