Science: Course Offerings
Astronomy
Astronomy, a year-long course available to 11th - and 12th -grade students, is designed to be accessible to any student. Topics range from the solar system to stars, galaxies, space travel, and cosmology. In 23 addition to practical investigations, there are nighttime telescopic observations several times during the course. This is a laboratory course. This course is offered on a rotational basis. Credit: one unit. Pre-requisite: Biology and one year of a physical science.
Biology
Biology provides an overview of the important principles and methods of the field of biology. It covers such topics as cells, genetics, evolution, microorganisms, plants, invertebrates, human biology, and ecology. This is a laboratory course. Credit: one unit. Prerequisite: Physics or Chemistry.
Advanced Placement Biology
AP Biology is designed to be the equivalent of a college introductory biology course taken by biology majors during their first year. It covers the following major topics: molecules and cells, heredity and evolution, and organisms and populations. This is a laboratory course. The course prepares students to sit successfully for the AP Biology examination. Most students take this as a second biology course. However, advanced students may be recommended for AP Biology as an initial biology course. Credit: one unit. Prerequisite: Biology and Chemistry.
Chemistry
Chemistry is an introductory course in chemistry for students who have not yet studied chemistry as a separate subject. It covers the main foundations of inorganic chemistry, both qualitatively and quantitatively. In addition, it introduces organic chemistry primarily in a descriptive fashion. This is a laboratory course. Credit: one unit. Prerequisite: Physics.
Accelerated Chemistry
Accelerated Chemistry is an advanced introductory chemistry course that prepares students to take AP Chemistry and other AP science courses. The curriculum is adopted primarily from the first half of the College Board’s AP Chemistry course. The course covers the main foundations of inorganic chemistry, both qualitatively and quantitatively. In addition, it includes organic chemistry primarily as a descriptive fashion. This is a laboratory course. Credit: one unit. Prerequisite: Physics. Co-requisite: Algebra II.
Advanced Placement Chemistry
AP Chemistry is a second-year chemistry course that provides students with a college-level foundation to support future work in chemistry and the sciences. Students will cultivate their understanding of chemistry through inquiry-based investigations as they explore content such as: atomic structure, intermolecular forces and bonding, chemical reactions, kinetics, thermodynamics, and equilibrium. This is a laboratory course. The course prepares students to sit successfully for the AP Chemistry examination. Credit: one unit. Prerequisite: Chemistry. Co-requisite: Pre-Calculus.
Physics
Physics is an introduction to classical physics. Students are expected to use both their writing skills and their math skills to demonstrate their knowledge and application of physics during the course. Topics covered include measurement, kinematics in one and two dimensions, forces, energy and momentum, and electrostatics and circuits. This is a laboratory course. Credit: one unit. Prerequisite: Algebra I
Advanced Placement Physics I
AP Physics I is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through classroom study, in-class activity, and hands-on, inquiry-based laboratory work as they explore concepts like systems, fields, force interactions, change, conservation, and waves. This is a laboratory course. It prepares students to take the AP Physics I examination. Credit: one unit. Co-requisite: Pre-Calculus or Math Analysis.
Advanced Placement Environmental Science
AP Environmental Science is equivalent to a one-semester introductory college-level course in environmental science. It is an interdisciplinary course involving elements of geology, biology, chemistry, and physics and prepares students for the AP Environmental Science examination. This is a laboratory course. Credit: one unit. Prerequisite: one unit of biology and one unit of a physical science.
Principles of Biomedical Science
In the introductory course of the Project Lead the Way Biomedical Science program, students explore concepts of biology and medicine to determine factors that led to the death of a fictional person. While investigating the case, students examine autopsy reports, investigate medical history, and explore medical treatments that might have prolonged the person’s life. The activities and projects introduce students to human physiology, basic biology, medicine, and research processes while allowing them to design their own experiments to solve problems. Credit: one unit. Prerequisite: Biology.
Human Body Systems
Students examine the interactions of human body systems as they explore identity, power, movement, protection, and homeostasis. Exploring science in action, students build organs and tissues on a skeletal Maniken®; use data acquisition software to monitor body functions such as muscle movement, reflex and voluntary action, and respiration; and take on the roles of biomedical professionals to solve real-world medical cases. Credit: one unit. Prerequisite: Principles of Biomedical Science.
Medical Interventions
Medical Interventions (MI) allows students to investigate a variety of interventions involved in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease as they follow the lives of a fictitious family. The course explores how to prevent and fight infection, how to screen and evaluate the code in our DNA, how to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer, and how to prevail when the organs of the body begin to fail. Students will be exposed to a wide range of interventions related to immunology, surgery, genetics, pharmacology, medical devices, and diagnostics. This is a laboratory course. Credit: one unit. Prerequisite: Biology and Principles of Biomedical Science
Principles of Engineering
Through problems that engage and challenge, students explore a broad range of engineering topics, including mechanisms, the strength of structures and materials, and automation. Students develop skills in problem solving, research, and design while learning strategies for design process documentation, collaboration, and presentation. Credit: one unit. Pre-requisite: Physics and Geometry. Corequisite: Algebra II or higher.
2023-2024 Course Offerings