Science Course Offerings and Descriptions
513 Biology (or 513E Biology E)
Open to freshmen and sophomores
2 semesters; 2 laboratory credits
This course emphasizes problem-solving techniques and laboratory work. Topics include the nature of science and the scientific method, molecular and cellular biology, enzyme action, ecology, photosynthesis, genetics, taxonomy, and population biology. Some sections of this course will include supported and enriched instruction to reinforce rigorous science instruction for all students.
515 Biology A
Open to freshmen and sophomores whose placement scores indicate a strong possibility for success
2 semesters; 2 laboratory credits
The same topics are studied as in 513 Biology but with greater depth in both the treatment of the concepts and in the use of open-ended laboratory problems.
517 Anatomy and Physiology of the Human Body
Open to juniors and seniors
Prerequisite: Successful completion of a chemistry course and successful completion or concurrent enrollment in a biology course.
2 semesters; 2 laboratory credits
Starting with the microscopic study of body tissues, this course then explores in detail the major systems of the human body. The course is designed for students who have serious interest in pursuing careers related to human or veterinary medicine, nursing, or sports medicine and for those students who would like to enhance their knowledge in biology and physiology.
519 investigational Research, Design and Innovation A (IRDI)
Open to juniors or seniors
Prerequisite: Successful completion of 1 year of biology (513, 515, or 525) and 1 year of chemistry (575, 577, or 523) or teacher recommendation. Concurrent enrollment or completion of physics is strongly recommended.
2 semesters; 2 laboratory credits
This year long, rapid paced, college level (college credit upon successful completion), capstone STEM honors course is designed for independent and academically driven juniors or seniors who have completed at least three years of laboratory science and math (or that are concurrently enrolled in their third year) who are interested in pursuing research in the fields of Science or Engineering. Each student will have the opportunity to develop an open ended research project that he or she will have the entire year to investigate using scientific laboratory or engineering design techniques. The student will be responsible for planning and implementing each phase of his or her project. Each student will be responsible for finding an “e-mentor” that is a published expert in the area the student is investigating and maintain collaboration with that professional throughout the year. Post- Baccalaureate students from Dominican University will be present on a regular basis to assist with mentoring during class time each week. Students will read scientific journals, develop hypotheses, collect and analyze data, perform statistical analyses, comprise a formal research poster and write a formal research paper, which will be submitted to local, state and national/international science competitions.
521 Models of Physics
Open to freshmen and sophomores whose placement scores indicate a strong possibility for success.
Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment or successful completion of a first year high school Algebra course
2 semesters; 2 laboratory credits
This course focuses on helping students learn science content by consistently practicing the process of science. Students will develop mathematical models using their skills from algebra to help them observe and explain the major concepts in energy, forces, motion, electricity, and magnetism. Heavy emphasis is placed on planning experiments, evaluating data, generating evidence-based claims, and applying understandings to make predictions. Students are required to collaborate productively with classmates during investigations and engage in frequent class discussions to develop both their understandings of course content and their ability to participate in scientific discourse. Any student enrolled in this course will have the opportunity to earn honors credit through mastery of all course competencies.
523 Models of Chemistry
Open to sophomores and juniors
Prerequisite: Algebra or higher and Models of Physics
2 semesters; 2 laboratory credits
This course builds on the skills that students acquire in Models of Physics to further develop student abilities in the areas of planning experiments, evaluating data, generating evidence-based claims, and applying understandings to make predictions. Students will develop mathematical models using their skills from algebra to help them observe and explain the major concepts in chemistry, including atomic theory and nuclear chemistry, chemical structure and bonding, molecular geometry, stoichiometry and quantitative analysis, gas laws, acid/base chemistry, kinetics, equilibrium, thermodynamics, oxidations/reduction reactions, and basic organic chemistry. The topics discussed will continue to develop the students' understanding of the particle model of matter, energy, and the behavior of electrons first introduced in Models of Physics. Student-to-student collaboration and communication remain an emphasis in this course with students frequently working in problem solving teams and engaging in class discussions. Any student enrolled in this course will have the opportunity to earn honors credit through mastery of all course ompetencies.
525 Models of Biology
Open to juniors and seniors
Prerequisite: Completion of Models of Chemistry
2 semesters; 2 laboratory credits
This course continues to build on the skills that students acquire in Models of Physics and Models of Chemistry to further develop student abilities in the areas of planning experiments, evaluating data, generating evidence-based claims, and applying understandings to make predictions. Evolution serves as a unifying content theme in this course as students study topics in ecology, biochemistry, cellular biology, genetics, and anatomy. Relative to previous courses in the sequence, a new emphasis will be placed on using statistics to evaluate the quality of experimental data. Student-to-student collaboration and communication remain an emphasis in this course with students frequently working in problem solving teams and engaging in class discussions. Any student enrolled in this course will have the opportunity to earn honors credit through mastery of all course competencies.
552 Astronomy
Open to juniors and seniors
2 semesters; 2 laboratory credits
This technology-enhanced course focuses on the fundamental study of the solar system, stars and stellar evolution, galaxies, black holes, and quasars. Methods of study include image processing, laboratory work, and optional fieldwork. Limited algebraic math is involved. Credit in this course may not be applied toward the high school’s graduation requirement of two laboratory science credits.
554, 5547, 5548, 5549 Environmental Science
Open to juniors and seniors
Prerequisite: 1 year of biology and 1 year of chemistry
2 semesters; 2 laboratory credits
This course explores the science behind today’s environmental issues through lecture, discussion, documentary, laboratory experiments, field study, and independent research.
556, 5567, 5568, 5564/5566, 5569 Geoscience
Open to juniors and seniors
Prerequisite: 2 laboratory credits earned in a chemistry course (577,575,573, or 523)
2 semesters; 2 laboratory credits
In this lab-based course, students will learn about earthquakes, volcanoes, the Earth’s history, the processes that shape the Earth’s surface, and the Earth’s resources. The course will seek to answer 3 central questions: “What is the universe and what is Earth’s place in it?” “How and why is Earth constantly changing?” and “How do Earth’s surface processes and human activities affect each other?” Activities include analysis of mineral samples, construction of models, optional field trips, and online simulations. Dual credit through Triton College may be available upon successful completion of this course.
559 Human Evolution
Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Prerequisite: 1 year of biology or completion of Models of Physics
1 semester; 1 credit
This course is about the study of man from a physical aspect. Course work includes information, ideas, concepts, and theories of biological anthropology. Topics of study include the evolutionary biology of humans, the fossil record, the human skeleton, both individual and population genetics, primatology, human adaptation, human behavior, and the development of culture. Credit in this course may not be applied toward the high school's graduation requirement of two laboratory science credits.
561 Physics P
Open to juniors and seniors
Prerequisite: Completion of Chemistry (575 or 573)
2 semesters; 2 laboratory credits
The course stresses phenomena that can be observed through experimentation. Laboratory work is quantitative and demonstrates everyday applications of physics. Laboratory activities in physics are coordinated to complement scientific understanding and to strengthen problem solving skills. Topics include a study of mechanics, electricity, magnetism, light and sound waves.
563 Physics
Open to juniors and seniors
Prerequisite: Completion of Chemistry (575 or 573)
2 semesters; 2 laboratory credits
The course stresses phenomena that can be observed through experimentation. Data collection and quantitative analysis are stressed in the laboratory. Topics include a study of mechanics, electricity and magnetism, light and sound waves, quantum theory, and nuclear physics.
565 Physics A
Open to juniors and seniors
Prerequisite: Completion of Chemistry (575 or 573)
2 semesters; 2 laboratory credits
This fast-paced, highly mathematical course studies the same topics as Physics but in greater depth. It is recommended that students have credit or concurrent enrollment in trigonometry.
573 ChemCom
Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Prerequisite: Completion of Biology (513 or 513E)
2 semesters; 2 laboratory credits
ChemCom (Chemistry in the Community) is a first-year high school chemistry course developed by the American Chemical Society that presents the principles of chemistry in the context of relevant social issues. Issues covered are water quality, resource conservation, petroleum use, air quality, and nuclear chemistry. Each unit contains a variety of decision making activities to give students practice applying chemistry to solve problems. Specific chemistry topics include writing formulas, balancing equations, chemical and physical changes, atomic structure, nuclear chemistry, organic chemistry, chemical periodicity, bonding, solids, liquids, gases, solutions, energy, acids and bases, salts, and oxidation/reduction.
575 Chemistry
Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Prerequisite: Completion of Biology (513, 513E or 515)
2 semesters; 2 laboratory credits
This first-year high school chemistry course studies properties of matter, chemical formulas and symbols, writing and balancing chemical equations, stoichiometry, physical states of matter, current and past atomic models, nuclear chemistry, the multi-electron atom, the periodic tables and trends, chemical bonding, solutions, thermodynamics, reaction rates, chemical equilibrium, acids and bases, and electrochemistry.
577 Chemistry A
Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Prerequisite: Completion of Biology (513 or 515)
2 semesters; 2 laboratory credits
This fast-paced, highly mathematical course studies properties of matter, chemical formulas and symbols, writing and balancing chemical equations, stoichiometry, the physical state of matter, current and past atomic models, nuclear chemistry, the multi-electron atom, the periodic tables and trends, chemical bonding, solutions, thermodynamics, reaction rates, chemical equilibrium, acids and bases, and electrochemistry. Compared with Chemistry, the laboratory work in this course is more comprehensive, and more attention is paid to data analysis.
581 AP Environmental Science
Open to juniors and seniors
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Biology (513, 515 or 525) and Chemistry (523, 573, 575, 577); concurrent enrollment or completion of physics recommended
2 semesters; 2 laboratory credits
The “AP” notation included in this course title indicates “Advanced Placement.” This course is designed to be the equivalent of the first-year college course in environmental science. Laboratory experiments, field studies, independent research, and computer simulations are used to develop analytical and research skills. Topics include sustainability, interdependence of the Earth’s systems, environmental quality, human population growth and related topics, and renewable and nonrenewable resources.
587 AP Biology
Open to juniors and seniors
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Biology (513, 515, or 525) and 1 year of Chemistry (575, 577, or 523), or approval of Division Head for Science . Concurrent enrollment or completion of physics is strongly recommended.
2 semesters; 2 laboratory credits
The “AP” notation included in this course title indicates “Advanced Placement.” This fast-paced and rigorous course follows the College Board’s Advanced Placement curriculum. It is designed to be the equivalent of a 2-semester college introductory biology course usually taken by biology majors during their first year. The classwork differs significantly from our first-year courses in biology with respect to the kind of textbook used, the range and depth of topics covered, the type of laboratory work done by students, and the time and effort required of students. This course will engage students in a lab-based curriculum with emphasis placed on open-ended inquiry labs. Content topics include biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, diversity of life, ecology, and animal and plant structure and function.
588 AP Chemistry
Open to juniors and seniors
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Biology (513, 515 or 525) and 1 year of Chemistry (523, 575 or 577), or approval of Division Head for Science. Concurrent enrollment or completion of physics recommended
2 semesters; 2 laboratory credits
The “AP” notation included in this course title indicates “Advanced Placement.” This course is designed to be the equivalent of the first-year college course in general chemistry. The class work assumes that the student has both a mastery of mathematics and a high level of understanding from the first- year course in chemistry. Topics include electrochemistry, kinetics, equilibrium, descriptive chemistry, and acids and bases. The laboratory is used to conduct quantitative experiments.
589 AP Physics C
Open to juniors and seniors
Prerequisite: Successful completion of 1 year of Biology (513, 515 or 525), 1 year of Chemistry (523, 575 or 577) and 1 year of Physics (521, 563 or 565); successful completion of or concurrent enrollment in AP Calculus
2 semesters; 2 laboratory credits
The “AP” notation included in this course title indicates “Advanced Placement.” The course follows the College Board’s Advanced Placement curriculum. Topics include mechanics, electricity, and magnetism. The course work assumes that the student has both a mastery of mathematics and a high level of understanding from the first-year course in physics. The course parallels the first 2 semesters of a college-level, calculus-based physics course. Dual credit through Triton College may be available.