Science

Physical Science is an inquiry-based course that introduces students to key concepts related to Chemistry, Physics, and Earth and Space science. Students will focus on planning and carrying out scientific investigations. Current physical science phenomena and real-world problems will be the basis to conduct research, design experiments and evaluate and communicate results.

Course number: 241

Duration: Full Year

Credit: 1

Grade Levels: 9-12

Fee: $9

Chemistry is intended to be an inquiry course that will emphasize the organized collection, analysis, and communication of data, while introducing evaluation, prediction, and application of skills. The topics from the Ohio Model Curriculum covered in Chemistry will include: analysis of materials, nomenclature, bonding, stoichiometry, chemical equations, periodicity, atomic models, reduction and oxidation reactions, acids and bases, gas laws, intermolecular attractions, kinetics and equilibrium processes.

Throughout the course, qualitative and quantitative laboratory skills will be developed through the manipulation of standard laboratory equipment.

Course Number: 226

Duration: Full Year

Credits: 1

Grade: 9-12

Fees: $16

Additional: Credit in Algebra I required; chemical splash goggles required – included in course fee.

Combining the science of the world beneath our feet and the skies above our heads, this course will focus on understanding the phenomena that occur daily in our oceans and how they relate to changes in our atmosphere. Special emphasis will be placed on plate tectonics, ocean currents, ocean exploration, and the effects the ocean has on climate, including analysis of weather data and climatic changes, as well as atmospheric phenomena. Computer literacy will be developed by implementing Internet weather data banks.

Astronomy is a focus on the study of our cosmos. Through a combination of laboratory activities, short and long-term projects, and other daily class work, the student will review and further expand on the scientific principles of our solar system, galaxy, and universe. Special emphasis will be placed on the history of astronomy, structures in space, and theories behind our world’s beginning and interrelationships with the rest of space.

Course Number: 235

Duration: Year

Credits: 1

Grade: 9-12

Fees: $10

The focus of this course will be to develop a better understanding of the physical laws that govern nature through conceptual and mathematical processes and an inquiry-based laboratory approach. Topics, from the Ohio Model Curriculum, include kinematics (position, velocity and acceleration of objects), as well as forces, energy and its conservation, electricity, and magnetism.

Laboratory skills will be designed to encourage problem-solving and independent thought, and a variety of tools and technology will be used for collecting and analyzing data. This course is designed to prepare students for a college major that requires science.

Course Number: 247

Duration: Full Year

Credits: 1

Grade: 9-12

Fees: $10

Additional: Concurrent enrollment in Algebra 2 or higher math.

AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course that may be taken with no prior physics coursework. Students cultivate their understanding of Physics through inquiry-based investigations as they explore topics such as Newtonian mechanics including rotational motion and torque, momentum and impulse, work, energy and its conservation. In addition to Newtonian mechanics topics of mechanical waves and sound, electrostatics, and direct current (DC) circuits with resistors will be developed. Instruction will focus on the big ideas typically included in the first semester of an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics sequence and provide students with enduring understandings to support future advanced course work in the sciences. Through inquiry-based learning, students will develop critical thinking and reasoning skills, as defined by the AP Science Practices.

At least twenty-five percent of instructional time is devoted to hands-on laboratory work with an emphasis on inquiry-based investigations and design projects. Investigations will require students to ask questions, make observations and predictions, design experiments, analyze data, and construct arguments in a collaborative setting, where they direct and monitor their progress.

Course Number: 256AP

Duration: Full Year

Credits: 1

Grade: 9-12

Fees: $35

Additional: Credit or concurrent enrollment in Algebra 2 or higher required; students eligible for free or reduced lunch should check with their counselor about AP exam fee waivers.

This course is the equivalent of the college freshman environmental science course following the prescribed curriculum as published by the College Board. Students will explore and investigate the interrelationships of the natural world, identify and analyze environmental problems, both natural and human-made, evaluate the relative risks associated with these environmental problems, and examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them.

Course Number: 252AP

Duration: Full Year

Credits: 1

Grade: 10-12

Fees: $40

Additional: Credit in Biology and Algebra I required.

Pre-AP Chemistry focuses on students developing a deep conceptual understanding of matter and energy at the molecular level by asking students to explain their macroscopic observations using particulate-level reasoning. Students will begin their exploration of matter by observing and measuring macroscopic properties of everyday materials and progress throughout the course to explore deeper and more detailed perspectives of the particle nature of matter. Pre-AP Chemistry motivates students to be active participants in applying critical thinking and mathematical skills as they engage in context-driven mathematics, data analysis, modeling, and productive collaboration with their peers. Specific applications of inorganic chemistry, including Material Science, will be highlighted.

Course Number: 223PreAP

Duration: Full Year

Credits: 1

Grade: 10-12

Fees: $16

Additional: Enrollment or credit in Biology or equivalent STEM course required; completed or concurrently enrolled in Algebra 2; chemical splash goggles required – included in course fee.

This course is the equivalent of the college freshman chemistry course following curriculum as prescribed by the College Board. This course is an excellent preparation for premedical, nursing, veterinarian, industrial hygienist, and engineering related careers.

Students must be able to work independently. Further development of individual laboratory skills introduced in previous courses will be emphasized. Additional time for lab work may be required.

Course Number: 228AP

Duration: Year

Credits: 1

Grade: 10-12

Fees: $43

Additional: Credit in Chemistry and Algebra 2; chemical splash goggles required but not included in course fee.

This course is the equivalent of a college calculus-based physics course in Electricity and Magnetism following the prescribed curriculum as published by the College Board. Engineering, mathematics, medical and pure science majors may use this course to deepen their understanding of college physics principles and procedures. AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism will emphasize higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in the laboratory and theoretical settings. Students will need to be motivated and self-directed in both individual and team-based work. Advanced Placement courses are demanding and require daily work outside of class. Topics in this Electricity and Magnetism course include an advanced study of electrostatics and electric fields; conductors, capacitors and dielectrics; electric circuits (both DC and AC); magnetic fields and forces; and electromagnetism including RLC circuits and Lenz’s Law. This course may include building and design projects where students can demonstrate their understanding of course topics. Given time, additional topics may include the study of optics and modern physics (relativity and quantum physics). 

Course Number: 258AP

Duration: Full Year

Credits: 1

Grade: 10-12 

Fees: $35

Additional: Students should have taken a prior advanced science physics course (Physics or AP Physics 1). Students should have completed or be concurrently enrolled in Pre-Calculus or the equivalent CCP course.

This course is the equivalent of a college calculus-based physics course in Mechanics following the prescribed curriculum as published by the College Board. Engineering, mathematics, medical, and pure science majors may use this course to deepen their understanding of college physics principles and procedures. AP Physics C: Mechanics will emphasize higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in laboratory and theoretical settings. Students will need to be motivated and self-directed in both individual and team-based work. Advanced Placement courses are demanding and require work outside of class. Topics in this Mechanics course include the advanced study of kinematics; Newton’s laws of motion and forces; work, energy, and power; systems of particles and linear momentum; circular motion and rotation along with moment of inertia; and oscillations and gravitation. This course will feature several building and design projects where students can demonstrate their understanding of course topics. Given time, additional topics may include the study of fluids and thermal physics.

Course Number: 259AP

Duration: Full Year

Credits: 1

Grade: 10-12 

Fees: $35

Additional: Students should have taken a physics course and have completed or be concurrently enrolled in Pre-Calculus or the equivalent CCP course.

This course is the equivalent of the college freshman biology course following the prescribed curriculum as published by the College Board. This course is excellent preparation for premedical, nursing, veterinarian, industrial hygienist, and other health-related careers. The student must be able to work independently. Individual and creative laboratory work is an integral part of the course of study. The following topics will be studied during the course: Molecules and Cells, Heredity and Evolution, and Organisms and Populations. Additional time for lab work may be required.

Course Number: 212AP

Duration: Full Year

Credits: 1

Grade: 10-12

Fees: $44

Additional: Credit in Biology required; credit or concurrent enrollment in Chemistry suggested.

Honors Anatomy and Physiology is intended for highly motivated students who demonstrate an interest in or are pursuing professions in medical fields. Students are expected to work independently and collaboratively on a variety of assignments and accept greater responsibility for their learning. This will include additional time requirements outside of the regular school day for students to complete the following: design and conduct independent and collaborative scientific investigations to answer questions; perform inquiry activities that extend over time; relate investigation(s) to recent research and communicate findings in a formal written laboratory report and presentation. Students will investigate human body systems, organs, tissues and cells, focusing on the integument, skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems along with laboratory approach for the physiology and application of life processes.

Students will investigate the endocrine, lymphatic, cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory, immune and reproductive systems. Students will examine similarities of the human body systems through a mammal dissection.

Course Number: 208H

Duration: Full Year

Credits: 1

Grade: 10-12

Fees: $70

Additional: Credit in Biology required; Students seeking extended learning in the medical field are encouraged to participate.

This course will introduce the characteristics of organic compounds and the most important organic functional groups. The chemistry of carbon compounds will be distinguished from inorganic chemistry. The various classes of aliphatic and aromatic compounds will be examined. The diversity of functional groups will be explored regarding reactivity and mechanism. Stereochemistry will emphasize the three-dimensional aspect that the carbon backbone confers upon macromolecules.

A laboratory approach will be used to encourage students to develop inquiry skills, qualitative and quantitative laboratory skills, process skills and working knowledge of chemistry.

Course Number: 217H

Duration: Year

Credits: 1

Grade: 10-12

Fees: $15

Additional: Credit in Chemistry; chemical splash goggles required but not included in course fee; recommended for students interested in pursuing a science major in college.

This course will examine a variety of topics related to the field of forensic science including: observation skills, fiber and textile analysis, hair analysis, fingerprinting, blood and blood splatter analysis, forensic anthropology, crime scene investigation, and evidence collection. This course will emphasize inquiry and problem-solving in the laboratory.

Course Number: 219

Duration: Semester

Credits: 0.5

Grade: 10-12

Fees: $15

Additional: Credit in Biology required.

This course will build on and expand topics explored in Forensic Science 1. Topics may include DNA Fingerprinting, Drug Identification and Toxicology, Glass Evidence, Casts and Impressions, Tool Marks, Ballistics, and Forensic Entomology. This course will emphasize inquiry and problem-solving in the field and laboratory.

Course Number: 221

Duration: Semester

Credits: 0.5

Grade: 10-12

Fees: $15

Additional: Credit in Forensic Science I required.

This course will build on and expand topics explored in Forensic Science 1 and 2. Topics may include: Interrogation and Forensic Reporting, Arson, Fire and Explosion Investigation, Physical Trauma (wounds, injuries) and Autopsy, Accident Reconstruction, Digital Evidence (mobile devices, computers, cybercrimes), Criminal Profiling, Detector Dogs (drugs, missing persons, find and rescue), Biometrics, and Crime Scene Photography. This course will emphasize inquiry and problem-solving in the field and laboratory.

Course Number: 222

Duration: Semester

Credits: 0.5

Grade: 10-12

Fees: $15

Additional: Credit in Forensic Science 1 and 2 required.