Science Course Descriptions: 

Earth and Environmental: The Earth/Environmental science curriculum focuses on the function of Earth's systems. Emphasis is placed on matter, energy, plate tectonics, origin and evolution of the earth and solar system, environmental awareness, materials availability, and the cycles that circulate energy and material through the Earth’s system.

Biology: This course includes a study of living organisms and their vital processes. Themes that will be covered in this course include scientific skills, ecology, biochemistry, cellular processes, genetics, evolution, classification of organisms, as well as plant and human body systems.  We will learn biology at the cellular level all the way to the organism level. This laboratory End Of Course (EOC) science class will include physical labs, presentations, dissections, and projects. 

Chemistry: This course is designed to provide all students with a thorough introduction to chemistry concepts and encourage the use of critical thinking skills. Chemistry is a type of physical science that is characterized by the study of matter. Throughout this course, some of the main topics we will study are: matter, the components of matter, ways in which matter can change and react, atoms, the periodic table and its trends, types of chemical bonding and structures, types of chemical reactions, stoichiometry, states of matter, phase changes, gas laws, solutions, equilibrium, acids, bases, thermodynamics, and nuclear chemistry.

Physics: Students will be expected to use the scientific method as they participate in inquiry-based activities. Students will develop creative problem solving skills using advanced mathematics as the basis. Higher thinking skills will be developed by using technology and discovery type laboratory activities. This course is aligned with North Carolina Standard Course of Study for Physics

Physical Science: In this class the student will develop abilities to do scientific inquiry to understand properties of the physical world. This course is an introduction to Physics and Chemistry. The student will be doing laboratory work to investigate the properties of these two sciences.

Oceanography:  This course deals with aspects of geology, chemistry, physics, climatology, environmental science and biology as they apply to the oceans. During the first quarter of this laboratory class, we will focus on Oceanography concepts.  Basic taxonomy of Marine Biology will be discussed during the second quarter. We will investigate ocean life, starting at the microscopic level continuing all the way to sharks. We will be doing many hands-on activities, including labs, presentations, dissections and projects.  

Anatomy and Physiology: Anatomy and Physiology is a college preparatory class with an emphasis on the structures and functions of the human body. Clinical applications develop problem solving skills within a real-life context.

Astronomy: The Astronomy curriculum will give students an introductory level to the principles of Astronomy.  You’ll develop skills to determine the position and distances of stars and galaxies.  You’ll learn the composition of stars and planets and the physics behind this knowledge.  Students will be presented with theories on the evolution and end of the universe.   

Honors Forensic Science: Honors Forensic Science is a one semester elective course designed to engage students using a creative, problem-solving and inquiry-based approach.  This course will incorporate multidisciplinary instruction using topics from Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Earth Science.  It will also draw on Civics, History and Math.  Students will apply their knowledge in these areas to the science of forensic investigations. 

AP Chemistry: This AP Chemistry course is 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, as a freshman, second year work in the chemistry sequence at their institution or to register in courses in other fields where general chemistry is a prerequisite. This course is structured around the four big ideas articulated in the AP Chemistry curriculum framework provided by the College Board.  A special emphasis will be placed on the four main ideas, which capture important aspects of the work that scientists engage in, with learning objectives that combine content with inquiry and reasoning skills. AP Chemistry is open to all students that have successfully completed a semester of chemistry who wish to take part in a rigorous and academically challenging course.   

AP Physics: AP Physics is the equivalent to a first-semester college course in algebra-based physics. The course covers Newtonian mechanics (including rotational dynamics and angular momentum); work, energy, power, and simple harmonic motion. AP Physics 1 is a double-blocked course that meets once every day for 90 minutes, all year long. Students should have completed Math -2 (geometry) and be concurrently taking Math-3 (Algebra II) or an equivalent course. Although the Physics 1 course includes basic use of trigonometric functions, this understanding can be gained either in the concurrent math course or in the AP Physics 1 course itself.  No prior course work in physics is necessary. 

AP Environmental Science: The goal of the Advanced Placement Environmental Science Course is to provide students 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 human-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternate solutions for resolving and/or preventing them (College Board, Advanced Placement Program).

AP Biology: The AP Biology Course is modeled from current Introductory College Biology courses. The focus is on The Chemistry of Living Things, Genetics, The Cell and Cellular Energy, Natural Selection Ecology The course is designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement Biology Exam.

**All students meet with their designated counselor to review and discuss course requests.