Science Electives
2013 - 2014 School Year
Diploma Eligibility
Advanced Diploma
(4 sciences required)
1. Biology/Biology HN
2. Chemistry/Chemistry
HN
3. Geosystems/
Geosystem HN or
Physics/Physics HN
4. Any other science
class listed
Regular Diploma
(3 sciences required)
1. Biology/Biology HN
2. Chemistry/Chemistry
HN
3. Geosystems/
Geosystem HN or
Physics/Physics HN
Science Course Selection Chart
9th grade
Biology
10th grade
Chemistry*
*Passing Alg. I is
required for
Chemistry
**AP & Elective
courses:
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
AP Env. Science
AP Physics
Anatomy & Physiology
Astronomy
Oceanography
***Chemistry is
required for
Geosystems
Active physics
11th grade
12th grade
Physics
Physics
AP&Electives**
AP&Electives**
Geosystems***
Geosystems ***
Chemistry*
Geosystems ***
Advance to the next slide to browse through all of the offerings,
or click on any subject to skip straight to a course
Honors Biology
• Grade Level – 9th grade
• Prerequisites – 7th and 8th grade science
• Course Description – This is a college
preparatory biology class. We cover scientific
method, ecology, cells, biochemistry, DNA,
genetics, evolution, classification, and family life
education. There is an end of year SOL test.
Honors students will be expected to conduct a
science fair project and learn topics that are
more in-depth than the standard biology course.
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Electives Chart
Active Physics
• Grade Level – 10th grade
• Prerequisites – Biology
• Course Description – Active Physics allows every
student the access to the interesting world
around them by involving students each day in
activities that reveal and create insight into
science without all of the rigors normally
associated with a conventional course of
Physics. The course has been developed for
students who have an interest in science but
require additional time to develop mathematical
skills that are necessary for the science of
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Chemistry.
Electives Chart
Honors Chemistry
• Grade Level – 10th grade
• Prerequisites – Must be in Algebra 2
• Course Description – This is a college
preparatory chemistry class. Frequent use of
algebra skills, including logs is required. This
course moves at a fairly quick pace with regular
lab work supporting the topics. There are both
more topics covered and a greater depth of
material than in chemistry 1. There’s about an
hour of homework per class session.
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Electives Chart
Honors Geosystems
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Option for 3rd required science
Grade Level – 11th or 12th grade
Prerequisites – Biology & Chemistry
Course Description - Geosystems integrates content
from geology, astronomy, oceanography, and
meteorology with various forms of technology, social
and environmental issues, and hands-on
experiments. Students will explore concepts using
various technological equipment. Students will be
involved in doing research projects, either
independently or in teams. Students are required to
take the Earth Science SOL test.
Learn more
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Electives Chart
about
Geosystems!
An integration of…
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Geology
Astronomy
Oceanography
Meteorology
Social & environmental
issues
Using technology &
project based learning
Learn more
about
Geosystems!
Geographic Information Systems
(GIS) Software (ArcView 9.3)
• Software for
visualizing, managing,
creating, and analyzing
geographic data to see
relationships and
identify patterns in
new ways.
Learn more
about
Geosystems!
Global Positioning System (GPS)
• Use handheld GPS
devices for mapmaking and landsurveying projects
Learn more
about
Geosystems!
Careers in Geosciences!
• Geoscientists follow paths of exploration & discovery in quest of
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solutions to some of society's most challenging problems.
Predicting the behavior of Earth systems & the universe.
Finding adequate supplies of natural resources, such as ground water,
petroleum, & metals.
Conserving soils & maintaining agricultural productivity.
Developing natural resources in ways that safeguard the environment.
Maintaining quality of water supplies.
Reducing human suffering & property loss from natural hazards, such as
volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, floods, landslides, hurricanes, &
tsunamis.
Determining geological controls on natural environments & habitats &
predicting the impact of human activities on them.
Defining the balance between society's demand for natural resources &
the need to sustain healthy ecosystems.
Learn more
about
Understanding global climate patterns.
Geosystems!
Do you have what it takes?
Pre-requisites
Requirements
• Chemistry
• Algebra 2
• End of the course
•
Earth Science SOL
Research project
using GIS applications
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Electives Chart
Honors Physics
• Option for 3rd required science
• Grade Level – 11th or 12th grade
• Prerequisites – Biology & Chemistry
• Course Description – This course focuses on
problem solving to facilitate the understanding
of our physical world. Discussion, writing,
computers, laboratories & math will be used as
tools to aid in the problem solving you will do
throughout the course. Strong math skills will be
invaluable throughout the course.
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Electives Chart
Anatomy & Physiology
• Grade Level – 11th or 12th grades
• Prerequisites – Biology & Chemistry
• Course Description – This course is a
subdivision of biology that describes how
our bodies are put together and how they
work. The human body is more than just
interesting-it is fascinating!
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Electives Chart
Astronomy
• Grade Level – 11th or 12th grade
• Prerequisites – Biology & Chemistry
• Course Description – This course discusses
what we know about the universe, how
we figured it out, and what research is
currently going on in this field.
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Electives Chart
Oceanography
• Grade Level – 11th or 12th grade
• Prerequisites – Biology & Chemistry
• Course Description – This course introduces
students to the major topic areas of
Oceanography. This course describes the role of
the oceans on our Earth, why they are important
to us, and what influence the oceans have on
the history of civilization. This course includes
at least one field trip and 2-3 guest speakers.
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Electives Chart
Take an Advanced Placement
Class:
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
AP Environmental Science
AP Physics
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Electives Chart
AP Biology
• Grade Level – 11th or 12th grade
• Prerequisites – Biology & Chemistry
• Recommendations – Anatomy & Physiology (before or
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concurrently)
Course Description - This course is similar to a biology
course a student would take during his/her first year
of college. Topics of this course include molecules &
cells, heredity and evolution and organisms and
populations. Within each of these general topics,
specific sub-topics and concepts will be emphasized.
College level lab work will also be required.
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options
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Electives Chart
AP Chemistry
• Grade Level – 11th or 12th grade
• Prerequisites – Biology & Chemistry
• Course Description – This course equates to a
year of college chemistry with problem sessions
and a strong lab experience. This is an excellent
course for those planning on studying chemistry,
entering a medical field or forensics. 1-2 hours
of homework per class meeting, mostly involving
problems and lab calculations is expected.
Some lab work may need to be started before or
finished after school.
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options
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Electives Chart
AP Environmental Science
• Grade Level – 11th or 12th grade
• Prerequisites – Biology & Chemistry
• Course Description - This is a college-level science
course that teaches the relationships between
humans and the natural world. The course
identifies natural and human-caused environmental
problems, as well as discusses potential solutions.
Although this course is a science course with an
emphasis on laboratory activities; the course also
overlaps with reading, writing, math, and social
studies disciplines.
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options
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Electives Chart
AP Physics
• Grade Level – 11th or 12th grade
• Prerequisites – Biology, Chemistry, & Physics 1
• Course Description – This is a college level
course that is algebra/trig based. It covers a
wide range of topics, including mechanics, fluids,
thermodynamics, waves and optics,
electromagnetism, and atomic and nuclear
physics.
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options
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Electives Chart