Science Courses-14629

Advanced Placement Science courses are considered electives; therefore, they cannot be dropped once the school year begins.

Grade 11 & 12 | Credits: 7.5 | Semester Lab Period | Prerequisites will determine placement into course | Dual-Credit Option

AP Biology is a fast-paced course that requires responsible and committed students to spend extensive time and effort in study. Some topics necessitate independent study.  In this college-level course, which is designed to prepare students for the AP exam, a college textbook is used and the College Board AP Biology syllabus is followed for topics and laboratories.  Areas of study include biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, energetics, genetics and evolution, principles of taxonomy, plant and animal physiology, and ecology.  Non-syllabus labs enrich the analytical approach used in this course.  Students are not able to drop AP Biology once the school year begins. Meets NCAA Core Course Requirements.

Grade 11 & 12 | Credits: 7.5 | Semester Lab Period | Prerequisites will determine placement into course

AP Chemistry is designed for second-year chemistry students who have high motivation and plan to enter a science-related career. The course provides a rigorous quantitative approach to advanced topics of chemistry in preparation for the Advanced Placement exam in chemistry. The course begins with a review of basic concepts, then progresses to kinetics, equilibrium, electrochemistry, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, and radioactivity. Numerous laboratory experiences are included in the course. Students who have previously taken Academic Chemistry will have extensive work to complete before starting this course to learn topics not included in their entry-level chemistry course.  Students cannot drop AP Chemistry once the school year begins. Meets NCAA Core Course Requirements.

Grade 12 | Credits: 7.5 | 2 lab periods | Prerequisites will determine placement into course

AP Physics C is a course for highly motivated science students who are considering a science-related career. This course is a Calculus-based, mathematically rigorous study of physics designed to prepare the student for the AP Physics C examinations in both mechanics and electricity and magnetism. Students gain expertise in the mathematical analysis of physical phenomena that is not possible in a first-year physics course. There is an emphasis on solving sophisticated physics problems. Laboratory experiences are provided to help students understand some of the more abstract concepts. Students who have previously taken Academic Physics will have extensive work to complete before starting this course to learn topics not included in their entry-level physics course.  Students cannot drop AP Physics C once the school year begins. Meets NCAA Core Course Requirements.

Grades 11 & 12 | Credits: 7.5 | Semester Lab Period | Prerequisites will determine placement into course

 The goal of AP Environmental Science is to equip students with the scientific knowledge necessary for understanding the interrelationships in the natural world.  This course provides students with the skills necessary to analyze environmental problems and the relative risks associated with human changes to natural ecosystems.  Students will also examine alternative solutions to solving these problems. AP Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary course that incorporates scientific principles from earth science, biology and chemistry, in addition to aspects of social studies, as they relate to the study of the environment. Students in this course are expected to attend several field trips that take place during school hours.  Students cannot drop AP Environmental Science once the school year begins. Meet NJ Graduation Requirements. Meets NCAA Core Course Requirements.

Grade 10-12 | Credits: 2.5 | Semester Course | Prerequisites will determine placement into course

Marine Biology focuses on the study of marine ecosystems with specific emphasis on the ecology of the Atlantic coastal waters. This course involves the study of physical and chemical processes and their influence on the distribution and abundance of marine organisms. Specific ecosystems include coral reefs, kelp forests, rocky intertidal, estuaries, deep sea, and sandy beaches.  Students are introduced to vertebrates and invertebrates that inhabit these ecosystems, such as fish, marine mammals, mollusks, cnidarians, poriferans, arthropods, and echinoderms. The impact of humans on these natural ecosystems is also studied. In addition, students explore career options in the field of marine sciences and are expected to participate in multiple field trips. Meets NCAA Core Course Requirements

Grade 11-12 | Credits: 2.5 | Semester Course

This course is an honors level course designed to investigate the connection between science and the world of superheroes and villains portrayed in popular culture.  This course aims to analyze and explore the scientific concepts and principles that underlie the extraordinary abilities, technologies, and phenomena depicted in comic books, movies, and other media.  The course will focus on applying the scientific method to investigate the surrounding superheroes and villains.  Students will engage in designing and completing hands-on experiments, data analysis, and critical thinking to bridge the gap between fiction and reality. Meets NCAA Core Course Requirements.

Grade 10-12 | Credit: 5 | Prerequisites will determine placement into course

Environmental Science is a full year lab class that will meet six times each week. Students will utilize concepts from earth, chemistry, physics and life science fields to investigate phenomena relating to interactions between living and non-living elements in environment. The course will be made up of four thematic units: energy, atmosphere and climate, marine science, and geology. Students will learn through an inquiry approach and attempt to develop solutions to complex environmental issues. Understanding will be demonstrated through completing group work, lab investigations, engineering and design projects, presentations, and case studies. Meets NJ Graduation Requirements. Meets NCAA Core Course Requirements.

Grade 10-12 | Credits: 2.5 | Semester Course

This non-lab science course involves investigating current scientific topics and events as they happen and exploring the policies and laws that govern science on the global stage. Students will learn how societies around the world fund and promote science and technology to improve health, provide energy and food, and help foster new industries and jobs.  The course also investigates how science and technology are used to inform and debate policymaking in fields such as environmental policy and health policy, and the roles that scientists, engineers, and other experts play in providing scientific and technical information to the public and to policy-makers. Meets NCAA Core Course Requirements.

Grade 10-12 | Credits: 2.5 | Semester Course

This is a course designed to give students a basic understanding of the structure of the universe, the structure and behavior of the objects that make up the universe and the earth's relationship to the other objects in our solar system.  It includes a detailed study of the planets, the sun and the moon.  Modern observational and measurement methods used by astronomers are investigated. Meets NJ Graduation Requirements. Meets NCAA Core Course Requirements. 

Grade 10-12 | Credits: 2.5 | Semester Course

This is a course designed to give students a basic understanding of weather patterns and their causes.  The students observe weather and cloud formations, rain, snow, sleet, and wind. The causes and effects of major storms and the instruments used to measure and predict weather are examined.  Major aspects of the course include the prediction of tornadoes, hurricanes, and other weather conditions. Students engage in weather forecasting, collecting daily weather data, and preparing and decoding the daily weather map. Weather data, which is computer generated, is also analyzed by students.Meets NJ Graduation Requirements. Meets NCAA Core Course Requirements.

Grade 11 & 12 | Credits: 2.5 | Semester Course | Prerequisites will determine placement into course

Human Biology involves introducing students to human biology. Students will investigate the interactions between body systems; they will see how body organs work individually and collectively to maintain an internal homeostasis and overall health. The course explores the human body systems through a combination of dissection, practical laboratory exploration, and alternative assessments. Meets NCAA Core Course Requirements.

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 2.5 | Semester Course | Prerequisites will determine placement into course

Students in this course learn the fundamentals of a criminal investigation and how it is used in a court of law. All sessions include crime scene analysis, evidence collection, and case studies. Students will focus on specific analytical techniques that could include fingerprinting, ballistics, explosives, arson, DNA, blood spatter, hair, fiber, handwriting analysis, forensic anthropology, and toxicology. By stepping into the role of the forensic scientist, students learn and apply numerous scientific strategies and skills.

Grade 10-12 | Credits: 2.5 | Semester Course | Prerequisites will determine placement into course

Students in this semester course get an introduction to using molecular biology laboratory protocols, such as DNA purification, PCR, restriction digests, and agarose gel electrophoresis, to isolate and analyze DNA samples. This course is a prerequisite for the Waksman Student Scholars Program (course 1142) where students conduct a molecular biology research project.

Grades 11 & 12 | Credits: 5 | Prerequisites will determine placement into course

Research and Seminars in Biological Science H allows students to participate in the Waksman Student Scholars Program.  The Waksman Student Scholars Program provides opportunities for students to conduct an authentic research project in molecular biology and bioinformatics. Students use molecular biology laboratory techniques to isolate and analyze DNA samples. The goal is for students to analyze, and possibly publish, a DNA sequence.  Note that this program is affiliated with Rutgers University, which sets course requirements and limitations. This course can be taken more than once in a High School career; qualified students take on leadership roles as they progress in the program.  Students who want to enroll in this course must have previously taken the Molecular Biology Lab Techniques elective.

Research and Seminars in Biological Science H II is for seniors who are taking a second year of the course.Meets NCAA Core Course Requirements

Grades 11 & 12 | Credits: 7.5 | Semester Lab Period | Prerequisites will determine placement into course | Dual-Credit Option

Anatomy and Physiology is designed to introduce students to the structure and function of the human body. The scope of the course includes topics such as animal cell structure and biochemistry, tissue organization and function, and mammalian organs and organ systems as they relate to human biology. Extensive laboratory work, including a major mammalian dissection, is required.  The course provides a strong background for students entering careers such as nursing, medical technology, and sports medicine. Meets NCAA Core Course Requirements.