Science

Science Department

Students must earn three units of science in order to graduate. Any units in course work described below fulfill this requirement. (All four-year colleges and universities require three units of a lab science.)

Students planning to attend college are expected to take physical science, biology, chemistry and/or physics. In addition to the basic program, students with intense interest in science may take a second course in biology and chemistry.

Advanced level courses are designed for students who are interested in pursuing scientific or medical careers, and are very rigorous in nature. Advanced mathematical problem-solving skills will be necessary for success.

Students planning to attend college who are interested in the liberal arts will take the first course in these science subjects to gain a strong background for any general science courses offered in college.

Physical Science 321162CW
Grades 9 – 11 1 unit
Prerequisite: Algebra 1
This course is designed for students who may wish to attend a college, technical college, or enter the work place upon graduation. The course provides a general introduction to topics in chemistry and physics. Chemistry topics cover the classification, composition, structure, and changes in matter. Physics investigates energy transformations, motions, forces, work, waves, and electricity. This work will serve as a background for additional studies in a more advanced chemistry or physics course.

Honors Physical Science 321161HW
Grade 9 1 unit
Prerequisite: Algebra 1
This course is designed for highly motivated students planning to attend college. The course provides a background in chemistry and physics. Chemistry topics cover the classification, composition, structure, and changes in matter. Physics investigates energy transformations and the relationship between energy and matter. The curriculum is designed for the student who accepts challenges and strives toward excellence in academics.

Earth Science 326562CW
Grades 11 – 12 1 unit
Prerequisite: Physical Science, Applied Biology or Biology 1
This course consists of selected topics from the fields of geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy. Topics are selected from these areas of study to convey to the student both an appreciation for the basic processes of science and an acquaintance with the current problems and ideas in the earth sciences. By the end of this course, students should gain a better understanding of the planet on which they live. Honors Biology 1 322161HWGrades 9 – 12 1 unit
Prerequisite: Honors Physical Science or Physical Science and teacher recommendation
This course is designed for highly motivated students planning to attend college. Course content includes the molecular basis of biology, the classification system of plants and animals, heredity, natural selection and ecology. Lab and field activities are extensive. The curriculum is designed for the student who accepts challenges and strives toward excellence in academics. The End-of-Course exam counts as 20% of a student’s final grade. It is required for graduation.

Biology 1 322162CW
Grades 9 – 12 1 unit
Prerequisite: None
This course is offered to the college prep student who is planning to take chemistry and/or physics, as well as those who are seeking a technical career. Students will be introduced to the molecular basis of biology, the classification system of plants and animals, heredity, ecology and natural selection. Lab and field activities are essential to this course. The End-of-Course exam counts as 20% of a student’s final grade. It is required for graduation.

Applied Biology 1 322672CW
Grades 9 – 11 1 unit
Prerequisite: Honors Biology 1 and 2
This course is laboratory-based and integrates the treatment of biology and chemistry as a unified domain of subject matter. This course emphasizes problem-solving, decision-making, critical thinking, and applied learning. Students explore the concepts and principles of biology and chemistry and apply these concepts and principles to issues in the workplace, in society, and in personal life experience. Applied Biology is designed to be both academically rigorous and realistic for students pursuing technical careers and for students planning to continue their education at the technical or collegiate level.

Applied Biology 2 322772CW
Grade: 9 - 12 1 unit
Prerequisite: Applied Biology 1
This course is laboratory–based. It will continue to explore biological concepts and principles. The course emphasizes problem-solving, decision-making, critical thinking and applied learning. The focus will be on the kingdom of life, the body systems, and evolutionary and ecological relationships. Like Applied Biology I this course is designed for students who are planning a technical career. The End-of-Course exam counts as 20% of a student’s final grade. It is required for graduation. Biology 2 322262CWGrades 11 – 12 1 unit
Prerequisite: Biology 1 and Chemistry 1
This course is designed for students who plan to attend a post-secondary level institution, but not necessarily major in a science related field. Emphasis is placed on the following areas: cells, bacteriology, genetics, and plants.

Seminar in AP Biology 329901AW
Grades 11 – 12 1 unit
Prerequisite: Honors Biology
This is an elective course that will offer students an opportunity to strengthen their abilities in science, specifically biological sciences. Students will take this class in preparation for the demands of the following semester’s AP Biology course. The curriculum, which closely follows South Carolina Biology 1 State Standards and Indicators, provides students exposure to concepts vital to success on rigorous Advanced Placement Biology examinations.

AP Biology (Advanced Placement) 327271AW
Grades 11 – 12 1 unit
Prerequisite: Honors Biology
This course is designed to be the equivalent of a general biology course taken during the first year of college. This course builds on knowledge from Honors Biology 2 and will prepare the student for the AP exam in the spring. Students will be required to take the AP exam.

Chemistry 1 323162CW
Grades 10 – 12 1 unit
Prerequisite: Physical Science; Algebra 1
This course covers major principles including atomic structure, periodic table trends, bonding, chemical equations, and stoichiometry, properties of matter, solutions and electrolytes, acids and bases, organic chemistry and other selected topics. The course is designed for students preparing to attend college or technical school, as well as those seeking an industry-based career.

Honors Chemistry 1 323161HW
Grades 11 – 12 (10 with recommendation)
Prerequisite: Algebra 2 1 unit
This course is designed for the highly motivated college preparatory student. It covers the classification of matter, chemistry, math/measurement, atomic structure, bonding, periodic law, formula writing and equation writing, stoichiometry, solutions, gas laws, acids and bases, and other selected topics. The course emphasizes the mathematical problem solving aspects of chemistry and includes large blocks of laboratory experience. Students taking this course should be mature, independent learners who are ready to accept the responsibility of completing many tasks on their own as homework.

Honors Chemistry 2 323261HW
Grades 11 – 12 1 unit
Prerequisite: Honors Chemistry 1 and Geometry
This course is intended to prepare students for the second semester chemistry course in the first year of college. Topics include, but are not limited to, study of solutions, reaction kinetics, chemical equilibrium, acid-base chemistry, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, organic and nuclear chemistry. Labs are performed to supplement each topic. AP Chemistry (Advanced Placement) 327371AWGrades 11 – 12 1 unit
Prerequisite: Honors Chemistry 1 and 2, Honors Algebra 2
This course is designed to be the equivalent of the general chemistry course usually taken during the first year of college. A contemporary college chemistry text that stresses principles and concepts and their relationship to the descriptive chemistry on which they are based is used. Students will attain a depth of understanding of fundamentals and a reasonable competence in dealing with chemical problems. The course is laboratory-oriented. Students will be required to take the AP exam.

Zoology 329901CW
Grades 11 – 12 1 unit
Prerequisite: Biology 1 or Applied Biology 2
This course is the study of animal classification with an emphasis on anatomical and morphological features of both vertebrate and invertebrate.

Physics 324162CW
Grades 11 – 12 1 unit
Prerequisite: Chemistry, Algebra 2
This course covers the following topics: measurement, force, vectors, motion, work, power, energy, light, sound, electricity, heat, and nuclear reactions. Newtonian physics and quantum physics will be discussed and compared. Laboratory activities are coordinated with the course content so students can grasp the experimental nature of science. A strong mathematics background is essential. Students planning to pursue careers in science, medicine, or engineering should take this course before entering college.

Honors Physics 324161HW
Grades 11 – 12 1 unit
Prerequisite: Completion or concurrent enrollment in Pre-Calculus or Honors Algebra 2
This course emphasizes the fundamental laws of nature upon which all science is based. While fundamental physics is emphasized, applied physics is also addressed in topics of classical mechanics and thermodynamics. Students should be prepared for quantitative treatment of topics. Preferably, students should complete one year of chemistry before enrolling in physics. Students contemplating careers in science are encouraged to select this course. This course will serve as a prerequisite for AP Physics. Advanced Placement Physics 1 328271AWGrades 11 – 12 1 unit
Prerequisite: Completion of Honors Algebra 2
This course is designed at the college level and the topics to be covered in a quantitative manner are waves, optic, electromagnetism and modern physics. Students will be required to take the AP exam.

Anatomy & Physiology 326362CW
Grades 11 – 12 1 unit
Prerequisite: Honors Biology 1, Chemistry 1
This course offers an in-depth study of the anatomy and physiology of the human body systems and their disorders. This is a laboratory course that will explore the concepts and principles of anatomy and physiology. This course is designed for students pursuing a technical career and for students planning to continue their education at the technical or college level.