Science Course Descriptions

S100 Biology: This year‑long lab course is the introductory course to Science Department offerings. The course affords students an initial opportunity to become familiar with science as a way of thinking, knowing, analyzing, and interpreting information as well as a methodology for processing and communicating information. Student experiences in the course are laboratory and field-oriented and designed to enhance scientific literacy. There is an emphasis on developing concepts along thematic lines, with evolution by natural selection being the central theme. The content covers some of the major topics in biology such as cell theory, basic chemistry and biochemistry, continuity of life (cell reproduction, DNA/protein synthesis, genetics, and DNA technology), the molecular basis of cell interactions, ecological principles and relationships, evolution and disease. (This course meets three 45‑minute periods and one 75‑minute period each week.)

S150 Advanced Biology: This is a year‑long lab course that provides an advanced, in-depth examination into the topics of evolution and ecology. Students will study both macro- and micro-evolution, Darwinian theory, population genetics, and phylogeny. Topics in ecology will include general ecological theory, population and community ecology, behavioral ecology, ecosystem structure and function, and large-scale forcing functions. The course format will combine traditional lectures, student-led group discussions, and hands-on laboratory exercises. In addition to the course material, students will work on developing skills in data interpretation, reading the primary literature, and scientific writing. (Advanced Biology meets one 45‑minute period, one‑90 minute period, and one 75‑minute period each week.) (Prerequisites: biology, physics, chemistry and permission of a students chemistry teacher or the Advanced Biology teacher. Chemistry may be taken concurrently.)

S200 Physics Year: This year‑long lab course is an introduction to the physical world. Subject matter is broken into four units. Unit one discusses waves, sound, and light. Unit two discusses kinematics, Newtonian Laws, impulse, and momentum. Unit three discusses energy and circular motion. Unit four discusses fields, electricity, and magnetism. During each unit students will apply their reasoning, algebra skills and knowledge of physical concepts to real world situations. These concepts are developed through lecture and discussion, demonstrations, laboratory work, and unit projects. (Physics meets three 45‑minute periods and one 75‑minute period each week.) (Prerequisites: biology and either Algebra I with a grade of B+ or better, or Algebra II.)

S210 Intensive Physics: This year‑long lab course is offered as an intensive introductory physics course for students with strong interest in science along with good insight, ability, and confidence in mathematics. Topics are essentially the same as those in the physics course. In comparison to physics, the core topics are covered in more depth and with more challenging use of mathematics and problem solving. (Intensive Physics meets two 45‑minute periods, one 90‑minute period, and one 75‑minute period each week.) (Prerequisites: biology, Algebra II, and permission of a student’s math and biology teacher, or the Intensive Physics teacher.)

S250 Advanced Physics: This year-long physics course covers the material usually found in the first two semesters of college level physics and that leads to the AP Physics C examination. The major topics are mechanics for the first half of the year and electricity and electricity and magnetism for the second half. While these topics are also covered in the introductory S200/S210 physics course, Advanced Physics will go into greater depth with an emphasis on modeling and solving more challenging and realistic problems. Advanced Physics meets three 45‑minute periods, and one 75‑minute period each week. (Prerequisites: any physics, any chemistry or taking chemistry concurrently, any calculus course or taking calculus concurrently, and permission of a students chemistry teacher or the Advanced Physics teacher.)

S300 Chemistry Year: This introductory, year‑long lab course emphasizes a strong conceptual understanding of chemistry, correct laboratory techniques, quantitative problem solving, and critical thinking. The first semester focuses on atomic theory, molecular structure, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, and thermodynamics. The remainder of the course will explore gas chemistry, equilibrium, kinetics, acids and bases, and electrochemistry. Laboratory work related to these topics is a major emphasis of the course. (Chemistry Year meets three 45‑minute periods and one 75‑minute period each week.) (Prerequisite: year or semester physics)

S310 Intensive Chemistry: This is a very challenging, year‑long lab course taught at the beginning college level. While the topics covered are essentially the same, it differs from the S300 Chemistry course in several important ways: Topics are covered in more depth; the pace of the course is faster; the class is more quantitative, thereby making more mathematical demands; and, finally, students are expected to be able to work more independently. (Intensive Chemistry meets two 45‑minute periods, one 90‑minute period, and one 75‑minute period each week.) (Prerequisites: Year Physics or Intensive Physics and permission of a student’s physics teacher or permission of the Intensive Chemistry teacher.)

S350 Organic Chemistry: Organic chemistry is a year-long laboratory science class covering advanced topics in organic and physical chemistry. The first semester will focus on an introduction to carbon chemistry, with topics including organic functional groups, isomers and stereoisomers, and total chemical synthesis. Labs will include fractional distillation, thin-layer chromatography, saponification (the chemistry of soap-making), and the synthesis of esters such as wintergreen and banana oil. The second semester will cover current topics in chemistry such as environmental chemistry, polymer science, and NMR/MRI spectroscopy. Time will also be spent on topics of particular interest to the current class. Projects and extended laboratory investigations will be a substantial part of the spring semester. (Organic Chemistry meets three 45‑minute periods and one 75‑minute period each week.) (Prerequisites: successful completion of one year of chemistry or Intensive Chemistry (with a B- or better) and at least one semester of physics or permission of the instructor.)

S800 Independent Research: Students interested in pursuing either year‑long or semester‑long independent research in science are encouraged to talk with the Science Department head. Efforts will be made to accommodate requests on an individual basis. Students may earn elective credit depending on the depth of research.

Semester Courses Offered Both First and Second Semesters (Depending on Sign-Up)

S241 F/ S242 S Physics Semester: Physics Semester: This semester-long lab course is an introduction to the physical world. It covers Units one and two of the year-long physics course (S200). Special emphasis is placed on conceptual understanding of physical concepts. (Physics meets three 45 minute periods and one 75 minute period each week.) (Prerequisites: Biology and either Algebra 1 with a grade of B+ or better, or Algebra 2).

S341 F/ S342 S Chemistry Semester: This semester-long lab course covers many, but not all, of the same topics as those included in the first half of S300 Chemistry Year, although in less depth. A few additional topics such as specific chemical reactions are also typically included. Laboratory work related to these topics is an important part of the course. (Chemistry Semester meets three 45‑minute periods and one 75‑minute period each week.) (Prerequisite: Year or Semester Physics.)

S421 F/ S422 S Environmental Science: This course surveys components of the environment (e.g., water, air, food, renewable and non‑renewable resources, population, biodiversity) and a range of contemporary environmental issues (e.g., human population growth, resource management, loss of habitat and biodiversity and global climate change). The course will expand on students’ previous knowledge of ecology and ecosystems, examining issues that affect the environment and factors that influence environmental policies (e.g., economics, politics, social and cultural issues) and tools and concepts for analyzing the environment (e.g., energy exchange, sustainability). With this background, students will work in groups or as a class to explore specific environmental issues, drawing on local expertise and field opportunities where possible and appropriate. (Environmental Science meets two 45‑minute periods and one 75‑minute period each week.) Prerequisites: biology, physics (year or semester) and chemistry (year or semester). Environmental science may be taken concurrently in the second semester of year-long chemistry, but not concurrently with semester chemistry.)

S423 Anatomy and Physiology: This semester-long laboratory course focuses primarily on the functioning of the human body, and secondarily on anatomy. The major emphasis will be on the body’s control systems—neural and hormonal—and the homeostatic mechanisms that serve to maintain the internal environment. We will examine in some depth the integrated functioning of three organ systems: circulatory, respiratory, and renal. There are both student‑ and physician‑led presentations on topics of particular interest to students. Examples of labs include analysis of histological slides, observations of muscle contraction at the cellular level, dissections of the heart, measurement of blood pressure, and the measurement of lung capacities. (Anatomy and Physiology meets two 45‑minute periods and one 75‑minute period each week.) (Prerequisite: biology and/or 10th-grade status.)