SCCHS: Course Guide: Science

Science

science students The Science Department at SCCHS endeavors to add an important dimension to the development of the whole person. The scientific approach is used in order to inculcate scientific skills, refine methods of organization as well as manual dexterity, add to the student's fund of knowledge so that the student may learn to make more intelligent judgments regarding the universe in which he/she lives, and increase scientific literacy with respect to many questions in science, especially those with moral implications.

Earth Science R	Biology R	General Chemistry	Freshman Physics H
	Biology 10 AP	Chemistry R	Physics R
	Biology AP	Chemistry 11 AP	Physics AP
	Environmental Studies	Chemistry AP
	Health
	Forensics
	Emergency Medical Services

414. THE PHYSICAL SETTING: EARTH SCIENCE R

Full year course, Grades 9-12
Prerequisites: Concurrent placement in Math 1.
Credit: 1 unit

This course focuses on topics related to the Earth, its properties, and its characteristics. The student will study astronomy, the weather, erosion and deposition, the dynamic crust, rock and mineral formation, energy in Earth processes, dimensions of the Earth, glacial geology, insolation and the seasons, and landscape development, concentrating on New York State geology and history. At the end of this course, the student will take a lab skills assessment test and the Regents examination.

Objectives:

The student will use mathematical analysis and scientific inquiry to pose questions, seek answers, and develop solutions.
The student will access, generate, process, and transfer information using technology.
The student will apply math formulas to measurement, percent error, graphing, and will use the metric system in real-world situations.
The student will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and recognize the historical development of ideas in science.

421. THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT: BIOLOGY R

Full year course, Grades 10-12
Prerequisites: Regents credit in Earth Science or Physics, teacher recommendation.
Credit: 1 unit

This course is designed for the scientifically oriented student, to provide a broad understanding of the fundamental principles of biology. The course includes the study of current science findings and their moral implications, and enables the student to become more familiar with himself/ herself and the environment. Laboratory investigations, organization and critical thinking are required. The New York State Regents syllabus is followed.

Objectives:

Describe an awareness of the natural world.
Define basic scientific concepts.
Stimulate inductive reasoning.
Demonstrate laboratory skills required by the New York State Regents syllabus.

422. BIOLOGY 10 AP

Full year course, Grade 10
Prerequisites: 90% in Regents Earth Science or 85% in Regents Physics, and recommendation of the teacher.
Credit: 1 unit

This course is designed for the college-bound student who may or may not be planning to major in the biological sciences or one of the natural sciences. This is a first-year college course covering all aspects of biology. The student will be required to take the AP exam in May and the New York State Regents Exam in June.

Objectives:

Demonstrate an awareness of the natural world and the human influence upon it.
Define major biological concepts, including those of biochemistry.
Use inductive reasoning and describe major investigations in important aspects of biology.
Demonstrate laboratory skills required of a first year college student.

442. BIOLOGY AP

Full year course, Grade 12
Prerequisites: 90% in Regents Biology and Regents Chemistry and recommendation of those teachers.
Credit: 1 unit

Objectives:

Demonstrate an awareness of the natural world and the human influence upon it.
Define major biological concepts, including those of biochemistry.
Use inductive reasoning and describe major investigations in important aspects of biology.
Demonstrate laboratory skills required of a first year college student.

468. ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECOLOGICAL STUDIES

Full year course, Grades 11-12
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Biology.
Credit: 1 unit

The intent of this course will be to investigate the causes and magnitude of pollution at local, national, and global levels.

Objectives:

The student will acquire an understanding of how the exponential human population growth has caused an exponential increase in waste products.
The student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of law that are in force that protect the environment.
The student will be able to distinguish between renewable and non-renewable resources and the need to conserve both entities.
The student will have an understanding that most industry can and will conserve natural resources and eliminate waste products if it does not cause it to become non-competitive in the marketplace.
The student will have a working understanding of the following areas of pollution: organic oxygen demanding wastes, plant nutrients, pathogenic (viruses and bacteria), inorganic (chemicals and minerals), synthetic organics (plastics, pesticides, etc.), sediments (erosion, mining, etc.)
The student will become familiar with many of the Environmental Activist Groups.

455. HEALTH

Half year course, Grade 12
Prerequisites: none.
Credit: 1/2 unit

This required course covers all areas of health -- not just the physical, but also the emotional, mental, academic, and spiritual aspects as well. The Curriculum will include such topics as memory skills and speed reading as well as infectious disease, mental health, alcohol and drug abuse, abstinence, the Catholic Church's views on abortion and birth control, Natural Family Planning, time management, cancer, suicide, and child abuse. A term paper on abortion is a required portion of the course. The final grade will be based on assessments (one every cycle), the term paper, and the final exam.

Objectives:

The student will improve some basic learning skills in reading and recall.
The student will exhibit awareness of his/her responsibility for sexual self-control as a practicing Catholic.
The student will show respect for all human life: born and unborn.
The student will develop a greater awareness of the skills that must be developed to achieve overall health and maturity as a Catholic Christian.
The student will exhibit a working knowledge of complex issues in the area of health such as infectious diseases, cancer, suicide, and child abuse.

447. FORENSIC SCIENCE

Half year course, Grade 12
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Biology with enrollment in or completion of Chemistry and/or Physics recommended but not mandatory.
Credit: 1/2 unit

This course is intended as an overview of the medicolegal investigation of death. The topics will include, but are not limited to, scene investigation, collection of physical evidence, gunshot wounds, blunt force trauma, drug-related deaths, and expert witness testimony. The course syllabus will closely follow the course textbook Criminalistics by Richard Saferstein, supplemented by materials obtained from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and the College of American Pathology. The materials presented will be from actual criminal cases.

Objectives:

To be familiar with basic concepts of scene investigation.
Ability to distinguish between types of gunshot wounds, stab wounds, and other traumatic injuries.
Understanding of cause and manner of death.
Introduction to other fields of forensic sciences (forensic dentistry, forensic anthropology, etc.).
Understanding the concept of an expert witness.

462. EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

Full year course, Grade 12
Prerequisites: Must be 18 years of age by the end of June 2008 and permission of the teacher.
Credit: 1 unit

This course will provide the skills and knowledge to become an Emergency Medical Technician. With successful completion of the course and New York State Test, students will receive certification as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

Objectives:

Provide an education of Emergency Medical Services.
Provide education in Certified EMT with certificate after successful completion.
Increase the self esteem of participating students.
Provide membership in UVES and participate in their training.
Full time salary of an EMT locally is between $20,000 and $30,000 a year.

436. GENERAL CHEMISTRY

Full year course, Grade 11 or 12
Prerequisites: none
Field Trip fees may be required.
Credit: 1 unit

This is a course designed for the non-science student. It will be a nonrigorous, nonmath-based chemistry course, giving the student a basic understanding of the chemistry in the world around them. It will be hands on with inquiry based laboratories for the students to solve both at home and in class. All the basics of chemistry will be covered: periodic table and trends, physical and chemical properties, nomenclature, some stoichiometry, acid and base theory, organic, polymers and green chemistry will be included.

Objectives:

Explain the basics of chemistry both theoretically and practically, with as little math as possible.
Expose students to alternative courses of study which involve chemistry.
Perform inquiry-based experimentation, where the student asks the question, designs the method of solution and solves the question.

433. THE PHYSICAL SETTING: CHEMISTRY R

Full year course, Grade 11 or 12
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Math 1, Regents Biology, and Regents Earth Science OR Physics; concurrent enrollment in Math 2 or Math 3 is recommended.
Credit: 1 unit

This is a Regents-level course that culminates in the Regents examination in June. During the course of the year, students will discover chemical relationships pertaining to the gas laws, stoichiometry and nomenclature, nuclear chemistry, chemical kinetics and equilibrium, atomic and molecular structures, acid-base chemistry and solutions, and organic chemistry. This is a laboratory-based course, so many labs will be performed as required by the state.

Objectives:

Demonstrate an understanding of chemical symbols and relationships.
Recognize and define words used in chemistry.
Name the major contributors to the field of chemistry.
Perform experiments in an efficient and competent manner.

434. THE PHYSICAL SETTING: CHEMISTRY 11 AP

Full year course, Grade 11
Prerequisites: 90% in Regents Physics or Regents Earth Science and 90% in Regents Biology and recommendation of the teachers.
Field trip fees will be required.
Credit: 1 unit

This is a course designed for the serious science student and is taught as a college-level general chemistry course. It is a challenging, fast-paced course covering ALL of the Regents Chemistry material along with the college-level material: acid-base theory, kinetics and equilibrium, periodic table and molecular orbital theory along with stoichiometry, nomenclature, nuclear and organic chemistry topics. The course will culminate in the AP Chemistry exam in May and the Regents exam in June.

Objectives:

Explain the basics of chemistry, both theoretically and practically.
Expose students to the pervasiveness of chemistry in their everyday lives.
Perform experiments from beginning to end, drawing conclusions appropriate to the experiment.

441. CHEMISTRY AP

Full year course, Grade 12
Prerequisites: 90% in Regents Biology and Regents Chemistry and recommendation of those teachers.
Credit: 1 unit

This is a course designed for the serious science student and is taught as a college-level general chemistry course. It includes all of the topics from Regents Chemistry covered in greater detail, along with some molecular orbit theory and solid state crystal theory. The course will culminate in the AP Chemistry exam given in May. Outside assignments include seminars at SUNY-Binghamton and participation in the Chemistry Olympiad.

Objectives:

Explain the basics of chemistry, both theoretically and practically.
Relate chemistry to everyday life.
Perform experiments from beginning to end, drawing conclusions appropriate to the experiment.

411. THE PHYSICAL SETTING: FRESHMEN PHYSICS H

Full year course, Grade 9
Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in Math 2, average of 90% or above in Math 1 and in the Regents examination for this course, strong science ability.
Credit: 1 unit

This course is directed toward the student with excellent ability in both mathematics and science. Taking Physics on this level will enable the student to complete the Biology- Chemistry-Physics Regents sequence by the end of their junior year. This enables the student to select more freely from Advanced Placement programs during the senior year, as well as to elect Earth Science if this is desired. It should be noted, however, that ninth graders enrolled in this course will be taught as a separate group, with consideration given to their developmental level as well as their math and science background.

More Detailed Course Description and Requirements (separate page).

443. THE PHYSICAL SETTING: PHYSICS R

Full year course, Grades 11-12
Prerequisites: Regents credit in Biology, completion of mathematics sufficient for an understanding of applied trigonometry (usually Math 3). Prior completion of Regents Chemistry is helpful but not mandatory.
Credit: 1 unit

This course examines the principles of physics, following the NYS syllabus and culminating in the Regents examination. Coverage includes the use of vectors, descriptions of motion, work and energy, gravitation, electricity and magnetism, waves, optics, and introduction to quantum concepts. Laboratory requirements for a Regents science course must be satisfied in order to sit for the final exam.

Objectives:

To describe the concepts and theoretical basis for physical phenomena studied in the course.
To apply appropriate formulas in to solution of problems.
To interpret various mathematical formulas presented in the course.

440. PHYSICS AP

Full year course, Grade 12
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Biology, Chemistry, and Regents Physics and departmental permission. Concurrent enrollment in Calculus AP is recommended but not required.
Credit: 1 unit

Strong emphasis is placed on solving a variety of challenging problems. The subject matter is mechanics. This course forms the first part of the college sequence that serves as a foundation for the student majoring in the physical sciences or engineering. The student ordinarily will take the AP Physics C (Mechanics) examination in early May. For the student intending to major in a non-science area, this course might be used to fulfill some or all college science requirements.