Grade 9/ Two Semesters/ Required
Prerequisite: Placement test score or grade school recommendation
Honors Biology introduces the student to the distinguishing properties of living organisms. Students will explore more deeply the unique nature of life, classification, cell structure and function, genetics, microbiology, multi-cellular plants, animals, ecology, and evolution. Laboratory experiments will emphasize problem-solving techniques with hands-on experiences such as dissection and proper microscope usage. Additionally, the curriculum of this course is designed to address the College Board objectives and to utilize AP Vertical Team strategies for Advanced Placement Science courses in an effort to lay important foundation work for future enrollment and success in AP Science classes.

Grade 9-10/ Two Semesters/ Required
Prerequisite: Placement test score or grade school recommendation
Biology introduces the student to the distinguishing properties of living organisms. Students will explore more deeply the unique nature of life, classification, cell structure and function, genetics, microbiology, multi-cellular plants, animals, ecology, and evolution. Laboratory experiments will emphasize problem-solving techniques with hands-on experiences such as dissection and proper microscope usage.

Grade 11-12/ Two Semesters/ Elective
Prerequisite: Biology and Chemistry
Students will be introduced to the anatomy, physiology and development of the human body. The course begins with an introduction to the human organism, approaching the human body in terms of overall layout: body plan, organization, and the systems that maintain life and regulation, or homeostasis. Next, various organ systems and their related processes will be discussed. Finally, students will explore disease, how it disrupts the natural flow of the body systems, and the best routes to health. Approximately 25 percent of class time will be spent in lab.

Grade 11-12/ Two Semesters/ Elective
Prerequisite: Biology and Chemistry
Cost: $75
Biology Advanced Placement is a comprehensive investigation of biology at the college freshman level. All levels of organization, from molecular to ecosystem, are included. Sections include molecular and cell biology, genetics, evolution, taxonomy, survey of plants, survey of animals, and ecology. An emphasis is placed on current advances in biotechnology. An investigative approach is taken with the 12 standard laboratories recommended by the College Board. Biology Advanced Placement is a course based on content established by the College Board. Students will be required to take the College Board AP Biology exam.
Biology Advanced Placement is a comprehensive investigation of biology at the college freshman level. All levels of organization, from molecular to ecosystem, are included. Sections include molecular and cell biology, genetics, evolution, taxonomy, survey of plants, survey of animals, and ecology. An emphasis is placed on current advances in biotechnology. An investigative approach is taken with the 12 standard laboratories recommended by the College Board. Participation in the BCHS Science Fair is required. Biology Advanced Placement is an advanced placement course based on content established by the College Board. Students will be expected to take the College Board AP Biology exam.

Grade 9-12/ Two Semesters/ Elective

Earth and Space Science is a Core 40 physical science course. It provides students with a basic understanding of the four areas of Earth and Space Science: meteorology, geology, astronomy, and oceanography. Students will examine Earth.s interconnected systems that may be changing or may be in equilibrium. Topics of study will include plate tectonics, weather maps, rock & mineral systems, earthquakes, stars, and planets.

Grade 11-12/ Two Semesters/ Elective
Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary course that integrates biology, Earth science, chemistry, and other disciplines. Students enrolled in this course conduct in-depth scientific studies of ecosystems, population dynamics, resource management, and environmental consequences of natural and anthropogenic processes. Students formulate, design, and carry out laboratory and field investigations as an essential course component. Students completing Environmental Science acquire the essential tools for understanding the complexities of national and global environmental systems.

Grade 9-11/ Two Semesters/ Required
Prerequisite: Placement test scores/Algebra I can be taken concurrently
Students who are interested in Chemistry and Physics but choose not to take Chemistry take this lab-based course to fulfill Core 40 requirements. Students will be exposed to practical applications of Chemistry and Physics. With an emphasis on common scientific processes, studies will include: velocity, momentum, acceleration, thermal energy, periodic table, chemical bonds, laws of motion, electricity and different forms of energy. A working knowledge of algebra is required.

Grade 10-12/ Two Semesters/ Required
Prerequisite: Biology
Chemistry will fulfill Academic Honors Diploma requirements. This course will be less rigorous than Chemistry: Honors. This course will provide a background for success in college chemistry, though will not strive for as much depth of study as Chemistry: Honors by meeting the following objectives: 1) students will develop a lesser sense of memorization, to be replaced by independent formation of concepts, scientific reasoning, and common sense; 2) students will develop competency in solving word problems by the factor-label method; 3) values achieved from the course will be of a practical nature, of an aesthetic nature, and of a preparatory nature for the study of any discipline. Subject matter will include the metric system, atomic theory, chemical nomenclature, writing formulas, balancing chemical equations, periodic trends of the elements, chemical bonding, and gas laws. Students should expect to move through the textbook rapidly, making this more of a chemistry survey course.

Grade 10-12/ Two Semesters/ Required
Prerequisite: Biology; Currently enrolled in Algebra II or a higher-level math class and teacher recommendation
Honors Chemistry provides students a background for success in college Chemistry by meeting the following objectives: 1) students will develop a lesser sense of memorization, to be replaced by independent formation of concepts, scientific reasoning, and common sense; 2) students will develop competency in solving word problems by the factor-label method; 3) values achieved from the course will be of a practical nature, of an aesthetic nature, and of a preparatory nature for the study of any discipline. Subject matter will include the metric system, atomic theory, chemical nomenclature, writing formulas, balancing chemical equations, periodic trends of the elements, chemical bonding, and gas laws. Students successfully completing this course will be able to think critically about their physical world and be prepared to study Chemistry at the next level.

Grade 11-12/ Two Semesters/ Elective
Prerequisite: Biology; Honors Chemistry; Pre-Calculus, may be taken concurrently; and teacher recommendation
Cost: $75
Chemistry Advanced Placement is offered for those students who are willing to accept the challenge of a rigorous, in-depth academic course. It will use a college text, and will mimic the experience of a quality first-semester college chemistry course. Topics will include nomenclature, stoichiometry, acid-base and redox reactions, gas laws, thermodynamics, bonding (VSEPR) and molecular geometry, rates and equilibrium, electrochemistry, and organic chemistry. Students should expect one hour of homework each night. Chemistry Advanced Placement is based on content established by the College Board. Students will be required to take the College Board AP Chemistry exam.

Grade 11-12/ Two Semesters/ Required
Prerequisite: Chemistry; Pre-Calculus, may be taken concurrently; and teacher recommendation
This course is an accelerated physics course that will provide students with a general knowledge of the basic concepts of physics. Topics of study will include motion, Newton.s Laws, concurrent and parallel forces, circular motion, torque, energy, momentum, gravitation, wave motion, the nature of light, electrostatics, current electricity, atomic structure, nuclear reactions, high energy (particle) physics, relativity, and quantum theory.

Grade 10-12/ Two Semesters/ Required
Prerequisite: Algebra II, may be taken concurrently
Physics I is a course focused on the following core topics: motion and forces; energy and momentum; temperature and thermal energy transfer; electricity and magnetism; vibrations and waves; light and optics. Instruction should focus on developing student understanding that scientific knowledge is gained from observation of natural phenomena and experimentation by designing and conducting investigations guided by theory and by evaluating and communicating the results of those investigations according to accepted procedures.