Science

Grades: 9
Credit: 10 units
UC/CSU/NCAA Approved

This first year Project Lead the Way course is designed to grab students' attention and interest in the biomedical sciences through their investigation of the mysterious death of Anna Garcia. This course is a survey of many different areas of the biomedical sciences, from forensics and crime scene investigation, to the molecular biology of diabetes, to understanding the cardiovascular system, to the genetics and heredity of sickle cell anemia, to the microscopic identification of bacteria and infectious agents.
Prerequisites: Incoming 9th grade students must meet the following criteria: HSPT score in the top 25% of the incoming class, an official transcript that verifies a 3.75 GPA or higher throughout 7th AND 8th grades, earned a B or higher in Science in 7th AND 8th grades and expressed an interest in taking a Biomedical Science Course.

Grades: 10
Credit: 10 units
UC/CSU/NCAA Approved

In this second year PLTW course, students examine the interactions of human body systems as they explore identity, power, movement, protection, and homeostasis in the body. Exploring science in action, students build organs and tissues on a skeletal Maniken®; use data acquisition software to monitor body functions such as muscle movement, reflex and voluntary action, and respiration; and take on the roles of biomedical professionals to solve real-world medical cases.
Prerequisites: 10th grade students who earned a B or higher in the PLTW Year 1 course or 2) approval of the Science Department Chair if the Year 1 course was not taken.

Grade: 11 
Credit: 10 units
UC/CSU/NCAA Approved

In this third-year PLTW course, students follow the life of a fictitious family as they investigate how to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease. Students explore how to detect and fight infection; screen and evaluate the code in human DNA; evaluate cancer treatment options; and prevail when the organs of the body begin to fail. Through real-world cases, students are exposed to a range of interventions related to immunology, surgery, genetics, pharmacology, medical devices, and diagnostics.

Prerequisites: 11th-grade students who earned a B or higher in the PLTW Year 2 course

Grade: 12 
Credit: 10 units
UC/CSU/NCAA Approved

In this capstone course, students design innovative solutions for the health challenges of the 21st century as they work through progressively challenging open-ended problems, addressing topics such as clinical medicine, physiology, biomedical engineering, and public health. In the PTLW Biomedical Innovation course, students will be asked to apply what they have learned in the previous three PLTW courses - Principles of Biomedical Science, Human Body Systems, and Medical Interventions, to solve unique problems in science, medicine, and healthcare. Students are presented with each problem in a Mission File – a document that includes a case brief, a list of completion tasks, links to available resources, as well as a reflection section. Students will use what they learn in these missions as they develop and implement their independent project at the end of the year.

Prerequisites: Completion of PLTW courses Principles of Biomedical Science, Human Body Systems, and Medical Interventions with a grade of B or better or prior PLTW teacher recommendation.

Grades: 9
Credit: 10 units
UC/CSU/NCAA Approved

Biology is a science course that introduces several key biological principles to students. This one-year laboratory course pays particular attention to the scientific method as a means to solving questions concerning the natural world. The aforementioned principles cover five areas: cell biology, genetics, evolution, ecology, and animal systems. These principles are applied to the exploration of viruses, bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals. Students are guided through these topics by lecture, group work, laboratory observation and dissection, and school ground field trips. This is a required course for all sophomores.

Grades: 9
Credit: 10 units
UC/CSU/NCAA Approved

Biology Honors moves at an accelerated pace in order to cover topics such as the chemistry of life, cellular energetics, cell communications, the cell cycle, cell structure and function, gene expressions, natural selection, ecology and heredity in greater depth than a basic biology course.  Students are presented with new concepts and are then given the opportunity to investigate the course material through group discussion and problem-solving. Students learn writing in the sciences through independent projects each semester. Laboratory work is coordinated with lecture material to illustrate the principles covered in class.  At the completion of the course, students will be well prepared for an AP Biology course.

Prerequisites: Incoming 9th-grade students must meet the following criteria: HSPT score in the top 25% of the incoming class, an official transcript that verifies a 3.75 GPA or higher throughout 7th AND 8th grades, earned a B or higher in Science in 7th AND 8th grades.

Grades: 11 & 12
Credit: 10 units
UC/CSU/NCAA Approved

AP Biology is a challenging biology course for the advanced student. The AP Biology curriculum is designed to introduce the student to molecules and cells, heredity and evolution, and organisms and populations. AP Biology adheres to an annotated course outline prepared to facilitate successful completion of the AP Biology examination. Presentation of material is through lectures, laboratories, demonstrations, group work, and field trips.
Prerequisites: 1) Completion of Biology and Chemistry courses with a grade of B or better.

Grades: 10, 11 & 12
Credit: 10 units
UC/CSU/NCAA Approved

Chemistry is the study of matter: its properties, structure, and interactions. This one-year laboratory course pays particular attention to the scientific method as a means to solving questions concerning molecular structure, stoichiometry, conservation of matter, atomic structure, equilibrium, redox reactions and acid/base chemistry. As a pure science, chemistry incorporates a laboratory program that is based on lecture material and provides students with hands-on experience in lab procedure and the correct handling of chemicals. Students incorporate writing in the sciences through independent projects during each semester. The instructional format of the course will be varied with lecture presentations, slides and charts, cooperative group learning, discussion groups for problem solving, using video and individual work.
Prerequisites: A grade of B or better in Algebra I, concurrently taking Algebra II (or higher), and a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or better (or with instructor’s permission).

Grade: 10 
Credit: 10 units
UC/CSU/NCAA Approved

Chemistry Honors will move at an accelerated pace in order to cover both additional topics not covered in the General Chemistry Course and the basic Chemistry topics in greater depth.  Students are presented with new concepts and are then given the opportunity to investigate the course material through group discussion and problem solving.  Laboratory work will coordinate with lecture material to illustrate the principles covered in class.  At completion of the course, students should be well prepared for a college-level General Chemistry course.

Grades: 11 & 12
Credit: 10 units
UC/CSU/NCAA Approved

AP Chemistry is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester college-level course in chemistry typically taken by first-year college students.  The course is organized around four big ideas and is aligned with six science practices. The four big ideas are SPQ (scale, proportion, and quantity), SAP (structure and properties), TRA(transformations), ENE (energy). The six science practices include models and representations, question and method, representing data and phenomena, model analysis, mathematical routines, and argumentation.  Students will cultivate their understanding of chemistry through inquiry-based investigations as they explore content such as atomic structure, intermolecular forces and bonding, chemical reactions, kinetics, and thermodynamics, and equilibrium. The emphasis in this class is placed on the application of chemical concepts with real-world applications. Laboratory experiments are conducted to complement the material being learned.

Prerequisites: Students should have a grade of A in Chemistry, or a B+ in Honors Chemistry (or with instructor’s recommendation).

Grades: 11 & 12
Credit: 10 units
UC/CSU/NCAA Approved

Environmental Science is designed to expose students to the fragility of our ecosystem. The student will analyze natural and human-generated environmental problems and investigate local, national and global scientific issues that are relevant in our modern society. Major themes examined include the greenhouse effect, renewable and nonrenewable energy, water treatment, invasive and endangered species, the earth, and pollution. Students are encouraged to read and analyze relevant environmental literature. New material is presented to students through lectures, laboratories, videos, on and off campus field trips, and guest speakers. Students learn to use the scientific method to solve environmental problems.

Grades: 11 & 12
Credit: 10 units
UC/CSU/NCAA Approved

Anatomy introduces students to basic physiology as it covers the structure and function of the human body. The course material is first presented at the chemical level, progressing through cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, and finally the body as a whole. The basic function of each organ system, nutrition and metabolism and the stages of growth and development of the human body is then covered. Students learn through classroom lecture, laboratories, and individual and group work.
Prerequisites: A grade of B or better in Biology and Chemistry.

Grades: 11 & 12
Credit: 10 units
UC/CSU/NCAA Approved

Physics develops an intuition to physical phenomena. The areas studied are gravitation, motion with constant acceleration, forces, heat, sound, light, energy, matter, relativity, simple harmonic motion, radiation, electricity, magnetism and optics. Students learn writing in the sciences through independent projects during each semester. The teaching methods include lectures, classroom discussions, virtual simulations, and small group laboratory work. The course is designed to encourage students to think creatively to solve problems using the scientific method. Students learn to conduct independent research projects in physics during each semester.
Prerequisites: A grade of B or better in Algebra II, concurrently taking Pre-Calculus or Calculus, and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.

Grades: 11 & 12
Credit: 10 units
UC/CSU/NCAA Approved

Conceptual Physics offers the subject matter of a traditional physics course with a qualitative approach to problem solving. General areas of study include mechanics, motion, astronomy, heat, light, sound, magnetism, electricity, radioactivity, and atomic nucleus. The format includes lecture and discussion, problem solving, virtual simulations, field trips, a Science Fair Project, and small group laboratory work. Experiments will strengthen students’ mastery of course materials and their understanding of the scientific method.

Grades: 11 & 12
Credit: 10 units
UC/CSU/NCAA Approved

 AP Physics (C: Mechanics) is a calculus-based, college-level physics course, especially appropriate for students planning to specialize or major in one of the physical sciences or engineering. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through classroom study, in-class activity, and hands-on, inquiry-based laboratory work as they explore concepts like change, force interactions, fields, and conservation.

Prerequisites: Concurrently taking AP Calculus AB or BC, and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.

Grades: 11 & 12
Credit: 10 units
UC/CSU Approved

Students are introduced to the field of sports medicine with an emphasis on athletic training. Students will explore human anatomy and physiology as it relates to athletics, resulting in a thorough understanding of the musculoskeletal system. Current techniques employed in the prevention and treatment of athletic injuries will also be discussed. Additional topics that will be covered in the course include first aid, concussions, injury identification, and basic emergency care and procedures. Hands-on activities in the class will include preventive taping techniques and first aid application.

Grades: 10
Credit: 10 units
UC/CSU Approved

Computer Science Principles is an introductory course for all tenth graders to nurture creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking skills. Students will learn basic coding, writing and debugging programs, design strategy, and problem solving in a year long course. Through a variety of project based learning activities and authentic experimentation, students will deepen their understanding of the foundational ideas and concepts of computing. The course follows Code.org Computer Science Principles curriculum and prepares students for AP Computer Science Principles.

Grades: 11 & 12
Credit: 10 units
UC/CSU/NCAA Approved

AP Computer Science Principles is designed to develop students' computational thinking skills to analyze and study data.  Students will be expected to work with large sets of data to analyze as well as visualize and draw conclusions from trends observed.  The course is organized around seven “Big Ideas” which include creativity, abstraction, data and information, algorithms, programming, the internet, and global impact. Students will be expected to perfect collaboration and communication skills as they design solutions, draw connections between different computing concepts,  and produce computational artifacts.  Students will specifically prepare for the AP Computer Science Exam as they review practice multiple choice test questions and complete their performance tasks for their digital portfolio.

Pre-requisites: 1) Completion of Computer Science Principles course with a grade of  B or better; 2) Completion of Algebra II with a grade of C or better; 3) approval of the Computer Science instructor.

Grade: 12 
Credit: 10 units
UC/CSU/NCAA Approved

A.P. Computer Science A (CSA) introduces students to software engineering and object-oriented programming and design using the Java programming language. This curriculum covers a broad range of topics, including the design of solutions to problems, the use of data structures to organize large sets of data, the development and implementation of algorithms to process data and discover new information, the analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing systems.

Pre-requisites: 1) Completion of AP Computer Science Principles course with a grade of B or better; 2) Completion of Algebra II with a grade of B or better; 3) approval of the Computer Science instructor.