This course emphasizes how ecosystems and the biosphere have functioned sustainably for millennia, and the present impact of people and society on the environment. Students enrolled in this laboratory-based course participate in discussions, hands-on activities in the laboratory and field, field trips and research projects. The syllabus focuses on the processes of science, the role…

This course is designed to fit into the college sequence to serve as the physics foundation for students majoring in the physical sciences or engineering. The sequence runs parallel to or is followed by mathematics courses that include calculus. Methods of calculus are used in formulating physical principles and applying them to physical problems. The…

AP® Physics II is an algebra-based course that explores topics such as fluid statics and dynamics; thermodynamics with kinetic theory; PV diagrams and probability; electrostatics; electrical circuits with capacitors; magnetic fields; electromagnetism; physical and geometric optics; and quantum, atomic, and nuclear physics. It is the equivalent of a second semester of algebra-based introductory college-level physics.…

This course is designed to be a challenging college-level introductory physics experience; it is the equivalent of a first-semester college course in algebra-based physics. This project-oriented course covers Newtonian mechanics (including rotational dynamics and angular momentum); work, energy and power; and mechanical waves and sound. The course also introduces electric circuits. No prerequisite physics course…

This course covers the equivalent of one year of introductory college chemistry, focusing on inorganic chemistry. Topics include the principles of chemical reactivity and the energy involved in chemical processes. The course requires that students be self-motivated, industrious, committed to learning challenging subject material, and communicative with teachers and peers. Class discussions and problem analysis…

This course is designed according to the guidelines set by the College Board, and strives to be the equivalent of a college introductory biology course usually taken by biology majors during their first year of college. Students cultivate their understanding of biology through inquiry-based investigations as they explore the following topics: evolution, cellular processes, energy,…

This course provides an overview of the principles of genetics, including Mendelian and modern concepts of heredity. Developments in molecular genetics will be addressed through the chemistry and physiology of the gene, and the nature of gene action in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Topics may include natural genetic variation in populations, the structure and function…

This course explores the evolution of life on Earth, focusing on the physical and chemical properties that have constrained the structure and function of organisms and their parts. Major topics in evolution and Earth history will be explored, including natural selection, genetic variation, the origination and extinction of taxa, and the relationship between form, function,…

This course investigates the processes that have acted throughout Earth’s history to produce the wide variety of organisms that occupy the planet. This course focuses on microevolutionary mechanisms, such as mutations, genetic variation, and natural selection, and how they have operated to produce macroevolutionary patterns, including the origination and extinction of species and clades. Modeling…

This course studies the complex interactions between organisms and their environment. The processes that govern the assembly of organisms at various scales will be discussed, including natural selection, resource availability, resource partitioning, competition, population growth and carrying capacity, community interactions, environmental variables, and biodiversity partitioning. Modeling Physics, Chemistry, or department approval is a prerequisite for…