Science

Graduation Requirements for Science

Students are required to pass three courses in science, including two Regents courses, one from the Living Environment and one from the Physical setting, and one Regents Examination for a Regents Diploma. The Advanced Regents Diploma requires that students pass both assessments. A Biology course is a graduation requirement.

Currently a Regents exam is given at the end of each Regents science course (Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics).

In Earth Science & Biology we offer two levels of Regents science. The S level is more supportive, teaching the material necessary to pass the Regents exam. The R level is more in depth teaching material to achieve mastery of the subject. Speak with your school counselor to help determine the level most appropriate for you. In Chemistry, a general level is offered for the third year of science that does not require a Regents examination.

NOTE: For all Regents courses, a student must satisfactorily complete all laboratories or their equivalent in order to be eligible to take the Regents examination for the course. If a student does not meet this requirement, they will not be able to sit for the exam and will receive a 0 as a final examination grade.

Students accelerate in science by accelerating in math and:

A. Taking regents Earth Science in the eighth grade, with math/science teacher recommendation.
B. Double-up taking Earth Science and Biology in ninth grade, or take Biology and Chemistry in tenth grade.
C. Taking Earth Science in ninth grade, Chemistry-R in tenth, Physics in eleventh, and AP Biology in twelfth. Students who pursue this option would also take the Biology regents exam during twelfth grade.

Acceleration in Science is also open to regular math students by recommendation of Math/Science teachers and guidance counselor with approval of Department Chairperson.

Earth Science - Regents
(Physical Setting)
Grades: 9 -12 (Grade 8 – by recommendation)
Prereq: None  Credit: 1

This course is an in depth study of the earth including topics such as: the earth in relation to the universe; galaxy and solar system; observation of the changing environment; energy in earth processes particularly related to weather, climate and oceanic dynamics, geologic processes involved on and within the earth, interpretation of the earth's history and development, minerals and rocks. Separate lab periods are required.

Biology Regents
(Living Environment)
Grades: 9 -12
Suggested Prereq: Math Course I, Earth Science or teacher recommendation Credit: 1

Regents Biology is a comprehensive course of the biological sciences. Emphasis is placed on major concepts in the following areas, with evolution as the connecting thread for the course: biochemistry, cytology, reproduction, genetics, ecology and human impact on ecosystems. Separate lab periods are required.

Chemistry Regents
(Physical Setting)
Grades: 11-12
Suggested Prereq: Earth Science, Biology, Math Course II, or teacher recommendation Credit: 1

This is a survey course of topics in chemistry including atomic structure, bonding, kinetics, acids and bases, redox reactions and organic chemistry. Chemistry is a necessary course for students planning to pursue careers in medicine, engineering and technology. Separate lab periods are required.

Chemistry in the Community
(Physical Setting)
Grades: 11 -12
Prereq: Earth Sci. & Biology  Credit: 1

This course is designed as a non-Regents course for juniors or seniors needing to obtain one credit of a third science in order to meet the graduation requirement of three science courses. This course focuses on the application of chemical principles and concepts interwoven into several themes that have real-world connections. Some major themes include: solutions to water problems, structure of metals and nonmetals, petrochemistry, food chemistry, the atmosphere, atomic structure, nuclear chemistry, industrial chemistry and forensics. The course is lab and activity based. Labs are incorporated into class time. There is no separate lab period.

Physics Regents
(Physical Setting)
Grades: 11 12
Suggested Prereq: Math Course IIIR, Chemistry, Biology and Earth Science  Credit: 1

Students planning on majoring in science or math should take this course. For non-science majors this is a good course for developing problem solving skills and learning the mechanics of music, art, dance, etc.

Students learn laws of motion, heat, waves, electricity and nuclear physics. Emphasis is placed on quantitative problem solving and students should not take this course until they have completed Course II Math and are taking Course III Math concurrently. This course is valuable to everyone since the ideas can be applied at any level and in any position in life (everyone uses electricity, sound, light, etc.). It completes the science high school survey course experience- Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics. Separate lab periods are required.

Meteorology/UNIV
Grades: 10-12
Prereq: Earth Science  Credit: .5

This course is taught locally and is part of SUNY Albany’s University in the High School Program. The class introduces students to the concepts and principles of meteorology using real-time data from the Internet. Topics that will be covered include satellite analysis, cyclones, weather balloon data, severe weather and forecasting. The course will also contain a variety of projects such as WEB page analysis and a multimedia presentation covering such topics as hurricanes, tornados, lightening, blizzards, El Nino and Global Warming.

Advanced Placement Biology/UNIV
Grades: 11-12
Prereq: Regents Physics (can be concurrent) Biology, Chemistry & Math Course IIR, or Counselor/Teacher recommendation  Credit: 1

Advanced Placement Biology provides students with the opportunity to pursue an in depth study of Biology through a laboratory oriented approach. The course of study involves major amounts of time spent in the areas of cytology, biochemistry, molecular genetics, and selected physiological systems. Evolution at different levels of organization is the unifying concept. Emphasis is placed on lab activities, study of the text, reference books, and selected articles from a variety of journals. Students should expect to devote a moderate amount of time beyond the scheduled class periods in completing labs and independent projects. Students are required to take the AP exam in May (fee required) and may also apply for University in the High School credit. Separate lab periods are required and meet every other day. Successful scores can be submitted to college for possible credit and/or advanced placement.

Advanced Placement Chemistry/UNIV
Grades:11-12
Prereq: Regents Chemistry & Math Course IIIR. Also Physics concurrently or Counselor/Teacher recommendation
Credit: 1

This course is designed for students who are planning to pursue a science related career. Students are required to take the AP exam in May and may also apply for University in the High School credit. This course focuses on topics covered in a first and second semester college chemistry course. Topics include atomic structure, periodic table/trends, gas laws, mathematical chemistry relationships, thermo-chemistry, covalent bonding/geometry, rates of reaction, acids/bases, equilibrium, electrochemistry, nuclear chemistry, and some basic organic chemistry. Emphasis is placed on reaction writing, predicting chemical products and qualitative analysis of chemical unknowns. Completion of a weekly problem set and weekly quiz is part of the course. Separate labs will be scheduled and required for every other day.

Environmental Science/UNIV
Grades: 11-12
Prereq: 3 years of Science  Credit: 1

This course should be taken after satisfactory completion of Living Environment, Chemistry and Earth Science. It is a fourth science course elective for Juniors and Seniors. Any deviation from this directive must be approved by Environmental Science teacher and Department Chair.

Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary course designed to provide students with scientific principles, concepts, and methodology; to understand interrelationships of the natural world; to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and man-made; to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems; and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them. Specific topics include earth systems, population dynamics, renewable and non-renewable resources, environmental quality, global changes, and the role of the environment and society in decision making for the future. The interdisciplinary nature of the course combines aspects of earth science, biology, chemistry, math, technology, health, global studies, government, and economics. Appropriate for students planning to pursue this major at the two or four year college level. This course offers University in the H.S. credit and option of taking AP Environmental Science exam.

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