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High School Course OfferingsLIVING ENVIRONMENT This course introduces students to living systems and how they interact with each other and the physical environment. New York State MST Standards will be applied as students think scientifically to solve problems and explore important physiological, genetic, evolutionary, and ecological processes and relationships. Inquiry-based laboratory study is an integral part of the course. The New York State Living Environment Regents serves as the final examination. GRADE: 9 LIVING ENVIRONMENT HONORS (Prerequisite: honors criteria) This course is similar to the Living Environment Regents course with several additions. A broader diversity of topics will be investigated and certain topics such as physiology, molecular genetics, and ecology will be addressed in greater depth. Students will perform specific laboratory exercises using state-of-the-art equipment at the DNA Learning Center (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories). This course prepares students for the SAT II examination in Biology as well as the Living Environment Regents examination. GRADE: 9 PHYSICAL SETTING: EARTH SCIENCE (Prerequisite: Living Environment) This course will take students on a voyage through the lithosphere (land), hydrosphere (water), atmosphere (air), and solar system as they study topics in astronomy, climatology, plate tectonics, geology, and oceanography. New York State MST Standards help construct the foundation for the course. Inquiry-based laboratory study is emphasized. The New York State Physical Setting: Earth Science Regents serves as the final examination. GRADE: 10 PHYSICAL SETTING: CHEMISTRY (Prerequisite: Physical Setting: Earth Science) This course will introduce the detailed study of matter. Atomic structure, chemical bonding, the Periodic Table, rates of reaction, and acids-base chemistry are among the many concepts that will be investigated. Applications of New York State MST Standards, real-world connections, and inquiry-based laboratory exercises are integral parts of the course. The New York State Physical Setting: Chemistry Regents serves as the final examination.
GRADES: 11 - 12 PHYSICAL SETTING: CHEMISTRY HONORS (Prerequisites: Physical Setting: Earth Science, honors criteria) This course is similar to the Physical Setting Regents course; however, breadth and depth of study are greater. Laboratory study is more detailed and mathematical application is more heavily emphasized. Independent projects are integrated into the laboratory program. Students are encouraged to take the SAT II in Chemistry in addition to the Physical Setting Regents. GRADE: 10 PHYSICAL SETTING: PHYSICS (Prerequisite: Physical Setting: Chemistry) This course will help students explore and explain the wonders of the physical universe. Laws of motion, energy, sound, and electricity are among the many topics that will be investigated. New York State MST Standards help construct the foundation of the course. Real-world connections to entities such as racing cars, sports, nuclear energy, and space travel will be made. Inquiry-based laboratory study is an integral part of the course. The New York State Physical Setting: Physics Regents serves as the final examination. GRADES: 11 - 12 PHYSICAL SETTING: PHYSICS HONORS (Prerequisites: Physical Setting: Chemistry, honors criteria) This course is similar to the Physical Setting course; however, breadth and depth of study are greater. Laboratory study is more rigorous and independent projects are integrated into the laboratory program. More emphasis is placed on detailed mathematical application and problem solving. GRADES: 11 - 12 ADVANCED PLACEMENT BIOLOGY (Prerequisites: Living Environment, honors criteria) This course is the equivalent of a first year college course in General Biology. It is designed to give motivated students the chance to pursue detailed study of biological concepts. Areas of emphasis include biochemistry, cytology, human physiology, molecular genetics, evolution, and ecology. Laboratory procedures will incorporate advanced techniques and will require student decision-making. Featured experiments include amino acid chromatography, gel electrophoresis, and large mammalian dissection. The Advanced Placement Examination in Biology is given in May. Independent research and lab work will be emphasized following the exam. GRADES: 10 - 12 ADVANCED PLACEMENT CHEMISTRY (Prerequisites: Physical Setting: Chemistry, strong mathematical skills, honors criteria) This course is the equivalent of a first-year college course in Inorganic Chemistry. It is designed to give highly motivated students the chance to pursue detailed study of chemical concepts. Areas of emphasis include stoichiometry, atomic structure and bonding, periodicity, kinetics and equilibrium, gases, solutions, electrochemistry, and more. A major part of the course involves application of concepts and rigorous mathematical problem solving. Laboratory procedures will incorporate advanced techniques; accuracy and precision are emphasized. The Advanced Placement Examination in Chemistry is given in May. Independent research and lab work will be performed following the exam. GRADES: 11 - 12 ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS (B) (Prerequisites: Physical Setting: Physics, strong mathematical skills, honors criteria) This course is the equivalent of a first-year college course in Physics. It is designed to give highly motivated students the chance to pursue detailed study of physical concepts. A major part of the course involves application of these concepts and the use of physical laws in detailed problem solving exercises. Laboratory procedures will incorporate advanced techniques; accuracy and precision are emphasized. The Advanced Placement Examination in Physics is given in May. Independent research and lab work will be performed following the exam. GRADES: 11 - 12 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (Prerequisites: Living Environment, Physical Setting: Earth Science) This course is designed to familiarize students with the natural environment of the Long Island area. Emphases include identification, morphology, and interactions among local flora, fauna, and their respective habitats. Concepts in ecology, population demographics, resource conservation, waste management, and wilderness survival will also be highlighted. Field trips are an integral part of the course. GRADES: 11 - 12 FORENSIC SCIENCE (Prerequisite: Physical Setting: Chemistry) Forensic Science may be defined as the application of scientific and technological principles in addressing legal issues. This course will introduce students to the biology and chemistry of criminal investigations. They will use previously acquired knowledge to conduct experiments on samples of simulated evidence. Laboratory studies will include crime scene exploration, collection and analysis of physical evidence, and investigation of environmental and toxicological hazards. Students will be provided with the opportunity to learn techniques for analyzing DNA evidence at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, as well as speak to professionals in the field. GRADES: 11 - 12 MARINE BIOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY (Prerequisites: Living Environment, Physical Setting: Earth Science) This course is designed to provide students with the principles needed to understand relationships among biological, chemical, and physical components of marine ecosystems. Human effects on the marine environment will also be emphasized. The local estuarine environment will be utilized in long- term investigations. Field trips will be an integral part of the course. GRADES: 11 - 12 POPULAR BOTANY (Prerequisites: Living Environment, Physical Setting: Earth Science) This course requires the application of life and physical science concepts as students learn about plant life cycles and cultivation. Students will investigate evolutionary and genetic relationships among plants, as well as investigate the effects of various environmental factors on plant growth. The high school greenhouse provides the facilities for short- and long-term investigations. GRADES: 11 - 12 INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH The purpose of this course is to acquaint students with scientific methodologies and inquiry-based investigations as applied to independent research. One of the primary outcomes of the course is an independent research project. To this end, students are guided toward selecting a problem of interest to investigate. Students use print, electronic, and on-line databases to perform extensive background research. They establish experimental procedures and various means of collecting data, and they draw conclusions from experimental evidence. Organizational and oral/written presentation techniques are also addressed. Culminating events include students' presentations at various local, state, and national competitions. GRADES: 9 - 12 ASTRONOMY AND METEOROLOGY (Prerequisite: Physical Setting Earth Science) This hands-on course is dedicated to the study of our atmosphere. Through the use of printed materials and our weather station, students will have the opportunity, through the use of the Internet, to collect and share weather data with other schools throughout the country. Topics include causes of weather, air masses and fronts, the jet stream, predicting weather, reading weather maps, and severe weather. Guest speakers will be an integral part of this course. GRADES: 9 - 12 APPLIED CHEMISTRY – APPLIED PHYSICS (Prerequisite: Completion of Living Environment and Earth Science). This course is to provide students who elect not to pursue Regents Chemistry in their junior year. Students will spend a semester in each topic area, applying fundamental principals of chemistry and physics to ‘real-world’ applications. Students will spend significant time performing laboratory work to support concepts developed in class. Suggested topics in chemistry include: energy in foods, use of preservatives, chemistry of colors and dyes, chemical explosions, and household cleaners. Suggested topics in physics include: surviving an automobile crash, aerodynamic lift, vision correction for near and far sightedness and electrical safety. GRADES 11-12 1.0 CREDIT
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