Chair:
Mrs. Martha James:  Chemistry, AP Chemistry

Faculty:
Mr. Michael Boeing (’74):  Biology, Physiology
Mr. William Driehaus (’75):  Biology, Environmental/Earth Science
Mr. Kevin Espelage (’91):  Biology, Intro to Biology, Physical Science
Dr. John Hageman (’79):  College Biology
Mr. Sean Jameson (’06):  Physics
Mr. Daniel Kreimer ‘(61):  Biology, Chemistry
Mr. David Sharp:  Intro to Engineering, Physics, AP Physics B, AP Physics C
Mr. Pete Suer (’00):  Astronomy, Chemistry, Physics

Typical Program: 
(Note:  Three Science Credits are required for graduation)
Freshman Year:  Biology
Sophomore Year:  Chemistry
Junior Year: Physiology or Physics (Selection based on interest and math ability)
Senior Year:  Physics or Physiology

Honors Program: 
Freshman Year:  Biology
Sophomore Year:  Chemistry
Junior Year: Physics, and/or AP Chemistry
Senior Year:  AP Physics, College Biology, and/or AP Chemistry

Electives such as Engineering, Environmental /Earth Science, Intro to Astronomy, and Physiology are taken as dictated by the student’s schedule and interest.

Course Offerings:

BASIC PHYSICAL SCIENCE - This course is a broad introduction to theories of chemistry and physics with practical applications. It is recommended for students desiring a science background but with primary interests in other areas.  Emphasis is placed on current topics in science, using the metric system, and understanding scientific terminology.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE - This course is a survey of science with an emphasis on the development of laboratory skills, deductive and inductive reasoning and reading comprehension. The students will explore different topics in physical sciences such as chemical interactions, forces and motion the earth’s interior, astronomy, change through time and ecology.

BASIC INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY - This course provides a very broad approach to the concepts of biology, examining the structural and chemical basis of life. Emphasis is placed on current topics in science and understanding biological terminology.    Content areas include the cell, heredity, evolution, ecology & classification of living organisms.

BIOLOGY - Includes the study of the properties of living matter, cell structure and function, and a survey of living plants and animals with a major emphasis on man as a functioning organism.  Genetics, evolution, and ecology are also considered.

PHYSIOLOGY - Open to sophomores, juniors and seniors, this course is an in-depth approach to the study of the human body systems. Lectures emphasize an understanding of body systems with an emphasis on the cellular and biochemical levels. This class does include different animal part dissection labs.

COLLEGE BIOLOGY - Teaches the scientific concepts of Biology to the range and depth covered in a college-level first-year General Biology class for Biology majors. This course if offered through Elder High School in consortium with Thomas More College.  The format of the course will be lectures with only a few supplemental labs. The eight major topics to be covered include: The Chemistry of Life, The Cell, Genetics, Mechanisms of Evolution, Biological Diversity, Plant Form and Function, Animal Form and Function, and Ecology.  This course is a college Biology course with dual credit offered through Thomas More College (3 college credit hours per semester - maximum 6 /year).   An additional fee is associated with earning dual credit.

CHEMISTRY - The first course in chemistry designed to study the composition of the kinds of substances and their properties.  These properties will be studied and investigated by discussions, demonstrations, and experimentation.

AP CHEMISTRY - A second-year Chemistry course intended to prepare the student to take and pass the Advanced Placement Chemistry exam.  The course will focus on topics selected from the following:  solutions, equilibrium, kinetics, acids and bases, and thermodynamics.

PHYSICS - This first course in Physics which includes a study of the relationships of matter and energy, the forms of energy, mechanics, vibrations, kinematics, waves, and sound.

AP PHYSICS B - A second-year Physics course, which covers heat transfer, thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, and nuclear physics.  Intended to prepare the student to take and pass the Advanced Placement Physics exam.

AP PHYSICS C – A second year calculus-based Physics course in Mechanics.  It is intended to prepare the student to take and pass the Advanced Placement Physics C (Mechanics) test.  The course reviews the content of the mechanics portion from the first-year course, adding more challenging problems and more “discovery”-type laboratory experiences, along with derivations and analysis utilizing calculus.

INTRO TO ENGINEERING - A semester course aimed at juniors and seniors who are considering careers in Engineering.  A project-oriented look at the types of work engineers to, and the kinds of skills necessary to succeed in the field of Engineering.  Hands-on projects, computer activities, and individual and group activities are included.

ASTRONOMY - A semester course in the evolution and composition of the universe.  Stars and planets, galaxies, moons, comets and asteroids will be studied.