Science Department

This course provides a hands-on approach to biological sciences through agriculture. Agriculture Biology is a laboratory science course designed for the college-bound student. The course emphasizes detailed knowledge of the biological principles of the following areas: molecular and cellular aspects of living things, structure and function of agricultural plants and animals, genetics, physiology, plant and animal diversity, and principles of classification, ecological relationships, and animal behavior. Concepts in animal and plant science, foreign and domestic agriculture history, public speaking, and parliamentary procedure also included.

Grade Level: 9

Graduation Credit: Biological Science

CSU/UC: Lab Science(d)

CTE Pathway: Animal Science

CTE Course Level: Concentrator

Chemistry in the Earth’s System is a college preparatory, lab science class aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. This is the second course in the three-course science pathway at CUHSD.  NGSS Performance Expectations are used from the Physical Science and Earth Science Disciplinary Core Ideas with Scientific and Engineering Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and California’s unique Environmental Principles and Concepts. Inquiry-driven laboratory exercises are an integral part of the curriculum in this course and the other two courses in the three-series course pathway.

Grade Level: 10

Graduation Credit: Chemistry 

CSU/UC:  Lab Science(d), college prep electives(g)

This course explores the physical and chemical nature of soil as well as the relationships between soil, plants, animals and agricultural practices. Students will examine properties of soil and land and their connections to plant and animal production. Using knowledge of scientific protocols as well as course content, students will develop an Agriscience research program to be conducted throughout the first semester of the course. To complete that whole project each student will investigate and test an Agriscience research question by formulating a scientific question related to the course content, formulating a hypothesis based on related research, conducting an experiment to test the hypothesis, collecting quantitative data, and forming a conclusion based on analysis of the data. The result of this research program will be an in-depth research and experimentation paper that is technically written, based on scientific protocol, and cited using APA formatting. Additionally, students will develop and present a capstone soil management plan for agricultural producers, using the content learned throughout the course. Throughout the course, students will be graded on participation in intracurricular FFA activities as well as the development and maintenance of an ongoing Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program.

Grade Level: 10-12

Graduation Credit: Science

CSU/UC: Lab Science(d)

CTE Pathway: None

CTE Course Level:  Singleton

Physics of the Universe is a college preparatory, lab science class aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. This is the final course in the three-course science pathway at CUHSD, except for Del Mar, where this course is the first course in the series.  NGSS Performance Expectations are used from the Physical Science and Earth Science Disciplinary Core Ideas with Scientific and Engineering Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and California’s unique Environmental Principles and Concepts. Inquiry-driven laboratory exercises are an integral part of the curriculum in this course and the other two courses in the three-series course pathway.

Grade Level: 11

Graduation Credit: Physis

CSU/UC:  Lab Science(d), college prep electives(g)

Physics 1, Advanced Placement, is part of the College Board’s redesign of Physics B, Advanced Placement, and currently an approved AP course in our district. The Physics 1, Advanced Placement course is equivalent to a first-semester college course in algebra-based physics. The course covers Newtonian mechanics (including rotational dynamics and angular momentum), work, energy, power, and mechanical waves and sound. It will also introduce electric circuits.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of The Living Earth and Chemistry in the Earth System.

Co-requisite: Enrollment in IM3 or higher math.

Grade Level: 11 or 12

Graduation Credit: Physics 

CSU/UC:  Lab Science(d), Electives(g)

Physics 2, Advanced Placement, is the second course in the College Board’s redesigned Algebra based introductory college level physics course. It follows the currently approved AP Physics 1 course. Students explore the principles of fluids, thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, advanced electrical circuits, physical and geometric optics, and a variety of modern physics topics such as quantum mechanics, atomic physics and nuclear physics. Continuing the focus on inquiry-based learning fostered in AP Physics 1, students will continue to develop their scientific critical thinking and reasoning skills.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of The Living Earth, Chemistry in the Earth System, and Physics of the Universe/AP Physics 1, or concurrent enrollment in the third course of the three-year series. 

Co-Requisite: Completion of, or concurrent enrollment in IM3 Stem or higher math.

Grade Level: 12

Graduation Credit: Science 

CSU/UC:  Lab Science(d), college prep electives(g)

Grade Level: 11-12

Graduation Credit: Science, CTE

CSU/UC: Lab Science(d)

The AP Biology course is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester college introductory biology course usually taken by biology majors during their first year. After showing themselves to be qualified on the AP Exam, some students, in their first year of college, are permitted to take upper-level courses in biology or register for courses for which biology is a prerequisite. Other students may have fulfilled a basic requirement for a laboratory-science course and will be able to undertake other courses to pursue their majors. The two main goals of the Biology AP course are to help students develop a conceptual framework for modern biology and an appreciation of science as a process. The ongoing knowledge explosion in biology makes these goals even more challenging.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of The Living Earth, Chemistry in the Earth System, and Physics of the Universe, or concurrent enrollment in the third course of the three-year series. 

Grade Level: 11-12

Graduation Credit: Biological Science 

CSU/UC:  Lab Science(d), Electives(g)

The AP Chemistry course is designed to be the equivalent of the general chemistry course usually taken during the first college year. For some students, this course enables them to undertake, in their first year, second-year work in the chemistry sequence at their institution or to register in courses in other fields where general Chemistry is      required.

Prerequisite: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in Chemistry in the Earth

Recommended: Completion of or enrollment in IM3/ third year of math or higher

Grade Level: 11 or 12

Graduation Credit: Chemistry 

CSU/UC:  Lab Science(d), college prep electives(g)

The goal of the AP Environmental Science course is to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems, both natural and human-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving or preventing them. Environmental science is interdisciplinary; it embraces a wide variety of topics from different areas of study. Due to the quantitative analysis that is required in the course, students should also have taken at least one year of Algebra.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of The Living Earth, Chemistry in the Earth System, and Physics of the Universe, or concurrent enrollment in the third course of the three-year series. 

Grade Level: 11 or 12

Graduation Credit:  College Prep Elective 

CSU/UC:  Lab Science(d), College Prep Electives(g)

In this laboratory life science course, students study the anatomy and physiology of the human body. Students also develop an understanding of the structure, function, and relationships of body systems. Topics include cell physiology and the structural and functional organization of the human body systems: skeletal and muscular systems, nervous system and senses, circulatory system, respiratory system, endocrine system, integumentary system, digestive system and the reproductive system. The study of other organisms is often included to complement student understanding of the human body. Laboratory investigations include dissection, microscopic observation, and testing capabilities of the various body systems.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of The Living Earth, Chemistry in the Earth System, and Physics of the Universe, or concurrent enrollment in the third course of the three-year series. 

Grade Level: 11 or 12

Graduation Credit: College Prep Elective 

CSU/UC:  Lab Science(d), College Prep Electives(g)

Learn anatomy and physiology, as well as animal health and disease, animal behavior, and client communication to prepare for employment in Veterinary careers.

Grade Level: 11 or 12

Graduation Credit: Biological Science

CSU/UC: Lab Science(d)