High School Course Offerings
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The Science Department offers courses designed for a full range of interests and abilities. Advanced placement of college credit courses permit college-level, in depth study of a single discipline, while Introduction to Living Environment allows students extended time to successfully pass the Living Environment Regents.

Physical Setting:  Earth Science            (1 year, 1 credit)

This course explores concepts and principles about the dynamic nature of our planet and its environment in space. Understandings are developed through an investigative approach that emphasizes cooperative learning during laboratory activities. Students meet six times in a four-day cycle so that time for discovery is made available to these students. Topics include: Investigating Processes of Change, The Earth and Its History, Energy Exchanges and Budgets, The Rock Cycle, Erosion and Deposition, and The Earth’s Changing Environment. A portfolio of completed laboratory reports representing 1200 minutes of laboratory work is required before students take the June New York State Regents Examination in Earth Science, the final examination for this course. 
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Living Environment A                                 (1 year, 1 credit)

Based on the New York State Regents Living Environment Curriculum, this course is offered to science-oriented students who have shown outstanding achievement in previous Regents science courses. Topics of study include: The Study of Life, Maintenance in Plants and Animals, Reproduction and Development, Genetics, Evolution, and Ecology. Extended areas of study include: Biochemistry, Human Physiology, and Modern Theories of Evolution.  Students are required to create a Science Fair project.  A portfolio of completed laboratory reports representing 1200 minutes of specific New York State laboratory assignments are required before students take the June New York State Regents Examination. This course is a hands-on experimental centered course. Students learn to identify problems while developing hypotheses and planning and carrying our experiments. Students learn to become careful observers, effective communicators and critical thinkers. To Top

Living Environment R                           (1 year, 1 credit)

This course provides a core of broad, general understandings of the fundamentals of biology and an extension of these understandings in several specific areas, this New York Regents course may be used to earn a credit for a Regents Diploma. Students learn proper laboratory techniques in the use of the microscope and in dissections of representative specimens while attaining an appreciation for the beauty of many of the life forms that share our planet. Among the topics covering are: The Study of Life, Maintenance in Plants and Animals, Reproduction and Development, Genetics, Evolution and Ecology. Extended areas of study include: Biochemistry, Human Physiology, and Modern Theories of Evolution. A portfolio of completed laboratory reports representing 1200 minutes of specific New York State laboratory assignments are required before students take the June New York State Regents Examination.
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Introduction To Living Environment  (1 year, 1 credit)

This course is designed to prepare students requiring extended time and assistance to be successful on the Living Environment Regents exam.  Class meets six times in a four-day cycle.  Students have the time to study the selected topics in a variety of teaching methodologies.  At the end of each unit, students will be exposed to the reading level vocabulary necessary for being successful on the Living Environment Regents exam.  Improving the reading and writing level skills of students will be stressed throughout the course.  A student who successfully completes this course will take Living Environment R the following year.

Prerequisite:  Departmental recommendation.

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Physical Setting:  Chemistry A           (1 year, 1 credit)

This course, based on the New York State Regents Chemistry Curriculum, is designed for those students who have demonstrated in previous science courses achievement and interest at a level well above average. Emphasis is on the basic principles of chemistry, often described mathematically and derived from laboratory experiences. The core topics as well as the “optional” topics given in the New York State Curriculum are covered in depth.  Students are required to create a Science Fair project.  A portfolio of completed laboratory reports representing 1200 minutes of laboratory work is required before students take the June New York State Regents Examination.  To Top

Physical Setting:  Chemistry R    (1 year, 1 credit)

This is an introductory chemistry course covering a wide array of topics relating to the nature of matter. This course awards a Regents credit towards a New York State Regents Diploma, and provides an important foundation for the further science studies while developing a general understanding of some of the major scientific issues of today. Topics include: Matter and Energy, Atomic Structure, Nuclear Energy, Chemical Bonding, The Periodic Table, Kinetics and Equilibrium, Acid-Base Theories, Reduction and Oxidation, and Organic Chemistry. The theoretical and quantitative aspects of chemistry are stressed.  A portfolio of completed laboratory reports representing 1200 minutes of laboratory work is required before students take the June New York State Regents exam.  To Top

Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Living Environment course.

Physical Setting: Physics A    (1 year, 1 credit (w)

Designed for 11th and 12th graders who have demonstrated, in both science and mathematics, achievement and interest at a level well above average, this course emphasizes the basic principles of physics which are frequently described quantitatively. Concepts are discovered through direct observations and the analysis of laboratory data obtained by the student. Students also explore in detail the optional topics in the New York State Regents Physics Curriculum. A portfolio of completed laboratory reports representing 1200 minutes of class work is required before students take the June New York State Regents Examination.  To Top

Physical Setting: Physics R    (1 year, 1 credit)

This course is based on the New York State Regents Physics Curriculum. The application of problem solving skills utilizing mathematical techniques is emphasized and used to reinforce concepts. Core areas include the topics of Mechanics, Energy, Electricity and Magnetism, Wave Phenomenon, and Modern Physics. In addition, several optional topics, such as Motion in Plan and Nuclear Energy, are also covered in depth. Students learn many basic principles through their own laboratory experiences.  A portfolio of completed laboratory reports representing 1200 minutes of laboratory work is required before students take the June New York State Regents exam. 

Prerequisite: Successful completion of required math course and the Math A Regents exam. Students must also be enrolled in a math course leading to the Math B Regents or higher level math course.
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Advanced Placement Biology    (1 year, 1 credit (w)

AP Biology is a first year, college-level course in biology. The course is designed for students who have completed a course in high school biology, chemistry, and physics and have demonstrated superior ability in science. Among the topics covered are: cells and protoplasm, structure, function and classification of lower and higher plants, structure,  function and classification of invertebrates and vertebrates, development and growth, genetics, evolution, ecology, diseases and immunity, physiology, and biochemistry. An extensive laboratory program is an integral part of the course.

Prerequisite: Biology R, Chemistry R, and Physics R (one of the preceding can be taken as a co-requisite).

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Advanced Placement Chemistry    (1 year, 1 credit (w)

AP Chemistry is a first-year, college-level course in chemistry. The course is designed for students who have completed a course in high school chemistry and have demonstrated superior ability in science. Among the topics covered are: states and structure of matter, qualitative and volumetric analysis, kinetics, equilibrium, thermodynamics, theories of reaction, redox and electrochemistry, modern acid-base theories, chemical bonding, and organic chemistry. An extensive laboratory program is an integral part of the course.

Prerequisite: Biology R, Chemistry R, and Physics R (one of the preceding can be taken and as co-requisite.  To Top

Anatomy and Physiology    (1 year, 1 credit)

The human body is the main focus of this course.  It covers topics from the muscular and skeletal systems that move the body to the nervous and circulatory systems that control and maintain the body.  Students become proficient in their knowledge so that they may take a New York State University Examination to earn college credit. Students become familiar with basic anatomical and physiological terminology and concepts and the structure and function of body cells, tissues, organs, and systems. Many concepts are learned through practical application.  

Prerequisite: Biology R, Chemistry R, and Physics R (one of the preceding can be taken and as co-requisite. 

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Marine Science (1/2 credit)

This course is a study of life in the oceans and the marine environment which dominates 75% of our Earth's surface. Marine Science includes the identification and study of various animals that live in our local waters. Among the topics covered are: fish, sharks, whales and dolphins, clams and mussels, starfish, and physical and chemical oceanography. Field trips and laboratory exercises are an extensive part of the curriculum.

Prerequisite: Two years of high school science courses or permission of the Science Chairperson.

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Science Research    (1/2 credit/year)

This course introduces students to scientific research and problem solving. Students become familiar with laboratory equipment and materials and learn routine lab procedures that enable them to perform experiments, manipulate variables and assess the effects. They access information from retrieval systems, and collect and analyze data. They access information from retrieval systems and collect and analyze data. Students choose an independent topic, write a scientific paper and do an oral presentation using presentation software. All students will be required to enter the Long Island Science Congress Senior Competition in the spring.

Prerequisite: Departmental recommendation.

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Environmental Science     (1/2 credit)

Ecology is the student of the relationships between living things and their environment. It is designed to develop an understanding of the balance of nature; to identify and analyze environmental issues (such as man's dependence on nature); to examine our widespread pollution problem; and to view problems associated with population. Field trips and laboratory investigations are an important part of this course.

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Forensic Science (1 year, 1 credit)

This course provides students with the scientific principles, techniques and skills used today to link a crime suspect with the victim and crime scene. It will also provide the opportunity to stimulate interest in science using the probing questions of crime scene investigators. Seeing science through the eyes of an investigator will allow students to apply the knowledge gained through their study of biology, chemistry, physics and earth science. Through their investigations, students will improve their critical reading and thinking skills and learn principles and concepts of chemical and drag analysis, as well as the techniques used in DNS typing. The nature of physical evidence will be emphasized along with practices relating to the proper collection and preservation of evidence. Microscopic investigation of hair, fibers and trace evidence will be conducted. Forensic aspects of arson, serology, entomology, fingerprints, weather-related fatalities, document and firearm investigation will be explored. Criminal case studies, as well as issues of a sensitive nature will be discussed as part of the coursework.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of two years of science and qualifying for high school graduation on at least once science Regents Examination.

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Advanced Placement Physics     (1 year, 1 credit)

AP Physics is a fire-year, college-level course in physics. The course is designed for students who have completed a course in high school physics and have demonstrated superior ability in science. Among the topics covered are: kinematics, dynamics, the conservation principles, wave phenomena, fields in electricity and magnetism, molecular structure of matter, the structure of atoms and quantum theory. An extensive laboratory program is an integral part of the course.

Prerequisite: Biology R, Chemistry R, and Physics R (one of the preceding can be taken as a co-requisite).

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Advanced Placement Environmental Science (1 year, 1 credit)

AP Environmental Science is designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college course in environmental science. The course is designed for students who have completed courses in high school earth science, biology, and chemistry and have demonstrated superior ability in science. Among the topics covered are: Interdependence of Earth's Systems, Human Population Dynamics, Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources, Environmental Quality, Global Changes and their Consequences, and Environment and Society. An extensive laboratory/field investigation program is an integral part of a course.

Prerequisite: Earth Science R, Biology R, Chemistry R and Physics R (one of the preceding can be taken as a co-requisite).

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