The Science Department offers students in grades 9-12 a wide variety of course selections. In addition to the local and Regents curricula, students may also select PLTW, Advanced Placement Physics, Advanced Placement Chemistry, and/or Advanced Placement Biology for which they may acquire college credit. Most science courses have a laboratory experience as a requirement for the successful completion of the curriculum. State regulations require all students pursuing either a local or regents diploma to earn a minimum of three science credits for graduation.
Astronomy : 3448 : 40 weeks: 1 Credit
Astronomy is a one credit Science elective course that explores the composition, origin, and fate of the Universe. Astronomy will provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies used to understand the Earth and our solar system, galaxies, and the universe. Astronomy is interdisciplinary; it will pull from a wide variety of topics from different areas of study. Students will build skills to acquire, analyze, communicate about, and apply information; students will be able to apply these core skills in both an academic or professional setting.
Earth Science (Regents) : 3120 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit Regents
Earth Science is an intensive, student-activity oriented course. Emphasis is given to laboratory and field experiences. The course focuses on students investigating topics such as: observation and measurement of the environment, earth motions, energy in earth processes, insolation, astronomy, atmospheric energy exchanges, energy budget, erosional and depositional processes, rock formation, plate tectonics, and geological history. The course consists of two periods of lecture and one period of laboratory in a two-day cycle. Students must have satisfactorily completed the course laboratory requirements to be eligible for admission to take the regents examination.
Living Environment (Regents) : 3126 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit
This course is a graduation requirement and is based on the NYS Living Environment Core Guide. This includes biology as a science, methods of science, ecology, cells as unifying living features, exploring diversity, human physiology, genetics, reproduction, and evolution. The course consists of two periods of lecture and one period of laboratory in a two day cycle. The course culminates with the Living Environment Regents Exam. Students must have satisfactorily completed the NYS course laboratory requirements to be eligible for admission to take the Regents examination.
Chemistry (Regents): 3321 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit
Regents Chemistry is a course of study which presents a modern view of chemistry suitable for pupils with a wide range of skills and abilities. Students are made aware of the technological impact of chemistry as well as the total effect of the application of chemical principles on our lives. Areas of emphasis include atomic structure and chemical bonding, ionization, oxidation-reduction, chemical kinetics, stoichiometry, and organic chemistry. The course consists of two periods of lecture and one period of laboratory in a two day cycle. Students must satisfactorily complete the laboratory requirements for the course in order to be eligible for admission to take the Regents examination.
Chemistry (Local) :3341 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit
This is a complete chemistry course designed for students not requiring the more technical Regents course. Students will obtain sufficient chemical knowledge and skills to explore and assess chemistry-related personal and societal issues and concerns. Students will also gain an appreciation for the important role that chemistry plays in everyday life through problem-solving activities and required inquiry-based laboratory experiments. The course will include such topics as matter and energy, atomic structure, bonding, the Periodic Table, solution chemistry, acids and bases, and organic chemistry.
Forensic Science : 3445 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit
This course will provide students with an opportunity to study an exciting application of science and the world of forensic science. Case studies, laboratory exercises, text work and lecture will be used to introduce the basics throughout the course. The student of forensic investigation learns to analyze a with many different sciences disciplines in mind. This course incorporates math, English and all science disciplines to improve student literacy and problem solving skills. Preference will be given to seniors needing their third unit of science.
Field Biology : 3423 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit
Prerequisite: Living Environment - Seniors have priority
Field Biology is a hands-on, experiential course covering areas of ecology, conservation biology, environmental science, and natural history. The course focuses on outdoor field study and is taught cooperatively with Onondaga County’s Beaver Lake Nature Center. Additional classroom instruction and class work preparing for or following up on fieldwork also is included. Topics of study include plant and animal identification, aquatic ecology, succession, ecosystem dynamics, soils, and environmental issues. Due to the physical expanse of a “nature classroom,” students are held to the highest standards of our Code of Conduct. The course consists of three periods in a two day cycle. This course is available to students who need a third unit in science to meet graduation requirements and is designed for students who want to continue their science education with particular interest in environmental studies.
Global Environment and the Evolution of Human Society (SUNY ESF EFB 120) : 3323 : 40 Weeks : 3 ESF Credits
Prerequisites: Successful completion of NYS Regents Earth Science, NYS Regents Biology, and successful completion of or concurrent enrollment in NYS Regents Chemistry.
Global Environment is a three (3) credit introductory, college-level environmental science course that explores large-scale environmental issues and their relationship to human society. Students will gain knowledge and tools to make informed decisions regarding their environment and the earth’s future. The focus is on relationships among organisms and their environment, human populations, and long term sustainability of natural resources. Topics include general ecology, biodiversity loss and conservation, human population growth, global climate change, aquatics, pollution issues, soil conservation, green technology, and the environmental movement. Reduced tuition fee for SUNY ESF college credit.
Math/Science/Technology : 3500 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit
Prerequisite: Earned two Math credits and two science credits prior to enrollment and passed 1 math and 1 science Regents examination.
This course is designed to meet the need of a third science credit. The purpose of this course is to ensure the use of problem-solving techniques in order to increase students’ understanding that Math, Science and Technology are inherently interactive and are an integral part of society. This course is designed to have a thematic approach to real world problems. Possible themes include transportation, mechanical systems, energy, toys, medicine, health & wellness, communication, electronics, home, and engineering and design.
Advanced Placement (AP) Biology : 3425 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit
Prerequisite: Regents Chemistry
The Advanced Placement Biology course is designed to be the equivalent of a college introductory biology course, usually taken by biology majors during their freshman college year. This course differs significantly from the Regents Living Environment course, with respect to the kind of textbook used, the range and depth of topics covered, the kind of laboratory work done by students, and the time and effort required of students. The course aims to provide students with the conceptual framework, factual knowledge, and analytical skills necessary to deal critically with the rapidly changing science of biology. Units of study will include biological chemistry, cells, energy transformation, molecular genetics, heredity, evolution, plants, animals, and ecology. The kinds of laboratory work done by the students in this course are equivalent to those done by college students. The course consists of two periods of lecture and one period of laboratory in a two-day cycle. Students must take the Advanced Placement examination, which is offered nationally in May. A fee will be charged for the AP exam.
Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry : 3318 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit
Prerequisite: [Overall final average of 85% in Regents Chemistry is recommended & a passing grade in Physics (Physics may be taken concurrently)]
Advanced Placement Chemistry is a two semester course which is offered to a selected group of juniors and seniors. The course is designed to be the equivalent of the general chemistry course usually taken during the first college year. It contributes to the development of students’ abilities to think clearly and to express their ideas orally and in writing with clarity and logic. This course differs qualitatively from Regents chemistry course with respect to the kind of textbook used, the topics covered, the emphasis on chemical calculations, the mathematical formulation of principles, and the kind of laboratory work done by students. Quantitative differences appear in the number of topics treated, the time spent on the course by students, and the nature and variety of experiments done in the laboratory. The course consists of two periods of lecture and one period of laboratory, in a two-day cycle. All students must take the Advanced Placement Examination in Chemistry which is written in May. A fee will be charged for the AP exam.
Physics (Local) : 3441 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit
This course is designed for non-science majors with mathematics limited to algebra. Topics studies include: mechanics, energy, heat, sound, light, electricity, atomics and nuclear physics. Additional topics, depending on student interests include: airfoils, relativity, optical illusions, physics of toys, physics of sports and engineering design.
Physics (Regents) : 3442 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit
Regents Physics is a laboratory based, algebra based, introductory Physics course designed for students pursuing non-science, math, or engineering majors. The objective of the course is to use the basic laws of physics to explain how things work. Using basic algebra and trigonometry, the student will learn how physics can explain the qualitative and quantitative nature of the interworking of common everyday objects. Trigonometry applications will be limited to the basic identities. Physics topics covered include; Motion, Projectiles, Energy, Wave Motion, Sound, Electricity and Magnetism, Color, Light, and Modern Physics. All students will be expected to take the NYS Physics Regents Examination at the completion of this course.
Physics I & II (AP & OCC 103 and OCC 104) : 3446 & 3447: 40 Weeks : 1 Credit
Prerequisites: Successful completion of prior science course and current enrollment in Algebra II and passing the Chemistry Regents Exam is recommended.
College Physics is a non-calculus General Physics course emphasizing fundamental concepts and principles with a problem-solving approach. It is designed as a college-level Physics course. The course includes the study of Kinematics and Dynamics, Newton’s Laws, Work and Energy, Momentum, Rotational Motion, Waves, and Electricity and Magnetism. The application of algebra, trigonometry, geometry and graphical analysis is stressed. The course consists of two periods of lecture and one period of laboratory in a two day cycle. The Physics Regents examination in June is optional. The satisfactory completion of labs is required for admission to the Regents examination. All students must take the Advanced Placement Examination in Physics 1 in May. A component of the course will also involve preparation for the AP Physics 1 Examination. That part of the course will cover Newtonian mechanics (including rotational dynamics and angular momentum); work, energy, and power; mechanical waves and sound. It also introduces electrical circuits. Depending on the examination score achieved, some colleges may allow students to register in courses where general physics is a requirement. A fee will be charged for the AP exam.
Advanced Placement (AP) Physics C : 3419 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit
Corequisite: Calculus / AP Calculus AB or BC
Prerequisite:Passing grade Physics I & II is recommended.
This course is designed for students who plan to study science, technology, engineering or math in a post-secondary sequence. The AP Physics C course is intended to extend the student’s understanding of physics concepts which are developed with the use of calculus. The two parts of this course are the counterparts to the mechanics and the electricity and magnetism portions of introductory calculus-based college physics course sequences. Since this course is a prerequisite for more advanced study, it is important that students demonstrate their level of achievement in each content area. For this reason, there are two separate AP examinations in May, one for mechanics and one for electricity and magnetism. All students must take two Advanced Placement Examinations in May. A fee will be charged for both AP exams.
PLTW - Principles of Biomedical Sciences : 3925 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit
Prerequisite: Concurrent Enrollment in College Preparatory Science and Mathematics Courses
This is the 1st of a 4 course sequence in Biomedical Sciences. This course will provide students the opportunity to work on the study of human medicine, research processes and an introduction to bioinformatics. Students will investigate the human body systems and various health conditions including: heart disease, diabetes, sickle-cell disease, hypercholesterolemia, and infectious diseases. This course is taught only at Durgee Jr. High School.
PLTW - Human Body Systems : 3601 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit
Prerequisite: Concurrent Enrollment in College Preparatory Science and Math Courses
This is the 2nd of a 4 course sequence in Biomedical Sciences. Students examine the interactions of body systems as they explore identity, communication, power, movement, protection, and homeostasis. Students design experiments, investigate the structures and functions of the human body, and use data software to monitor body functions like muscle movement, reflex and voluntary action, and respiration. Exploring science in action, students build organs and tissues on a skeletal manikin, work through interesting real world cases and often play the role of biomedical professionals to solve medical mysteries.
PLTW - Medical Interventions : 3602 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit
Prerequisite: PLTW Human Body Systems and Concurrent Enrollment in College Preparatory Science and Mathematics Courses
This is the 3rd of a 4 course sequence in Biomedical Sciences. Students investigate a variety of interventions involved in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease as they follow the life of a fictitious family. The course is a “How-To” manual for maintaining overall health and homeostasis in the body. Students explore how to prevent and fight infection; screen and utilize the code in human DNA to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer; and prevail when the organs of the body begin to fail. Through these scenarios, students are exposed to a range of interventions related to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease.
PLTW - Biomedical Innovation : 3603 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit
Prerequisite: PLTW Medical Interventions and Concurrent Enrollment in College Preparatory Science and Mathematics Courses
This is the 4th of a 4 course sequence in Biomedical Sciences. Students design innovative solutions for the health challenges of the 21st century. They work through progressively challenging open-ended problems, addressing topics such as clinical medicine, physiology, biomedical engineering, and public health. They have the opportunity to work on an independent project with a mentor or advisor from a university, hospital, research institution, or the biomedical industry. At the culmination of the course students are expected to present their work to an audience of STEM professionals. This course is designed for 12th grade students.
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