Course Descriptions

NOTE: 1 credit in Biology is REQUIRED for graduation in South Carolina; course requires an End of Course Exam

This course engages students in the study of life and living organisms and examines cellular biology and biochemistry in the real world; the examination of biological processes and interactions. The course encompasses traditional concepts in biology and encourages exploration of new discoveries in this field of science. The components include biochemistry, cell structure, function and energy, cellular reproduction processes, molecular biology, heredity, DNA technology, natural selection and the evolution of life, taxonomy and ecology. This course includes virtual labs.

NOTE: 1 credit in Biology is REQUIRED for graduation in South Carolina; course requires an End of Course Exam

Biology Honors requires students to complete lessons that meet all SC Biology standards plus additional lessons, projects and labs beyond the state requirements. Students completing this challenging course will earn honors credit and the affiliated elevated grade point average. This course engages students in the study of life and living organisms and examines cellular biology and biochemistry in the real world; examination of biological processes and ecosystem interactions. The course encompasses traditional concepts in biology and encourages exploration of new discoveries in this field of science. Components include biochemistry, cell structure and function, cell energy, cellular reproduction processes and molecular biology, heredity, DNA technology, natural selection and the evolution of life, taxonomy and ecology. This course includes virtual labs.

Environmental science is a captivating and rapidly expanding field and this course offers compelling lessons that cover many aspects of the field: ecology, population dynamics, biomes, the biosphere, air and land use, forests and soil, water and water ecosystems, energy and resources and societies and policy. Through unique activities and material, high school students connect scientific theory and concepts to current, real-world dilemmas, providing them with opportunities for mastery in each of the segments throughout the course. This course includes virtual labs.

Students enrolled in this dynamic course explore the scope of Earth sciences. Topics like basic structure and rock formation, erosion, water and oceans, the atmosphere, weather, climate and other incredible and volatile forces that have shaped and changed our planet. As climate change and energy conservation become increasingly prevalent in the national discourse, it will be important for students to understand the concepts and causes of our changing Earth. Earth Science provides a solid foundation for understanding the physical characteristics that make the planet Earth unique and examines how these characteristics differ among the planets of our solar system.

This is a high school course that overviews modern-day forensic science careers at work using science concepts to collect and analyze evidence and link evidence to the crime and suspects in order to present admissible evidence in courts of law. Projects in this course include simulated crime-scene investigation, actual DNA separation, development of a cybersecurity plan and the identification of specific forensic skills used during the course of a large murder case. The focus of this course is to assist students in making career choices. The overview of careers includes job descriptions and availability, educational and training requirements, licensing and certification and typical annual salaries. Students who take this class will become equipped to make more informed career choices regarding the forensic, computer science and medical science fields. At the same time, students will survey the history and scope of present-day forensic science work.

This course provides an excellent foundation for students wanting to take upper level science courses such as Chemistry or Physics. The course focuses on basic concepts in chemistry and physics and encourages exploration of new discoveries in the field of physical science. It includes an overview of scientific principles and procedures. Students will examine the chemical building blocks of our physical world and the composition of matter, bonding and reaction basics as well as forces and motion, work and power, waves, electricity and magnetism. As students refine and expand their understanding of physical science, they will apply their knowledge to complete interactive virtual labs that require them to ask questions and create hypotheses. This course includes virtual labs. Not recommended for students planning to attend a 4-year college.

This college preparatory course engages students in the study of the composition, properties, changes and interactions of matter. The course covers the basic concepts of chemistry and includes virtual laboratory experiments that encourage higher-order thinking applications. The components of this course include chemistry and its methods, the composition, properties and factors affecting the interactions of matter, kinetics, solubility and solutions, electrochemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, nuclear chemistry, mathematical applications and applications of chemistry in the real world. This course includes virtual labs.

This rigorous course provides students with an engaging honors-level curriculum that emphasizes mathematical problem solving and practical applications of chemistry. Topics are examined in greater detail than general chemistry in order to prepare students for college-level coursework. Course components include atomic theory and structure, chemical bonding, organic molecules, chemical and redox reactions, stoichiometry, solutions, acids and bases, and nuclear and organic chemistry. Throughout the course, students participate in a variety of interactive virtual laboratory activities that enhance concept knowledge and develop scientific process skills, including scientific research and technical writing.

This course acquaints students with topics in classical and modern physics. The course emphasizes conceptual understanding of basic physics principles, including Newtonian mechanics, energy, thermodynamics, waves, electricity, magnetism, and nuclear and modern physics. Throughout the course, students solve mathematical problems, reason abstractly and learn to think critically about the physical world. The course also includes interactive virtual labs in which students ask questions and create hypotheses.

This rigorous course provides students with an engaging honors-level curriculum that emphasizes abstract reasoning and applications of physics concepts to real-world scenarios. Topics are examined in greater detail than general physics and provide a solid foundation for collegiate-level coursework. Course components include one- and two-dimensional motion, momentum, energy, thermodynamics, harmonic motion, waves, electricity, magnetism, and nuclear and modern physics. Throughout the course, students participate in a variety of interactive virtual laboratory activities that enhance concept knowledge and develop scientific process skills, including scientific research and technical writing.

This course introduces the fundamental concepts of anatomy and physiology—including the organization of the body, cellular functions and the chemistry of life. Students learn about the major body systems, common diseases and disorders and the career specialties associated with each system. Students will investigate basic medical terminology as well as human reproduction and development and are introduced to these fundamental health science concepts through direct instruction, interactive tasks and practice assignments. This course is intended to provide students with a strong base of core knowledge and skills that can be used in a variety of health science career pathways.