This one semester course, in conjunction with Raritan Valley Community College, studies periodic changes in the night sky, astronomical instrumentation, the solar system, stars,nebulae and galaxies, and cosmology. Exam frequently grants college credit and satisfies many colleges pre-requisites for advanced courses in biology. Overall topics covered include Molecules and Cells, Heredity and Evolution, and Organisms and Populations. The course will follow the Advanced Placement Biology curriculum. AP Bioology is a laboratory course but the AP Examination includes a 1 hour essay portion, which requires student to be able to express themselves in clesr expository writing.
Coherence is achieved by structuring the materials around a series of major themes.
Some of these themes are science as investigation and inquiry, ecology, biochemistry, and genetic continuity. Students are encouraged to participate in independent study. Approximately 3 hours of homework is given each week. Evaluation of the student is based on quizzes, tests, laboratory experiments, written reports, homework, and class participation. Algebra I or Pre-Algebra, a 3.0 GPA in 8th garde Science course and 3.0 in Earth Science, and a science teacher recommendation.