Science
Science Department Vision Statement
Every South Allegheny student will be members of a scientifically literate society. To this end they will be prepared to experience the richness and excitement of knowing about and understanding the natural world. In addition our students will be able to use appropriate scientific processes and principles in making personal decisions and engage intelligently in public discourse and debate about matters of scientific and technological concern. Also, the South Allegheny student will be able to safely increase their economic productivity through the use of the knowledge, understanding, and skills of the scientifically literate person in higher learning, their lives, and careers.
Earth and Space Science
| Title: | Earth and Space Science | Credit: | 1 |
| Course Number: | 425 | Grade: | 9 |
| Prerequisite: | N/A | Difficulty Rating: | 1 |
Description
Earth and Space Science is a course designed for high school students needing an entry-level science course covering concepts in our Solar System, space and ecological science.
PSP Earth and Space Science
| Title: | PSP Earth and Space Science | Credit: | 1 |
| Course Number: | 419 | Grade: | 9 |
| Prerequisite: | "A" or "B" average in 8th grade science | Difficulty Rating: | 1 |
Description
Earth and Space Science is a slightly accelerated science course designed for high school students needing a science course covering laboratory techniques and concepts in our Solar System, space and ecological science.
Biology
| Title: | Biology | Credit: | 1 |
| Course Number: | 421 | Grade: | 9 |
| Prerequisite: | Science 9 | Difficulty Rating: | 1 |
Description
This general biology course covers basic life science concepts and their relationship to everyday life. It consists of topics and activities including the basics of science, basic biological processes, and a review of life on Earth. Laboratory experiences will include a range of experiments and activities to reinforce the concepts explored during the class. As part of the curriculum appropriate laboratory behavior is required to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of all students and instructors in the science classroom.
Ecology
| Title: | Ecology | Credit: | .5 |
| Course Number: | 427 | Grade: | 9 |
| Prerequisite: | * | Difficulty Rating: | 1 |
*MUST take with Honors Biology
Description
This general Ecology course covers basic ecological and environmental concepts and their relationship to everyday life. This course is designed to accompany Honors Biology, in order to cover all Biology Keystone anchors. Ecology consists of topics and activities including environmental science, energy flow, environmental changes, world ecosystems, pollution, and populations.
Honors Biology
| Title: | Honors Biology | Credit: | 1 |
| Course Number: | 415 | Grade: | 9, 10 |
| Prerequisite: | * | Difficulty Rating: | 2 |
* "A" average in 8th (or 9th grade science).
MUST take with Ecology in 9th grade.
Description
This course is equivalent to Biology but is designed for ninth grade and select tenth grade students who have shown an aptitude in math and science. This biology course covers basic life science concepts and their relationship to everyday life. It consists of topics and activities including the basics of science, basic biological processes, and a review of life on Earth. Laboratory experiences will include a range of experiments and activities to reinforce the concepts explored during the class. Appropriate lab behavior is required to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of all students and instructors in the science classroom.
Chemistry I
| Title: | Chemistry I | Credit: | 1 |
| Course Number: | 431 | Grade: | 10, 11, 12 |
| Prerequisite: | Biology | Difficulty Rating: | 1 |
Description
A general chemistry course that includes chemistry concepts including but not limited to: properties and changes in matter, atomic theory, compound structure, nomenclature, chemical reactions, gas laws, REDOX, and nuclear chemistry. The laboratory portion of class will include practical applications, inquiry based investigations of classroom topics, and the writing of formal lab reports. As part of the curriculum appropriate laboratory behavior is required to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of all students and instructors in the science classroom.
PSP Chemistry
| Title: | PSP Chemistry | Credit: | 1 |
| Course Number: | 432 | Grade: | 10, 11, 12 |
| Prerequisite: | "A" or "B" in Biology | Difficulty Rating: | 1 |
Description
College preparatory course that includes chemistry concepts including but not limited to: properties and changes in matter, atomic theory, compound structure, nomenclature, chemical reactions, gas laws, REDOX, and nuclear chemistry. The laboratory portion of class will include practical applications, inquiry based investigations of classroom topics, and the writing of formal lab reports. As part of the curriculum appropriate laboratory behavior is required to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of all students and instructors in the science classroom.
Honors Chemistry
| Title: | Honors Chemistry | Credit: | 1 |
| Course Number: | 430 | Grade: | 10, 11 |
| Prerequisite: | * | Difficulty Rating: | 2 |
* "A" or "B" in Biology, and an "A" or "B" in Algebra I
Description
This is an accelerated course preparing students for advanced work in Chemistry. It covers: atomic structure, nomenclature, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, solutions chemistry, gas laws, REDOX, and thermodynamics. Also, this course includes career education. As part of the curriculum appropriate laboratory behavior is required to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of all students and instructors in the science classroom.
Honors Chemistry II
| Title: | Honors Chemistry II | Credit: | 1 |
| Course Number: | 448 | Grade: | 11, 12 |
| Prerequisite: | * | Difficulty Rating: | 2 |
* "A" or "B" in Honors Chemistry or PSP Chemistry, and an "A" or "B" in Geometry or Algebra II
Description
This is an accelerated college preparatory course preparing students for advanced work in Chemistry. It covers: reviewing basics of Chem I concepts, gas laws, REDOX, chemical kinetics, equilibrium and thermodynamics. As part of the curriculum appropriate laboratory behavior is required to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of all students and instructors in the science classroom.
PSP Physics
| Title: | PSP Physics | Credit: | 1 |
| Course Number: | 443 | Grade: | 11, 12 |
| Prerequisite: | "A" or "B" in Chemistry and Algebra | Difficulty Rating: | 1 |
Description
Postsecondary Prep Physics is a college prep level science class that takes an algebraic and conceptual approach to explaining the fundamentals of classical physics. The concepts will be extended and applied to numerous word problems and lab activities.
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Honors Physics
| Title: | Honors Physics | Credit: | 1 |
| Course Number: | 441 | Grade: | 11, 12 |
| Prerequisite: | "A" or "B" in Chemistry and Algebra | Difficulty Rating: | 2 |
Description
College preparatory course that includes chemistry concepts including but not limited to: mechanics, waves, light, sound, and magnetism. The laboratory portion of class will include practical applications, inquiry based investigations of classroom topics, and the writing of formal lab reports. As part of the curriculum appropriate laboratory behavior is required to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of all students and instructors in the science classroom.
Honors Biology II
| Title: | Honors Biology II | Credit: | 1 |
| Course Number: | 424 | Grade: | 11, 12 |
| Prerequisite: | * | Difficulty Rating: | 2 |
*A in PSP Chemistry or A or B in Honors Chemistry
Description
This course is designed for college bound students seeking a career in a biological science related field such as: environmental protection, medicine, pharmacology, or forensics. This is a college preparatory course that includes biological concepts including but not limited to: biochemistry, microbiology, genetics, evolution, and an overview of life on Earth. The laboratory portion of class is designed to follow the Advanced Placement laboratory activities. These will include practical applications based on classroom topics and the writing of formal lab reports. As part of the curriculum, appropriate behavior is required to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all students and instructors in the science classroom.
Living Science
| Title: | Living Science | Credit: | 1 |
| Course Number: | 434 | Grade: | 11, 12 |
| Prerequisite: | Biology | Difficulty Rating: | 1 |
Description
This general science course covers basic science concepts and their relationship to everyday life. It consists of topics and activities including the basics of science and technology, scientific processes, the history of science and technology, and a review of life on Earth. As part of the curriculum appropriate behavior is required to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of all students and instructions in the science classroom.
Anatomy and Physiology
| Title: | Anatomy and Physiology | Credit: | .5 |
| Course Number: | 439 | Grade: | 10, 11, 12 |
| Prerequisite: | Biology | Difficulty Rating: | 1 |
Description
This course is intended to study the human body systems. It may be most useful to those considering a career in the medical field.
Forensic Science
| Title: | Forensic Science | Credit: | .5 |
| Course Number: | 438 | Grade: | 11, 12 |
| Prerequisite: | Biology | Difficulty Rating: | 1 |
Description
Forensic Science is a semester course to introduce students to the study of crime scene investigation. Topics include: careers in forensics, the history of forensics, eyewitness reliability, crime scene basics, physical evidence, evidence collection, and analyzing evidence such as fingerprints, ballistics, toxicology, arson, hair/fibers and
blood evidence.
blood evidence.
Special Education
Learning Support staff in our Math Department co-teach with our teachers in basic mathematics classes and are present during classroom instruction.
Paraprofessionals
Paraprofessionals provide support in basic Science classes.
The push-in provider brings the instruction and any necessary materials to the student. A reading specialist, for example, may come into the class to work with a student during language arts.