Science Courses
INTEGRATED SCIENCE GEN
Grade: 9
Credits: 5 per semester
Max credit: 10
Integrated Science is an introductory level science class integrating chemistry, biology, physics, geology and ecology. The class also addresses the common science misconceptions with science fact and science fiction activities. The class is designed to develop science literacy and deepen the students understanding of scientific ideas and concepts. Numerous labs and hands-on activities are incorporated to motivate and interest students, as well as address the needs and abilities of all students. Inquiry based activities encourage problem solving strategies and critical thinking skills..
INTEGRATED SCIENCE 9P
Grade: 9
Credits: 5 per semester
Max credit: 10
Integrated Science is an introductory level science class integrating chemistry, biology, physics, geology and ecology. The class also addresses the common science misconceptions with science fact and science fiction activities. The class is designed to develop science literacy and deepen the students understanding of scientific ideas and concepts. Numerous labs and hands-on activities are incorporated to motivate and interest students, as well as address the needs and abilities of all students. Inquiry based activities encourage problem solving strategies and critical thinking skills.
BIOLOGY GENERAL
Grade: 10
Credits: 5 per semester
Max credits: 10
Meets Life Science graduation requirement. A one-year course. May not be repeated for credit. This course introduces students to the tools, measurements, and problem solving methods of biologists. Students will explore concepts of cell biology, systems biology, human genetics, and ecology.
BIOLOGY P
Grade: 10
Credits: 5 per semester
Prerequisite: English college-prep placement.
Max credit: 10
Meets Life Science graduation requirement. A one-year course. May not be repeated for credit. Biology includes an overview of the ways biology is integrated into students’ lives. Students will explore concepts of cell biology, systems biology, human genetics, and ecology. Meets A-G University of California equirement.
BIOLOGY GP
Grade: 9
Credits: 5 per semester
Prerequisite: Meeting of District GATE eligibility
Max credit: 10
Meets Life Science graduation requirement. A one-year course. May not be repeated for credit. Biology includes an overview of the ways biology is integrated into students’ lives. Students explore concepts of cell biology, systems biology, human genetics, and ecology. Biology GP provides the Biology course content with additional enriching lab/lecture experiences stressing molecules and cells, genetics and evolution, taxonomy and ecology, botany and zoology. Meets A-G University of California requirement
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AP
Grade: 12
Credits: 5 per semester
Prerequisite: Approval of the Liberty High Honors/AP committee and successful completion of CP or GATE Biology and CP or Honors Chemistry.
Max credit: 10
A one-year college level course. Successful completion of the College Board AP exam allows students to earn college credit. Students learn the principles of ecosystems, biomes, environmental impacts of pollution, population, etc. The course also includes more than twenty labs to be completed on various topics. All students in the AP Environmental Science class will be expected to take the AP exam. Meets A-G University of California requirement.
EARTH SCIENCE GENERAL
Grade: 11
Credits: 5 per semester
Prerequisite: Junior standing
Max credit: 10
Meets Physical Science graduation requirement. A one-year course. May not be repeated for credit. Meets the graduation requirements and state science framework, utilizing lab experiences. Earth science covers astronomy, meteorology, geology, oceanography, plate techtonics, California geology, atmosphere and weather.
CHEMISTRY P
Grades: 11-12
Credits: 5 per semester
Prerequisite: Completion of Algebra 9 and Geometry and concurrently enrolled in Advanced Algebra or higher math class.
Max credit: 10
A one-year college-prep course. May not be entered at the second semester and may not be repeated for credit. Recommended for college bound students who may major in math or science fields. Chemistry prepares students for college science. Course includes lab experiences, use of lab technology, and problem solving. Topics include: classification of matter, structure of the atom, stoichiometry, gas laws, chemical bonding, and acids-bases. Meets UC science requirement. Meets A-G University of California requirement.
CHEMISTRY HP
Grades: 10-11
Credits: 5 per semester
Prerequisite: Approval of the Liberty High Honors/AP committee.
Max credit: 10
A one-year college-prep course. May not be entered at the second semester and may not be repeated for credit. Recommended for college bound students who may major in math or science and prepares students for college science. Course includes lab experiences, the use of technology in the lab, and problem solving. Topics include classification of matter, structure of the atom, stoichiometry, gas laws, chemical bonding, and acids-bases. Meets A-G University of California requirement.
AP CHEMISTRY
Grades: 11-12
Credits: 5 per semester
Prerequisite: Approval of the Liberty High Honors/AP committee.
Max credit: 10
The AP Chemistry course is designed to be the equivalent of the general chemistry course usually taken during the first college year. The goal is that students will take the AP Exam to receive college credit or placement at the student’s college of choice. Students may be able to undertake second-year work in the chemistry sequence at their institution or take courses for which general chemistry is a prerequisite. For other students, this course fulfills the laboratory science requirement and frees time for other courses.
PHYSICS CP
Grades: 11-12
Credits: 5 per semester
Max credit: 10
This is an introductory Physics course in which students will investigate the world around them and develop an understanding of many fundamental physical concepts, and how they affect their everyday lives. Students will use a number of approaches and techniques to acquire and internalize these concepts, including but not limited to lecture, hands-on lab experiments, text reading, homework problems, and individual work. By using the language of mathematics, students will describe, explain and predict many of the phenomena observed in our universe.
PHYSICS HP
Grades: 11-12
Credits: 5 per semester
Max credit: 10
Honors Physics expands upon the concepts introduced in Physical Science to help students understand the physical world around them. The course opens with a review of the mathematical skills needed in high school physics. Then, it quickly proceeds into classical physics, starting with mechanics, a mathematical interpretation of how the world works developed by Isaac Newton. Students then continue on to learn about waves, optics, and electromagnetism. The course concludes with a survey of more modern work in physics, including an introduction to quantum mechanics. Throughout the course, students learn to apply the concepts from the reading and lessons to the world around them through homework problems and laboratories. The format and structure of the course is designed for students to gain experience as independent, self-motivated learners as they learn content from lessons and reinforce their understanding of the concepts through activities, quizzes, laboratories, and exams.