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All students at Brophy College Preparatory must complete six semesters of laboratory
sciences. Most students exceed the requirement and many earn college credits
in the sciences. Traditionally most students complete Biology as a freshman,
Integrated Lab Science as a sophomore, Chemistry as a junior, and Physics as
a senior. Others take both honors and AP level classes, where the content and
pace are more challenging, and take the opportunity for college-level courses
and/or college credit through Advanced Placement (AP) examination
Biology
Full Year--Required
Prerequisites: None
The course will introduce the major biological concepts inherent to all life
processes. The significance of molecular cell biology and biotechnology will
be covered as well as the traditional comparative study of the organisms found
on earth. The relationship of these basic biological principles to humanity
and the global environment will be covered.
Honors Biology
Full Year--Elective
Prerequisites: “A” in JHS science and algebra in JHS and high entrance
exam
The major biological concepts inherent to all life processes will be introduced
in this course. The significance of molecular cell biology and biotechnology
will be covered as well as the traditional comparative study of the organisms
found on earth. The relationship of these basic biological principles to humanity
and the global environment will be covered. It will be assumed that students
in this course have a high level of interest in the biological sciences and
are self-motivated and willing to engage in critical thinking and analytical
thought about our topics.
Integrated Lab Science (ILS)
Full Year--Required
Prerequisites: Completion of Biology
This course not only will present knowledge about physical science, but it
will provide students with a strong foundation in how that knowledge is obtained.
Students will learn by guided inquiry rather than by reading a textbook. Lab
experimentation from the text is laid out in nearly historical order to help
show how student ideas developed. The course emphasizes observation, analysis,
and problem solving. Students will often be asked to synthesize what has been
learned in a lab with environmental or earth science (real world) application.
How well a student does in this class will be largely measured by what they
produce, rather than how well they memorize or perform on tests. Keeping an
organized, neat and detailed notebook is the first step to success in this class.
AP Environmental Science
Full Year--Elective
Prerequisites: Completion of Honors Biology or Biology and ILS.
This course is intended to enable students to undertake, as first-year college
students, a more advanced study of the topics in environmental science. Students
will be provided with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies
required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify
and analyze environmental problems both natural and man-made, to evaluate the
relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions
for resolving and/or preventing them.
Honors Chem/Physics I
Full Year--Elective
Prerequisites: “B” or better in Honors Biology and passing score
on the Algebra Assessment or concurrent enrollment in Algebra 1
This is an advanced version of the ILS course designed to challenge students
with an interest in the sciences to strengthen their skills in preparation for
the Advanced Placement courses in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The chemistry
content will include the periodic table, inorganic and organic nomenclature,
writing and balancing equations and reaction types. The physics content will
include Newtonian mechanics, thermodynamics, optics, waves and energy.
AP Biology
Full Year--Elective
Prerequisites: “B” or better in Honors Biology and Honors Chem/Physics
I. “B” or better or concurrent enrollment in any chemistry recommended
AP Biology is a class designed for students who have completed Honors IPS and/or
a junior level science class. Students earn college credit by passing the AP
Biology exam. All students will take the exam. The class will be conducted at
the college level and students are expected to work accordingly. The overall
success of the program depends, in large part, on students meeting their individual
responsibilities. A significant portion of the content of this course will be
covered independently by each student. Allowances should be made for substantial
study time. Throughout the year, we will be exploring the major themes of this
exciting subject. We will continually search for new ways to utilize these themes
to establish connections between one topic and another. Each of these major
themes permeates every topic in biology.
Chemistry
Full Year--Elective
Prerequisites: Completion of ILS or Honors Chem/Physics I and concurrent enrollment
in Algebra 2
This course is designed to provide the high school students with more refined
skills in laboratory technique and scientific thinking. In this course, the
emphasis is on the understanding and applications of the principles of theoretical
and structural chemistry. The nature of matter and the changes it undergoes
are stressed qualitatively and quantitatively in lecture, laboratory simulations
and laboratory exercises. Students will be expected to improve and demonstrate
both oral and written skills through pre- and post-laboratory presentations
and analysis. The final examination will include a three day laboratory exercise.
Although the pace of this course is slightly slower than honors chemistry, the
course is a college preparatory course and as such students are expected to
spend up to sixty minutes studying outside the classroom for each classroom
session.
Honors Chemistry
Full Year--Elective
Prerequisites: “A” in ILS or “B” or better in Honors
Chem/Physics I and an “A” in Algebra 1 or “B” or better
in Honors Algebra 1 and concurrent enrollment in at least Honors Algebra 2
This course is designed to provide high school students with knowledge in the
composition, structure and properties of matter and the changes it undergoes.
Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and the ability to solve problems. This
course goes at a faster pace than regular chemistry, covering more concepts
and emphasizing more quantitative and in depth analysis of the tenets of chemistry.
The laboratory component of this course will allow the student to better understand
chemical concepts and apply their knowledge of chemistry. Students are expected
to keep proper records of all experimental work done in a lab notebook. The
firm foundation of chemistry obtained in this course will prepare them for college
work for students majoring in science.
AP Chemistry
Full Year--Elective
Prerequisites: “A” in Chemistry or “B” or better in
Honors Chemistry or “B” or better in Honors Chem/Physics I and “A”
in Honors Algebra 1 and concurrent enrollment in at least Honors Algebra 2.
This course is designed to be tantamount to a general chemistry course taken
in college. For some students this course enables them to take second year chemistry
work in college. For other students this course assures success in the chemistry
that they will take at the college level. Course content emphasizes in depth
understanding of inorganic chemistry concepts, chemical calculations and the
mathematical formulation of chemical principles. The laboratory component of
this course will challenge the students’ ability to think analytically
and is designed to be the equivalent of a college course in laboratory chemistry.
Students are expected to keep proper records of all experimental work done in
a lab notebook. It may be requested by the Chemistry Department of the university
the student attends to decide whether the laboratory science requirement has
been fulfilled.
Physics
Full Year--Elective
Prerequisites: Completion of ILS or Honors Chem/Physics I and completion of
Algebra 2.
This course is designed to provide the high school senior with skills in laboratory
technique and science logic. The chain of reasoning from observation to generalization
continues to be stressed through hypothesis development and exploration of scientific
principles and laws of the physical environment. Instruction is aided through
interactive computer exercises, individual/group investigations, oral student
presentations, individual/ group projects, and various assessments. The course
content includes the study of such topics as mechanics, sound, light, and electricity.
Math and science are integrated and evaluated at each unit. Students will be
expected to improve and formalize both oral and written skills through pre-
and post-lab presentations and journal keeping.
Honors Physics (Rio Salado Credit Available)
Full Year--Elective
Prerequisites: “A” in Chemistry or “B” or better in
Honors/AP Chemistry and “B” or better in Honors Algebra 2 and concurrent
enrollment in at least Honors Pre-Calc.
This course is designed to provide the high school senior with skills in laboratory
technique and science logic. This course is similar to the physics course, but
with a greater depth and breadth, and is the prerequisite for taking either
of the AP Physics courses. The chain of reasoning from observation to generalization
continues to be stressed through hypothesis development and exploration of scientific
principles and laws of the physical environment. Instruction is aided through
interactive computer exercises, individual/group investigations, oral student
presentations, individual/group projects, and various assessments. The course
content includes the study of such topics as mechanics, sound, light, and electricity.
Math and science are integrated and evaluated at each unit. Students will be
expected to improve and formalize both oral and written skills through pre-
and post-lab presentations and journal keeping.
AP Physics C
Full Year--Elective
Prerequisites: 3 or better on the AP Calculus AB exam or “B” or
better in Calc AB and concurrent enrollment in Calc BC or beyond.
This course ordinarily forms the first part of the college sequence that serves
as the foundation in physics for students majoring in the physical sciences
or engineering. The sequence is parallel to or proceeded by mathematics courses
that include calculus. Methods of calculus are used wherever appropriate in
formulating physical principles and in applying them to physical problems. The
sequence is intensive and analytic, with emphasis placed on solving a variety
of challenging problems, some requiring calculus. The subject matter of the
C course is principally mechanics. The C course is the first part of a sequence
which in college is sometimes a very intensive one-year course but often extends
over one and one-half to two years, with a laboratory component. The credit
that colleges give for the AP Physics C course generally replace the first semester
of required physics for science, math or engineering majors.
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