science
College Prep’s curriculum provides a firm foundation and an understanding of the interrelationships among the different branches of science. Science courses help students think logically and creatively, strengthen problem-solving and observational skills, and hone analytical reasoning.
The program emphasizes physical and biological environments and the specific processes of and approaches to the different scientific subject areas. All core courses require extensive laboratory work. Students also become adept in the use of technology for data collection and analysis.
Students are required to take three years of science classes, though many take more. Ninth graders take Physics, tenth graders take Chemistry, and eleventh graders take Biology. Eleventh and twelfth graders may continue their studies by taking a range of electives such as Anatomy and Physiology, Astronomy, Developmental Biology, Forensic Science, Issues in Science, Marine Biology, Mechanics, Electricity, and Magnetism, Molecular Genetics, Neuroscience, Organic Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry.
required courses
Danh sách 3 mặt hàng.
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Vật lý (lớp 9)
This course focuses on how the principles of physics work in the real world. Why does a star shine? How does a television work? How do we generate electricity? Students learn to design experiments in order to get meaningful results that further their knowledge. Hands-on challenges give students experience in applying their understanding and improving their iterative designs. Classes are a mix of lecture, discussion, demonstration, small-group work, and laboratory exploration. Physics lays the foundation for students to more thoroughly understand the concepts in the chemistry and biology classes that follow, and it prepares them to take upper-level physics electives in the future. -
Hóa học (lớp 10)
How we experience everything in the world—what we see, feel, and smell—is affected by microscopic particles and their interactions. In this course, students approach and solve problems using the fundamentals of chemistry and rely on the careful and insightful application of logic to reveal why material behaves as it does. The course covers a wide range of topics, including:- Nhiệt động lực học, để giải thích tại sao một số phản ứng xảy ra trong khi những người khác không
- Động học, để hiểu vai trò của chất xúc tác để tăng tốc độ phản ứng quan trọng
- Lý thuyết lượng tử, để khám phá các tính chất đặc biệt của nước cần thiết cho cuộc sống
- Hóa học hữu cơ, để nghiên cứu các phân tử sinh học rất quan trọng đối với con người để tồn tại
Chemistry fosters a sense of excitement for discovery, which is supported by frequent laboratory experiments, activities, and demonstrations. Students wishing to dive more deeply into the subject have the opportunity to take semester-long advanced chemistry electives in later years. -
Biology (11th grade)
Biology is an introductory survey course structured around some of the most fundamental topics of the life sciences, including the molecular study of life, the function and workings of cells, the inheritance of traits, organismal biology, and the diversity of life. Recurring themes of the course are evolution, the relationship between structure and function, and interactions between living systems. Throughout the course, students learn the structure of the scientific method through laboratory experiments, examine the ways in which scientific questions are formed and tested, and discuss how bias influences the methods and discoveries of scientific researchers. Students also delve into various genetic diseases and Bay Area ecosystems through case studies and presentations.
khoa học tự chọn
Danh sách 6 mặt hàng.
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Anatomy & Physiology
Building on the principles of genetic inheritance, cellular biology, and homeostatic regulation established in biology, this course expands into the complex structures and functions of human tissues, organs, and organ systems. The curriculum examines the roles these integrated biological networks play in sustaining organismal life, alongside the specific pathologies and systemic disorders that emerge when homeostasis fails. Core concepts are paired with real-world physiological phenomena, providing a scientific foundation for the biological mechanisms driving exercise-induced fatigue, dietary satiety, and spatial orientation during locomotion. While the primary focus centers on human anatomy, various animal models are introduced as comparative proxies, and coursework includes labs involving the dissection of fixed animal tissues. -
Thiên văn học
This course provides a comprehensive investigation into the structure, mechanics, and evolution of the universe. The curriculum begins with a survey of the Solar System—including planetary dynamics, comets, and asteroid belts—before tracking the lifecycle, nucleosynthesis, and eventual collapse of stellar bodies into supernovas, neutron stars, and pulsars. Students analyze galactic morphology and the extreme physics of black holes, wormholes, and spacetime curvature through the lens of Einstein’s theories of relativity. The final units explore cosmology, examining the structural timeline of the universe from the Big Bang to its ultimate theoretical demise, alongside dark matter and astrobiology. Requirements include local evening stargazing sessions and an overnight observation block at the Chabot Space & Science Center. -
Developmental Biology
How does a single fertilized zygote transform into a complex, multi-cellular, and functional adult organism? This course traces the embryonic generation of biological patterns, the acquisition of specific cellular identities, and the morphological development of complex tissue structures across multiple animal model organisms. The curriculum focuses heavily on the genetic, cellular, and biochemical networks driving these developmental milestones, emphasizing gene expression regulation, cell-to-cell signaling cascades, and cell shape transformations. Students master common research techniques, learn to design and interpret controlled developmental experiments, and critique primary academic literature. Throughout the semester, structural links are forged between embryology, evolutionary biology, and human clinical diseases. -
Forensic Science
This integrated, laboratory-driven course applies foundational principles of physics, chemistry, and biology to modern criminal investigation methodologies. Students engage in qualitative and quantitative laboratory simulations to develop the practical and theoretical frameworks required to process crime scenes, evaluate physical evidence, and minimize cognitive bias. Topics include crime scene protocol, fingerprint classification, comparative DNA profiling, entomology-based time-of-death estimations, blood spatter geometry, toxicology, and firearms ballistics. Through historical case studies, a field trip to a local forensics laboratory, and the analysis of student-generated mock crime scenes, the seminar investigates the evolution, validity, and future of forensic technology. -
Các vấn đề trong khoa học
This discussion-driven seminar analyzes the acute ethical, societal, and systemic conflicts that arise as new scientific discoveries are implemented across global populations. Utilizing the four classical principles of bioethics—autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice—students construct rational arguments evaluating volatile bioethical dilemmas, such as medical rationing during public health crises, physician-assisted mortality for the terminally ill, and the parental genetic customization of human embryos. The curriculum considers how cultural biases, historical prejudices, and institutional values shape scientific inquiries, experimental methodologies, and public resource distribution. Drawing from diverse academic journals and media sources, the class tracks how scientific tools transform contemporary culture and legal frameworks, particularly regarding neuropathological markers and criminal culpability. -
Marine Biology
Covering more than 70 percent of Earth’s surface, the ocean contains ecosystems ranging from shallow coastal waters to the abyssal depths. This course introduces physical oceanography and examines how ocean conditions shape the evolution and adaptations of marine organisms. Students explore diverse marine life, from coral reef communities to deep-sea species such as the viperfish, and investigate the relationships that sustain marine ecosystems. The course also considers how human activity affects the health and balance of ocean environments. Hands-on laboratories, simulations, and field research connect course concepts with scientific practice.
science electives cont.
Danh sách 5 mặt hàng.
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Molecular Genetics
This course explores how cells store, maintain, use, and regulate genetic information in a field that continues to advance rapidly. Students investigate the molecular structure of genomes, the mechanics of DNA replication and repair, and the processes that control gene expression. Topics include noncoding DNA, RNA interference, epigenetics, genome editing, and personalized medicine. Frequent laboratory work introduces key techniques for studying how genetic information moves from DNA and RNA to the proteins that perform cellular functions, including the use of CRISPR to modify genetic sequences. Throughout the course, students examine the ethical questions raised by these rapidly advancing ideas and technologies. -
Neuroscience
This seminar explores the biological structures, neurochemical pathways, and functional architecture of the human brain. The curriculum maps how specialized neural networks process sensory inputs, governing visual, auditory, and somatosensory perception alongside motor execution control. Students investigate how specific brain regions modulate complex human behaviors, including sleep architecture, emotional regulation, memory consolidation, linguistic communication, and executive function. Through clinical histories and the fascinating behavioral anomalies of historical neurobiology patients, the class analyzes specific neurological disorders and their underlying organic causes. Additionally, the course engages with classical philosophical inquiries regarding the mind-body problem, exploring how a collection of cellular interactions generates consciousness, thought, and the subjective sense of identity. -
Organic Chemistry
This course covers the foundational properties, structural configurations, and chemical reactivities of organic molecules—the carbon-containing compounds that serve as the fundamental building blocks of terrestrial life. Through integrated lectures and quantitative laboratory experiments, students build a comprehensive theoretical and practical framework of organic synthesis. The curriculum establishes a baseline in organic IUPAC nomenclature, molecular geometry, and chemical bonding variations before exploring how spatial stereochemistry and functional group classifications dictate a molecule’s macroscopic behaviors. Students survey major classes of organic reactions, analyzing their step-by-step pathways mechanistically through formal electron-pushing diagrams, and interface with current biochemistry research to discover the structural underpinnings of molecular biology. -
Physical Chemistry
This mathematics-intensive course applies foundational physical principles to explore chemical transformations from an atomic and molecular perspective. The curriculum begins with quantum chemistry, investigating molecular structure and the application of spectroscopy to identify unknown compounds. Students then learn classical chemical thermodynamics to analyze the energetic variables dictating chemical spontaneity and physical phase changes. The course concludes with chemical kinetics, studying reaction mechanisms, transition states, and the external variables influencing reaction rates. Students refine advanced laboratory techniques through physical experiments and basic computational modeling. -
Science of Sci-Fi
This interdisciplinary seminar explores the intersection of advanced technology, scientific theory, and speculative literature to examine where imagination meets contemporary empirical reality. Students analyze a diverse array of science fiction literature, short stories, and cinema to isolate fantastical scientific concepts—such as near-speed-of-light travel, x-ray vision, and cybernetic hybridization—and investigate the current scientific evolutionary pathways that could manifest those technologies in the future. Specific units explore the biological immune response to synthetic implants, the mechanics of special relativity, the cognitive psychology of human perception, and the physical constraints of interstellar transit. The course culminates in a comprehensive research project where students predict the developmental arc of an emerging technology and generate a corresponding creative artifact.
It gives me pleasure that these extraordinarily smart kids—who are going to be decision makers, movers and shakers, and perhaps go into science and medicine—will have thought deeply about these topics as young adults and will hopefully continue to be informed thinkers throughout their lives and careers.”
science department faculty
Danh sách 7 thành viên.
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