Science Department
INTEGRATED SCIENCE I: A & B - 2 CREDITS - 9 NCAA APPROVED - This two-trimester course sequence is required for all freshmen students. Integrated Science I is designed to provide the basis for meeting relevant science concepts and 21st Century Skills in the Iowa Core. These concepts include knowledge of electrostatic interactions, energy, atoms and elements, chemical compounds and reactions, as well as forces and motion.
BIOLOGY A & B - 2 CREDITS - 10, 11, 12 NCAA APPROVED Prerequisite: Integrated Science - This two-trimester course sequence is required for all students. Biology is designed to provide the basis for meeting the life science concepts in the Iowa Core. Major topics of study include, but are not limited to, genetic fundamentals of human heredity, evolution by natural selection, ecosystems, and biodiversity.
CHEMISTRY A AND B - 2 CREDITS - 10, 11, 12 NCAA APPROVED Prerequisite: Integrated Science & Algebra 1 - Chemistry is a course designed for students who expect to attend a four-year college or university. This course goes deeper into the Iowa Core concepts taught in Integrated Science I. Chemistry includes basic inorganic chemistry with an emphasis on elementary theory and chemical reactions. Units of study include: measurement, counting atoms, chemical equations, the Periodic Table, bonding, the kinetic theory of matter, solutions, and acids and bases.
METEOROLOGY - 1 CREDIT - 10, 11, 12 NCAA APPROVED Prerequisite: Integrated Science I - Meteorology includes the following key concepts: origin & composition of Earth’s atmosphere; factors that contribute to weather; interaction of air masses; Earth’s unique properties; and Earth’s characteristic phases & seasons. The following Iowa Core principles are included in the curriculum: interactions among the hydrosphere, lithosphere and atmosphere; energy transfer in the atmosphere & oceans; elements/atoms within Earth’s reservoirs which include oceans & the atmosphere; and movement of elements/atoms between reservoirs. This course includes concepts in mathematics.
HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY - 1 CREDIT - 11, 12 NCAA APPROVED Prerequisite: Biology A & B - This course meets the Iowa Core topics related to the structure and function of the human body. Anatomy and Physiology is a study of the human body. Major topics are systems, structure, functions, diseases, and disorders. Students will participate in several dissections as part of the lab work. This course is recommended for those who have a general interest. This course is not necessarily a prerequisite for College Integrated Human Anatomy and Physiology.
FORENSIC SCIENCE - 1 CREDIT - 11, 12 NCAA APPROVED Prerequisite: Integrated Science and Biology - Introduction to Forensic Science is a lab-oriented course that introduces students to the analysis of evidence associated with matters of the law. Evidence studied includes fingerprints, ink, paper, handwriting, shoe prints, hair and fibers, blood typing, DNA, firearms, and bullets and bullet trajectory.
PHYSICS A AND B - 2 CREDITS - 10, 11, 12 NCAA APPROVED Prerequisite: Integrated Science & Algebra 2 - Physics is a course designed for students who expect to attend a four-year college or university and is recommended for those with an interest in a science-related field. With a focus on matter and its motion, this course goes deeper into the Iowa Core concepts taught in Integrated Science I. Topics addressed included, motion, force, energy, momentum, electricity, and waves.
AP BIOLOGY - 2 CREDITS - 11, 12 Prerequisite: Biology, Chemistry - AP Biology is an introductory college-level biology course. Students cultivate their understanding of biology through inquiry-based investigations as they explore the following topics: evolution, cellular processes - energy and communication, genetics, information transfer, ecology, and interactions. This course requires that at least 25% of the instructional time will be spent in hands-on laboratory work, with an emphasis on inquiry-based investigations that provide students with opportunities to apply the science practices. Students will be prepared to take the optional AP Exam for potential college credit.
ICCC HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 1 w/LAB (BIO-168) - 1 HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT AND 4 SEMESTER HOURS COLLEGE CREDIT - 11, 12 NCAA APPROVED Prerequisite: Student must have scored at the minimum placement testing levels. - A study of the structure and function of the human body; this course is the first course of a three-trimester sequence. The study begins at the cellular level and proceeds through the integumentary system, skeletal system, muscular system, the central, peripheral and autonomic nervous systems and the senses. A dissection of a cat will be included.
ICCC HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2 w/LAB (BIO-173) - 1 HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT AND 4 SEMESTER HOURS COLLEGE CREDIT - 11, 12 NCAA APPROVED Prerequisite: Student must have scored at the minimum placement testing levels, Successful completion of Integrated Human Anatomy and Physiology I with a C or better. - The second course in a three-trimester sequence; the study continues with the endocrine system, blood and cardiovascular systems, lymphatic system and immunity, respiratory system, digestive system and the reproductive system..
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE
INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE, FOOD, AND NATURAL RESOURCES (AFNR) - 1 CREDIT - 9, 10, 11, 12 - This course introduces students to the range of agricultural opportunities and the pathways of study they may pursue. Students participating in the Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources course will experience hands-on activities, projects, and problems. Student experiences will involve the study of communication, the science of agriculture, plants, animals, natural resources, and agricultural mechanics. While surveying the opportunities available in agriculture and natural resources, students will learn to solve problems, conduct research, analyze data, work in teams, and take responsibility for their work, actions and learning.
