Earth Science components include studies of rocks and minerals, plate tectonics, volcanoes, and earthquakes. The course includes components on the atmosphere, weather, and oceanic exploration. Topics from astronomy include the universe, galaxies, stars, and our own solar system. Field trips include a caving expedition. [75 min. sessions, 5 sessions per week, 18 weeks; Textbook: Earth Science, 2002. Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, New York.]

Physical Science covers topics from both physics and chemistry. Areas of study in physics include gravitation and motion, work and machines, energy and power, heat and temperature, energy resources, wave motion, light and sound, electricity and magnetism. The chemistry component covers structure, phases and properties of matter, atomic and nuclear structure, mixtures and compounds, chemical bonds, and chemical reactions with special emphasis on neutralization reactions. [75 min. sessions, 5 sessions per week, 18 weeks; Textbook: Physical Science, 2002. Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, New York.]

General Biology (with lab) is an examination of the fundamental characteristics common to living things. Emphasis is placed upon studies of the cell, energy, metabolism, reproduction, heredity, ecology, phylogeny, the diversity of life, and anatomy and physiology. The laboratory portion of this course is designed to reinforce the concepts taught in lecture. Labs will, as best as possible, be coordinated with corresponding lecture materials. One of the major objectives of this lab is to familiarize students with the ways in which biologists communicate their research findings. As such, students will be instructed in the art of writing and presenting scientific papers. As part of this training, students will write and present two scientific papers of their own. [1-hour sessions, 4 sessions per week, 36 weeks; text: Biology, 3rd ed. Miller and Levine. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.; Laboratory manual accompanying Biology, 3rd ed. Miller and Levine. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.]

Introduction to Chemistry (with lab)begins with foundational concepts of the scientific method, measurement, matter and energy, elements and atoms, naming of compounds, and chemical reactions. Emphasis is then place upon chemical composition and chemical quantities. The covers atomic theory as it relates to chemical bonding. There is some discussion of the properties of gases, liquids, solids and solutions. The course covers the first 15 chapters of the text. [Two semesters, one credit. Rhetoric. Laboratory. Text: Zumdahl, Introduction to Chemistry]

General Physics (with lab) is the study of the relationships between energy and matter. This course focuses on classical physics, which includes the fields of mechanics, heat, light, sound, electricity and magnetism. An important part of the course is the laboratory component. The labs follow the concepts taught in class and include use of physics apparatus in the process of the scientific method. There is continuing emphasis on the rhetorical art of writing and presenting of scientific papers as a method by which scientists communicate their findings. [One-hour sessions, 4 sessions per week, 36 weeks; Textbook: Physics: Principles and Problems. Glencoe/McGraw Hill, New York]

Advanced Biology (with lab) is designed to correspond to a college level biology course. This course will help students develop a conceptual framework for modern biology and to gain an appreciation of science as a process. The course also emphasizes personal experience in scientific inquiry, recognition of unifying themes that integrate the major topics of biology and application of biological knowledge and critical thinking to environmental and social concerns. In-depth consideration is given to the categories of molecules and cells, heredity, and organisms and populations. There are twelve labs associated with this course that are intended to strengthen conceptual knowledge. Students will continue writing and presenting scientific papers as a method of communicating research findings. [Two semesters, one credit. Rhetoric. Laboratory. Pre-requisite: General Biology. Text: Biology, The Unity and Diversity of Life, 10th ed. - Starr and Taggart. Brooks/Cole. Belmont CA.]