Behavioral Neuroscience is the scientific study of the relationship between biology and behavior. Students will investigate how our brain structures and chemistry affect our vulnerability to addiction, our capacity to feel emotions, our susceptibility to sleep disorders, and our resiliency in terms of mental health, among other topics. As students explore the amazing intricacies of the machine that is their body, they’ll ultimately gain an appreciation of our shared humanity.
Behavioral Neuroscience Honors
Behavioral Neuroscience is the scientific study of the relationship between biology and behavior. Students will investigate how our brain structures and chemistry affect our vulnerability to addiction, our capacity to feel emotions, our susceptibility to sleep disorders, and our resiliency in terms of mental health, among other topics. As students explore the amazing intricacies of the machine that is their body, they’ll ultimately gain an appreciation of our shared humanity.
The honors curriculum for this course will necessitate college-level psychological analysis as well as practical applications or experiences of authentic psychology research in action.
Class receives honors weighing in SI weighted GPA and UC/CSU GPA calculations
Biology (Life Science)
Biology is the scientific study of life and living organisms. This course aims to develop students into scientifically literate citizens who have mastered the critical thinking skills that will allow them to make informed decisions in a world increasingly impacted by scientific discovery. This course also aims to develop in students an appreciation for the natural world and our role in its stewardship. Units of study in this course include evolutionary biology, genetics, heredity, cell structure and function, human reproduction, and ecology.
Biology Honors
Honors Biology is designed to challenge and engage students with a strong interest in the life sciences. This course covers a wide range of topics within biology, focusing on advanced concepts, critical thinking, problem solving, and hands-on laboratory experiences. Students will delve into the intricacies of the natural world, from the molecular level to ecosystems, and explore the relationship between living organisms and their environment.
UC/CSU Subject D Approval (Pending)
Class receives honors weighting in SI weighted GPA and UC/CSU GPA calculations
Biotechnology (Physical or Life Science)
The course will focus on concepts of molecular biology and common bio-tech lab skills. Students will develop a deep understanding of the central dogma of Biology by learning about DNA, RNA, proteins and the techniques scientists use to study Molecular Biology. This course will have a strong focus on inquiry-based learning, labs, and student-directed projects that will require students to learn and use responsible academic research practices. Students will also integrate basic mathematical skills through data analytics. Additionally, students will explore the ethical considerations that stem from modern techniques seen in medicine and the biotech industry. This course is for a broad range of students who wish to pursue a course of study in science or who just have curiosity for biology at the cellular level.
Calculus
This course is designed for the student who is interested in pursuing a college major with a strong emphasis in mathematics. In the first part of the course, the elementary properties of functions and their inverses are reviewed, as well as specific types of functions (exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric). Subsequently, the student is introduced to the concepts of limits and continuity; differentiation and its applications to problems of extrema and related rates of change; anti-differentiation and its application to the solution of differential equations; definite integrals and their application to finding areas, volumes, and length of curves. A Texas Instruments TI-83 or TI-84 series graphing calculator is required.
Chamber Singers A
This course is a mixed singing ensemble intended for singers of advanced ability and specializes in performance of challenging literature of diverse genre. Students will read music notation in treble and bass clefs, demonstrate understanding of more complex notation, demonstrate knowledge of terminology pertinent to the performance of choral music, demonstrate and understand correct singing technique, and demonstrate appropriate rehearsal discipline and performance skills. Students will be expected to spend additional hours beyond the regular class time. Students are expected to attend all rehearsals, performances and choral festivals. The class generally meets before school in the morning.
First Semester Taken: Chamber Singers A (6546)
Second Semester Taken: Chamber Singers B (6547)
Subsequent Semesters Taken: Chamber Singers C (9863)
This course is offered outside of the 9:00 am – 2:45 pm school day. Meets 2-3 mornings per week, plus performances.
Chamber Singers B
This course is a mixed singing ensemble intended for singers of advanced ability and specializes in performance of challenging literature of diverse genre. Students will read music notation in treble and bass clefs, demonstrate understanding of more complex notation, demonstrate knowledge of terminology pertinent to the performance of choral music, demonstrate and understand correct singing technique, and demonstrate appropriate rehearsal discipline and performance skills. Students will be expected to spend additional hours beyond the regular class time. Students are expected to attend all rehearsals, performances and choral festivals. The class generally meets before school in the morning.
First Semester Taken: Chamber Singers A (6546)
Second Semester Taken: Chamber Singers B (6547)
Subsequent Semesters Taken: Chamber Singers C (9863)
This course is offered outside of the 9:00 am – 2:45 pm school day. Meets 2-3 mornings per week, plus performances.
Chamber Singers C
This course is a mixed singing ensemble intended for singers of advanced ability and specializes in performance of challenging literature of diverse genre. Students will read music notation in treble and bass clefs, demonstrate understanding of more complex notation, demonstrate knowledge of terminology pertinent to the performance of choral music, demonstrate and understand correct singing technique, and demonstrate appropriate rehearsal discipline and performance skills. Students will be expected to spend additional hours beyond the regular class time. Students are expected to attend all rehearsals, performances and choral festivals. The class generally meets before school in the morning.
First Semester Taken: Chamber Singers A (6546)
Second Semester Taken: Chamber Singers B (6547)
Subsequent Semesters Taken: Chamber Singers C (9863)
This course is offered outside of the 9:00 am – 2:45 pm school day. Meets 2-3 mornings per week, plus performances.
Chemistry (Physical Science)
Chemistry is the scientific study of matter. This course aims to develop students as practicing laboratory scientists who can ask and answer questions of their own about what the world is made of and how and why chemical reactions occur. This course also aims to develop students’ conceptual and quantitative understanding of chemical principles. Units of study in this course include the nature of the atom, naming of chemicals and compounds, bonding, the periodic table, reactions and equilibrium, stoichiometry, behavior of gases, acids, bases, and safe laboratory practices.