Page 42 - FinalPRHSPOS1819

Course Title: Academic Biology Credit Value: 1.0

Course Number: 103210 Term(s) Full

Offered: Year

Prerequisite(s): For 9th grade: Completion of Science 8 with an 80% or higher. Open to 9, 10

For 10th grade: None Grades:

Description: This course is designed to be an introductory course for college bound students. This course presents the

facts of biology within a pattern of unifying themes that help students understand the larger significance of the details they

are learning. Students are taught to think critically about concepts and relate them to the world in which they live. Areas

of study include molecular and cellular biology, genetics, evolution and ecology. Lab investigations, individual and group

projects are used to demonstrate various biological principles and to reinforce key concepts. All students completing a

Biology course are required to take the end of course Keystone Biology Exam as mandated by the Pennsylvania

Department of Education. The Keystone Exam score is not calculated in the student’s final course grade.

Course Title: Biology 1 Supplemental Credit Value: 0.5

Course Number: 103215 Term(s) Semester 1

Offered:

Prerequisite(s): Based on Keystone test results and recommendation Open to 10, 11

Grades:

Description: This course is designed to help students understand the key concepts embedded into the Pennsylvania

Standards in Biology. The course will meet every day during semester 1. Students will be given an initial assessment on

Biology content and will work through a Biology Keystone preparation program. This program will allow students to

increase their understanding of the key concepts and demonstrate their understanding through the Biology Keystone

Exam or local assessment. This course is only available to students who have yet to achieve a score of proficient or

advanced on the Biology Keystone Exam.

Course Title: Honors Biology Credit Value: 1.0

Course Number: 103220 Term(s) Full

Offered: Year

Prerequisite(s): Completion of Science 8 with a 90% or higher and teacher Open to 9

recommendation. Grades:

Description: This course is designed to be a rigorous introductory course for college bound students interested in some

field of science or medicine. This class utilizes reading, writing, and higher order thinking skills in order to develop

competency in the sciences. Students analyze, interpret, and evaluate the validity of experimental data, in order to draw

conclusions about biological principles. Students taking Honors Biology should realize that there is an obligation to do a

considerable amount of work outside the classroom, both in individual studies and group work. Areas of study include

molecular and cellular biology, genetics, evolution and ecology. Lab investigations are used to demonstrate various

biological principles and to reinforce key concepts. All students completing a Biology course are required to take the end

of course Keystone Biology Exam as mandated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The Keystone Exam

grade is not calculated in the student’s final course grade.

Course Title: Advanced Placement Biology with Lab Credit Value: 1.0

Course Number: 103230 Term(s) Full

Offered: Year

Prerequisite(s): Completion of Academic Biology or Honors Biology with Open to 11, 12
a 90% or higher plus completion of Honors Chemistry with Grades:
an 80% or higher and teacher recommendation.

Requirement(s): Students are required to complete the designated Advanced

Placement exam at their own expense (2017-2018 cost $94).

Description: This course is designed for students who wish to continue the study of biological sciences in college. It is

based on the Advanced Placement Biology Curriculum. Intensified studies in molecular and cellular biology emphasize

biological chemistry, photosynthesis, cellular respiration and fermentation, protein synthesis and DNA replication. Units in

genetics dealing with inheritance patterns and gene expression as well as population genetics are also covered along with

units in microbiology. Laboratory investigations supplement all course work. Students who elect this course have the

opportunity to be adequately prepared for the AP test in Biology. Student are encouraged to take Comparative Anatomy

and Physiology either before taking AP Biology or concurrently with AP Biology.

2018-2019 Pine-Richland High School Program of Studies 42 | P a g e