Page 49 - High School Program of Studies 20-21

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AP Chemistry 434 11-12 2 1
The AP Chemistry course is designed to be the equivalent of the general chemistry course usually taken during the first college year. The AP Chemistry course provides students with a college-level foundation to support future advanced coursework in chemistry. Students cultivate their understanding of chemistry through inquiry-based investigations, as they explore content such as: atomic structure, intermolecular forces and bonding, chemical reactions, kinetics, thermodynamics, and equilibrium. This course requires that 25 percent of instructional time engages students in lab investigations. This includes a minimum of 16 hands-on labs (at least six of which are inquiry-based). It is recommended that students keep a lab notebook throughout. Students should have successfully completed a general high school chemistry course and Algebra II.
In order to receive weighted grading credit for the class, students must earn a B or better in the class (click ​here​ for AP policy).
This class meets for 9 periods per six-day cycle.
PREREQUISITE: Student must have all of the following:
● Final grade of B or higher in Honors Chemistry.
● Composite score of Proficient or Advanced in all 3 Keystone Exams. OR; Teacher recommendation.
AP Physics C: Mechanics 428 12 2 1
This course is designed to meet the standards of both the Advanced Placement Physics “C (Mechanics Only)” curriculum and the College in High School through the University of Pittsburgh. AP Physics C: Mechanics is a calculus-based, college-level physics course. It covers kinematics; Newton’s laws of motion; work, energy, and power; systems of particles and linear momentum; circular motion and rotation; oscillations; and gravitation. AP Physics C: Mechanics should include a hands-on laboratory component comparable to a semester-long introductory college-level physics laboratory. Students should spend a minimum of 25% of instructional time engaged in hands-on laboratory work. Students ask questions, make observations and predictions, design experiments, analyze data, and construct arguments in a collaborative setting, where they direct and monitor their progress. Each student should complete a lab notebook or portfolio of lab reports. Students should have taken or be concurrently taking calculus.
​College credit (4 cr) is available for this course through the University of Pittsburgh.​ In order to receive weighted grading credit for the class, students must earn a B or better in the class (click ​here​ for AP policy).
This class meets for 9 periods per six-day cycle.
PREREQUISITE: Student must have all of the following:
● Final grade of B or higher in AP Physics I.
● Final grade of B or higher in Pre-Calculus/Trigonometry.
● Concurrent enrollment or successful completion of Calculus course.
● Composite score of Proficient or Advanced in all 3 Keystone Exams. OR;
● Teacher recommendation.
AP Physics II - Algebra Based 427 12 2 1
AP Physics 2 is a full-year course that is the equivalent of a second-semester introductory college course in algebra-based physics. AP Physics 2 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through inquiry-based investigations as they explore these topics: fluids; thermodynamics; electrical force, field, and potential; electric circuits; magnetism and electromagnetic induction; geometric and physical optics; and quantum, atomic, and nuclear physics. This course requires that twenty-five percent of instructional time will be spent in hands-on laboratory work, with an emphasis on inquiry-based investigations that provide students with opportunities to demonstrate foundational physics principles and apply the science practices. Inquiry-based laboratory experiences support the AP Physics 2 course and AP Course Audit curricular requirements by providing opportunities for students to engage in the seven science practices as they design plans for experiments, make predictions, collect and analyze data, apply mathematical routines, develop explanations, and communicate about their work. Colleges may require students to present their laboratory materials from AP science courses before granting college credit for laboratory work, so students should be encouraged to retain their laboratory notebooks, reports, and other materials. Students should have completed AP Physics 1 or a comparable introductory physics course and should have taken or be concurrently taking pre-calculus or an equivalent course.
Exceptionally Prepared for Success
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