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SCIENCE

PROGRAM GOALS
In a student’s development, science combines the specific skills characteristic of science with an understanding of
the relationship of science and technology to other aspects of human activity. The faculty presents science not only
as an accumulation of assumptions, theories, principles, laws and facts, but also as a dynamic process of inquiry
through which these major scientific concepts have been and are being derived. Thus, a solid science background
provides valuable aid in finding creative solutions to complex human problems. In presenting its curriculum, the
Science Department of Donovan Catholic attempts to achieve the following goals:
1. To provide each student with a suitable background to help make informed decisions as a Christian citizen in
an increasingly technical world
2. To instill in each student an appreciation and understanding of the physical and natural world
3. To develop each student’s ability to reason analytically and quantitatively by employing scientific method
4. To guide each student in evaluating the roles of both scientists and nonscientists in the discovery and
appreciation of scientific knowledge
5. To help each student discover his or her own interests and abilities while preparing the student for college
level science courses and careers in science.
Accelerated Science Curriculum (ASC)
Qualified freshmen will begin their science sequence
with Physics H→ Chemistry H → Biology AP

COLLEGE PREP COURSES: SC509: Marine Biology CP/H Grades 11 – 12
(2018-2019)
SC501: STEM Biology CP Grade 9 Marine Biology will not be offered in the 2017-2018
The course incorporates science practices that encompass school year. It will be offered for the 2018-2019 school
knowledge and reasoning skills that students must year.
acquire to be proficient in science, with a basic survey of
the nature of life. Topics include: scientific method, SC508: Environmental Studies CP Grades 11 - 12
experimental design, relationships in equations, statistical Prerequisite: Two years of Science
and graphical analysis of data, introductory chemistry and This course focuses on ecology and environmental
biochemistry, cell structure and function, energy qualities. Students survey the impact of human beings on
relationships, reproduction and inheritance, genetics and the environment and suggestions for meeting present and
evolution and bioethics. future scientific and technological needs.

SC527: Physical Science CP Grade 10 SC533: Forensic Science CP/H Grades 11-12
Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation (2017-2018)
This course incorporates the key topics covered in Forensic Science is a course designed for students to
Physics, Chemistry, Earth Science and Astronomy. explore and study the growing and constantly changing
Classroom and lab experiences illustrate fundamental field of crime scene and evidence analysis. This course
chemistry and physics principles. involves all areas of science including biology, anatomy,
chemistry, physics and earth science with an emphasis in
SC505: Chemistry CP Grades 10 - 12 complex reasoning and critical thinking skills. Students
Prerequisite: 80% in Biology CP or 80% in will analyze how various types and natures of evidence
Physical Science and 85% in Algebra 1 can become influential in the investigation of a crime. The
This lab course involves the study and application of a course will cover various fields of forensic science
wide range of inorganic chemical principles, including including crime scene analysis, evidence processing,
matter and energy, atomic structure, periodicity, bonding, fingerprints, blood spatter analysis, physical evidence,
energy and rates of reaction, and acid-base theory. DNA, toxicology and taphonomy as well as additional
fields of forensic science researched independently by the
SC507: Physics CP Grades 11 - 12 students. In addition to classroom studies, students will
Prerequisite: 80% in Chemistry CP or participate in hands-on learning exercises in which they
Physical Science, 75% in Algebra 1 CP will simulate the actions performed by professional crime
This laboratory course emphasizes concepts and scene analysts. CP and H courses may run concurrently,
mathematical analysis on an elementary level. Students but students enrolled in the Honors course will be
study the topics of introductory physics: including responsible for additional independent study of the topics.
motion, gravity, electricity, magnetism, and light.

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