Course Descriptions for Science

In this section:

Physical Science
Life Science
Earth / Space Science

Download a printable version of this section:
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS – SCIENCE (PDF)

Physical Science

CREDITS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION

2 credits are required for graduation from the Dubuque Community School District.
Credits earned beyond the requirement are automatically counted as Elective credits.

PS9 CHEMISTRY
SCI081

DURATION: semester course
CREDITS: 1
OPEN TO: freshmen
NCAA: approved
PREREQUISITE: none

This physical science course is designed to provide a base understanding of the components of chemistry. The course will focus on the structure and interaction of matter at the molecular level with laboratory experiences that will connect these concepts to a macro level. Connections to students’ lives will be woven throughout course.

Alignment to the Iowa Core Science Standards: HS-PS1 Matter and its Interactions (HSPS1-1, HS-PS1-2, HS-PS1-3, HS-PS1-4, HS-PS1-5, HS-PS1-6, HS-PS1-7, HS-PS1-8), HS-PS2 Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions (HS-PS2-6), HS-PS3 Energy (HS-PS3-4), and HS-ETS Engineering Design (HS-ETS1-1, HS-ETS1-2, HS-ETS1-3, HS-ETS1-4).

COMMENT: Students planning to enroll in a 4 year college or university will want to take at least one additional semester of elective chemistry or physics during their sophomore, junior, or senior year.

PS9 PHYSICS
SCI082

DURATION: semester course
CREDITS: 1
OPEN TO: freshmen
NCAA: approved
PREREQUISITE: none

This physical science course is designed to provide a base understanding of the components of physics. The course will focus on how matter moves, how it is made to move, and the energies involved. Key concepts include: motion, forces, momentum, energy, Newton’s Laws, waves, electricity/magnetism, and light. Inquiry-based labs and hands-on engineering are integrated in the course.

Alignment to the Iowa Core Science Standards: HS-PS2 Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions (HS-PS2-1, HS-PS2-2, HS-PS2-3, HS-PS2-4, HS-PS2-5), HS-PS3 Energy (HS-PS3-1, HS-PS3-2, HS-PS3-3, HS-PS3-5), HS-PS-4 Waves and their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer (HS-PS4-1, HS-PS4-2, HS-PS4-3, HS-PS4-4, HS-PS4-5) and HS-ETS Engineering Design (HS-ETS1-1, HS-ETS1-2, HS-ETS1-3, HS-ETS1-4).

HONORS PS9 CHEMISTRY
SCI091

DURATION: semester course
CREDITS: 1
OPEN TO: freshmen
NCAA: approved
PREREQUISITE: none

This physical science course is for the academically advanced student seeking a rigorous path in chemistry. The course will focus on the structure and interaction of matter at the molecular level with laboratory experiences that will connect these concepts to a macro level. Pacing and breadth of concepts covered will be increased compared to the regular PS9 Chemistry course. This course will serve as a possible lead-in to AP Chemistry.

HONORS PS9 PHYSICS
SCI092

DURATION: semester course
CREDITS: 1
OPEN TO: freshmen
NCAA: approved
PREREQUISITE: none

This physical science course is for the academically advanced student seeking a rigorous path in physics. This course is designed to provide a base understanding of the components of physics. The course will focus on how matter moves, how it is made to move, and the energies involved. Key concepts include: motion, forces, momentum, energy, Newton’s Laws, waves, electricity/magnetism, and light. Inquiry-base labs and hands-on engineering are integrated in the course. Pacing and breadth of concepts covered will be increased compared to the regular PS9 Physics course.

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF SCIENCE
XSM731 (Sem 1), XSM732 (Sem 2)

DURATION: year course
CREDITS: 2
OPEN TO: all students
PREREQUISITE: placement based on assessment and instructor recommendation

The instruction will provide students the opportunity to discover and understand the role of physical, earth, and global sciences. Units covered include: apply aspects of chemistry through labs and activities, investigate aspects of science through scientific inquiry, problem solving and discussions. Real world applications: chemical properties, weather, catastrophic occurrences, recycling and making predictions.

Alignment to the Iowa Core Curriculum: Instruction, learning, and assessment are built on the 9-12th grade-band expectations of the Iowa Core and the Essential Elements.

Life Science

CREDITS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION

2 credits are required for graduation from the Dubuque Community School District.
Credits earned beyond the requirement are automatically counted as Elective credits.

BIOLOGY
SCI131 (Sem 1), SCI132 (Sem 2)

DURATION: year course
CREDITS: 2
OPEN TO: sophomores, juniors, seniors
NCAA: approved
PREREQUISITE: PS9 Chemistry, PS9 Physics

This course is designed for those students who desire a thorough background in basic biology and a strong basis for further science study. The course of study in Biology includes all the major themes essential to understanding life. This is often achieved through problem solving, laboratory experiences, and group activities. Students will apply the foundational concepts of Biology to real-world scenarios.

Alignment to the Iowa Core Science Standards: HS-LS1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes (HS-LS1-1, HS-LS1-2, HS-LS1-3, HS-LS1-4, HS-LS1-5, HS-LS1-6, HS-LS1-7), HS-LS-2 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics (HS-LS2-3, HS-LS2-4, HS-LS2-8), HS-LS3 Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits (HS-LS3-1, HS-LS3-2, HS-LS3-3), HS-PS4 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity (HS-PS4-1, HS-PS4-2, HS-PS4-3, HS-PS4-4, HS-PS4-5, HS-PS4-6) and HS-ETS Engineering Design (HS-ETS1-1, HS-ETS1-2, HS-ETS1-3, HS-ETS1-4).

HONORS BIOLOGY
SCI141 (Sem 1), SCI142 (Sem 2)

DURATION: year course
CREDITS: 2
OPEN TO: all students
NCAA: approved
PREREQUISITE: for incoming freshmen, simultaneous enrollment in Honors PS9 Chemistry and Honors PS9 Physics with instructor approval; for sophomores, completion of PS9 Chemistry and PS9 Physics with instructor approval; for juniors and seniors, instructor approval

This course is designed for the academically advanced student who desires a comprehensive background in biology to assist in future science studies. The course of study in Honors Biology includes an in-depth, accelerated approach to all the major themes essential to understanding life. This is often achieved through problem solving, laboratory experiences, and group activities. The text material provides the factual foundation necessary to understanding the principles of life discussed in the course.

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF SCIENCE
XSM731 (Sem 1), XSM732 (Sem 2)

DURATION: year course
CREDITS: 2
OPEN TO: all students
PREREQUISITE: placement based on assessment and instructor recommendation

Alignment to the Iowa Core Curriculum: Instruction, learning, and assessment are built on the 9-12th grade-band expectations of the Iowa Core and the Essential Elements.

Earth / Space Science

CREDITS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION

2 credits are required for graduation from the Dubuque Community School District.
Credits earned beyond the requirement are automatically counted as Elective credits.

HONORS NEXT GEN GLOBAL SCIENCE
SCI151 (Sem 1), SCI152 (Sem 2)

DURATION: year course
CREDITS: 2
OPEN TO: sophomores, juniors, seniors
NCAA: approved
PREREQUISITE: PS9 Chemistry (or Honors) and PS9 Physics (or Honors) with instructor approval, completion or simultaneous enrollment in Biology (or Honors) with instructor approval

Honors Next Gen Global Science is a year-long course that will provide students with the opportunity to discover and expand connections between science, technology, and global societies. This study of natural connections will help students become stewards of the environment, more informed citizens, and better decision-makers. Students will investigate the various aspects of our Earth, the Solar System and the Universe through scientific inquiry, laboratory activities, problem solving, current events, discussions, and projects. Honors Next Gen will have a strong presence of mathematics in regards to some concepts, i.e. Kepler’s Laws of Motion or Climate Modeling.

Alignment to the Iowa Core Science Standards: HS-ESS2- Earth’s Systems, HS-ESS3 Earth and Human Activity, and HS-LS2 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics. In addition, it includes concepts in HS-ESS1 Earth’s Place in the Universe and HS-LS4 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity.

NEXT GEN GLOBAL SCIENCE
SCI161 (Sem 1), SCI162 (Sem 2)

DURATION: year course
CREDITS: 2
OPEN TO: juniors and seniors
NCAA: approved
PREREQUISITE: PS9 Chemistry, PS9 Physics, Biology

Next Gen Global Science is a year-long course that will provide students with the opportunity to discover and expand connections between science, technology, and global societies. This study of natural connections will help students become stewards of the environment, more informed citizens, and better decision-makers. Students will investigate the various aspects of our Earth, the Solar System and the Universe through scientific inquiry, laboratory activities, problem solving, current events, discussions, and projects.

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF SCIENCE
XSM731 (Sem 1), XSM732 (Sem 2)

DURATION: year course
CREDITS: 2
OPEN TO: all students
PREREQUISITE: placement based on assessment and instructor recommendation

Alignment to the Iowa Core Curriculum: Instruction, learning, and assessment are built on the 9-12th grade-band expectations of the Iowa Core and the Essential Elements.