Food Science
Credit: 0.5
Offered to grades: 9-12
Category: Elective
Prerequisite: None
Students will explore the different aspects of food science such as safety, processing, product development, biochemistry, and food consumption. Students will have diverse experiential learning opportunities such as canning, food preservation, packaging, quality grading, labeling, and more. This course counts toward membership in FFA.

Veterinary Science – (RAI)
Credit: 0.5
Offered to grades: 10-12
Category: Elective
Prerequisite: Animal Science
This course will investigate scientific concepts relating to the care of animals. Students will study facets of the veterinary industry including safety, anatomy & physiology, nutrition, reproduction, and management of domesticated large and small animals.  Students will receive hands-on learning opportunities for clinical examinations, hospital procedures, disease & parasite identification, careers, and more. This course counts toward membership in FFA.

Adv Anatomy & Physiology – (RAI, NCAA, DMACC)
Credit: 1.0
Offered to grade: 12
Category: Elective
Prerequisite: Chemistry
Advanced Anatomy & Physiology is an advanced elective course that covers the structure and function of the human body. This course is a laboratory class in which students will work with microscopes, dissect organisms, and dissect organs. Field trips and speakers from the medical field will supplement the learning. Students who plan on pursuing a career in the medical, athletic, psychological, or veterinary sciences are encouraged to take this class.

Advanced Biology – (RAI, NCAA)
Credit: 1.0
Offered to grade: 9
Category: Must meet requirements
Prerequisite: DCHS instructor recommendation or administrative recommendation based on the science and math portions of the DCHS placement exam
Advanced Biology is a course that fosters ambition and curiosity. Thinking skills and creativity are emphasized and evaluated using application questions and authentic lessons. Independent reading and outside readings are required and are used to expand on the life science concepts covered in general biology.

Advanced Chemistry – (RAI, NCAA)
Credit: 1.0
Offered to grades: 10-12
Category: Must meet requirements
Prerequisite: B or above in Adv Algebra I/Adv Geometry or A in Algebra I/Geometry
Students planning on a medical, scientific or engineering career should take Advanced Chemistry, if possible. Chemistry is the study of physical substances, energy, and the process of change. The course is intended to give the student an understanding of the physical world in which we live. Chemistry is an important college preparatory course. This course will involve more math and greater detail in problem solving than general chemistry.

Ag Biotechnology – (RAI, NCAA)
Credit: 0.5
Offered to grades: 10-12
Category: Elective
Prerequisites: Biology
Biotechnology is a laboratory skills course which provides students with experiences in industry-appropriate applications of biotechnology related to agriculture, environmental, and medical sciences. Opportunities include the science of making cheese, biodiesel and ethanol production, gene cloning, DNA analysis, use of PCR, and protein purification. In completion of the activities, students will have maintained a research notebook and have evidence for their learning. This course counts toward membership in FFA.

Animal Science – (RAI)
Credit: 0.5
Offered to grades: 9-12
Category: Elective
Prerequisite: Intro to Ag
This is a laboratory and project-driven course in the study of animal systems, animal breeds, animal behaviors, reproduction, animal ecology, health and nutrition, careers, and ethical issues in utilization of animals within various industries. This course counts toward membership in FFA.

AP Biology – (RAI, NCAA, DMACC)
Credit: 1.0
Offered to grades: 11‐12
Category: Elective, must meet requirements
Prerequisite: B or above in Adv Biology
AP Biology is a course that is the equivalent of a first‐year college biology course. It is for students considering medicine, research, marine biology, physical therapy, or other life science related fields. At the end of the year, students will be strongly encouraged to
take the Advanced Placement exam.

AP Chemistry – (RAI, NCAA, DMACC)
Credit: 1.0
Offered to grades: 11-12
Category: Elective, must meet requirements
Prerequisite: B or above in Adv Chemistry
AP Chemistry is a second-year course that is the equivalent of a first-year college chemistry course. The majority of the course will cover atomic theory, structure of atoms, chemical equilibrium, acids, bases, salts, and chemical thermodynamics. At the end of the year, students will be strongly encouraged to take the Advanced Placement exam.

AP Environmental Science – (RAI, NCAA, DMACC)
Credit: 1.0
Offered to grades: 11-12
Category: Must meet requirements
Prerequisite: Chemistry or concurrent enrollment in Adv Chemistry
AP Environmental Science provides students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies to understand environmental systems and their problems. Concepts from biology, chemistry, and physics will be used to understand and seek solutions to issues in ecology, biodiversity, population dynamics, agriculture, toxicology, pollution, climate change, and energy systems. (This course will fulfill the earth science requirement for Science.)

AP Physics I – (RAI, NCAA)
Credit: 1.0
Offered to grades: 10‐12
Category: Must meet requirements
Prerequisite: Adv Chemistry
Students planning on a medical, scientific, or engineering career should take AP Physics I, if possible. This course is equivalent to a first semester college course in algebra-based physics. There is a systematic introduction to the main principles of physics with
emphasis on the development of problem-solving skills and detailed laboratory activities to provide a deeper understanding of the material and practice in data presentation and analysis. The course covers Newtonian mechanics, work, energy and power, momentum and collisions, circular motion and universal gravitation, and mechanical oscillations. Students are encouraged to take the AP exam at the end of the year. Strong math skills are required for top performance in this class. (This course will fulfill the physics requirement for Science.)

AP Physics II – (RAI, NCAA)
Credit: 1.0
Offered to grades: 11‐12
Category: Elective, must meet requirements
Prerequisite: AP Physics I
AP Physics II is equivalent to a second semester college course in algebra-based physics. There is further development of the main principles of physics with continued emphasis on problem-solving skills and detailed laboratory activities. Course topics include fluid
dynamics, thermodynamics, mechanical waves and sound, electrostatics, electrical circuits, electromagnetism, optics, and atomic and nuclear physics. Students are strongly encouraged to take the AP exam at the end of the year.

Biology – (RAI, NCAA)
Credit: 1.0
Offered to grade: 9-10
Category: Required
Prerequisite: None
This course will illustrate the ever-changing nature of biology. Students will examine the major theories in biology and explore thecurrent knowledge in this field. This course will enhance the awareness of the student to the intricacies of life. Students will
develop problem-solving skills that are necessary to continue in the field of science and life in general. Emphasis is placed on collaborative learning. Biology covers the following topics: Scientific Literacy, Nature of Life, Evolution, BioChemistry, Matter and Energy, Ecology and Human Impact, and Human Reproduction. Additional topics may be included as time permits.
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Chemistry – (RAI, NCAA)                
Credit:  1.0                        
Offered to grades:  10-12
Category:  Required                          
Prerequisite:  Biology and Algebra 1 (or C- or above in PreAlgebra)
Chemistry is a course designed to evaluate the composition of matter, predict the results of chemical reactions, and quantify different physical characteristics of the materials we use and encounter in our modern world.  Proper measurement, analysis and problem solving skills will be covered.  Students will evaluate the components of atoms, how atoms arrange to be molecules and how various molecules bond and react as well as gain a fundamental understanding of various properties of materials.  Students are strongly encouraged to successfully complete Algebra 1 prior to taking Chemistry.

Earth Science – (RAI, NCAA)
Credit: 0.5
Offered to grades: 11‐12
Category: Required*
Prerequisites: Biology and Chemistry/Physical Science
Earth Science covers topics in astronomy and the origins of our universe and solar system, Earth processes and history, weather and climate, and other topics of geography and physical geology. This course includes activities intended to demonstrate the main
functions of Earth’s processes as well as the application of concepts from biology, chemistry, and physical science.

Physical Science – (RAI, NCAA)
Credit: 1.0
Offered to grade: 10
Prerequisite: Teacher Recommendation
Physical science covers the study of matter and energy and includes fundamental aspects of both chemistry and physics. Laboratory investigations and activities are used to give students hands‐on learning and practical applications as well as to develop a deeper understanding of scientific principles. Emphasis will be placed on learning at the conceptual level and will build with mathematical relationships and calculations to analyze physical systems and processes. This course will satisfy both the Chemistry and Physics graduation requirements.

Physics I – (RAI, NCAA)
Credit: 0.5
Offered to grades: 11-12
Category: Required
Prerequisites: Chemistry
Physics I covers topics of motion, forces, momentum, energy, gravity, waves and electromagnetism. Physics I is a college preparatory course involving problem solving and experimentation. Students will routinely exercise their mathematical skills to be
successful. Students planning on a career in nursing should also plan to take Physics II to satisfy common nursing school entrance requirements. A scientific calculator is needed.
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Physics II – (RAI, NCAA)
Credit: 0.5
Offered to grades: 11-12
Category: Elective
Prerequisite: Physics I
Physics II provides students with a second semester of physics to provide a full year of physics study. Physics II covers topics of Einstein’s special relativity, 2-dimensional motion, electricity and electrical circuits, waves and optics, and nuclear physics. Physics II is a college preparatory course involving more rigorous problem solving and laboratory activities. Students will need strong mathematical skills to be successful. A scientific calculator is needed.

Plant Science – (RAI)
Credit: 0.5
Offered to grades: 9-12
Category: Elective
Prerequisite: None
This is a laboratory and project-driven course that looks at cellular structures in plants, plant processes, soils and their relationships to plants, greenhouse production, hydroponics, reproduction, uses of plants, careers, and common pests and diseases. This course counts toward membership in FFA.