2012-2013 High School Curriculum Bulletin - McAllen ISD

3122 BIOLOGY CPLowest Grade Placement: 9Credit: 1Rank: College PreparatoryStudents will conduct descriptive, comparative and experimentalinvestigations 40% of the time. Students will make informed decisionsusing critical thinking and scientific problem solving. Students in thiscourse study a variety of topics that include: structures and functions ofcells and viruses; growth and development of organisms; cells, tissues,and organs; nucleic acids and genetics; biological evolution; taxonomy;metabolism and energy transfers in living organisms; living systems;homeostasis; ecosystems; and plants and the environment. Emphasisis placed on critical thinking skills, oral and written communicationand research techniques.3132 BIOLOGY Pre-APLowest Grade Placement: 9Credit: 1Rank: Pre-APStudents will conduct descriptive, comparative and experimentalinvestigations 40% of the time. Students will make informed decisionsusing critical thinking and scientific problem solving. Students in thiscourse study a variety of topics that include: structures and functions ofcells and viruses; growth and development of organisms; cells, tissues,and organs; nucleic acids and genetics; biological evolution; taxonomy;metabolism and energy transfers in living organisms; living systems;homeostasis; ecosystems; and plants and the environment. Emphasis isplaced on critical thinking skills, oral and written communication andresearch techniques. This is a rigorous Biology course that preparesstudents for AP Biology or IB Biology.NOTE: This advanced course also serves the identified gifted/talented student.3142 MYP Biology 1Lowest Grade Placement: 9Credit: 1Rank: MYPThis one-year advanced course is designed to meet the 1st or 2nd yearScience requirement for the IB MYP Certificate, as well as the Biology1 requirement of the state of Texas. This course includes the study ofscientific skills and processes; the biological concepts of change, energy,structures, patterns, and systems as well as personal, social and globalawareness. These topics are focused through five areas of interaction.This course prepares students for the IB Diploma Program.NOTE: This advanced course also serves the identified gifted/talentedstudent.3152 ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) BIOLOGYLowest Grade Placement: 11Credit: 1Prerequisite: Biology, ChemistryRank: APThis course is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester collegeintroductory biology course usually taken by biology majors duringtheir first year. This course is designed to be taken by students afterthe successful completion of a first course in high school biology andone in high school chemistry as well. It aims to provide students withthe conceptual framework, factual knowledge, and analytical skillsnecessary to deal critically with the rapidly changing science of biology.The course content includes 25% Molecules and Cells, 25% Heredity andEvolution, and 50% Organisms and Populations. The kinds of labs doneare the equivalent of those done by college students. Students enrolledin this course will take the required Biology Advanced PlacementExam. Students may be granted college credit for scores on this exam.NOTE: This advanced course also serves the identified gifted/talentedstudent.3155 INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB)BIOLOGY SLLowest Grade Placement: 11Credit: 1Rank: IBThis one-year course of study is designed to meet the ExperimentalScience Standard Level and 1 st year of the Higher Level requirement forthe IB Diploma. This course includes topics in cells, chemistry of life,genetics, ecology and evolution, and human health and physiology.Standard level options include the additional topics of diet and humannutrition, physiology of exercise and cells and energy. Students arerequired to complete a practical scheme of work that includes 40 hoursof laboratory exercises which are internally assessed and externallymoderated. This course prepares students to take the required IBBiology standard level exam. College credit may be granted for scoreson this exam.NOTE: This advanced course also serves the identified gifted/talentedstudent3156 INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB)BIOLOGY HLLowest Grade Placement: 12Credit: 1Prerequisite: IB Biology 3155Rank: IBThis one-year course of study is designed to meet the 2 nd yearExperimental Science higher level requirement for the IB Diploma. Thiscourse will include topics in Nucleic acid and proteins, cell respirationand photosynthesis, genetics, human reproduction, infectious diseases,nerves, muscles, and movement, excretion, and plant science. Higherlevel options include the additional topics of evolution, neurobiology andbehavior, applied plant and animal science, ecology and conservation,and further human physiology. Students are required to complete apractical scheme of work that includes 60 hours of laboratory exerciseswhich are internally assessed and externally moderated. This courseprepares students to take the required IB Biology higher level exam.College credit may be granted for scores on this exam.NOTE: This advanced course also serves the identified gifted/talentedstudent.3172 ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY OF HUMAN SYSTEMSLowest Grade Placement: 11Credit: 1Prerequisite: Biology and ChemistryRank: Challenge (GT)This course is the study of the structures and functions of the componentsof the human body. This course is designed to build a knowledge basefor those students who wish to pursue a medically related career.Laboratory investigations will include at least one major dissection(usually a cat), microscopic studies and physiology investigations.Course content includes the physiology of each organ system. Studentsmay attend presentations and lectures on related subjects or take fieldtrips to health care facilities. Students are expected to participate ingroup projects and complete outside research. Students should consulttheir college of choice to determine if Anatomy and Physiology willsatisfy entry requirements.3212 CONCEPTUAL CHEMISTRYLowest Grade Placement: 11Credit: 1Prerequisite: Biology and IPCRank: StandardIn this course, students conduct field and laboratory investigations, usescientific methods during investigations, and make informed decisionsusing critical thinking and scientific problem solving. Students studya variety of topics that include: characteristics of matter; energytransformations during physical and chemical changes; atomic structure;periodic table of elements; behavior of gases; bonding; nuclear fusionand nuclear fission; oxidation-reduction reactions; chemical equations;solutes; properties of solutions; acids and bases; and chemical reactions.Students will investigate how chemistry is an integral part of our dailylives. Mathematical computation is not stressed in this course.Page 233222 CHEMISTRY CPLowest Grade Placement: 10Credit: 1Prerequisite: BiologyRank: College PreparatoryStudents will conduct descriptive, comparative and experimentalinvestigations 40% of the time. Students will make informed decisionsusing critical thinking and scientific problem solving. Students studya variety of topics that include: characteristics of matter; energytransformations during physical and chemical changes; atomic structure;periodic table of elements; behavior of gases; bonding; nuclear fusionand nuclear fission; oxidation-reduction reactions; chemical equations;solutes; properties of solutions; acids and bases; and chemical reactions.Students will investigate how chemistry is an integral part of our dailylives.3232 CHEMISTRY PRE-APLowest Grade Placement: 10Credit: 1Prerequisite: BiologyRank: Pre-APStudents will conduct descriptive, comparative and experimentalinvestigations 40% of the time. Students will make informed decisionsusing critical thinking and scientific problem solving. Students studya variety of topics that include: characteristics of matter; energytransformations during physical and chemical changes; atomic structure;periodic table of elements; behavior of gases; bonding; nuclear fusionand nuclear fission; oxidation-reduction reactions; chemical equations;solutes; properties of solutions; acids and bases; and chemical reactions.Students will investigate how chemistry is an integral part of our dailylives. These topics are studied in greater detail and more emphasisis placed on lab work, design and projects. This is a comprehensivechemistry course that can be used as preparation for AP or IB Chemistry.NOTE: This advanced course also serves the identified gifted/talentedstudent.3235 MYP Chemistry 1Lowest Grade Placement: 9Credit: 1Rank: MYPThis one-year advanced course is designed to meet the 1st or 2nd yearScience requirement for the IB MYP Certificate, as well as the Chemistry1 requirement of the state of Texas. This course includes the study ofscientific skills and processes; the chemical concepts of change, energy,structures, patterns, and systems as well as personal, social and globalawareness. These topics are focused through five areas of interaction.This course prepares students for the IB Diploma Program. NOTE:This advanced course serves the identified gifted/talented student3242 ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) CHEMISTRYLowest Grade Placement: 11Credit: 1Prerequisite: Chemistry and Algebra 2Rank: APThis course is intended to provide the equivalent of a first-year collegechemistry course. It emphasizes mathematical computations and an indepthreview of inorganic chemistry topics, as well as organic chemistryand biochemistry principles. Laboratory investigations and reportwriting are also emphasized. This course provides abundant backgrounddata for students pursuing a scientific career. Students enrolled in thiscourse will take the Chemistry Advanced Placement Exam. Collegecredit may be granted for scores on this exam. NOTE: This advancedcourse serves the identified gifted/talented student.