Catholic High School provides full laboratory facilities. All courses (excluding AP courses) require a science fair project, and a related research paper.  A school-wide science fair is held every February.

Biology I
Biology I is a laboratory course that presents a basic but thorough introduction to biological science.  Topics include biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, evolution, and the diversity of life.  Major activities include raising plants through a complete life cycle, fetal pig dissection, and microscopy explorations. All ninth grade students take this course.

Chemistry I
This course is a lab-oriented course that offers students a basic but thorough introduction to chemistry.  Topics include scientific measurement, problem solving, atomic structure, the periodic table, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, and the behavior of gases.
Prerequisites:  Biology I, Algebra II (or current enrollment in Algebra II)

Conceptual Physics
This laboratory-based course is designed to investigate the fundamental concepts that explain physical phenomena with more of an emphasis on the qualitative, rather than the quantitative aspects of the study of physics.  In addition, a variety of laboratory investigations enhance the learning of key concepts.  Topics include kinematics, mechanics, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, optics, and waves and sound.
Prerequisites:  Algebra I

Biology II
This lab-based course focuses on animal behavior, ecology, botany, and microbiology.  Major activities include insect behavior labs, botanical experiments, a plant collection project, and microbiology experiments.
Prerequisites: Biology I, Chemistry I

Physics I
This course is designed to enable students to learn problem-solving skills in both word problems and in laboratory sessions.  Topics include kinematics, mechanics, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, optics, waves and sound, and modern physics.  This course should prepare them for AP or college-level physics.
Prerequisites: Chemistry I, Algebra II

Human Anatomy & Physiology
This upper-level course gives students with an interest in health-related topics and careers an opportunity to study in-depth the structure and functions of the major human body systems.  Students enrolled in this course are expected to participate in a variety of vertebrate dissection labs and microscopy investigations.  The major body systems explored include the integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, endocrine, and immune systems.  The main vertebrate sensory organs are also covered.
Prerequisites:  Biology I, Chemistry I

AP Biology
This course is a college-level biology course, with a comprehensive emphasis on biochemical processes and the study of all living things in preparation for the AP exam. AP Biology includes an advanced laboratory program in which most of the College Board-designated AP labs are completed.  Topics include biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, evolution, the diversity of life, botany, ecology, and animal form and function.
Prerequisites: Biology I, Chemistry I, AP Biology instructor approval

AP Chemistry
This course is a college-level chemistry course designed to enable students to attain a depth of understanding of the fundamentals of chemistry.  AP Chemistry includes a comprehensive set of laboratory experiences.  Topics include the structure of matter, states of matter, nuclear chemistry, reaction types, stoichiometry, chemical equilibrium, kinetics, and thermodynamics.
Prerequisites:  Chemistry I, AP Chemistry instructor approval

AP Physics
This course is a college-level physics course with the following instructional goals: (1) physics knowledge – basic knowledge of the discipline of physics, including phenomenology, theories and techniques, and generalizing principles; (2) problem solving – ability to ask physical questions and to obtain solutions to physical questions by use of qualitative and quantitative reasoning; (3) student attributes – fostering of important student attributes, including curiosity, creativity, reasoned skepticism, and appreciation of the physical world and the discipline of physics; and (4) connections – understanding connections of physics to other disciplines and to societal issues.
Prerequisites: Chemistry I, Physics I, Algebra II, AP Physics instructor approval

One credit