Like the Magnet's Computer Science discipline,
for the Magnet Science discipline 9th and 10th graders take required
courses, and then are free to take whatever Magnet Science electives
tickle their fancy. Students whose interests lie more in mathematics
and/or computer science may take only a few science electives (or
even none), while others may take as many of the dozen or so science
electives as they can squeeze into their schedule.
Magnet Ninth Graders get started with the Magnet Physics class, and
then move on in the second semester to Magnet Chemistry. Both courses
are heavily tied to two of the other Ninth Grade required courses,
Fundamentals of Computer Science and
Research and Experimentation I.
As Sophomores, Magnet students move onto Magnet
Earth Science first semester and Magnet Biology second semester.
As with the previous year's courses, Earth Science and Biology are
taught with an interdisciplinary approach with interaction with other
courses the Magnet Sophomore is taking.
For Juniors and Seniors, the magnet offers three one-semester physics
electives. In Thermodynamimcs, students apply
physics principals to pracitcal energy concerns and issues. Quantum
Physics (page coming soon) is designed for students interested in
the principales of atomic physics or chemistry. And in Optics
students investgate optical devices and the physics of light, and
even make their own camera.
There are two chemistry electives, and most students take them back-to-back.
First semester students taqke Physical Chemsitry,
an examination of the relationshiop of chemistry and physics. Second
semester brings Analytical Chemistry, which invovles
using various tools and equipment to analyze chemical samples.
Earth science also offers a pair of semester-long electives for Juniors
and Seniors. In Astronomy, current topics in
astronomy and planetary geology are investigated. And in Plate
Tectonics and Oceanography, students study geology, physical oceanography,
and plate tectonic theory.
There are three biololgy electives offered, all one-semester courses.
In the first semester course Genetics, students study the foundations
of Mendelian, medical, and molecular genetics. Most students who take
Genetics go on to Cell Physiology second semester, where they the
biology and chemistry
