Science

The Greenville Senior High School Science Program offers many opportunities for our students to become involved in the sciences and to excel in their understanding and knowledge of the subject matter. Our goal for each student graduating from Greenville High School is for that student to have experience in and knowledge of each of the major scientific areas: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Our hope is that each student will come to appreciate our vast scientific world and that each student will be able to make informed and educated decisions on matters of scientific importance in his or her life.

Our science faculty has been widely recognized on a variety of levels. We are fortunate to have faculty with recognitions in areas such as the National Marine Science Educator of the Year, Teachers of the Year-local, District, and State, National Board Qualified Teachers, Greenville County Science Teachers of the Year, American Chemical Society Outstanding Teacher Awards and others. Our students have attended top colleges and universities across the nation and on to careers in science, medicine, engineering and science-related businesses and jobs.

A variety of lab and field experience offerings are provided for students in the sciences. Physical science students have the opportunity to experience science first hand in the spring of the year at Six Flags Over Georgia during the annual Physical Science/Physics Day. Physics and Physical Science takes on a whole new meaning as students experience centripetal force, gravitational acceleration, and energy conservation after having recently studied these topics in the classroom. Marine Science students have the opportunity to visit various locations and activities such as exploring the Galapagos Island or swimming with the manatees. The Marine Science program focuses heavily on real world experiences to understand the Marine environment. Students have an opportunity to be involved in robotics/engineering competitions, science project development and invention competitions. Through laboratory experiences and activities in and out of the classroom, students are able to develop a fuller understanding of science.

Where does your student belong

A flow chart to guide the student through the courses available to him or her is provided above. It is very important that the student and the parent recognize the need to properly chart the student's course of studies. Equally important is the proper placement of the student in the Applied, College Prep, and Honors programs. Students are not rigidly confined to a program but may move from one program to another as the need arises. The teacher and counselor should be consulted if such a need is recognized. Improper placement can cause a variety of achievement and discipline problems for both the student and the teacher.

It is recommended that students take science coursework in each of the following courses: Biology, Physical Science, Chemistry and Physics. Additional science courses are offered for elective credit.

Applied

• Grade 9 - Applied Biology I and Applied Biology 2 1
• Grade 10 - Physical Science and Chemistry for the Technologies
• Grade 11 - Chemistry for the Technologies
• Grade 12 - Physics for the Technologies

*Recommended for the student wishing to gain more science experience and/or credits

Courses available to be taken in this path:

• Applied Biology 1
• Applied Biology 2
• Chemistry for the Technologies
• Physics for the Technologies
• Physical Science
• Earth Science (Can be taken as an elective during the 11th / 12th grades) Environmental Science (Can be taken as an elective during the 11th / 12th grades)

College Prep

• Grade 9 - Biology I and *Physical Science
• Grade 10 - Physical Science and *Chemistry I
• Grade 11 - Chemistry I and *Physics I or Science Elective
• Grade 12 - Physics I and AP Course or  Science Elective

*Recommended for the student wishing to gain more science experience and/or credits

Courses available to be taken in this path:

• Biology 1
• Physical Science
• Chemistry 1
• Earth Science (Can be taken as an elective during the 11th / 12th grades)
• Physics 1
• Marine Science (Can be taken as an elective during the 11th / 12th grades)
• Environmental Science (Can be taken as an elective during the 11th / 12th grades)
• AP Biology (Must include Introduction to AP Biology)
• AP Chemistry (Must include Introduction to AP Chemistry)
• AP Physics

Honors

• Grade 9 - Biology I Honors and *Physical Science Honors
• Grade 10 - Chemistry I Honors
• Grade 11 - Physics I Honors and AP Course or Science Elective
• Grade 12 - Physics I Honors  (if not previously taken) and AP Course or Science Elective

*Some students may need to take Physical Science Honors before taking Chemistry I Honors. Teacher discretion will be used in placement.

Courses available to be taken in this path:

• Biology 1 Honors
• Physical Science Honors
• Chemistry 1 Honors
• Earth Science
• Physics 1 Honors
• Marine Science Honors
• Environmental Science
• AP Biology (Must include Introduction to AP Biology)
• AP Chemistry (Must include Introduction to AP Chemistry)
• AP Physics

To qualify for all AP Programs teacher recommendations and highly successful completion of prerequisites are required. It is recommended that students take Physics in conjunction with their AP Coursework.

• Pre-requisites for AP Biology:
  College Prep program - Biology 1, Chemistry 1
  Honors Program- Biology I H, Chemistry 1 H
• Pre-requisites for AP Chemistry:
  College Prep program - Chemistry 1
  Honors Program- Chemistry I H
• To qualify for AP Physics:
  Honors program- Physics 1 or Physics 1 H and (AP Calculus presently or concurrently)