Livingston High School

AP - Environmental Science
Completion of a summer assignment is required for this course. Advanced Placement Environmental Science embraces a wide variety of topics from a variety of disciplines, including geology, biology, environmental studies, environmental science, chemistry, and geography. There are several major unifying constructs that provide the basic required foundation for the structure of the course: earth systems and resources, the living world, population, land and water use, energy resources and consumption, pollution, and global change.  The AP Environmental Science course is designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college course in environmental science. It is a rigorous science course that emphasizes scientific principles and analysis, as well as the study of environmental issues from a sociological or political perspective.  A minimum grade of “B” or higher in Biology CP or Biology Honors and Algebra 1 are good predictors for success in this course.   It is expected that all students take the AP Environmental Science exam in May.

AP - Physics 1
Completion of a summer assignment is required for this course. This course follows the curriculum set forth by the College Board and is equivalent to a first semester algebra-based Physics course.  Students will require a strong algebra background and knowledge of right triangle sine, cosine, and tangent ratios to be successful in this course.  Minimum grades of “B” or higher in either 8th grade Algebra 1 or Algebra 1 Honors and Geometry Honors are good predictors for success in this course.  Topics include kinematics, Newton’s Laws of motion, torque, rotational motion and angular momentum, gravitation and circular motion, work, energy, power, linear momentum, oscillations, mechanical waves, sound, and an introduction to electric circuits.  There will be a focus on inquiry-based laboratory activities which challenge students to design and carry out experiments targeting certain learning objectives.  After the AP exam in May, an additional survey of the following topics would be conducted as time permits to help prepare students for coursework in AP Physics 2, AP Physics C: Mechanics, or AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism – light and optics, magnetism, thermal physics, fluids, and electrical fields.  Students intending to take any of these three advanced AP Physics courses must have first taken AP Physics 1.  It is expected that all students take the AP Physics1 exam in May.

Please note that students who choose or are forced to drop AP Physics 1 will be moved into CP Physics (unless the student chooses to drop Physics entirely).  It is important to note that AP Physics 1 and CP Physics do not follow the same scope and sequence.  CP Physics provides a survey of Physics concepts while AP Physics 1 focuses on fewer concepts but in more detail.  Students who drop into CP Physics will be required to complete an abbreviated make-up assignment in order to attain the necessary concepts students will need for success in future units.

PLEASE NOTE: Students taking Physics over the summer for advancement must declare which future Physics elective(s) they are interested in taking.  For students interested in either of the AP Physics 1 or AP Physics 2 electives, the CP Physics midterm and final exam would be given.  For students pursuing either of the AP Physics C options, the AP Physics 1 midterm and final exams would be given. Students interested in this option should obtain an AP Physics 1 prep book and use it to guide their study.

AP - Biology
Completion of a summer assignment is required for this course. Advanced Placement Biology is designed to be the equivalent of a college introductory biology course, usually taken by biology majors during their first year. This course is designed to provide students with the conceptual framework, factual knowledge, and analytical skills necessary to deal critically with the rapidly changing science of biology. The College Board based curriculum includes topics such as general chemistry, biochemistry, molecular genetics, origin of life, evolution, animal behavior, cellular biology, cell transport, microbiology, nervous, immune and endocrine systems, cell energetics and cellular respiration, photosynthesis, cellular reproduction, Mendelian genetics, population genetics, ecology, and genetic engineering. A minimum grade of “B” or higher in Biology Honors is a good predictor for success in this course. Though a student could be successful in AP Biology while concurrently taking Chemistry, it is highly recommended that students have a first-year Chemistry course prior to registering for AP Biology. It is expected that all AP Biology students take the AP Biology Exam in May.

AP - Chemistry
Completion of a summer assignment is required for this course. Advanced Placement Chemistry is designed to be the equivalent of a college introductory chemistry course.  Students in this course attain a depth of understanding of fundamentals and competence in dealing with chemical problems; chemical periodicity viewed by quantum mechanics; stoichiometric calculations involved with chemical reactions; energy involved in chemical reactions; behavior of ideal and real gases based on the Kinetic Molecular Theory; physical and chemical properties of liquids and solids determined by molecular motion and intermolecular bonding; chemical kinetics; equilibrium; thermodynamics; acids, bases, and salts, including buffer solutions; and electrochemistry.  A minimum grade of “B” or higher in Chemistry Honors is a good predictor for success in this course.  It is expected that all students take the AP Chemistry exam in May.

AP - Physics 2
Completion of a summer assignment may be required for this course. This course follows the curriculum set forth by the College Board and is equivalent to a second semester algebra-based Physics course.  Students must have taken AP Physics 1 as a prerequisite course.  Minimum grades of “B” or higher in AP Physics 1 and Algebra 2 Honors are good predictors for success in this course.  Topics include fluid statics and dynamics, thermodynamics, electrostatics, electrical circuits, magnetic fields, electromagnetism, physical and geometric optics, and topics in modern physics.  There will be a focus on inquiry-based laboratory activities which challenge students to design and carry out experiments targeting certain learning objectives.  After the AP exam in May, students will utilize their conceptual and mathematical understanding to successfully complete engineering design challenges.  It is expected that all students take the AP Physics 2 exam in May.

AP - Physics C - Mechanics
Completion of a summer assignment may be required for this course. Advanced Placement Physics C: Mechanics is designed to be the equivalent of a college level course in calculus-based physics. This course provides the same foundation available in college for students majoring in the physical sciences or engineering and is an intensive and analytical course with calculus applied whenever appropriate. AP Physics C: Mechanics provides instruction in each of the following content areas: kinematics; Newton’s laws of motion; work, energy, and power, systems of particles and linear momentum; circular motion and rotation; and oscillation and gravitation.  Minimum grades of “B” or higher in Pre-Calculus Honors and AP Physics 1 are good predictors for success in this course. It is expected that all students take the AP Physics C - Mechanics exam in May.

AP - Physics C - Electricity and Magnetism
Completion of a summer assignment may be required for this course. Advanced Placement Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism is designed to be the equivalent of a college level course in calculus-based physics.  This course provides the same foundation available in college for students majoring in the physical sciences or engineering and is an intensive and analytical course with calculus applied whenever appropriate.  AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism provides instruction in each of the following content areas: electrostatics, conductors, capacitors, and dielectrics; electric circuits; magnetic fields; and electromagnetism.  Minimum grades of “B” or higher in Pre-Calculus Honors and AP Physics 1 are good predictors for success in this course.  It is expected that all students take the AP Physics C – Electricity and Magnetism exam in May.

AP Seminar - STEM
Completion of a summer assignment is required for this course. This full year elective course is the foundational class needed for the two-year AP Capstone diploma. This course will engage students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of real-world issues and academic topics. Students will learn to analyze and incorporate diverse perspectives to craft credible evidence-based arguments. Using the College Board’s QUEST inquiry framework, students will read and evaluate articles, research foundational, literary, and philosophical texts; listen and view speeches, broadcasts, and personal accounts; and experiencing artistic works and performances. Students will learn to synthesize information from multiple sources, develop their own perspectives in research-based written essays, and design and deliver oral and visual presentations, both individually and as part of a team.  These benchmark assignments will be submitted to the College Board and contribute to the final AP score. In addition, students will continue to research their topic of interest they selected during Introduction to Research Methods and work to attain a mentor who will help them conduct their own research project in order to report their findings as part of next year’s AP Research course.

AP Research - STEM
This course is the culmination of the two-year AP Capstone in Science Research and Laboratory-Based Inquiry. Students will utilize the research methodologies, ethical practices and synthesis strategies acquired in the AP Seminar course to complete an individual research project. Students will also be expected to utilize data collected through laboratory experiments to support their conclusions. The students will demonstrate their proficiency in meeting the objectives of this two-year sequence by constructing a 5,000-word academic thesis paper as well as present and perform an oral defense of their research methodology. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to submit their research to various competitions and present their findings at the annual Science Research Symposium.