Science Department


The mission of the Science Department is to provide each student with the 21st century skills necessary to understand and explain current events, scientific phenomena, and scientific and technological advances using critical thinking and problem solving skills so that they may be an informed global citizen.

Elizabeth Coluccio
Mrs. Elizabeth Coluccio
Department Chair

Mrs. Coluccio earned her B.S. in Astronomy and Astrophysics and her M.S. in Space Science from the Florida Institute of Technology.

Science Courses for 2023-2024


Possible Science Progression*

*Based on a student’s final grade in his classes, it is possible to move into different pathways

Science Courses

#S113A/B Conceptual Physics Honors
1 Credit Level 3 NCAA

The goals of conceptual physics honors are to give students a common foundation of science skills, and to provide them with the tools necessary to be able to understand, explain, and apply the basic concepts of how objects interact and move in the real world. The course explores how to think like a scientist, how forces interact, the energy within a system, and how different waves act. We will moderately discuss the mathematics involved in addition to the real-world applications of each topic.

Requirements for placement: previous school record, placement into Level 3 Math courses, and signature of school counselor. 

#S112A/B Conceptual Physics
1 Credit Level 2 NCAA 

The goals of conceptual physics are to give students a common foundation of science skills, and to provide them with the tools necessary to be able to understand, explain, and apply the basic concepts of how objects interact and move in the real world. The course explores how to think like a scientist, how forces interact, the energy within a system, and how different waves act. We briefly touch on the mathematics involved in each of these topics with a heavier focus on the ideas involved in these topics.

Requirements for placement: placement into Level 2 Math class. 

#S111A/B Conceptual Physics 
1 Credit Level 1 NCAA 

The goals of conceptual physics are to give students a common foundation of science skills, and to provide them with the tools necessary to be able to understand, explain, and apply the basic concepts of how objects interact and move in the real world. The course explores how to think like a scientist, how forces interact, and the energy within a system. This course highly emphasizes the ideas of physics, with a very limited use of mathematics.

Requirements for placement: placement into Level 1 Math class. 

#S33A/B Chemistry Honors 
1 Credit Level 3 NCAA

This Chemistry course is designed to provide students with a foundation in more advanced topics in chemistry. It seeks to provide a strong background in the fundamentals of theory and lab work and provide difficult problem-solving situations to build on 21st century skills. The general topics include, but are not limited to, atomic theory, chemical bonding, chemical reactions, stoichiometry and kinetics. 

Requirements for placement: minimum grade of 85 in Conceptual Physics Honors OR a minimum grade of 90 in Conceptual Physics; concurrent enrollment in or completion of Algebra II Honors; signature of Chemistry teacher.

#S32A/B Chemistry
1 Credit Level 2 NCAA

This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of chemistry. The main goal of this course is to provide students with problem-solving opportunities that build on critical thinking and literacy skills. The general topics include but are not limited to, atomic theory, chemical bonding, chemical reactions, and stoichiometry. 

Requirements for placement: completion of Conceptual Physics

#S31A/B Chemistry
1 Credit Level 1 NCAA

This course introduces students to the basic concepts of chemistry. The goal of the course is to help students apply their understanding of properties of different substances to the real world. Topics include atomic structure, the periodic table, chemical bonding, and chemical reactions. 

Requirements for placement: completion of Conceptual Physics; signature of counselor 

#S34A/B A.P. Chemistry L4
1 Credit Level 4 NCAA

This introductory college-level chemistry course provides students with the foundational knowledge that’s required for more advanced coursework in chemistry. Students will develop their understanding of chemistry through inquiry-based investigations. Topics of study include but are not limited to, intermolecular forces and bonding, kinetics, thermodynamics, and equilibrium. In addition, this course prepares students to take the College Board’s AP Chemistry exam after completion of the course. 

Requirements for placement: minimum grade of 88 in Chemistry Honors and Algebra II Honors, OR a minimum grade of 90 in Chemistry and Algebra II; signature of AP Chemistry L4 teacher.

#S24A/B Biology L4
1 Credit Level 4 NCAA

This level 4 course is designed to further develop skills such as critical thinking, making observations, and formulating ideas about biological phenomena. The main goal of this course is to further develop student ownership of their learning and time management. This course emphasizes how molecules are incorporated into cellular structures and the role biotechnology serves in science and our current society. The purpose of this course is to enable students to earn credit from the University of Connecticut in the course BIOL 1107: Principles of Biology I and to further develop critical thinking and reasoning skills through inquiry-based learning.

Biology L4 is a UConn approved course. Requirements for placement: 90 overall average or better; minimum grade of 90 in Chemistry Honors; signature of Biology L4 teacher. 

#S23A/B Biology Honors 
1 Credit Level 3 NCAA

This course is designed to develop critical thinking, making observations and formulating ideas about biological phenomena and is for students of above average ability and achievement. The main goal of this course is to build on the skills of biology along with development and ownership of their learning and prepare the students for intensity of advanced level science courses. The content is the same as Biology Level 2, but in more detail of cellular biology and genetic regulation. In addition, students will increase their lab, critical thinking, and reasoning skills through inquiry-based learning.

Requirements for placement: minimum grade of 85 in Chemistry Honors OR a minimum grade of 90 in Chemistry; signature of Biology Honors teacher. 

#S22A/B Biology
1 Credit Level 2 NCAA

This course is designed to acquaint the student with selected topics from the areas of traditional and modern biological science. Students are introduced to theoretical concepts and practical applications of biology. Discussion and laboratory work are the major components of the course. 

Requirements for placement: completion of Chemistry

#S21A/B Biology
1 Credit Level 1 NCAA

This course is designed to acquaint the student with selected topics from the areas of traditional and modern biological science. Students are introduced to theoretical concepts and practical applications of biology. Discussion and laboratory work are included in the course. 

Requirements for placement: completion of Chemistry; signature of school counselor 

#S84A/B AP Physics L4
1 Credit Level 4 NCAA

In this course, students cultivate their understanding of physics through classroom study, in-class activity, and hands-on, inquiry-based laboratory work as they explore concepts like systems, fields, force interactions, change, conservation, and waves. The purpose of this course is to enable students to earn credit from the University of Connecticut in the course PHYS 1201Q: General Physics I. Students will also be prepared to take the College Board’s AP Physics 1 exam after completion of the course. The course is algebra-based, and relies on the use of geometry and trigonometry.

AP Physics L4 is a UConn approved course, as well as an AP course. Requirements for placement: minimum grade of 85 in Conceptual Physics OR minimum grade of 80 in Conceptual Physics Honors; minimum grade of 80 in Algebra II Honors, Geometry Honors, and Trigonometry Honors; signature of AP Physics L4 teacher 

#S52A/B Anatomy & Physiology
1 Credit Level 2 NCAA

This course is designed to introduce students to the basic patterns of human development and organizational themes. The goal of this course is to present the material through a variety of class presentations, practicals, discussions, and laboratory work to logically interpret the function of body systems. Students will increase their lab and critical thinking, and reasoning skills through inquiry-based learning. This course emphasizes anatomy, physiology, and pathology. 

Requirements for placement: minimum grade of 80 in Biology and Chemistry, OR minimum grade of 78 in Biology Honors and Chemistry Honors; signature of Anatomy & Physiology teacher

#SS15A Astronomy
0.5 Credit Level 2 

The goal of the astronomy course is to introduce students to the composition and structure of the Universe, and provide students with a study of the Universe and the conditions, properties, and motions of bodies in space. The content includes, but is not limited to, historical astronomy, astronomical instruments, the celestial sphere, the solar system, the Earth as a system in space, the Earth/Moon system, the Sun as a star, and stars. Algebra and Geometry will be used. 

Requirements for placement: completion of Geometry; minimum grade of 80 in Chemistry and Conceptual Physics, OR minimum grade of 78 in Chemistry Honors and Conceptual Physics Honors; signature of Science Department Chairperson 

#SS16A Infectious Disease
0.5 Credit Level 2 

This course is designed to introduce students to the field of infectious diseases and how pathogens play a role in our global community both medically and socially. The main goal of this course is to further develop student ownership of learning and time management. The content of this course will cover the history of pathology, epidemiology and outbreak modeling, viral and bacterial pathogenesis, drug development and vaccine design. In addition, students will increase their lab, critical thinking and reasoning skills through inquiry-based learning and presenting their findings to their peers.

Requirements for placement: minimum grade of 80 in Biology and Chemistry, OR a minimum grade of 78 in Biology Honors and Chemistry Honors; signature of Biology teacher.

#S42A Marine Ecology
0.5 Credit Level 2 NCAA

This one semester course of study will provide an opportunity to investigate the unique nature of marine life. The main goal of Marine Science is to understand the physical and chemical characteristics of the oceanic world and to understand the unique adaptations of the diverse Marine Life that thrives in each life zone. The purpose of this course is to investigate 21st century problems including: decline of fisheries, overfishing, plastic plague in our oceans, and how climate change is impacting the world shellfish industry. A critical part of this course involves participating in a intertidal zone field study in Westerly, RI at Napatree point which includes species sampling invertebrates using Quadrats along transect lines and seining for vertebrates.

Requirements for placement: junior or senior status; signature of Marine Ecology teacher. 

#S92A Forensic Science
0.5 Credit Level 2 NCAA

This course is designed to introduce students to the variety of disciplines involved in Forensic Science. The goal of the course is to integrate various sciences to solve crimes while making sense of complex problems that invoke logical reasoning, critical thinking, and inductive and deductive reasoning skills. The purpose of this course is to increase students’ lab. critical thinking, and reasoning skills through inquiry-based learning and by presenting their findings to their peers via mock trials. In addition, this course will induce students to use common sense and use comparative analysis to solve complex problems.

Requirements for placement: junior or senior status; signature of Forensic Science teacher.

#S90A Science Internship
0.5 or 1.0 Credit Level* 

This internship is designed to offer students the opportunity to serve as an assistant to science teachers in preparing and teaching laboratories for their courses throughout the year. Responsibilities will include coordinating with science teachers in the areas of lab preparation, cleanup, acting as a teacher’s assistant during labs, and other duties that help the department operate smoothly. Students must be willing to make a commitment to this internship and may be asked to extend their duty time to include community period or after school, as necessary. 

Requirements: senior status: minimum grade of 80 in Conceptual Physics, Chemistry, and Biology; signature of Science Department Chairperson.