Materials Science One Semester (Offered Second Semester)
Advanced Physics: Electricity & Magnetism One Semester (Offered First Semester) Prerequisites: Honors Physics or Classical Mechanics with concurrent Calculus AND Science Department recommendation This course will introduce and elaborate on concepts in electricity and magnetism. Students will collaboratively explore concepts such as Coulomb’s Law, Gauss’ Law, electric potential and electric potential energy, capacitance, combination circuits, magnetic fields, and electromagnetism through inquiry-based investigation and problem-solving. Students will apply their knowledge in the lab with a significant amount of electronics. This course will require significant use of trigonometry, complex algebraic problem solving techniques, computational coding, and differential and integral calculus. The course content will promote growth of science skills in modeling, collaborating, investigating, coding, technical reporting, and engineering solutions.
and metacognition. Topics include rocks and minerals, geologic history and time, weathering, erosion, plate tectonics, fossils, mountain building, earthquakes, and volcanos, with a special focus on Michigan geology as our model to understand geologic processes when applicable. Throughout the course, students will be asked to keep physical specimens of rock types and minerals to showcase skills learned in the lab through an interview with the instructor at the end of the semester. Students will also be able to explore a geologic interest independently and present it in a format that they choose, such as a research or lab paper, poster, video, podcast, or presentation. Kinesiology: Biomechanics One Semester (Offered First Semester) Prerequisites: Biology or equivalent Kinesiology: Biomechanics will explore how the human body is built for movement and how the laws of physics apply to everyday and athletic activities. Students will study the structure and function of the skeletal system, joints, and muscular system, and learn how these systems work together to produce motion. The course will introduce key principles of biomechanics, including force, motion, leverage, balance, and energy transfer. Students will apply these concepts through movement analysis, examining real-life activities such as walking, running, jumping, and sport skills. Emphasis is placed on understanding human movement to improve performance, prevent injury, and appreciate how anatomy and physics interact in the living body. Kinesiology: Exercise Physiology & Motor Control One Semester (Offered Second Semester) Prerequisites: Biology or equivalent In Kinesiology: Exercise Physiology & Motor Control students will have the opportunity to explore the foundational principles of exercise physiology, focusing on how the human body responds and adapts to physical activity. Students will investigate the interactions between the nervous, muscular, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, as well as how energy is produced and regulated during movement. Through the lens of human development, the course will also examine how physical performance and motor skills evolve with age.
robotics controls. The course content will promote growth of science skills in investigation, solution design, collaboration, communication. Students will build an understanding and an appreciation of how computer science shapes the world of electrical engineering. The course will be heavily focused on project-based learning, with student-designed projects.
Prerequisites: Chemistry or Physical Science, or equivalents Ever heard of materials science? It’s the field of science responsible for designing and redesigning products you interact with daily. How can we make it cheaper? More durable? Thinner? Work in space? Replace an organ? Why doesn’t a smartphone screen shatter easily? Why are newer hockey sticks more expensive than older ones? In this course, we will dive into the heart of materials science as we uncover the properties, behaviors, and applications of various solids that shape our everyday lives. From the gadgets in your pocket to the buildings that surround you, understand the magic behind materials through a hands-on, inquiry based learning experience. This is where science meets creativity and innovation. Five major units of study form the basis of this material science course: an introduction to material science, metals, ceramics and glass, polymers (plastics), and composites. A heavy hands-on, inquiry approach is used in this class. Learning will involve working in small groups, reading and writing as a means of learning, participation in demonstrations and activities, consulting community experts in materials, and analyzing current events in the context of materials science. Forensic Science & Biotechnology 1 One Semester (Offered First Semester) Prerequisites: Biology and Chemistry or Physical Science, or equivalents Forensic Science is the application of science investigation to the criminal justice system. Through pattern recognition and analytical testing, evidence collected can be used to help paint the picture of truth. In this course, students will discover the basics of crime scene investigation, including crime scene processing and evidence analysis. Students will study famous criminal cases as they move through each unit. The type of evidence analysis focused on this semester will be more tailored to pattern recognition and physical science such as fingerprints, shoe prints, tire tracks, fired evidence, and blood spatter. The course will end with a dive into death investigation and simulated autopsies.
Computer Science One Semester (Offered Second Semester) Prerequisites: Math 2 or equivalent
Computer science is a broad category of computing applications. The topics of study will include the internet, digital information exchange, programming, big data, and application development. The course content will promote growth of science skills in modeling, collaborating, investigating, coding, technical reporting, and engineering solutions. Students will build an understanding and an appreciation of how computer science is applied to shape their world. Students will explore positive and negative effects of technology use and big data applications to build a well-rounded understanding of how technology affects individuals, relationships and society. Students will learn Javascript and Python programming languages. Students will work in teams to design, develop and publish meaningful coding projects and applications. This course is intended for students who wish to explore the field of computer science and develop refined computer programming skills. Previous coding experience is not required. Advanced Physics: Calculus Based Mechanics One Semester (Offered Second Semester) Prerequisites: Honors Physics or Classical Mechanics with concurrent Calculus AND Science Department recommendation Calculus Based Mechanics more fully develops the concepts covered in Classical Mechanics and the first semester of Honors Physics. The pace is fast, and the use of calculus is integral. Through collaborative lab and problem-solving, and computational coding, students explore the mechanics concepts of one and two-dimensional motion, Newton’s laws of motion, mechanical energy, momentum, rotational motion, rotational kinematics, simple harmonic motion, and gravitation. The course content will promote growth of science skills in modeling, collaborating, investigating, coding, technical reporting, and engineering solutions.
Geology One Semester (Offered First Semester) Prerequisites: Biology or equivalent
Geology is an introductory course covering materials and structure of the Earth and the processes acting on and, in the Earth, to produce change. This course will build on the science skills focused on by other science department courses with a heavy focus on using and interpreting models, scientific reasoning, and communication, including assessment on reflection
Electrical Engineering & Controls One Semester (Offered Second Semester) Prerequisites: Biology or equivalent
Electrical engineering and computer science is a broad category of computing and hardware applications. The topics of study will include circuits, semiconductors, hardware design and control, programming, and
2026-2027 ULS Curriculum Guide
92
93 Upper School
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker