Skip To Main Content

Science Courses

Filter by School

Course Descriptions

  • Science
Astronomy/Meteorology (3071)

Credit: 0.5 Science

  • Study astronomy through the explanation of orbits, optics, constellations, and galaxies.
  • Investigate theories of the origin of the universe.
  • Understand fronts and weather systems.
  • Utilize weather maps for weather prediction.
  • Harold Ferguson High School
  • Loveland High School
  • Mountain View High School
  • Thompson Valley High School
  • Science
Biology (3020, 3021)

Credit: 1.0 Science

Meet selected state standards through the study of scientific method, cell biology, classification, genetics, ecology, and science and technology

  • Berthoud High School
  • Harold Ferguson High School
  • Loveland High School
  • Mountain View High School
  • Thompson Valley High School
  • Science
Biology IB MYP (3306,3307)

Credit: 1.0 Science

Meet selected state standards through the study of scientific method, cell biology, classification, genetics, ecology, and science and technology

  • Loveland High School
  • Science
Biology Pre AP (3024,3025)

Credit: 1.0 Science

  • Meet selected state standards through the study of scientific method, cell biology, classification, genetics, ecology, and science and technology.
  • Learn the same skills as in Biology, but at a more advanced and rigorous level. Per the AP Central College Board’s website: "Pre-AP is based on the following two important premises. The first is the expectation that all students can perform well at rigorous academic levels. The second important premise of Honors is the belief that we can prepare every student for higher intellectual engagement by starting the development of skills and acquisition of knowledge as early as possible." (apcentral.collegeboard.com)
  • Thompson Valley High School
  • Science
Biology Honors (3036, 3037)

Credit: 1.0 Science

Learn the same skills as in Biology, but students will learn at a more advanced and rigorous level.

Meet selected state standards by studying scientific method, cell biology, classification, genetics, ecology, and science and technology.

  • Berthoud High School
  • Mountain View High School
  • Science
Biology IB MYP/Honors (3300,3301)

Credit: 1.0 Science

  • Use an inquiry-based approach and the scientific method to learn about living things and their makeup.
  • Explore the principles of Biochemistry, Cytology, Genetics, Ecology, Evolution, Classification, and Anatomy/Physiology.
  • Use the scientific method in laboratory experiences.
  • Loveland High School
  • Agricultural Science
  • Science
AP Biology (3026, 3027)

Credit: 1.0 Science
Fee: Student pays for textbook and AP Exam

  • Explore topics that include cellular biology, biochemistry, genetics, comparative anatomy, botany, ecology, and spectrophotometric analysis.
  • Explore related careers through projects and classroom discussion.
  • Have the opportunity to prepare for the AP Biology test and receive college credit.
  • Berthoud High School
  • Loveland High School
  • Thompson Valley High School
  • Science
College Biology (3032)

Credit: 0.5 Science

Examines the fundamental molecular, cellular and genetic principles characterizing plants and animals. Includes cell structure and function, and the metabolic processes of respiration, and photosynthesis, as well as cell reproduction and basic concepts of heredity. The course includes laboratory experience.

  • Mountain View High School
  • Science
Chemistry (3040,3041)

Credit: 1.0 Science

Use small scale and traditional labs and classroom discussion to learn about elements, atoms, bonding and formulas, reactions, solutions, acids and bases

  • Berthoud High School
  • Harold Ferguson High School
  • Loveland High School
  • Mountain View High School
  • Thompson Valley High School
  • Science
Chemistry Pre AP (3042,3043)

Credit: 1.0 Science
Recommended: BHS recommends Honors Geophysical

  • Explore an in-depth, comprehensive approach to Chemistry.
  • Cover topics such as atomic theory, periodicity, gases, solution chemistry, thermochemistry, chemical bonding, molecular geometry, and intermolecular forces, as well as applied calculations.
  • Pre-AP Chemistry Course Description
  • Thompson Valley High School
  • Science
Chemistry Honors (3082, 3083)

Credit: 1.0 Science
Recommended: Geophysical Science Honors and Algebra II
Fee: Student pays for textbook.

  • Explore an in-depth, comprehensive approach to Chemistry.
  • Cover topics such as atomic theory, periodicity, gases, solution chemistry, thermochemistry, chemical bonding, molecular geometry, and intermolecular forces, as well as applied calculations.
  • Berthoud High School
  • Loveland High School
  • Mountain View High School
  • LISA Courses
  • Science
Chemistry LISA Honors (3204, 3205)

Credit: 1.0 Science
Recommended: Geophysical Science Honors and Algebra II
Fee: Student pays for textbook.

  • Explore an in-depth, comprehensive approach to Chemistry.
  • Cover topics such as atomic theory, periodicity, gases, solution chemistry, thermochemistry, chemical bonding, molecular geometry, and intermolecular forces, as well as applied calculations.
  • Mountain View High School
  • Science
AP Chemistry (3044, 3045)

Credit: 1.0 Science
Recommended: Pre-AP or Honors Chemistry and Algebra II
Fee: Student pays for textbook and AP Exam

  • Study the equivalent, in both class work and lab work, of a first-year college Chemistry course.
  • Have the opportunity to prepare for the AP Chemistry test and receive college credit.
  • Berthoud High School
  • Loveland High School
  • Mountain View High School
  • Thompson Valley High School
  • Science
Environmental Science (3048,3049)

Credit: 1.0 Science
Recommended: Biology

  • Explore aspects of land, water, wildlife, and human dimensions as related to the science of ecology and natural resources.
  • Evaluate the relationships between science, technology, and human activity and how they can affect the world.
  • Berthoud High School
  • Harold Ferguson High School
  • Loveland High School
  • Mountain View High School
  • Thompson Valley High School
  • Science
AP Environmental Science (3050, 3051)

Credit: 1.0 Science
Recommended: Biology and/or Chemistry
Fee: Student pays for textbook and AP Exam

  • Study the equivalent, in both class work and labs, of a one-semester introductory college-level Environmental Science class.
  • Have the opportunity to prepare for the AP Environmental Science test and receive credit.
  • Berthoud High School
  • Loveland High School
  • Mountain View High School
  • Thompson Valley High School
  • Science
Forensic Science (3084)

Credit: 0.25 Science

  • Meet selected state standards through the study of scientific method, cell biology, genetics, and science and technology.
  • Use small-scale and traditional labs and classroom discussion to learn about reactions.
  • Learn about motion.
  • Study structures and functions of human anatomy.
  • Explore career relevance for those interested in health-related careers.
  • Harold Ferguson High School
  • Science
Forensic Science (3084)

Credit: 0.5 Science

Grades 11, 12

  • Meet selected state standards through the study of scientific method, cell biology, genetics, and science and technology.
  • Use small-scale and traditional labs and classroom discussion to learn about reactions.
  • Learn about motion.
  • Study structures and functions of human anatomy.
  • Explore career relevance for those interested in health-related careers.
  • Loveland High School
  • Science
Forensic Science (3086,3087)

Credit: 1.0 Science
Recommended: 11th and 12th grade students

  • Meet selected state standards through the study of scientific method, cell biology, genetics, and science and technology as they apply to CSI (crime scene investigation).
  • Use small-scale and traditional labs and classroom discussion to learn about types of physical evidence.
  • Explore career relevance for those interested in CSI careers.
  • Thompson Valley High School
  • Science
Genetics (3070)

Credit: 0.5 Science
Recommended: Biology

  • Use laboratories and projects to understand the areas of classical and applied genetics through the topics of inheritance patterns/probabilities, biotechnology, chromosomal inheritance, and human genetics.
  • Explore related careers through projects and classroom discussion.
  • Berthoud High School
  • Loveland High School
  • Mountain View High School
  • Thompson Valley High School
  • Science
Geophysical Lab (3000,3001)

Credit: 1.0 Science

  • Investigate astronomy, meteorology, hydrology, geology, paleontology, chemistry, and physics.
  • Quantitatively analyze the above subjects using introductory concepts and tools from chemistry and physics to increase critical skills.
  • Berthoud High School
  • Harold Ferguson High School
  • Mountain View High School
  • Thompson Valley High School
  • Science
Geophysical Lab IB MYP (3304,3305)

Credit: 1.0 Science

  • Investigate astronomy, meteorology, hydrology, geology, paleontology, chemistry, and physics.
  • Quantitatively analyze the above subjects using introductory concepts and tools from chemistry and physics to increase critical skills.
  • Loveland High School
  • Science
Geophysical Lab Honors (3010, 3011)

Credit: 1.0 Science

Learn the same skills as in Geophysical Lab Science, but at a more advanced and rigorous level.

  • Berthoud High School
  • Thompson Valley High School
  • Science
Geophysical Lab IB MYP/Honors (3302,3303)

Credit: 1.0 Science

  • Use an inquiry-based approach to explore the Earth and the universe around it.
  • Use scientific investigation to explore experimental design, matter and minerals, rocks, geologic processes, Earth history, astronomy, oceanography, hydrology, and meteorology.
  • Participate and reflect on lab experiences.
  • Loveland High School
  • Science
Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 (3064)

Credit: 0.5 Science
Recommended: Biology

  • Study structures and functions of human anatomy through a hands-on, lab-oriented approach.
  • Be required to complete a cat dissection.
  • Explore career relevance for those interested in health-related careers.
  • Berthoud High School
  • Harold Ferguson High School
  • Loveland High School
  • Mountain View High School
  • Thompson Valley High School
  • Science
Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 (3065)

Credit: 0.5 Science
Recommended: Human Anatomy and Physiology 1

  • Study those systems not covered in Human Anatomy and Physiology 1.
  • Be required to complete a cat dissection.
  • Study structures and functions of human anatomy through a hands-on, lab-oriented approach.
  • Berthoud High School
  • Harold Ferguson High School
  • Loveland High School
  • Mountain View High School
  • Thompson Valley High School
  • IB Diploma Programme (DP)
  • Science
IB DP Biology 11 HL (3320, 3321)

Credit: 1.0 Science

This two-year course will emphasize the experimental nature of science and the scientific method as well as the content of a typical introductory college biology course.

In IB DP Biology, students will:

  • Spend time planning experiments, conducting experiments and learning various lab techniques, organizing and analyzing data, and making valid conclusions based upon these data.
  • Become familiar with the growing field of biochemistry as they learn about the molecules of life, enzyme activity, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, DNA replication, and protein synthesis.
  • Explore the relationship between structure and function as they learn parts of cells and functions of plant and animal systems.
  • Know the unity of life, and its diversity, as they study mitosis, genetics, and taxonomy.
  • Study equilibrium in relation to the physiology of animal, especially human, systems.
  • Understand the interdependence of organisms worldwide, emphasized in the ecology topics.
  • Have the opportunity to design, conduct, evaluate, and communicate about a scientific investigation.
  • Provide a body of knowledge for biology, including unifying concepts, themes of structure and function, equilibrium, universality, diversity, and evolution.
  • Identify the connections among the various branches of science and between science and other fields.
  • Emphasize global contexts for biology, such as the greenhouse effect, pollution, immunology, or the Human Genome Project.
  • Develop interpersonal skills in group work during scientific investigations and in oral/written communication.
  • Loveland High School
  • IB Diploma Programme (DP)
  • Science
IB DP Biology 12 HL (3334, 3335)

Credit: 1.0 Science
Recommended: IB DP Biology HL11

This two-year course will emphasize the experimental nature of science and the scientific method as well as the content of a typical introductory college biology course.

In IB DP Biology, students will:

  • Spend time planning experiments, conducting experiments and learning various lab techniques, organizing and analyzing data, and making valid conclusions based upon these data.
  • Become familiar with the growing field of biochemistry as they learn about the molecules of life, enzyme activity, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, DNA replication, and protein synthesis.
  • Explore the relationship between structure and function as they learn parts of cells and functions of plant and animal systems.
  • Know the unity of life, and its diversity, as they study mitosis, genetics, and taxonomy.
  • Study equilibrium in relation to the physiology of animal, especially human, systems.
  • Understand the interdependence of organisms worldwide, emphasized in the ecology topics.
  • Have the opportunity to design, conduct, evaluate, and communicate about a scientific investigation.
  • Provide a body of knowledge for biology, including unifying concepts, themes of structure and function, equilibrium, universality, diversity, and evolution.
  • Identify the connections among the various branches of science and between science and other fields.
  • Emphasize global contexts for biology, such as the greenhouse effect, pollution, immunology, or the Human Genome Project.
  • Develop interpersonal skills in group work during scientific investigations and in oral/written communication.
  • Loveland High School
  • IB Diploma Programme (DP)
  • Science
IB DP Chemistry 11 HL (3322, 3323)

Credit: 1.0 Science

This two-year course introduces students to concepts required for solving problems both qualitative and quantitative in chemistry for understanding chemical reactivity.

In IB DP Chemistry, students will:

  • Develop analytical thinking skills.
  • Design and conduct chemical investigations, analyze and interpret their data, develop relevant equations from graphs of data, and communicate their findings via formal laboratory reports.
  • Provide a body of knowledge of chemistry, including unifying themes.
  • Develop correlations between chemical bonding, oxidation-reduction, the Krebs cycle, etc.
  • Apply their chemical knowledge to large global problems.
  • Develop interpersonal cooperative skills during scientific investigation and in oral and written communication.
  • Loveland High School
  • IB Diploma Programme (DP)
  • Science
IB DP Chemistry 12 HL (3336, 3337)

Credit: 1.0 Science
Recommended: IB DP Chemistry 11HL

This two-year course introduces students to concepts required for solving problems both qualitative and quantitative in chemistry for understanding chemical reactivity.

In IB DP Chemistry, students will:

  • Develop analytical thinking skills.
  • Design and conduct chemical investigations, analyze and interpret their data, develop relevant equations from graphs of data, and communicate their findings via formal laboratory reports.
  • Provide a body of knowledge of chemistry, including unifying themes.
  • Develop correlations between chemical bonding, oxidation-reduction, the Krebs cycle, etc.
  • Apply their chemical knowledge to large global problems.
  • Develop interpersonal cooperative skills during scientific investigation and in oral and written communication.
  • Loveland High School
  • IB Diploma Programme (DP)
  • Science
IB DP Environmental Systems and Societies SL (3338, 3339)

Credit: 1.0 Science

Environmental Systems and Societies is a one-year standard level course firmly grounded in both a scientific exploration of environmental systems in their structure and function, and in the exploration of cultural, economic, ethical, political, and social interactions of societies with the environment.

In IB DP Environmental Systems and Societies, students will:

  • Acquire and apply the knowledge and methodologies of environmental systems and issues at a variety of scales.
  • Appreciate the dynamic interconnectedness between environmental systems and societies, value the combination of personal, local, and global perspectives, and engage in making informed decisions and taking responsible actions on a variety of environmental issues.
  • Be critically aware that resources are finite, that these could be inequitably distributed and exploited, and that the management of these inequities is key to sustainability.
  • Develop critical awareness that environmental problems are caused and solved by decisions made by individuals and societies that are based on different environmental value systems.
  • Loveland High School
  • Science
Night Astronomy - Magnet (3072)

Credit: 0.5 Science
Recommended: Geophysical Lab Science

Offered to all students - taught at the Little Thompson Observatory near BHS
Meets one evening a week from 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

In Night Astronomy Magnet, students will:

  • Locate objects in the night sky.
  • Learn optics and the functioning of telescopes.
  • Observe and photograph using an 18” telescope.
  • Use multiple tools to better understand many types of observable celestial objects.
  • Berthoud High School
  • Science
Physics (3052,3053)

Credit: 1.0 Science
Recommended: Algebra 2, Algebra 1 (TVHS)

  • Learn about motion, energy, relativity, light, sound, heat, optics, electricity, and aerodynamics without the rigorous mathematics of AP Physics.
  • Apply learning through objects like catapults, lasers, black holes, and machines.
  • Receive a good introduction to Physics in preparation for technical, humanities, and fine arts fields.
  • Advanced math students should consider registering for AP Physics.
  • Berthoud High School
  • Harold Ferguson High School
  • Loveland High School
  • Mountain View High School
  • Thompson Valley High School
  • Science
AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based (3056,3057)

Credit: 1.0 Science
Recommended: Trigonometry/Functions
Fee: Student pays for textbook and AP Exam

  • Follow a course outline designed by the Advanced Placement Committee, equivalent to a freshman physics course at a 4-year college.
  • Have the opportunity to prepare for the AP Physics 1 test and receive college credit.
  • Berthoud High School
  • Thompson Valley High School
  • Science
AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based (3058,3059)

Credit: 1.0 Science
Fee: Student pays for textbook and AP Exam

  • Explore topics such as fluid statics and dynamics.
  • Thermodynamics with kinetic theory.
  • PV diagrams and probability; electrical circuits with capacitors.
  • Magnetic fields.
  • Electromagnetism; physical and geometric optics.
  • Quantum, atomic, and nuclear physics.
  • Berthoud High School
  • Science
AP Physics C: Mechanics (3060,3061)

Credit: 1.0 Science
Recommended: AP Calculus, can be taken concurrently
Fee: Student pays for textbook and AP Exam

  • Study mechanics with Calculus applications, including gravitation and rotation.
  • Follow a course outline that prepares students for the AP Physics C exam, mechanics portion.
  • Master problem-solving skills and content equivalent to freshman engineering Physics 1 at a 4-year college.
  • Loveland High School
  • IB Diploma Programme (DP)
  • Science
IB DP Sports, Exercise, and Health Science SL (3340, 3341)

Credit: 1.0 Science

Sports, Exercise, and Health incorporates the traditional disciplines of anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, psychology, and nutrition, which are studied in the context of sports, exercise, and health. Students will cover a range of core and option topics, and carry out practical (experimental) investigations in both laboratory and field settings. This will provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and understanding necessary to apply scientific principles and critically analyze human performance.

  • Loveland High School