GRAPCEP COURSES
Preparing Future Science Professionals
This course is designed for college bound students with career interests in science (including biomedical research), technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The focus of the class will be seven authentic labs or projects with career themes related to STEM fields. Planned activities will orientate students to how their high school experience can influence the type, number and quality of the opportunities they will have in STEM fields of interest to them. Students will acquire and practice pre-requisite skills for high school success in a program leading to a STEM major in college including but not limited to: personal goal setting, effective study skills for science and mathematics, preparing for college entry, professional work culture & etiquette, and use of computer applications for scientific and professional communication skills. As a culminating activity, students will prepare and present personal educational goals for their high school experience and a plan for achieving those goals based upon the experiences and content of the class.
Algebra I & II
Algebra I: In this course, students will learn basics of Algebra. All students will apply the mathematical concepts of Algebra I to enhance their understanding and life long use of mathematics. Students will view Algebra as a tool for analyzing and describing mathematical relationships, and for modeling problems that come from the workplace, the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Algebra II: The increasing use of quantitative methods in all disciplines has made algebra the fundamental tool for mathematical applications. The goal of Algebra II is to build upon concepts taught in Algebra I and Geometry while adding new concepts to the students’ repertoire of mathematics, including technology. Students will develop an understanding that algebraic thinking is an accessible and powerful tool that can be used to model and solve real-world problems involving the workplace, the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Algebra II: The increasing use of quantitative methods in all disciplines has made algebra the fundamental tool for mathematical applications. The goal of Algebra II is to build upon concepts taught in Algebra I and Geometry while adding new concepts to the students’ repertoire of mathematics, including technology. Students will develop an understanding that algebraic thinking is an accessible and powerful tool that can be used to model and solve real-world problems involving the workplace, the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Computer Aided Geometry
The study of geometry offers students the opportunity to develop skill in reasoning and formal proof. In this course, students will learn the basics of Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometry and algebraic concepts through practical applications using computer modeling (computer assisted design), computer calculations, and hands-on projects. Students will learn relationships between angles, parallel lines, perpendicular lines, triangles trigonometry, quadrilaterals, and circles. Students will design objects using geometric shapes and algebraic concepts, make basic constructions, and demonstrate competence in inductive and deductive proofs. Using computer assisted drawing as a basis for computer training and visualization of geometry in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional space, students will learn to read and analyze problems, construct visual images illustrating the problems, and solve those problems by applying the technology of computers.
STEM Trigonometry
This course is the third or fourth course in the high school mathematics sequence, following Algebra II. This year long course is designed for the college-bound student who needs a strong math background and may take Calculus. This class is focused on applications of mathematics. Students obtain a solid foundation in trigonometry and algebraic concepts through applications and hands-on projects. Students build on their knowledge of angles and triangles, to further explore the concepts of trigonometric ratios, trigonometric functions and their properties, graphs of trigonometric functions, trigonometric identities, sum, difference, product, double- and half-angle identities, inverse trigonometric functions, trigonometric equations, sin and cosine laws. Students also will study polar coordinates, complex numbers, vectors, De Moivre’s theorem, sine wave analysis, and applications.
Stem Biology
Knowledge of biology enables us to comprehend how living organisms function and interact with their environments. This knowledge is also important to understand and appreciate advances in science and the social and personal implications that these advances may have on society. Biology provides the tools and background to understand and address issues involving health, disease, and environmental change that all students will deal with in their lives. This course focuses on understanding the six major unifying concepts of Biology, with emphasis on the connections to humans.
Engineering Design
Engineering Design A is for students interested in a career in engineering or a related field. This class incorporates and extends math and science concepts learned in the core curriculum math and science classes. It introduces engineering practices and competencies such as the design process, two dimensional modeling, and project planning. The emphasis of the course is the creation of original engineering solutions to authentic problems requiring identification of relevant knowledge, definition of constraints and specifications, construction of prototypes, testing of prototypes, and reporting out of results.
Engineering Design B is intended for students enrolled in the GRAPCEP program who are interested in a career in engineering or a related field and is a follow-up to Engineering Design A. To the greatest extent possible, this class will incorporate and extend math and science concepts learned in the core curriculum classes taken by students prior to this elective. It will review engineering practices and competencies such as the design process, two dimensional modeling, and project planning. It will introduce computer programming and three dimensional modeling along with computer numerically controlled manufacturing.
Engineering Design B is intended for students enrolled in the GRAPCEP program who are interested in a career in engineering or a related field and is a follow-up to Engineering Design A. To the greatest extent possible, this class will incorporate and extend math and science concepts learned in the core curriculum classes taken by students prior to this elective. It will review engineering practices and competencies such as the design process, two dimensional modeling, and project planning. It will introduce computer programming and three dimensional modeling along with computer numerically controlled manufacturing.
Bench Science
Bench Science Research engages students interested in biomedical or biological research in six authentic laboratory projects drawn from different professional specialties. These projects are designed to incorporate and extend concepts or skills learned in core curriculum science course while introducing research practices and techniques used in the professional laboratory. As preparation for Advanced Placement classes, rigorous college coursework, or internships, this course will involve students in scientific thinking and encourage pride in doing scientific work. Through the authentic experiences students will develop the ability to circumvent barriers encountered in conducting research and gain self-confidence in their ability to present ideas or findings.
Stem Chemistry
STEM Chemistry is specifically designed for students engaged in a college preparatory course of study intending to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. STEM chemistry combines a higher level of content (and associated study skills for college) with authentic applications organized around the themes by which students explore and apply their knowledge in the context of science careers.
Stem Physics
STEM Physics is designed specifically for students intending to pursue a college degree after high school and particular those considering a degree in science (including medicine and biomedical research), technology, engineering, or mathematics. Project based, STEM Physics combines a higher level of content and mathematical modeling with authentic applications organized around the theme of Green Design through which students explore and apply their knowledge to issues of energy use and conservation.