Science
SCIENCE
Updated December 2024 for the 2025-2026 year
Graduation Requirements (for all diplomas)
Biology = 2 credits
Integrated Chemistry/Physics or Chemistry or Physics = 2 credits
Science Elective = 2 credits
Diploma requirements for the class of 2029+
Biology = 2 credits
Science elective = 2 credits
Computing Foundations for the Digital Age = 1 credit (course is included in the Engineering Department)
STEM focused = 2 credits
All science courses at Portage High School have a laboratory requirement. Students taking science classes will experience a lab-based curriculum. A scientific calculator may be recommended for Integrated Chemistry-Physics, chemistry and physics classes.
Anatomy and Physiology I, 2 semesters 2 credits Course #5276
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: C or better in Biology and Health Wellness is required. (Sophomores need a B or better in their freshman science to enroll)
Students investigate concepts related to Health Science, with emphasis on interdependence of systems and contributions of each system to the maintenance of a healthy body. Students are introduced to the body systems, which include: Integumentary, Skeletal, Muscular, Nervous, Endocrine, Cardiovascular, Lymphatic/Immune, Respiratory, Digestive, Urinary, and Reproductive. Through laboratory investigation and hands-on activities, students will apply concepts associated with the structure and function of the human body. Dissection of animal specimens is a required part of this course.
Advanced Science: Special Topics: Geology, 2 semesters 2 credits Course #3090
Grades 10,11, 12
Receives an Honors point towards the PHS grade point average system
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Biology & Physical gScience (Chemistry, ICP, or Physics). Cumulative GPA 2.7 and be on a college pathway.
Beginning geology course designed to introduce basic principles of geology. The changing dynamics of Earth & geosphere will be a major focus. Class format will consist of lecture, discussion, field trips, and extensive laboratory work. Students will also be responsible for assigned readings, comprehension quizzes, & content tests. The ability to work in groups is essential. Although this class is taught in high school, this class will be taught with the rigor of a freshman-level college course. This course may fulfill a non-science majors degree requirement for science in college. Dual Credit: May be awarded for G103 (3 credit hours) through Indiana University.
Advanced Science: Special Topics: Astronomy, 2 semesters 2 credits Course #3092
Grades 10,11, 12
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Physical Science (Chemistry, ICP, or Physics) with the following grades: C in Chemistry or Physics, or B in ICP. This is a beginning and intermediate astronomy course designed to introduce basic principles of astronomy. The major topics in this class will be the universe as a whole, stars, galaxies, and some exoplanets. Class format will consist of lecture, discussion, and extensive laboratory work through online telescopes and citizen science projects. Students will also be responsible for assigned readings, quizzes, & content tests. The ability to work in groups is essential as labs will be done in group work. As this is an additional science credit there will be rigor to the work but without losing the focus on learning about our universe in fun and engaging ways.
Advanced Science: Special Topics: Botany, 2 semesters 2 credits Course #3092
Grades 10,11, 12
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Biology 1. Sophomores with a B or better; Juniors & Seniors with a C or better.
This is an introductory course to introduce the basic principles of plant structure, function and reproduction including the diversity of plants and environmental influences on plant growth and survival. Applied topics include human uses of plants in agriculture, commerce, medicine and ecology. Lecture and laboratory. Students taking this class are required to bring in gardening gloves as the class will be maintaining the Portage school garden.
AP Environmental Science, 2 semesters, 2 credits Course #3012
Grades: 10,11, 12
Prerequisites: Cumulative GPA 3.0 or higher, completion of Biology I or Chemistry I with a B or higher. Be willing to spend sufficient time outside of class to complete required work.
Environmental, Advanced Placement is an inquiry-based course using content established by the College Board. The goal of this course is to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made, and to evaluate the risks associated with these problems and examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them.
Biology I, 2 semesters 2 credits Course #3024
Grades: 9, 10
Prerequisite: An A or B in 8th grade science for 9th grade.
Biology I is a course based on the 8 state standards. 1. Organic molecules; 2. Cellular Processes; 3. Matter: Cycle and Energy Transfer; 4. Interdependence; 5. Molecules of heredity; 6. Cellular reproduction; 7. Genetics; 8. Evolution. The course is partial lab and inquiry based and requires application and critical thinking skills to be utilized. The course is designed to prepare the student to pass the Biology iLearn at the end of the year. Note: There is Honors Biology 1 available for 9th graders only with a requirement of an A or B in 8th grade science and Recommendation. This course is more rigorous and in-depth with emphasis on analysis and critical thinking skills for success in AP course work.
Biology II: Zoology, 2 semesters 2 credits Course #3026
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: Completion of Biology I and Chemistry or ICP with a C or better. (Sophomores should have a B or higher in their freshman science course)
Zoology is an upper level science elective that uses preserved and living materials to gain knowledge about the evolutionary connection between organisms in the animal kingdom. Zoology is a course that will survey the nine major phyla of the kingdom Animalia. Zoologists research everything they think to ask about animals, including their anatomy and interrelationships, their physiology and genetics, and their distributions and habitats. Successful completion of this course will prepare students for the rigors of college comparative anatomy.
Biology, Advanced Placement, 2 semesters 2 credits Course #3020
Grades: 11, 12
Prerequisite: Biology I and a grade of B or better in Biology 1 and Chemistry I are required.
Students must meet Honors criteria and be willing to spend sufficient time outside of class to complete required work.
Biology, Advanced Placement is an inquiry-based course using the content established by the College Board. The major themes of the course include: a) The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life, b) Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, to reproduce and to maintain dynamic homeostasis, c) Living systems store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential to life processes, and d) Biological systems interact and these systems and their interactions possess complex properties. A comprehensive description of this course can be found on the College Board AP Central Course Description web page at:
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/descriptions/index.html
Chemistry I, 2 semesters 2 credits Course #3064
Grades: 9,10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: Algebra I with a C or higher.
Chemistry I is a course based on regular laboratory investigations of matter, chemical reactions, and the role of energy in those reactions. Students enrolled in Chemistry I compare, contrast, and synthesize useful models of the structure and properties of matter and the mechanisms of its interactions. In addition, students enrolled in this course are expected to: (1) gain an understanding of the history of chemistry, (2) explore the uses of chemistry in various careers, (3) investigate chemical questions and problems related to personal needs and societal issues, (4) learn and practice laboratory safety and (5) use of algebraic skills to problem solve. Note: There is Advanced Chemistry 1 available to 9th or 10th graders who had a “B” or higher in Algebra 1 all year.
Chemistry, Advanced Placement, 2 semesters 2 credits Course #3060
Grades: 10,11, 12
Prerequisite: Chemistry I with a grade of B or higher, Algebra 2 with a B or higher or Algebra 2 Honors with a C or higher, Honors criteria.
AP Chemistry is an extended laboratory, field, and literature investigations-based course. Students enrolled in AP Chemistry examine the chemical reactions of matter in living and nonliving materials. Based on the unifying themes of chemistry and the application of physical and mathematical models of the interactions of matter, students use the methods of scientific inquiry to answer chemical questions and solve problems concerning personal needs and community issues related to chemistry.
Integrated Chemistry/Physics, 2 semesters 2 credits Course #3108
Grades: 9,10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: Algebra
Integrated Chemistry/Physics is a laboratory-based course in which students explore fundamental chemistry and physics principles. Students enrolled in this course examine, through the process of scientific inquiry, the structure and properties of matter, chemical reactions, forces, motion, and the interactions between energy and matter. Working in a laboratory environment, students investigate the basics of chemistry and physics in solving real-world problems that may have personal or social consequences beyond the classroom.
Earth and Space Science I, 2 semesters 2 credits Course #3044
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Prerequisites: None
Earth and Space Science I is a course focusing on the study of the Earth’s lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and its celestial environment. Students enrolled in Earth and Space Science I analyze and describe Earth’s interconnected systems that may be changing or may be in equilibrium. Students examine energy at work in forming and modifying earth materials, landforms, and continents through geological time. Through regular laboratory and field investigations, students understand the history and development of the earth and space sciences, explore the uses of knowledge of the earth and its environment in various careers, and investigate earth and space science problems concerning personal needs and community issues related to science.
Physics I, 2 semesters 2 credits Course #3084
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Prerequisites: Algebra 2, with a B- or better. (If one of the required courses is concurrent, then math and science teacher recommendations are required.)
Physics I is a course focused on the following core topics: constant velocity; constant acceleration; forces; energy; linear momentum in one dimension; simple harmonic oscillating systems; mechanical waves and sound; simple circuit analysis. Instruction should focus on developing student understanding that scientific knowledge is gained from observation of natural phenomena and experimentation by designing and conducting investigations guided by theory and by evaluating and communicating the results of those investigations according to accepted procedures.
AP Physics I: Algebra Based, 2 semesters 2 credits Course #3080
Grades :11, 12
Prerequisites: Chemistry, Geometry Advanced, with a B- or better in each course. Prior or concurrent Honors and AP course experience. (If one of the required courses is concurrent, then math and science teacher recommendations are required.)
AP Physics 1 is equivalent to a first-semester college course in algebra-based physics and is based on content established by the College Board. This is a recommended starting point for students interested in science or engineering related fields after high school. The course covers kinematics, forces, energy, momentum, simple harmonic motion, fluids, circular motion and rotational motion. Students must be very self-motivated and engaged with their learning as there is a significant lab component to the course. Focus is on inquiry, discovery, and communication of results.
Principles of Biomedical Sciences, 2 semesters, 2 credits Course #5218
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite for grade 9: Must have a 3.0 GPA or higher and have a recommendation from your Honors Biology teacher during the eighth grade year. Prerequisite for grades 10 and 11: Must have a GPA of 2.67 or higher.
Principles of Biomedical Science (PBS) is a full-year high school course in the PLTW Biomedical Science Program. It is the first course in the biomedical pathway. In this course, students explore concepts of biology and medicine as they take on roles of different medical professionals to solve real-world problems. Over the course of the year, students are challenged in various scenarios including investigating a crime scene to solve a mystery, diagnosing and proposing treatment to patients in a family medical practice, to tracking down and containing a medical outbreak at a local hospital, stabilizing a patient during an emergency, and collaborating with others to design solutions to local and global medical problems.
Human Body System, 2 semesters, 2 credits Course #5216
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: Principles of Biomedical Sciences
Human Body Systems (HBS) is a full-year high school course designed to follow Principles of Biomedical Science (PBS) in the PLTW Biomedical Science pathway. The HBS course provides foundational knowledge and skills in anatomy and physiology, clinical medicine, and laboratory research. The course engages students in how this content can be applied to real-world situations, cases, and problems. The HBS course includes interviews, dissections, challenges, and testimonials from biomedical professionals in a variety of settings—clinical, research, and public health
Medical Interventions, 2 semesters, 2 credits Course #5217
Grades: 11, 12
Prerequisite: Principles of Biomedical Sciences and Human Body Systems
Medical Interventions (MI) is a full-year high school course designed to follow Human Body Systems in the PLTW Biomedical Science pathway. This course allows students to investigate the variety of interventions involved in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease as they follow the lives of a fictitious family. A “How-To” manual for maintaining overall health and homeostasis in the body, the course will explore how to prevent and fight infection, how to screen and evaluate the code in our DNA, how to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer, and how to prevail when the organs of the body begin to fail. Through these scenarios students will be exposed to the wide range of interventions related to immunology, surgery, genetics, pharmacology, medical devices, and diagnostics.