Science

USN’s science faculty are devoted to inspiring students to become discerning observers of the world. To that end, we ardently pursue these four interwoven pathways of teaching and learning:

encouraging students to become responsible consumers and producers of scientific information,
guiding critical thinking,
providing opportunities for application of acquired knowledge, and
sparking curiosity and passion.

Skills that we help students hone include thoughtful use of scientific equipment and data analysis. We partner with students while they develop the aspects of scientific literacy such as making and interpreting graphs, questioning results, and understanding the limitations of measurements and while they strengthen effective habits of scholarly mind and method, such as breaking large projects into manageable pieces, improving reading comprehension, and utilizing effective executive function strategies.

It is our aim to foster a welcoming scientific community, representing all backgrounds and abilities, as students apply these skills to a wide variety of collaborative and individual scientific pursuits. The diverse special-interest courses that our department is pleased to offer, once students complete preparatory requisites, are a hallmark of our program that exemplifies our commitment to student passions. In partnering with students through these foundational endeavors, including conducting experiments, modeling scientific phenomena, teaching each other, and pushing past frustrations, we want students to experience WOW! moments, the joy of discovery, and a love of learning.

Anatomy and Physiology

(Academic) Grades: 10-12 0.5 credit Fall Semester

Prerequisite: Biology I & II

This course will examine the structure and function of the human body, delve into the mechanisms by which the body maintains homeostasis, and investigate the diseases which disrupt the body's delicate balance. Course topics will include the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems along with 1-2 other organ systems chosen by the students. A large portion of the class will involve lab work, including experimentation, microscopy, animal dissections and computer simulations.
AP Biology

(Academic) Grades: 11-12 1 credit Year

Prerequisite: Chemistry II: Quantitative Foundations or approval of Chemistry instructor

This course is a preparation for the advanced placement examination in biology and is also oriented towards stimulating the student to think about modern biological research and other biological topics. Laboratory periods provide experience in a wide variety of experimental techniques and in different ways of analyzing data. The first semester will cover molecular and cell biology topics including biological chemistry, how cells function, cellular energetics, cell communication, and the cell cycle. Topics for the second semester will include genetics, gene expression and regulation, natural selection, and ecology. At the end of the course, students will have an awareness of the integration of other sciences in the study of biology, understand how the species to which we belong is similar, yet different from, other species, and be knowledgeable and responsible citizens in understanding biological issues that could potentially impact their lives.
AP Chemistry

(Academic) Grades: 11-12 1 credit Year

Prerequisite: Chemistry II: Quantitative Foundations or Approval of Chemistry instructor

This course is directed towards preparing students for the advanced placement examination in chemistry. It emphasizes both problem solving and analytical thought, but is also concerned with the everyday aspects of chemistry. The first semester will cover topics from the previous chemistry course in greater depth (atomic theory, states of matter, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, chemical bonding, molecular structure). The second semester will emphasize chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium, thermodynamics, and electrochemistry. The laboratory periods are designed to give experience in different lab techniques and in ways of processing and interpreting data.
AP Environmental Science

(Academic) Grades: 11-12 1 credit Year

Prerequisite: Approval of instructor and current science teacher
This course is designed to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement exam in Environmental Science. Students will use scientific processes and concepts to understand interrelationships in nature, investigate environmental problems, and evaluate human influences on the Earth’s environment. Topics covered will include ecosystems, biodiversity, populations, Earth systems and resources, land and water use, energy resources and consumption, atmospheric pollutants, aquatic and terrestrial pollutants, and global change. Students will develop skills to understand current environmental issues and assess tradeoffs of solutions to environmental problems. Students are expected to come to class prepared to discuss lecture content or apply their knowledge in a lab setting. The course will also include explorations of and problem solving for local environmental issues.
AP Physics I, Mechanics and Natural Systems Modeling

(Academic) Grades: 11-12 1 credit Year

Prerequisite: Algebra II, Precalculus Recommended

Students enrolled in this course will follow the curriculum of AP Physics 1 - Algebra-Based, while simultaneously engaging in both analog and computational experimentation. Each major unit of Newtonian kinematics, dynamics, energy conservation, universal gravitation, simple harmonic oscillation, mechanical waves, momentum conservation, and simple fluids will have a corresponding opportunity for engaging in computational modeling with programming applications. Students should finish this course prepared to take the AP Physics 1 exam and with an introduction to undergraduate level computer science.
Biology I & II

(Academic) 9th Grade 1 credit Year

Biology I & II is a year-long introduction to the biological sciences. The first semester focuses on the cellular level of life, including cell structure, biochemistry, DNA, and Biotechnology. Students learn about experimental design and conduct labs for each unit.

The second semester continues with an examination of cell division, Mendelian and modern genetics, evolution, and ecology and concludes with a study of general human organ systems and nutrition. Each unit emphasizes lab work and/or dissections.
Chemistry I

(Academic) 10th Grade 0.5 credit Fall Semester

Prerequisite: Biology I & II

This course provides an introduction to the physical sciences. An emphasis on the theories and concepts of chemistry, with experiences in the laboratory, allows students to develop an understanding of the science. Problem solving and laboratory investigations are used to help the students develop analytical thinking and skill in the scientific method. The course will cover both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the fundamental ideas of chemistry. Units will examine the nature of matter and energy, atomic structure, the Periodic Table, bonding, reactions, and the concept of the mole.
Chemistry II: Applied Foundations

(Academic) 10th Grade 0.5 credit Spring Semester

Prerequisite: Chemistry I

Building upon the content explored in Chemistry I, this second semester of chemistry emphasizes the application of chemical concepts. Each unit of study will center around a single real-world issue, such as water pollution. To better understand the issue, students will explore relevant topics in chemistry such as solutions, dilution, and filtration. Through class discussions, laboratory-based experimentation, and other types of investigations, students will strengthen their understanding of how the practical application of chemistry can address societal challenges.
Chemistry II: Quantitative Foundations

(Academic) 10th Grade 0.5 credit Spring Semester

Prerequisite: Chemistry I

This second semester of chemistry is both an in-depth study of topics introduced in Chemistry I and an examination of more advanced topics in chemistry. More quantitative than other 10th grade science electives, the course will use problem-solving and laboratory investigations to introduce such topics as stoichiometry, thermochemistry, gas behavior, solutions, acid-base chemistry, reactions, and others. This course focuses on pre-AP concepts and skills, and it is recommended for students planning on enrolling in AP Biology or AP Chemistry.
Engineering I: Introduction

(Academic) Grades: 9-12 0.5 credit Fall or Spring Semester

Engineers solve problems. In this fun and challenging introduction to a popular field, you will get hands-on experience building various structures and machines that achieve complex goals. You will face trade-offs, apply background knowledge, test creative ideas, and iterate your designs to optimize performance. In addition to building boats, bridges, Lego robots, and simple vehicles, you will learn basic drafting techniques and get an introduction to 3D modeling.

All students will explore major technological advances that changed human society, gaining a deeper understanding of how innovations come about in the right time and place. You will leave this class with new problem solving skills, applicable technological information, and ideas about which type of engineering you are most interested in pursuing in the future.
Engineering II: Design and Manufacture

(Academic) Grades: 11-12 0.5 credit Fall Semester

Prerequisite: Engineering I

Students will engage in numerous cycles of design and creation using a variety of makerspace tools such as 3D printers, sewing machines, laser engravers, and basic hand tools. Students will gain experience creating 3D models and turning those models into reality. Emphasis will be placed on practical creations that solve problems for the students or others.

Further, students will be encouraged to take their ideas into the real world by finding a need in the community (USN or beyond) and implementing the design process to create something to enhance that community.

Lastly, students will explore in person an exemplar of engineering in the greater central Tennessee area. They will report their findings to the rest of the class.

This course has the option of counting as an “Advanced Topics” course. Earning this distinction involves completion of the course at a higher level of challenge. Please discuss this option with your instructor, who will outline the requirements.
Engineering II: Robotics

(Academic) Grades: 10-12 0.5 credit Spring Semester

Prerequisite: Engineering I

Robotics is a hands-on, project-based course that introduces students to a field with enormous potential. Students will spend the majority of their time working alone or with partners on a series of escalating challenges. Early challenges will center around simple control of the robot. As students progress, they will write computer programs that enable robots to take in information from their surroundings and execute actions based on those inputs. Robotics challenges fit with the "high ceiling, low floor" model of educational activities: everyone can achieve some level of progress, and those at the top are not held back from being as creative and productive as they can be.

The robotics course will educate students in diverse subjects. Topics will include computer coding, friction, mechanical advantage, simple machines, feedback mechanisms, electricity and magnetism, geometry, and ethical issues surrounding robotics.

This course will provide an opportunity for students to pursue their passion for applied sciences. It is recommended but not required that students take Engineering prior to this course.
Geology

(Academic) Grades: 9-12 0.5 credit Spring Semester

Geology is the study of the Earth and incorporates core aspects of chemistry, physics, biology and almost every other science. Geologists use a variety of tools to synthesize our understanding of connected, complex and evolving Earth systems from the deep past to the present, and help make predictions about Earth's future. In this lab- and field science-based class, emphasis is placed on four themes: Time, Materials, Energy and Location. Students will dig into minerals, rocks, fossils, the geologic time scale, mapping skills and techniques, plate tectonics theory, earthquakes, volcanoes, the evolution of life, ocean and atmospheric systems, and more. A significant component throughout the semester are 5-10 field trips to local outcrops at which the class discovers, analyzes and collects our local sedimentary rocks and fossils to better understand our own geologic history and cycles from ~400 million years ago.
Marine Science

(Academic) Grades: 10-12 0.5 credit Spring Semester

This course will examine the relationship between the living and non-living components of several ocean ecosystems, such as coral reefs and intertidal zones. As an integrated science course, each unit will contain topics from several scientific fields. The greatest emphasis will be placed on evolutionary biology, organismal biology and chemistry, while also touching on topics from physics, geology, and environmental science. In addition to classroom lectures, group projects and problem sets, essential course work will include invertebrate dissections, microcopy, experimentation, and field studies at the River Campus.
Physics I

(Academic) Grades: 11-12 0.5 credits Fall or Spring Semester

Prerequisite: Completion of Algebra II

Physics I emphasizes students thinking carefully, analytically, and mathematically about the fundamental laws of the universe through everyday interactions with the world around them. Concentrating on fundamental mechanical concepts such as motion, forces, and energy, students will explore everyday physics phenomena through inquiry, experimentation and problem-solving. This course heavily makes use of laboratory experience to demonstrate physical ideas as well as teach proper experimental and analytical techniques. The goal of the course is to equip students with the knowledge and skills to make sense of the physical world.
Physics II: Electricity, Magnetism, and Beyond

(Academic) Grades: 11-12 grade 0.5 credits Spring Semester

Prerequisite: Physics 1 or AP Physics 1: NSM

This course builds upon the fundamentals of introductory physics courses by expanding student’s knowledge of the universe through exploration of additional topics. With hands-on labs and algebra-based problem sets, students will learn about electrostatics, circuitry, and magnetic fields. Additional topics may include waves, optics, and modern physics. Physics II is a great way to round out your physics education while continuing to engage in the scientific process and hone scientific lab skills.

This course has the option of counting as an “Advanced Topics” course. Earning this distinction involves completion of the course at a higher level of challenge. Please discuss this option with your instructor, who will outline the requirements.
Studies in Global Health

(Travel) Grades: 10-12 0.25 credits* Spring Semester

* May with extra Independent Study earn 0.5 credits

Prerequisite: Anatomy and Physiology and an application is required.

This course offers students the opportunity to explore global health issues through experiential learning in Xela, Guatemala during Spring Break. In partnership with Global Public Service Academies (gpsa.org), students will support public health work in underserved parts of the community surrounding Xela. Paired with the public health service, students will also participate in daily Spanish lessons and engage in cultural experiences. Classroom preparation will focus on developing the knowledge and skills that will form the foundation for the work on site. Following the trip, students will reflect on their experiences and learning and share their insights with our community.
MSON: Adv. Topics in Chemistry

(Academic) Grades: 11-12 0.5 credit Spring Semester

Prerequisite: Chemistry

Monday/Thursday, 1:30–2:30 pm

Instructor: Jocelyn Rodgers, Maret School, Washington, DC

This semester course explores aspects of chemistry that are often skimmed over or omitted in most chemistry courses—chemical applications and the history of chemistry. Real-world applications abound in areas such as nuclear, medical, atmospheric, industrial, food, water, and consumer product chemistry. We will begin with an exploration of energy sources such as nuclear power, solar power, and lithium ion batteries. We will then explore computing—both the properties of the elements that power the computers we use every day as well as computational techniques that have revolutionized the ability of scientists and students to visualize and understand chemical processes at a molecular level.

Throughout the semester, we also explore the history and life events of scientists who discovered the chemical elements and have impacted the history of the world through chemistry. In independent projects, students will explore the periodic table for daily applications and technologies, from cell phones to photovoltaic cells to medical treatments. This course will be heavy in applications and theory, with less of the traditional problem-solving found in other courses.
MSON: Botany: Roots to Shoots

(Academic) Grades: 11-12 0.5 credit Fall Semester

Tuesday/Thursday, 1:30-2:30 pm

Target Grade Level: 11-12

Prerequisite: Biology; Co-Requisite Chemistry

Instructor: Joel D’Angelo, Hopkins School, New Haven, CT

This course will be an introduction to the fascinating and diverse world of plants, from the tiniest mosses to towering forest giants, and from exotic orchids to carnivorous species. The course will take a project-based approach to studying the topics of evolution, diversity, structure and function, reproduction, and ethnobotany, focusing on the economic, medicinal, and cultural uses of plants. Students will explore botany through a series of interactive projects and activities to deepen their understanding of how plants fit into the ecosystem, culture, local community, and world around them.
MSON: Environmental Bioethics

(Academic) Grades: 11-12 0.5 credit Spring Semester

Monday/Wednesday, 2:35–3:35 pm

Prerequisite: None

Instructor: Ellen Johnson, Wilmington Friends School, Wilmington, DE

This course will focus on such cases as environmental sustainability, global energy and food resources, gathered from sources in literature, journalism, and film. The academic study of ethics examines how people make the decisions. Curricula will build on a foundation of theoretical moral theories, more specifically, how one makes decisions when faced with complex, often controversial, issues. No prior knowledge of philosophy is assumed, however, authentic assessment of students’ initial facility with logical analysis will ensure that all students are challenged to grow and deepen their theoretical and practical understandings of the subject.
MSON: Etymology of Scientific Terms

(Academic) Grades: 11-12 0.5 credit Fall semester

MSON course - counts towards English or Science requirement

The purpose of the course is, to quote the textbook, "By teaching … the root elements of medical terminology – the prefixes, suffixes, and combining forms of Greek and Latin … not only to teach students modern medical terminology, but to give them the ability to decipher the evolving language of medicine throughout their careers."

This is in many ways a language course and deals with elements that are used to create terms to meet the specific needs of medical scientists. As material is introduced, students will complete practice exercises during each class meeting, as well as complete approximately one quiz per week. Outside of class, students are expected to analyze and define fifty terms each week. Additional material deals with complex etymologies, the history of our understanding of certain aspects of medical science, and relevant material from Greek and Latin texts.
MSON: Forensic Science

(Academic) Grades: 11-12 0.5 credit Spring Semester

Prerequisite: Completion or concurrent enrollment in Chemistry or Biology

Tuesday/Thursday, 1:25-2:25 pm EST

Instructor: Carrie Lopez, Trinity Preparatory Day School, Winter Park, FL

This course is designed for those interested in learning the discipline of forensic science and crime scene investigation. Students will be introduced to some of the specialized fields of forensic science and topics will include: Fingerprint Evidence, Handwriting Analysis, Forensic Anthropology, Forensic Entomology, Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, DNA Evidence, Death Investigation. This class includes a mixture of laboratory experiments, demonstrations, and speakers who are experts in the field. Notes: Lab kit required (sent by teacher).
MSON: Human Genetics and Genomics

(Academic) Grades: 11-12 0.5 credits Fall Semester

Tuesday/Thursday, 10:05-11:05

Prerequisite: Biology

Instructor: Walt Justice, The Prairie School, Wind Point, WI

This semester course will provide useful background information in organic chemistry by covering topics not typically found in high school chemistry courses. The course will give insight into the importance of the chemistry of carbon compounds to our daily lives. Topics covered will include organic nomenclature, structural formulas, stereochemistry, bonding, reaction mechanisms, and chemical transformations of functional groups. Completion of the course should make students more confident in their chemical background when entering college biology or chemistry courses
MSON: Intro to Organic Chemistry

(Academic) Grades: 11-12 0.5 credit Fall Semester

Monday/Thursday, 10:05 am-11:05 am

Prerequisite: Chemistry

Instructor: Jocelyn Rodgers, Maret School, Washington, DC

This semester course will provide useful background information in organic chemistry by covering topics not typically found in high school chemistry courses. The course will give insight into the importance of the chemistry of carbon compounds to our daily lives. Topics covered will include organic nomenclature, structural formulas, stereochemistry, bonding, reaction mechanisms, and chemical transformations of functional groups. Completion of the course should make students more confident in their chemical background when entering college biology or chemistry courses
MSON: Modern Physics

(Academic) Grades: 11-12 0.5 credit Spring Semester

Tuesday/Thursday, 10:05 am-11:05 pm

Co-Requisite: Calculus AB or higher

PreRequisite: Physics course with electricity & magnetism, or instructor permission.

Instructor: Meg Harms, Brownell Talbot School, Omaha, NE

This course introduces students to the major ideas and mathematical foundations of modern physics from 1900 to the present. Beginning with the revolution in our understanding of light and matter, students explore wave–particle duality, special relativity, and the core principles of quantum mechanics through a quantitative lens. Building on these foundations, we examine how quantum behavior shapes real technologies, including semiconductors, transistors, lasers, and emerging quantum computing architectures. We will conclude with an introduction to nuclear physics and the statistical behaviors of small systems. Throughout the semester, students engage with problem-solving, modeling, and conceptual reasoning to connect abstract physical ideas to the innovations that define the modern technological world.
MSON: Physics of Failure

(Academic) 0.5 credits 11-12 grade Spring Semester

Tuesday/Friday, 10:05 am-11:05 pm

Target Grade Level: 11-12, or with permission of the instructor

Pre-Requisite: Completion of Algebra 2; physics experience not required, but welcome.

Instructor: Meg Harms, Brownell Talbot School, Omaha, NE

In this course, we will investigate the science of failure — how things break, why they break, and what we can learn when they do. We will build a foundation in stress, strain, and materials science, including the mechanisms that cause structures and systems to give way. From there, we will explore the engineering design process and the ways designers work to prevent failure, alongside the pressures — financial, political, and human — that can undermine these efforts. We will then turn to a series of case studies: the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the Challenger explosion, and others, examining both the technical breakdowns and the human decisions behind them. In lieu of a final exam, students will complete a forensic examination of a failure of their choice.
MSON: The Science and Ethics of Sports Performance: Genetics, Biochemistry, and Sociology

(Academic) Grades: 11-12 0.5 credit Fall Semester

Tuesday/Thursday, 10:05 am-11:05 pm

Prerequisite: Two years of high school science

Instructor: George Flatau, University School of Nashville, Nashville, TN

The essence of competitive athletics revolves around trying to, as the Olympic creed states, perform “faster, higher, stronger,” and athletes have been trying to do so as long as sports have existed. This course aims to examine that pursuit from a scientific perspective - what are the limits of human performance (both “clean” and doped), what role does genetics play, how does technology affect sports, what issues arise when we consider gender and competition - all are among the topics we will discuss.

The course will examine how society and sport have co-evolved, how science has played a key role in that development, and the resulting ethical, equitable, and safety issues that follow. Through readings, viewings, and discussions, through individual and group papers and presentations, we will grapple with often conflicting and complex ideas, grounded in scientific theory and practice, and come to a better understanding of how science and sports are related.