Introduction to Biology

This eight week course is designed to introduce students who have not previously taken a rigorous high school level science course to the basic concepts of scientific methodology and the key topics of biology, as preparation for an honors or AP biology course. Students will practice study skills required to succeed in the science courses they take, apply basic math concepts used in all sciences (including biology), and review key topics such as biological levels of organization, classification systems, the chemistry underlying metabolic processes, and the fundamentals of cell biology.

All students will perform simple experiments to help develop an appreciation for the fundamental principles underlying modern biology and to develop proper experimental techniques (with an emphasis on lab safety). Students share their lab reports for teacher and peer review, and discuss their experiences in online class sessions.

Advanced students can use this course to jump-start their lab work for the AP Biology 2017-2018 academic year course by covering lab techniques, data manipulation methods, and critical concepts. Those students planning on taking AP Biology will be given more challenging assignments and experiment options which can be used to fulfill Scholars Online AP Biology course requirements. However, these students should be prepared to commit up to eight hours a week in reading, homework, and lab work.