Science
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Interim Chair: Briana Brown, Ph.D.
617-713-5369 Office: Room 106 Secretary: Kelly Wilson 617-713-5045 Office: Room 394 |
Add/Drop Form SignaturesStudents: Dr. Brown, the Interim Science Curriculum Coordinator, can be found during most Z blocks in room 106 in the 115 Greenough Commons.
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Our Program
The Science Department is committed to serving all Brookline High School students by presenting a well- rounded, sequential and content-rich program in a stimulating and challenging manner. Each course is designed with the purpose of having students learn more about the physical world in which they live. Skills involving observation, critical thinking, effective verbal and written communication, manipulation of equipment, and applying technology are woven throughout the curricular fabric of the Science Program. The Science Department offers a wide range of courses in the basic disciplines at various levels, such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology for English Language Learners, and Special Education offerings such as Applied Science I, II, and III, as well as all Advanced Placement Science courses. In addition to this, students may take specialized 2nd year courses from Anatomy & Physiology to Engineering by Design - Honor, and everything in between.
The Physics – Chemistry – Biology – 2nd Course sequence represents the recommended order of courses. These courses build on each other in content, and they progress in the degree of abstraction. However, a different sequence may be appropriate in certain cases. All requests for exceptions to course prerequisites will be subject to approval by the Science Curriculum Coordinator.
The Physics – Chemistry – Biology – 2nd Course sequence represents the recommended order of courses. These courses build on each other in content, and they progress in the degree of abstraction. However, a different sequence may be appropriate in certain cases. All requests for exceptions to course prerequisites will be subject to approval by the Science Curriculum Coordinator.
Course Selection Documents for 2025-2026
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Physics Course Selection
Chemistry Course Selection Biology Course Selection Optional Course Descriptions for 12th grade (after completion of Physics, Chemistry and Biology) |
The Women in STEM Club, WiSTEM, has great descriptions of the following optional courses, with student perspectives (note that these descriptions were constructed pre-2020):
Optional Course Descriptions - WiSTEM Site Anatomy and Physiology - Anatomy and Physiology Honor Astronomy - Astronomy Honor Biomedical Science Honor Climate Science and Social Change - Video The History and Science of Sex, Gender, and Sexuality (New Course) Neuroimmunology Honor (formerly Body/Mind) Drawing for Understanding Field Science Engineering (both courses) Forensic Science - Forensics Science Honor Marine Science - Marine Science Honor |
A Note on Summer Courses
If you are thinking of taking a summer school course in order to “Get Ahead,” please know that even the most rigorous summer courses do not cover the material that we expect students to be fluent in for the AP courses. If a student takes a summer course in Biology, they will feel prepared for our Biology 1 courses, but completely underprepared for AP Biology. Students who have taken summer courses as a replacement for our courses have done far worse than they had hoped, and have regretted taking the summer course.
Therefore, we highly recommend that students perform their own research over the summer. They should explore on their own, and make things on their own. They should find topics that interest them, learn as much as they can, and document their progress as well.
However, if students feel compelled to take courses, we recommend courses that go well outside the norm for a high school student. Such as:
These courses will allow a student to learn a great deal about interesting topics, but will not cause issues with the course sequence at BHS.
If you are thinking of taking a summer school course in order to “Get Ahead,” please know that even the most rigorous summer courses do not cover the material that we expect students to be fluent in for the AP courses. If a student takes a summer course in Biology, they will feel prepared for our Biology 1 courses, but completely underprepared for AP Biology. Students who have taken summer courses as a replacement for our courses have done far worse than they had hoped, and have regretted taking the summer course.
Therefore, we highly recommend that students perform their own research over the summer. They should explore on their own, and make things on their own. They should find topics that interest them, learn as much as they can, and document their progress as well.
However, if students feel compelled to take courses, we recommend courses that go well outside the norm for a high school student. Such as:
- Astronomy
- Electrical Engineering
- Game Theory
- Neuroscience
- Paleobiology
- Special Relativity
- Zoology
These courses will allow a student to learn a great deal about interesting topics, but will not cause issues with the course sequence at BHS.