Length of course:
All year
In order to be successful in this course, the following prerequisites are highly recommended:
Minimum 90 average in Advanced Biology
Minimum 90 average in Advanced Chemistry OR
Exceptional Work Ethic
Course Description:
The Advanced Placement Program is an opportunity for students to pursue college-level studies while still in high school and to receive advanced course placement, college credit, or both. Therefore, AP Biology is designed to be the equivalent of a college introductory biology course taken by biology majors. Recent years have been characterized by an information explosion in biology so it is difficult to adequately cover an introductory course sequence in the class time allotted. Therefore, as is normal in a college course, there will be heavy demands made on the students. Students will be required to do a significant amount of independent work. An AP Biology student can expect a minimum of 10 pages of difficult reading per school night. To be successful in this course, a student must keep up with all assignments. At the end of the year, students will take the Advanced Placement exam which will determine whether they are eligible to receive college credit for the course. The AP exam stresses the student’s ability to explain, analyze, and interpret biological processes and phenomena—not simply recall specific facts.
The aim of the AP Biology course is to achieve an understanding of the unifying principles of modern biology, an understanding of how biological information is gathered and interpreted, and to introduce the high school student to the scope and demands of college level work. Included in the course will be lab activities required by the Advanced Placement Program.
Reasons to take AP Biology:
- This course provides a solid foundation for those who want to pursue science as a major in college or enter pre-medical degree programs.
- Get 8 HOURS of college credit (more than most other AP classes offered in high school).
- Your dog will approve of you taking this course, as it will teach you to appreciate all animals, understand how we are all connected, and give you insights into animal behavior.
- You can impress your friends with big words, such as endoplasmic reticulum, chi square analysis, recombinant DNA. This will also improve your chances at winning at trivia.
- You will appreciate your grandparents in a new way as you examine how their life influences have helped shape your genome.
- You’ll develop time management skills – essential for doing well in college.
- You get invited to attend the Georgia Aquarium field trip & Skidaway Island field trip!!!