The mission of the Dauphin County Technical School
is to provide an integrated learning environment that encourages all youth
and adult to reach their fullest academic and occupational potential. The
following courses are designed to help students meet the expectations of Chapter
4 and the PA Academic Standards.
Grade Placement:
9, 10
Prerequisite: Earth & Space, Science in 8th grade
General Science is a laboratory course dealing with the
process of scientific investigation of basic physical,
chemical, and biological science principles. This
course introduces the interrelated nature of matter and
energy and the physical laws that govern their behavior
as well as their mathematical relationships. The
classification and structure of matter, measurement from
a scientific point of view, energy, chemical reactions,
motion, electricity, waves, light and sound are some of
the topics that will be covered. This course will
also build on a student’s reading, writing, and problem
solving skills.
Grade Placement: 9, 10
Prerequisite: Physical Science
This course integrates earth, space and environmental science
to give the student a comprehensive study of the planet. In
this laboratory and experience-based course, students will
explore the earth’s internal processes, the makeup
of the natural world, the earth’s air, water, and
physical processes, and space. Students will also
explore the earth’s resources and environmental issues. This
course will build on a student’s reading, writing,
and problem solving skills.
Grade
Placement: 10
Prerequisites: Earth Space/Environmental
and/or Physical Science
This laboratory and experience-based course is designed
to promote active student participation in the biological
sciences. This course will also build on reading,
writing, and problem-solving skills. Topics covered
include scientific method, cellular chemistry, cellular
structures and processes, genetics, biotechnology, evolution,
classification, and ecology.
Grade Placement: 10,
11, 12
Prerequisites: Biology, Algebra 1
This course is designed to teach chemistry concepts by
integrating lecture with hands-on activities and laboratory
investigations. The course will also build on math, reading,
writing and problem-solving skills. Topics to be
covered include: scientific method, measurement and the
metric system, classification of matter, history and development
of atomic theory, periodicity and the periodic table, basic
chemical structures and bonding, water and solutions, acids
and bases. This course is required for HACC’s Nursing
and Electronics programs and is highly recommended for
all students interested in post-secondary education.
Grade Placement: 10,
11, 12
Prerequisite: Biology
This course is designed to teach basic chemistry concepts
as they apply to everyday life by integrating lectures
with hands-on activities and laboratory investigations.
The course will also build on math, reading, writing and
problem-solving skills. Topics to be covered include:
organic chemistry, chemistry of life, water and aqueous
systems, acids and bases, polymers, and thermo-chemistry
through the evaluation of consumer products.
Grade Placement: 10,
11, 12
Prerequisite: Biology
Environmental science is a course for students who enjoy
the hands-on aspect of science. In this laboratory
and experience-based course, students will explore the
relationship between human activities and the environment. Examples
of topics discussed in this course are: ecosystems, energy,
resources, pollution, endangered species, and environmental
ethics. Students will apply their knowledge of environmental
science and scientific inquiry skills to complete several
field studies, including a local water study. This
course is designed to apply to a student’s everyday
life and help students develop a more environmentally sound
lifestyle.
Placement: 11,12
Prerequisite: Biology
This course is designed to give students
a hands-on experience with aspects of human biology. Knowledge gained
in this course is relevant to the decisions required in
daily living. Current issues in human biology will
direct this study of the structure and function of the
human body. Emphasis will be placed on the interrelationships
among the body systems. Topics covered include human
biology principles ranging from the cellular to the organ
system level. A variety of hands-on laboratory experiences,
including the dissection of various representative preserved
organs, will complement the presented course content.
Placement: 11, 12
Prerequisite: Algebra I
The conceptual physics course is designed for those students
in career and technical programs that require a basic understanding
of physical science principles. However, this course
contains less mathematical problem solving than physics.
Topics to be covered include: mechanics, electricity and
magnetism, optics and waves, and heat and thermodynamics.
