Courses

Accelerated Chemistry

This sequence of courses is offered fall (CHE411), winter (CHE421) and spring (CHE431). This course is designed for those students who have not had a previous full-year, laboratory-based chemistry course, but who would like to enroll in an accelerated one-year course that covers the topics on the Advanced Placement exam. Because this course covers two […]
Advanced Astronomy Methods

This course emphasizes the practical and computational skills used to make precise measurements of astronomical phenomena with the goal of understanding the scale of the universe. Topics include: the interstellar medium, Cepheid variables, mapping the Milky Way, advanced stellar photometry and spectroscopy, and the cosmic distance ladder. Students work at Grainger Observatory, located on the […]
Advanced Biology

This sequence of courses is offered fall (BIO510), winter (BIO520) and spring (BIO530). This sequence of three courses is the equivalent of an introductory college course. Biology 510 studies principles of biological chemistry, cytology and cellular energy transformations. Biology 520 studies molecular genetics, heredity and evolution. Biology 530 studies taxonomy and systematics, ecology and population […]
Advanced Chemistry

This sequence of courses is offered fall (CHE510), winter (CHE520) and spring (CHE530) and is the equivalent of an introductory college course. Advanced Chemistry begins with a review of fundamental chemical principles and reactivity before investigating thermochemistry, atomic structure, bonding, states of matter, equilibria, kinetics, and electrochemistry. As an experimental science, laboratory inquiry and analysis […]
Advanced Physics

This sequence of courses is offered fall (PHY510), winter (PHY520) and spring (PHY530). This three-term sequence is taken as a second year of physics. In the first term, an emphasis is placed on synthesizing a variety of fundamental topics into a coherent whole. Topics include linear and rotational kinematics, dynamics including torque, energy conservation, linear […]
An Introduction to Biology

This sequence of courses is offered fall (BIO210), winter (BIO220) and spring (BIO230). Biology 210 introduces cell structure and function leading to a study of human anatomy and physiology. Basic physical and chemical principles critical to cell structure and function are also studied. Biology 220 completes the study of human anatomy and physiology. The remainder […]
An Introduction to Physics

This sequence of courses is offered fall (PHY210), winter (PHY220) and spring (PHY230). This course investigates the topics of Newtonian mechanics: motion, force, energy and momentum conservation; and topics in the physics of optics, waves, electricity and magnetism. Students will use both qualitative and quantitative methods to develop understanding of these fundamental concepts. Laboratory activities […]
Animal Behavior

This course is an introduction to the study of animal behavior. It explores the development, cause, evolutionary origin and function of a host of behaviors, such as sexual behavior, communication, dominance, navigation and cognition. Weekly laboratory work and field trips involve the observation of and experimentation with live animals, such as fish, crayfish, frogs, birds, […]
Applied Physics

How did diffraction of light help decipher the DNA structure? How can ultrasonic resonance treat kidney stones without an invasive operation? How can MRI see into living tissue? How do electron microscopy, solar panels, or thermal imaging work? This course explores the physics principles that underlie biological, medical and energy technologies. Through laboratory experimentation, or […]
Biochemistry & Human Nutrition

This course explores the chemistry, digestion and functions of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, water, vitamins and minerals in the human body. The importance of adequate personal nutrition for optimal performance as an adolescent is stressed. Special considerations include world hunger, sports nutrition, eating disorders, drug-nutrient interactions, weight control, and the relationship between nutrition and disease. Students […]
Biochemistry Medicinal Drugs

Medicinal chemistry provides a bridge from the periodic table to the array of natural and synthesized biologically active agents available today. The ongoing development of medicinal drugs aims to integrate new scientific discoveries with precision-based strategies for treating individuals as well as large populations. A key goal in the design of new drugs for the […]
Biology Research

Students in this course will be exposed to the process of scientific investigation through collaboration with researchers at Stanford University. The overarching goal of Dr. Kim’s lab at Stanford is to explore the function and development of insulin-producing cells in humans with the ultimate goal of curing type I and type II diabetes. The fruit […]
Chemistry of the Environment

This advanced course investigates the chemical principles that underlie current environmental issues. Students will study the chemistry of the natural environment (atmosphere, soil and water) and develop skills necessary to analyze alterations that human beings have made. Specific topics include ozone layer depletion, acid rain, the greenhouse effect, photochemical smog, toxic organic pollutants and heavy-metal […]
Collaborative Research

Collaborative Research is a team-based research course designed with the purpose of helping students develop their understanding of scientific investigation. The team-based approach allows for students from a variety of scientific backgrounds to contribute to a robust research project under the umbrella of biochemistry and biology, as the entire class will be working on one […]
Earth and the Climate Crisis

This course will study the complex interconnected systems (e.g., lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere)of our planet Earth. Students will develop an understanding?of the basic workings of the Earth from its origin to the present, and will investigate the scientific basis for some of today’s most pressing challenges, such as global climate change and the search […]
Ecology

This is a place-based, community ecology course which focuses on our central New England region and covers many of the major principles of ecology. It also includes learning how to identify our common forest trees, understory plants and game animals, as well as learning to look for evidence to determine the disturbance history of our […]
Electronics

This introduction to electronics is a hands-on, project-oriented course. Students will build a variety of simple devices, including timing circuits, alarms, flashers, amplifiers and counters. By designing, building and analyzing these circuits, students will gain a firsthand knowledge of a variety of basic electronic components, including resistors, capacitors, switches, relays, transformers, diodes, transistors, and several […]
Evolution

Evolutionary biologist Theodosius Dobzhansky wrote in 1973 that, “Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution,” and his statement still holds true today. Students will read Jonathan Weiner’s Pulitzer-prize-winning book, The Beak of the Finch, which documents an ongoing 40-year study of evolution in Darwin’s finches on the Galapagos Islands. They will […]
Human Physiology

Biology 450 examines how the human body functions. The complexity of and interactions between different systems will be explored. Extensive laboratory investigations, including a mammalian dissection, computer applications and project work, compose a significant part of the course.
Human Populations & Resource Consump

In this course students consider human impact on the environment. Issues of human population, demography and carrying capacity will be explored in relationship to the world’s food resources and urban land use and management. Some of the consequences of the most basic decisions we make as humans – how many babies should we have, what […]