Course Offerings: Sciences

This year-long laboratory course will cover topics common to both AP Environmental Science and AP Biology. As a natural and logical progression from general chemistry, students will investigate topics starting with the chemistry of life: the molecules of which cells are comprised, including DNA replication and synthesis. Moving from a survey of microbiology to macrobiology, the course will examine cellular reproduction, evolution of cells, organelles and tissues, animal and plant systems. Further, topics that include modes of inheritance, systematics, natural selection and evolution, population genetics, botany, cycling of nutrients, biomes and ecology all will be investigated. The course will include a strong laboratory component and students will be expected to polish their data collection and analysis skills.

This course will examine evolution, a scientific theory that unifies virtually everything in the biological sciences. We will examine the mechanisms by which evolution proceeds, including Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, genetic drift, and sexual selection. Topics will include genetic analysis of evolutionary relationships, studies of Darwin's finches on the Galapagos Islands, patterns of human evolution, the evolution of sex and psychology, and the debate between creationists and evolutionists. Contemporary applications of evolution in medicine, agriculture, and the environment will also be discussed. While actual evolution is difficult to model in the classroom in one semester, we will make extensive use of case studies, simulation activities, videos, websites, and readings from books and magazines. Open to Seniors and Upper Middlers with permission of the Department.

The principle objective of this course is to provide the students with a working knowledge of the human body and how it functions. In order to accomplish this in a one-semester course, the class will move rapidly through a study of many of the body systems, typically spending one or two weeks per system. As the title of the course implies, study will encompass both the structures found in the body (anatomy) as well as the functions of those specific body parts (physiology). The students will come to an understanding of how the different systems work together to allow the entire body to function. In an effort to allow students to work cooperatively and collaboratively, this course will be largely hands-on and laboratory-based. In class, students will do a variety of activities including: readings, class discussion, dissections, computer work, debates, oral reports, and other activities. The major project for this course is for each student to design a class lesson. Each student will be assigned a body system during the first week of class, and they will become the class expert for that system. Students will then attempt to express themselves, clearly, creatively, and purposefully by designing and teaching a lesson that summarizes their system. Open to Seniors and Upper Middlers with permission of the Department.

Sponges, tapeworms, king crabs, giant squid, water bears, butterflies, spiders - these are just some stunning representatives of the most diverse and abundant group of organisms on our planet. More than 95% of animal species are invertebrates (animals without backbones). They are found nearly everywhere: tropical rainforests and our backyards, ephemeral pools and oceans, on and inside our bodies. This course introduces the study of the diversity, morphology, behavior, ecology, and evolution of the major groups of invertebrates. Students will be able to collect, examine, and observe behavior of live specimens and dissect preserved ones. The primary goals of the course are to enable the student to identify representative species from the major phyla using taxonomic keys, to strengthen biological laboratory techniques, to gain an understanding of the important role of invertebrates in the ecosystem, and to develop an appreciation for these truly spineless wonders. Open to Seniors and Upper Middlers with permission of the Department.

Conservation biology is the study of biodiversity with the aim of protecting species and their habitats. The goal of the course is to give students a feel for the complexity of issues associated with environmental conservation. We will blend ecology, animal behavior, population genetics, economics and ethics as we explore the status and importance of the earth’s biodiversity. Though lectures will be used to provide a background of information, the course will emphasize labs, case studies and discussions. Taft is presently forming a relationship with the New York Botanical Garden that may involve students in this course performing valuable field studies and visiting the NYBG. Open to Seniors and Upper Middlers with permission of the Department.

Science is less a collection of facts than it is a process for uncovering information about the world around us and discerning patterns in that information. In this class we will address the basics of good experimental design, including the application of some elementary statistics to student gained data. We will then cover some specific techniques used by biologists from a variety of different sub-disciplines. For example, we will use the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to investigate differences in DNA between individuals. We will also explore different sampling strategies used by field ecologists. We will use lectures to introduce the theory behind different lab practices. However, the emphasis will be placed on actually carrying out common yet cutting edge lab techniques. The course will culminate in a student-designed and evaluated research project.

Advanced Placement Biology is a rigorous survey course providing an in-depth coverage of topic areas designed to prepare the student for future scientific study and the Advanced Placement Biology Examination. Students will be encouraged to actively engage in the process of learning by developing individual and group projects for class presentation requiring clear, purposeful and focused research and expression. The completion of AP Biology will not only effectively prepare students for the AP examination, but also allow for study in areas not prescribed in the Advanced Placement curriculum. AP Biology places a strong emphasis on laboratory data collection, analysis and reporting, which includes using the latest technologies available for the study of simple and complex biological systems. BI830 is open to students who have successfully completed BI320, CH220, or CH230. All must have departmental approval.

This is an opportunity for an individual or a small group of students to work with a member of the department on a project in which they share a common interest. Open with permission of the Department Chair and the Dean of Academic Affairs.

This is an opportunity for an individual or a small group of students to work with a member of the department on a project in which they share a common interest. Open with permission of the Department Chair and the Dean of Academic Affairs.

This introductory course offers the student the fundamentals of chemistry and an opportunity to analyze modern environmental and biological problems from a chemical perspective. A conceptual understanding of chemistry is taught through lectures, demonstrations, laboratory experiments, and seminar discussions. A diversified study format includes problem-solving sessions, small group presentations, and small-scale research projects. This course will be considered for students who have completed PH110. All must have departmental approval.

This introductory chemistry course integrates a conceptual understanding with a mathematical approach to chemistry. Topics covered will include safety in the laboratory, matter, nomenclature, chemical reactions and composition, energy, atomic theory, chemical quantities, solids, liquids and gases, acids and bases, and equilibrium. This chemistry course is taught through lectures, demonstrations and laboratory experiments. Review sessions are offered several times a week. This course will be considered for students who have completed PH120 or PH130. All must have departmental approval.

This course is similar in scope to CH220 but will cover that material in greater depth and use a more mathematical approach. Middlers and Upper Middlers who have completed PH120 or PH130 and are advanced in mathematics will be considered for this course. All must have departmental approval.

Chemistry is "the central science" that provides an explanation of much of what occurs in our universe. It is fundamental to work in other sciences. As a continually developing science itself, significant applications of chemistry have inspired progress in biology, physics, medicine, geology, astronomy, environmental science, and other areas of science. After a quick review of topics from the first-year chemistry course, the first semester will examine the factors that influence the speed and extent of chemical reactions. Topics included will be solutions; kinetics; equilibria; thermodynamics; environmental chemistry; and electrochemistry. The second semester will center on a survey of nuclear chemistry; the chemistry of non-metals and metals; and organic and biochemistry. After completion of these topics, students will enjoy a thorough and intensive review of topics in preparation for the AP Chemistry examination.The classroom emphasis of the course centers on active student involvement in learning key concepts which are then immediately applied to problem solving. An extensive laboratory program will support and extend student learning. Students will learn required lab technology and techniques and participate in the design of new lab activities. Laboratory reports in a variety of formats will allow students to develop skills in presentation as they work both independently and collaboratively to complete projects. Students should be prepared to use free periods to complete extended laboratory exercises. CH830 is open to Upper Middlers and Seniors who have completed completed a one-year Physics course (PH120 or PH130) and or a one-year Chemistry course (CH220 or CH230). All must have mathematics through Algebra II and departmental approval. 

This is an opportunity for an individual or a small group of students to work with a member of the department on a project in which they share a common interest. Open with permission of the Department Chair and the Dean of Academic Affairs.

This is an opportunity for an individual or a small group of students to work with a member of the department on a project in which they share a common interest. Open with permission of the Department Chair and the Dean of Academic Affairs.

This is an introductory course in physics that emphasizes conceptual understanding and laboratory experience. Topics covered will include motion, Newton’s laws of mechanics, energy and momentum, thermodynamics and the description of gases, electricity and magnetism, waves and optics, and quantum phenomena. While conceptual understanding is emphasized, students will also be introduced to a precise, quantitative description of nature with a problem solving approach that uses elementary math skills. All new Lower Middlers and Middlers who will be enrolled in Algebra I at Taft should sign up for this course.

This is an introductory course that integrates conceptual understanding with a rigorous mathematical approach to physics. Topics covered will include motion, Newton’s laws of mechanics, energy and momentum, thermodynamics and the description of gases, electricity and magnetism, waves and optics, and quantum phenomena. Laboratory work will be frequent and students will learn how precise observations are analyzed and interpreted. Quantitative problem solving using algebra I skills will be emphasized. This course is open to new Lower Middlers and Middlers who have finished an Algebra I course and will be enrolled in Geometry or a higher math level at Taft.

This course is similar to PH120 but will cover the same material to a deeper level and use more a sophisticated mathematical approach. New Lower Middlers and Middlers who are advanced in math and have a strong interest in physics may sign up for this course, but all registrations will be reviewed by the Science Department.

Explore the fascinating night sky! Topics in this survey of astonomy will range from stars, planets, and galaxies to black holes, the Big Bang, and exobiology. This course will bring the wonders of the cosmos to life as students learn the basic principles of astronomy. Open to Upper Middlers and seniors with the permission of the Department.

AP Physics B is a broad survey course that assumes students have fulfilled a previous year-long physics course. Students should be comfortable with math beyond the Algebra II level. AP Physics B is geared towards students who are considering non-engineering sciences and pre-med studies in college and desire to earn the prerequisite credit while at Taft through the AP program. The year begins with a treatment of mechanics, including motion in one and two dimensions; forces and acceleration; conservation laws (energy and momentum); rotational motion; gravity; and fluid mechanics. Then, the course moves to oscillatory motion, including harmonic motion, waves, and optics. In the winter electromagnetism is covered, where topics range from the electric field and voltage to electric circuits and finally to magnetic induction. An understanding of the laws of thermodynamics is then developed. We end the course learning about modern physics, understanding the interesting physical theories of the 20th and 21st centuries. There will be frequent lab work throughout the course. Students will learn to investigate phenomena, discern patterns and draw precise conclusions from their data. They will also be asked to describe their work conceptually. There will regular problem solving assignments to provide practice with the concepts and techniques learned in class. There will also be several computer projects involving web simulations. AP Physics B is open to students who have successfully completed PH120 or PH130 or the equivalent and are currently enrolled in math above the Algebra II level. All accepted students must have the permission of the science department.

The AP Physics C course is designed for students with an intense interest in the inner workings of the physical world and a desire to be challenged both conceptually and mathematically. The curriculum has been developed by the participating college physics departments to cover the material of a first-year college physics course for those students focused on careers in the technical fields. Specifically, the course consists of a one-semester study of mechanics and one semester of electricity and magnetism. The topics in mechanics include the description of motion, the analysis of motion using Newton's laws, and the application of the three major conservation laws to a wide range of systems. Familiarity with differential calculus is assumed from the beginning, and all of the topics studied will make some use of this level of math. Topics involving the use of integral calculus arise in the first semester, but these are developed slowly with an eye to the second semester when this aspect of calculus will be embedded in much of what is studied. The second semester consists of a study of the laws of electricity and magnetism. Beginning with Coulomb's law, electrostatics is introduced. Gauss's law, electric potential, and capacitance are examined in detail. Steady state DC circuits and the transients of RC circuits finish the electricity section. About one-third of the second semester is spent studying magnetism. The nature and effects of the magnetic force as well as the origins of magnetic fields in electric currents are examined. Students learn to apply Ampere's law to current distributions to determine the field created. The semester concludes with a study of electromagnetic induction. Faraday's law is developed and applied to a variety of physical systems including inductive circuits. The focus of the course is on the quantitative application of the basic laws to the analysis of a wide range of systems. In practice this means problem solving, and each chapter includes a lengthy assignment of problems from the book. Optional "extra credit" problems are also frequently assigned. These explore the concepts and math at a somewhat higher level than required by the AP syllabus. Laboratory work is done regularly, and it is important that students remain familiar with the basic apparatus available as well as with data collection and analysis. Students must also become familiar with the simulation program Interactive Physics. There are several major computer projects that involve independent design and analysis by each student. The AP Physics C course has two separate AP tests, one for mechanics, the other for electricity and magnetism. Thus students will have two grades reported to the colleges they choose. AP Physics C can be elected with consent of the Department by Seniors who have completed PH 130 or a one-year course in physics and CH220 or CH230. Students must also have completed a course in calculus or are concurrently taking the BC level AP calculus course.

This is an opportunity for an individual or a small group of students to work with a member of the department on a project in which they share a common interest. Open with permission of the Department Chair and the Dean of Academic Affairs.

This is an opportunity for an individual or a small group of students to work with a member of the department on a project in which they share a common interest. Open with permission of the Department Chair and the Dean of Academic Affairs.

In preparing to become leaders in a global community, one cannot avoid considering the many consequences of the advances in science and technology. This class will study important figures in scientific ethics from Kant to Caplan. Combining historic cases and current events, the approach will be case-study based, using many forms of media that may include journals, magazines, newspapers, novels, and even movies. Possible topics include pharmaceutical research and marketing, environmental law, regulation of chemical use in everyday products, and testing of nuclear bombs. The goal of the class is to provide students with a framework to analyze difficult situations in science, using their own moral compasses and theories in ethics as guides. Open to Seniors and Upper Middlers with permission of the Department.

This course introduces students to the principles and practices found in the field of forensic science, which draws from the biological and physical sciences. The course begins by examining the theories and concepts necessary to effectively examine, analyze, and reconstruct a major crime scene. Specifically, the legal issues related to the search and seizure of physical evidence, crime scene documentation techniques, and basic crime scene reconstruction methods will be studied. Students will also study trace evidence and how it is analyzed, compared, interpreted, and used in criminal investigations. Types of trace evidence to be discussed will include glass, paint, hair, fiber, and fingerprints. Case studies of actual crimes and trials will be discussed to illustrate how the science and techniques may be used in the real world. This course is taught through lectures, laboratory work, and student presentations. Open to Upper Middlers and Seniors with permission of the department.

Rocks tell stories. A geologist can pick up a pebble on a beach, climb a boulder in the woods, or trace the shape of mountains on the horizon, and read a story of monumental change over millions of years. In this course, students will learn how to read the rock record by recognizing, categorizing, and interpreting features such as sedimentary structure, mineralogical composition, and fossil content. They will learn how these features tell the story of our changing earth, recording the emergence and disappearance of mountains and oceans, dramatic changes in climate, the movement of tectonic plates, and the shifting shape of Earth's magnetic field. This course will draw on students' knowledge of biology, chemistry, and physics in order to interpret both theoretical models of the rock record and solid examples in the laboratory and the field.

This course offers a holistic view of the basic principles of ocean science. It is designed to focus on both physical and geological characteristics (oceanography) as well as the chemical and biological characteristics (oceanology) of the ocean. Topics include the formation of oceans, ocean floor and sediments, chemistry and physical properties of seawater, weather and climate, waves, tides and currents, origin of life in oceans, habitats, marine biology, fisheries, maritime cultures and heritage, and current issues related to the interactions of science and technology. It is a lab-based course, and it will deploy a variety of teaching styles including lectures, readings, activities, and labs. The course has the potential to include a variety of field trips to areas such as Woods Hole, MA. Open to Seniors and Upper Middlers with permission of the Department.

What is adolescence? Why is the study of adolescence important? These are two of the many questions which inspire our search for understanding of this particular life stage. This course is a basic introduction to the field of psychology, with a focus on adolescence. The course examines the many ways in which adolescence has been defined and analyzes the way that adolescence is currently portrayed. The course exposes students to psychological, biological, sociocultural, and ethical perspectives regarding adolescent development. The course also provides a forum for discussion of issues such as experimental strategies, education, the nature vs. nurture debate, puberty, identity development, teenage drug abuse, stress and coping, as well as Hollywood portrayals of adolescence. Evaluation is based on class participation, homework assignments, short critical reflection papers, tests, an oral presentation of current research, and final examination. Open to Seniors and Upper Middlers with permission of the Department.

The study of engineering and architecture is the study of buildings, their form, their construction and their function. This course will explore the diverse topics that engineering and architecture include and seek to provide an understanding of the engineering behind structures and the art in their architecture. Students will be introduced to elements of the history of engineering and architecture and its role in civilization. Coursework will consist of discussions of readings, written assignments, problem solving, research projects and small design projects. There will be a significant “hands-on” component including sketching, investigating buildings and touring building sites. Open to all upper school students who have fulfilled their requirements in math and/or science.

The study of engineering and architecture is the study of buildings, their form, their construction and their function. As a continuation of the Engineering and Architecture I, this course will explore the diverse topics that engineering and architecture include and seek to provide experience with the design of structures and of the art in their architecture. In a studio format, coursework will consist primarily of design projects, discussions of design theory and history readings, and problem solving. Several design projects will be taken on through the course of the semester and will culminate in a significant final project including detailed drawings and models. Engineering and Architecture I is not required to take this course. This course is open to all upper school students who have fulfilled their requirements in math and/or science.

This course introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings. Students will leave the course with an understanding of psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with distinct paradigms (such as: biological, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, psychodynamic, and sociocultural). The course will promote student awareness of and respect for the psychological diversity of human beings with reference to biological, social, and cultural influences. Students' learning experience will be equivalent to that obtained in most college introductory psychology courses. In addition to the mastery of the historical and fundamental concepts of psychology, students will explore the manifestations of psychology in research designs, methods, statistics, clinical practice and scientific ethics. The culminating assessment for the course is the Advanced Placement Psychology exam in May. Open to Seniors with permission of the department.

The challenge of understanding and maintaining a sustainable environment may be the single most pressing scientific issue that will confront students throughout their lives. Today, environmental science is not only relevant to students' personal experience, but it is also vital to the future of the entire biosphere and human civilization. As humans continue to alter the Earth's land, water, and atmosphere at local, regional and global levels, the resulting environmental dilemmas can seem overwhelming. Educated properly, students may confront these problems and contribute to their ultimate solution in the future. This course will equip students with a fundamental understanding of our environment from which the solutions to these problems may spring. An initial goal of this course is to instill an understanding and appreciation of the complexity and precise functioning of the natural ecosystems that form our biosphere. Therefore, this course will begin with a close examination of the basic ecological principles that govern the natural world followed by the many ways that humans affect that world through the investigation of the topics of human population growth, energy production and consumption, natural resource depletion, and agricultural and industrial pollution, among others. While exploring these issues, students will integrate knowledge from the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, history, political science, geology and demography. In addition to class discussion, lecture, reading, and field investigations of various ecosystems, the study of industrial and agricultural processes and methods of transportation will be accomplished. This course will prepare students for the AP Environmental Science examination in May. Open with permission of the department to Seniors and the occasional Upper Middler who have successfully (85 or above) completed one year of physics (PH120 or PH130) and one year of chemistry (CH220 or CH230)and also acquired the permission of the Taft science department.

This is an opportunity for an individual or a small group of students to work with a member of the department on a project in which they share a common interest. Open with permission of the Department Chair and the Dean of Academic Affairs.

This is an opportunity for an individual or a small group of students to work with a member of the department on a project in which they share a common interest. Open with permission of the Department Chair and the Dean of Academic Affairs.