Upper School Curriculum

Grades: 11, 12
Full-Year

PREREQ: Chemistry, Biology (can be taken concurrently), instructor recommendation

Advanced Environmental Science is organized around three main goals: 

1. Gain a deep understanding of the biological, geological, and chemical characteristics of the natural world and the processes that shape them. 
2. Discover the role of human society in disturbing those processes, and identify how society can live more in balance with them.
3. Build skills in the realms of lab technique, research, communication, and decision-making processes.

Students in ADV Environmental Science will explore global and local environmental issues, tackling complex problems such as climate change, air and water pollution, energy generation, resource extraction, unchecked urban development, and inequitable exposure to environmental risks. Primary research literature, case studies, and various field practitioners will serve as resources as the students assess the feasibility and potential impacts of a variety of actions and mitigation strategies. Hands-on labs and projects will bridge theoretical knowledge with practical applications. Assessments will emphasize scientific writing and communication skills. Through this rigorous exploration, students will see value in environmental stewardship as a guiding principle and sharpen their capacity to critically evaluate how human choices shape our planet’s future. The course prepares students to think systematically about sustainability challenges and contribute meaningfully to environmental problem-solving in their communities and beyond.