Skip to main content

Todd Allen Phillips Center for Medical Sciences

Curriculum

Curriculum

Specialty Center students have required courses as part of both the specialty center curriculum and as part of HCPS ‘Advanced Diploma’ graduation requirements. Successful graduation from the Todd Allen Phillips Center program requires that the student complete a minimum of 13 units of approved coursework that includes both specialty center core courses and elective courses. All coursework required as part of the specialty center curriculum is honors level. Please refer to the descriptions of specialty center core courses and elective courses on the following pages for more information.

Upon successful completion of the specialty center program, students will have a minimum of five AP courses (three AP science and two AP mathematics courses). Most graduating students have far more than this, as Mills E. Godwin High School offers a multitude of AP level courses in several disciplines from which to choose (English, foreign languages, mathematics, science and social studies).

CMS Required Courses

These courses are the foundation of the CMS curriculum and all CMS students must successfully complete them. They are taught by CMS faculty and available only to CMS students. SOL courses are denoted with an asterisk. Center students are required to take a minimum of two science and one math course each year.

CMS Science

  • In this honors-level course, students develop research skills through hypothesis formulation, experimental design, data collection and statistical analysis. Students learn to analyze scientific literature, write formal scientific papers and prepare presentations for research competitions.

  • This honors biology laboratory science curriculum investigates the core concepts of biology with an introduction to chemistry, and is infused with concepts from mathematics, medicine, field work and laboratory experiences. *End of course SOL

  • This honors chemistry laboratory science curriculum investigates the core concepts of inorganic chemistry with an introduction to organic chemistry and biochemistry, and is infused with concepts from mathematics, medicine, field work and laboratory experiences.

  • These AP curricula explore the concepts and applications of physics with a focus on both classical and modern physics through both classroom and laboratory exercises. AP Physics C is calculus-based and should only be taken after completion of AP Calculus.

CMS Electives (11th OR 12th Grade)

These courses are unique to the CMS curriculum. All students must complete a minimum of two CMS elective courses to fulfill the requirements for graduation from the program. These courses are taught by CMS faculty and are available only to CMS students. All CMS elective courses are honors-level.

  • This course investigates fundamental areas of modern genetics and biotechnology. Students experience microbiology and molecular genetics procedures and explore applications of these procedures in medical, agricultural and environmental fields.

  • The purpose of this course is to study the fields of human anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and medicine. Students learn and explore the structure and systems of the human body, as well as the development of artificial organs, joint replacements and prosthetic devices through classroom activities, projects and laboratory exercises.

  • The course introduces and develops the techniques needed in the identification of pathogenic organisms that cause disease. Students study the physical and chemical characteristics of the immune system and investigate the mechanisms and treatments that affect the body’s homeostatic processes.

  • This course investigates the chemistry of carbon with a focus on functional groups, their properties and their characteristic reactions. Additionally, students explore the chemical properties of biological systems: nucleotides, amino acids, proteins and water.

  • This course investigates the design of biological experiments through various data analysis techniques relevant to static and human body metrics. Additionally, students explore statistical science and it's application to problems of human health and disease.

  • This course provides students with an introduction to biomedical engineering, beginning with a framework of core engineering principles, expanding to specializations within the field of biomedical engineering and connecting the concepts to real-world examples in medicine and health care.

AP Sciences

All students must complete a minimum of three elective AP science courses in order to fulfill the requirements for graduation from the program. These courses are taught through Mills Godwin High School and are available to all Mills Godwin students.

  • Course #4370A
    1 Credit/Science
    36 Weeks

    Prerequisite: Biology I

    Description

    • Use science and engineering practices.
    • Explore the flow of matter and energy in the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem.
    • Examine the diversity of living organisms, their structure and function.

    Students will prepare to take the AP Biology exam for potential college credit.

  • Course #4470A
    1 Credit/Science
    36 Weeks

    Prerequisite: Chemistry I or its equivalent

    Description

    • Use science and engineering practices.
    • Explore concepts of chemistry including the nature structure of matter, intermolecular forces and reactions using science and engineering practices.
    • Complete course content equivalent to a typical introductory college chemistry course.

    Students will prepare to take the AP Chemistry exam for potential college credit.

  • Course #4270A
    1 Credit/Science
    36 Weeks

    Description

    • Use science and engineering practices.
    • Explore scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world.
    • Examine and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made, analyze the risks associated with the problems and examine alternative solutions to preventing/resolving them.
    • Complete course content equivalent to a typical introductory college environmental science course.

    Students will prepare to take the AP Environmental Science exam for potential college credit.

  • Course #4573XA
    1 Credit -     Required for Center students
    36 Weeks

    Description

    • Use science and engineering practices.
    • Study Newtonian mechanics (including rotational dynamics and angular momentum); work, energy and power.
    • Explore fluid statics and dynamics.

    Students will prepare to take the AP Physics I exam for potential college credit.

  • Course #4574A
    1 Credit/Science
    36 Weeks

    Description

    • Use science and engineering practices.
    • Thermodynamics with kinetic theory; electrostatics; electrical circuits with capacitors.
    • Examines magnetic fields and electromagnetism, waves and sound, physical and geometric optics; quantum, atomic and nuclear physics.

    Students will prepare to take the AP Physics 2 exam for potential college credit.

  • Course #2902A
    1 Credit/Elective
    36 Weeks

    Description

    • Perform psychological research.
    • Study the many facets of psychological behavior and social psychology.

    Students will prepare to take the AP Psychology exam for potential college credit.

    *The age-appropriate curriculum for this course is prescribed by College Board (Advanced Placement), International Baccalaureate (IBDP, IBCP), the Virginia Community College System (dual-enrollment), the Virginia Department of Education Standards of Learning (SOLs) or is developed in alignment with best practices for the specialized elective course content. Instruction designed and delivered for this course is done so in alignment with standards developed by those organizations and institutions. As such, HCPS may not substitute, alter or omit prescribed course content including that which relate(s) to human sexuality. In accordance with P7-05-008, a detailed list of assigned instructional material that contains sexually explicit content that must be taught during this course is available for parental review in advance of course enrollment. As this is an elective course and the materials may not be altered, Parents wishing to request alternative materials for their student may wish to enroll their student in a different course.

CMS Math

Placement in Mathematics courses is dependent on each student’s highest level of math completed prior to entering. ALL students must have completed Algebra I as a full-year course no later than eighth grade to be eligible for admission to the specialty center. Students will advance in math courses according to the linear progression and recommendations from their instructors. 

Geometry is not currently taught as part of the specialty center curriculum. Thus, specialty center students may take geometry via any of the following options:

  • As a full-year course in middle school.
  • As a full-year course in ninth grade (honors-level, but mixed with non-Center students).

  • This honors Geometry mathematics curriculum investigates the applications of mathematics to science and research through problem-solving and modeling. *End of course SOL

  • This honors Algebra 2 mathematics curriculum investigates the applications of mathematics to science and research through problem-solving and modeling. *End of course SOL

  • This AP Calculus mathematics curriculum investigates the applications of mathematics to science and research through diagnostic and analytical problem-solving as well as through extensive study of functions and graphs with connections to mechanics.

  • This AP Calculus curriculum explores the concepts and methodologies of calculus both from a theoretical as well as an applied perspective. Topics include functions, graphs, limits, derivatives, and integrals.

  • This AP curriculum explores the concepts and methodologies of statistics with a focus on sampling, experimental design, probability, anticipating patterns, and statistical inference.

  • This AP Calculus curriculum continues the study of calculus. Topics include multivariable calculus.

  • This course investigates the design of biological experiments through various data analysis techniques relevant to static and human body metrics. Additionally, students explore statistical science and it's application to problems of human health and disease.

  • This AP curriculum explores object-oriented, design and programming. Learn to code Java and use Java collections framework within the scope of Java subset.

    *AP Statistics must be taken in either 10th, 11th or 12th grade as part of the specialty center curriculum. Placement in AP Statistics is determined based upon teacher recommendations.