Biomedical Sciences

What Is the Biomedical Sciences Program?

The Biomedical Sciences Program at Archbishop Riordan High School is a four year honors science program for dedicated students eager to explore the biomedical sciences. Students in the program are often drawn to future fields such as medicine, nursing, dentistry, surgery, EMS, veterinary science, and biomedical research.

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Is the Biomedical Sciences Program Right for You?

The Biomed Program is designed for students who are motivated and curious about science and medicine now, while building a collaborative student community. To participate, students must apply to the program while applying to Riordan as an incoming freshman, complete all seven science courses in the progression, maintain a 3.5 GPA in program science courses and a 3.0 overall GPA, and complete the Senior Capstone research project. Students are also strongly encouraged to pursue summer internships through local universities and research groups, and Biomed instructors are available to recommend programs and assist with applications.

Program Highlights

In addition to core science courses like biology, chemistry, and physics, Biomed students take specialty courses based on the award winning Project Lead The Way curriculum, available only to students in the program. These hands on, inquiry driven courses show how fundamental science concepts connect to the medical sciences. The program culminates in the Senior Biomed Capstone, an independent research project focused on each student's area of interest. Students who complete the full program receive a program specific pin and stole at graduation.

Courses Offered

Honors Biology

Offered Freshman Year:

Honors Biology will be an introductory high school science course offered to incoming freshmen in the Biomedical Sciences Program at ARHS. It will follow the general curriculum outline of the regular Biology course, but more attention will be given to building the scientific and critical analysis skills needed in the PLTW Biomedical Sciences Program. More detailed lab activities and more challenging evaluative assessments will be given.

Principles of Biomedical Sciences

Offered Sophomore Year:

PREREQUISITES: Biology Honors

DESCRIPTION: We are offering this course through our partnership with Project Lead the Way, which is a leading developer of project-based, hands-on science technology curriculum in the country. In the Principles of Biomedical Science course, students explore concepts of biology and medicine as they take on roles of different medical professionals to solve real-world problems. Over the course of the year, students are challenged in various scenarios including investigating a crime scene to solve a mystery, diagnosing and proposing treatment to patients in a family medical practice, to tracking down and containing a medical outbreak at a local hospital, stabilizing a patient during an emergency, and collaborating with others to design solutions to local and global medical problems.

Chemistry

Human Body Systems

Junior Year:

PREREQUISITES: Principles of Biomedical Science

DESCRIPTION: We are offering this course through our partnership with Project Lead the Way, which is a leading developer of project-based, hands-on science technology curriculum in the country. In the Human Body Systems course, students examine the interactions of human body systems as they explore identity, power, movement, protection, and homeostasis in the body. Exploring science in action, students build organs and tissues on a skeletal Manikin; use data acquisition software to monitor body functions such as muscle movement, reflex and voluntary action, and respiration; and take on the roles of biomedical professionals to solve real-world medical cases.

AP Biology

Junior Year:

PREREQUISITES: Biology A or better, or B or better in Biology H & Chemistry C or better

DESCRIPTION: AP Biology is an intensive course designed to be the equivalent of an introductory biology course taken in college.Course emphasis is on developing an understanding of biological concepts, rather than an accumulation of facts. Before beginning the course, students should have an understanding and appreciation of the science of biology as a process. This class will provide further experience in scientific inquiry that develops students problem solving and critical thinking skills. This course also prepares high school students to take the AP exam given

in May. In order to pass the exam (usually this is with a score of 3 or higher), students must be highly motivated and driven to excel in this challenging course. In order to maximize the amount of content covered before the AP exam, students will be responsible for significant reading and reviewing of content on their own out-of-class time, with in-class time primarily reserved for labs, projects, and other hands-on activities. Some summer assignments will be required, due the first day of class in the fall term.