Science Courses
Intensive Studies Catalog HomeCTY’s mathematics, science, and computer science courses are dedicated to Dr. Richard P. Longaker, Provost of Johns Hopkins University from 1979 to 1987, in recognition of his advocacy and guidance through CTY’s initial years.
In CTY science courses, students rediscover the world around them. They learn to ask questions and are challenged to explain their observations. Students develop their own theories, then test and refine them through experimentation. They also share their results with each other in order to develop a deeper understanding of the natural world. Students may choose to delve into special topics that are not part of the standard middle or high school curriculum or to study a traditional course at an accelerated pace.
In the special topics courses, students not only explore unique content, but also learn scientific techniques and processes that they otherwise might not see until college. Because of CTY’s schedule and small class sizes, instructors are able to adjust planned lessons to allow students to pursue topics that particularly engage their interest.
CTY’s fast-paced high school science courses are designed to provide students with the content of a year-long science course in one three-week session. These courses move very quickly and may serve to accelerate a student in his or her own school’s science curriculum. Students take a comprehensive examination at the end of the course to demonstrate their mastery of the material.
Unless otherwise noted, students spend at least two hours a day performing laboratory exercises, hands-on activities, or field work. Students gather and interpret data, master scientific concepts, and recognize relationships among physical phenomena. In addition to lectures and reading assignments, class activities include oral presentations and writing assignments, particularly formal lab reports. All courses emphasize inquiry-based learning in which instructors facilitate students making their own great discoveries.
Please refer to our Eligibility web page for minimum test score requirements for science courses.
Note: Selected biological science courses may include traditional or virtual dissection.
The following science courses are listed below:
Biology
- Introduction to the Biomedical Sciences
- History of Disease
- Paleobiology
- Fast-Paced High School Biology
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Genomics
Chemistry
Physics & Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Astrophysics
- Fast-Paced High School Physics
- Advanced Topics in Physics: Special Relativity
- Investigations in Engineering
Sample syllabi for all courses are also available.
Biology Course Descriptions and Syllabi
Introduction to the Biomedical Sciences
This course is an introduction to human biology and the science of medicine. Drawing upon basic biological and chemical concepts, students explore the intricate anatomical and physiological mechanisms underlying normal human function. Students then investigate homeostatic imbalances that cause diseases. In learning about diabetes, for example, students gain an in-depth understanding of the endocrine system, the pancreas, the metabolism of sugar, and the biochemical effects of glucose. Lab work covers techniques in histology, anatomy and physiology (including dissections), and biochemistry. Additionally, students learn to read critically and respond to articles in scientific journals and the popular media.
Note: This course is designed for students who have completed only grades 7 or 8. Students who, by this summer, will have completed grade 9 or higher are not eligible.
Sample text: The Human Body in Health and Disease, Thibodeau and Patton.
Lab Fee: $65
Session 1: Carlisle, Lancaster, Los Angeles, Seattle
Session 2: Carlisle, Lancaster, Los Angeles, Seattle
The History of Disease
Prerequisite: Eligibility for both science and humanities CTY Intensive Studies courses.
Throughout history, humans have been burdened with countless infectious diseases. Some of these, due to their lethality or their insidious spread, have become legendary. In this course, students examine the societal impact of, and science’s response to, history’s most significant diseases, including plague, leprosy, influenza, tuberculosis, smallpox, polio, cholera, malaria, syphilis, and HIV/AIDS.
Through reading, writing, and problem-based learning, students explore the effects of each disease on two levels: the biological (microbiology, pharmacology, and immunology) and the societal (epidemiology, psychology, and sociology). Students attempt to understand the biology of each disease while also learning its historical framework. A wide variety of sources, such as medical literature, ancient Greek texts, religious writings, opera and theater, and articles from the modern media, places each scourge in the context of the society it traumatized. The ethics of infectious disease monitoring and control, including quarantines, mandatory health department notification, and the use of experimental drugs, is the focus of classroom debates.
Reviewing the attempts to cure each disease, from primitive superstitions to cutting-edge designer drugs, provides an introduction to pharmacology. Students critically analyze the never-ending war between humans and microbes, contrasting modern perceptions of our victory over “germs” with the growing reality of microbial resistance.
Sample texts: Man and Microbes, Karlen; A Brief History of Disease, Science, and Medicine, Kennedy.
Field Trip Fee: $65
Session 1: Lancaster
Session 2: Lancaster
Paleobiology
Scientists estimate from the fossil record that life on Earth began over three and a half billion years ago. What types of life forms have existed throughout history? How have mass extinction events shaped our planet? Paleobiologists combine elements of paleontology, geology, and biology as they answer these and other questions by using snapshots of the past to uncover the narrative of Earth’s living history.
Students begin this course by examining the many modes of fossilization, investigating key geological concepts, and classifying the major phyla of animal and plant life in ancient and modern form. Grounded with this basic understanding, students turn more fully to the fossil record by examining specimens they collect in the field alongside preexisting collections. Students learn how keen observation skills and critical thinking allow scientists to formulate working hypotheses about topics ranging from why dinosaurs became extinct to how human life came into existence. They dissect and identify adaptations of present-day organisms in order to make comparisons with extinct life forms to explain changes that have occurred over time. Along the way, students explore a range of topics including evolutionary theory, historical geology, and paleoecology as they acquaint themselves with the history of life on Earth.
Sample text: Introduction to Paleobiology and the Fossil Record, Benton and Harper.
Lab & Field Trip Fee: $95
Session 1: Lancaster, Los Angeles
Session 2: Lancaster
Fast-Paced High School Biology
This course covers the material ordinarily included in a year-long introductory course in high school biology (the usual prerequisite for honors or AP Biology). Students begin with the smallest unit, the atom, and build towards the final discussions of ecology and the environment. Along the way they sample biochemistry, move through genetics and cellular processes, and then integrate these concepts into their studies of evolution and systems of living things, such as respiration and reproduction.
Through readings, lectures, and lab work (including dissections), students finish the course with a sound foundation in biological concepts. Lab time comprises at least twenty hours of the course contact time.
Note: Students just completing 7th grade are urged to take CTY’s Introduction to the Biomedical Sciences before taking this course. This course is intended for students who have completed 8th grade or above and who plan to continue on to honors or AP Biology or to other advanced work in biology such as CTY’s Genetics or Neuroscience.
Sample text: Biology, Campbell and Reece.
Lab Fee: $65
Session 1: All sites
Session 2: Baltimore, Carlisle, Lancaster, Los Angeles, Saratoga Springs
Neuroscience
Prerequisite: Successful completion of CTYOnline’s Honors Biology, CTY’s Fast-Paced High School Biology, or at least a “B” in first-year high school biology.
Where do memories get stored, and why do patients with Alzheimer’s have difficulties making new ones? What causes our inner clock to slow down as we are about to have an automobile accident? Why was Phineas Gage able to talk, walk, and be free of pain just minutes after a three-foot-long metal rod pierced through his head, destroying most of the left front side of his brain? Neuroscientists use an interdisciplinary approach—drawing on biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology—to unlock the answers to these and other questions about that most complex of all systems, the human brain and nervous system.
In this course, students investigate the development, evolution, and structure of the brain and nervous system. They approach neuroanatomy from the gross and microscopic levels and learn how neurons communicate with each other biochemically. They explore the functional integration of areas of the brain and neuroplasticity, neuropharmacology, diseases and disorders of the nervous system, and the nature of consciousness. Students also examine the neuronal basis of perception, learning and memory, sleep and dreaming, and language acquisition and use. In addition to lecture and discussion sessions, students participate in dissection, model building, and laboratory activities that use principles from various scientific disciplines.
Sample text: Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain, Bear and Connors.
Lab Fee: $65
Session 1: Baltimore, Carlisle
Session 2: Baltimore, Carlisle
Genetics
Prerequisite: Successful completion of CTYOnline’s Honors Biology, CTY’s Fast-Paced High School Biology, or at least a “B” in first-year high school biology.
Could a single genetic mutation be the key to eradicating coronary heart disease or be instrumental in developing new ways to treat hypertension? In this course, students learn the principles and methods that geneticists use to explore these possibilities.
Students in this course briefly review basic concepts of heredity, then delve into more complex concepts such as polygenic inheritance and sex-linked traits. They study the genetics of relatively simple organisms, such as bacteria, learning how these prokaryotic organisms are used as tools in current genetic research. Students then consider the genetics of more complex organisms, including humans. They gain insights into both the negative and positive effects of mutations as they investigate the genetic basis of cancer and inherited disorders and explore how mutations increase variation within a population by changing the allelic frequency. In the laboratory, students go beyond the basic techniques of DNA extraction, digestion, and amplification. They perform bacterial cloning and dihybrid crosses, observing inherited phenotypes in a descendent generation. Throughout the course, students debate controversial topics in the field, such as stem cell research and genetically modified foods.
By the end of the course, students have covered concepts ordinarily taught in an introductory college genetics course.
Sample text: Introduction to Genetic Analysis, Griffiths.
Lab Fee: $65
Session 1: Baltimore, Carlisle
Session 2: Baltimore, Carlisle
Genomics
Prerequisite: Successful completion of CTY's Genetics course.
The mapping of the human genome—hailed by some as the first scientific milestone in the twenty-first century—gave rise to the new field of genomics. Where genetics has traditionally examined single genes, genome science considers all of the genetic information in an organism as a dynamic system: the genes, the function and organization of the genes, and regulatory elements.
Building on knowledge they acquired in CTY’s Genetics, students in this course begin with a historical look at the field of genomics, including methods that were used to complete the Human Genome Project. They move on to study comparative genomics, the genetics of complex traits, genetic epidemiology, the genetics of common diseases (e.g., cancer), modern chromosomal analysis, and computational genomics. In addition, students are introduced to the HapMap and ENCODE projects used to identify both the functional portions and regions of variation within our genes. Genomics relies heavily upon data analysis and computer technologies; the use of online databases and resources, both in the laboratory and for research projects, is a central feature of the course.
In addition to their classroom studies, students visit the NIH Intramural Sequencing Center (NISC) to participate in a lab tour and demonstration. They are also introduced to epigentics, the study of inheritance through factors other than the DNA sequence itself, through the Johns Hopkins Epigentics Center.
Sample text: Discovering Genomics, Proteomics & Bioinformatics, Campbell and Heyer.
Lab & Field Trip Fee: $95
Session 1: Not offered
Session 2: Baltimore
Chemistry Course Descriptions and Syllabi
Fast-Paced High School Chemistry
Prerequisite: Algebra I.
This course covers material ordinarily included in a year-long introductory course in high school chemistry (the usual prerequisite for honors or AP Chemistry). Topics covered in the course include physical and chemical properties, the periodic table, the atom and atomic theory, chemical bonding, nomenclature, the concept of the mole, chemical reactions and stoichiometry, solutions, thermodynamics, acids and bases, kinetics, equilibrium, and a brief introduction to organic chemistry.
Students conduct many traditional laboratory experiments to reinforce the content presented in the course. Typical experiments include determining the percent composition of a compound; comparing theoretical and percent yield in a chemical reaction; measuring the molar mass of a gaseous compound; exploring factors which affect the rate of a reaction; and conducting acid-base titrations. Lab time comprises at least twenty hours of the course contact time.
Note: Students just completing 7th grade are urged to take CTY’s Introduction to the Biomedical Sciences before taking this course. This course is intended for students who have completed 8th grade or above and who plan to continue on to honors or AP Chemistry.
Sample texts: Prentice Hall Chemistry, Wilbraham; an accompanying lab manual.
Lab Fee: $65
Session 1: Carlisle, Lancaster, Los Angeles, Saratoga Springs, Seattle
Session 2: Carlisle, Lancaster, Los Angeles, Saratoga Springs, Seattle
Physics & Engineering Course Descriptions and Syllabi
Electrical Engineering
Prerequisite: Algebra I.
The first transistor, created at Bell Laboratories in 1947, was about 4 cm in size. Today millions of transistors fit on a single computer processor chip about the size of a postage stamp. Innovations, such as the miniaturization of the transistor, are hallmarks of the exciting and challenging field of electrical engineering.
In this course, students begin by learning foundational concepts from electromagnetism. For instance, they map the electric field lines generated by an electric charge. They investigate current, voltage, resistance, energy, and magnetism. Students apply their conceptual understanding as they draw and analyze series and parallel circuits, using mathematical tools such as Ohm’s Law and Kirchoff’s laws. They then design and construct their own circuits, working with resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, and transistors. Students examine electromagnetism’s applications to practical, everyday devices such as motors, lifting magnets, and stereo speakers.
Finally, students are exposed to cutting edge topics in the field, including the physics behind solar cells and solid-state electronics. Students leave the course with a better understanding of electrical engineering and its many applications to everyday life.
Sample text: Materials compiled by the instructor.
Lab Fee: $65
Session 1: Carlisle, Los Angeles, Saratoga Springs
Session 2: Carlisle, Los Angeles, Saratoga Springs
Astrophysics
Prerequisite: Algebra I.
When the sun runs out of fuel, will it explode in a giant supernova or fade out into a white dwarf? Does every galaxy revolve around a super-massive black hole? Will the universe continue to expand, or will it eventually collapse back upon itself in a reversal of the Big Bang? Astrophysics—the branch of astronomy that studies the physical laws governing astronomical objects and the universe itself—is the key tool for determining how the universe works, how it started, and where it’s headed.
Students explore the structure of the universe by first learning about scale and distances of important astronomical objects such as planets, stars, and galaxies. Next, students focus on stellar evolution. They study the birth, life, and death of stars by examining the inner workings of stars and properties such as size, temperature, color, and luminosity. They also consider how objects such as neutron stars and black holes are formed.
Students investigate galaxies, including the Milky Way, comparing their shapes, compositions, and rotational speeds. They calculate distances to other galaxies using Hubble’s Law. Lastly, students explore topics in modern cosmology, such as the Big Bang and inflationary universe hypotheses, and consider the ultimate fate of the universe.
Note: Students who have taken one of CTY's astronomy courses should not take this course.
Sample text: Astronomy Today: Stars and Galaxies, Volume II, Chaisson and McMillan.
Lab Fee: $65
Session 1: Baltimore, Lancaster
Session 2: Baltimore, Lancaster
Fast-Paced High School Physics
Prerequisites: Algebra II (Trigonometry recommended).
This course covers material ordinarily included in a year-long, algebra-based introductory course in high school physics (the usual prerequisite for honors or AP Physics).
Topics covered include Newtonian mechanics, wave motion, geometric and wave optics, electricity and magnetism, circuits, thermodynamics, and elementary modern physics. In labs, students learn to measure and analyze error; determine gravitational acceleration; and experiment with refraction and diffraction of light, waves, simple circuit analysis, and the magnetic deflection of electrons. Lab time comprises at least twenty hours of the course contact time.
Sample text: Physics: Principles and Problems, Zitzewitz.
Lab Fee: $65
Session 1: Lancaster, Los Angeles, Saratoga Springs
Session 2: Carlisle, Lancaster, Los Angeles, Saratoga Springs
Advance Topics in Physics: Special Relativity
Prerequisite: Algebra II and trigonometry and either CTY’s Fast-Paced High School Physics or at least a “B” in conceptual physics or high school physics.
If a woman leaves Earth for a journey to a nearby star system and travels close to the speed of light, she will return much younger than her twin sister who has remained home. This is just one of the amazing, counterintuitive discoveries revealed by Albert Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity, which revolutionized physics. With perhaps the most famous equation in all of science, E = mc2, Einstein’s theory revealed that matter and energy are actually equivalent, setting the stage for atomic bombs and nuclear power plants. His theory also showed that time is a fourth dimension rather than distinct from space; that the length of an object depends on how fast it’s moving relative to an observer; and that even the passage of time depends on relative motion, making time travel theoretically possible.
Building upon concepts from introductory physics, students begin by studying the tension between Newtonian mechanics and the theory of electricity and magnetism in classical physics. They then shift their focus to Einstein’s groundbreaking solution, the Special Theory of Relativity. Topics covered include the principle of relativity and the light postulate, simultaneity, Lorentz transformations, relativistic kinematics and dynamics, light cones and the causal structure of spacetime, and Minkowski spacetime. Students also explore the basic concepts underlying Einstein’s later General Theory of Relativity. Students leave with an understanding of crucial modern developments in physics and the skills to analyze and understand the surprising universe in which we live.
Sample texts: Special Relativity, French; Relativity Simply Explained, Gardner.
Lab Fee: None; not a lab course.
Session 1: Not offered
Session 2: Lancaster
Investigations in Engineering
Prerequisite: Pre-calculus.
Engineering is an art that requires ingenuity, the ability to understand the components of a problem, facility in design, and the capacity to find creative solutions. This course exposes students to the excitement and challenges of scientific investigation.
This class asks students to do more than calculate solutions to well-posed, simplified problems. Rather, they are asked to translate problems often encountered by engineers (with no obvious solutions) into ones which can be tackled and resolved. These open-ended assignments require hands-on exploration. Some of the exploration uses a virtual environment with a set of laboratory experiments developed in HTML and Java. These exercises require students to develop a broad understanding of how to solve engineering problems. The virtual laboratory includes exercises such as drilling for oil, remote measurement, electronic circuit design, logical circuit design, and building a robotic arm.
Investigations in Engineering is a first-year college course developed by Professor Michael Karweit, a faculty member of the Whiting School of Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. It can be taken as a credit or non-credit course. Credit costs an additional $300 and must be arranged with JHU directly (not CTY). For more information, please visit the Investigations in Engineering page.
Note: Returning CTY students report that this course is particularly intense. We do not recommend it as a student’s first experience at CTY.
Sample text: Engineering and the Mind’s Eye, Ferguson.
Lab Fee: $65
Session 1: Baltimore
Session 2: Baltimore
Apply Now!
Eligibility Calculator
The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
5801 Smith Avenue
#400 McAuley Hall
Baltimore, Maryland 21209
410-735-4100 phone
410-735-6200 fax
Contact Us
En Espanol
