Science is the study of Nature; it probes the mysteries of life and the secrets of the Cosmos. Science represents truths common to all people, a shared wealth of knowledge and possibilities for all humanity.  In its rejection of dogma and insistence on investigation and discovery, the scientific method has great affinity with fundamental Quaker values. Indeed, as every individual bears the “light within,” so does Nature herself bear the Lumen Naturalis, the objective truth of Nature which scientists have sought through the ages.

In the context of an increasingly technological world, the science curriculum at Friends Seminary helps to empower students. Beyond particular skills and ideas, students should develop a sense of what is at stake in the process of science as such, as well as what validity to attribute to the truths that emerge from this process. Only with this perspective will students be able to take their place both as responsible citizens in a technological society, as well as citizens of the Earth and of the Cosmos.

The Science Department at Friends is committed to making science accessible to all students. To this end, the curriculum is designed to instill a sense of competency by building a firm foundation in all the sciences and by addressing the need for students with different learning styles. Each student is required to complete at least three years science coursework, two of which must be laboratory science.  For students entering the ninth grade, the course sequence is as follows: Physics in the ninth grade, Chemistry in the tenth grade, and Biology (recommended) in the eleventh grade. In addition, students are invited to choose from science electives that are offered. Placement of students in advanced courses and approval for advanced courses is determined by the Science Department. Placement is based upon the student’s prior performance in science courses and preferred learning style as indicated by previous teachers or the students themselves. In all cases, students are placed where they will have the greatest opportunity to experience challenge and success.