PRAXIS II

Topics Covered			Primary Coverage	Other Coverage
I. Scientific Methodology, Techniques, and History
	A. Methodology and Philosophy
		Demonstrate understanding of scientific methods of problem solving	BIOL 1111 BIOL 1111L BIOL 3500 BIOL 3650 SCI 3110 SCI 3110L	PHYS 4110
		Distinguish among scientific facts, models, theories and laws	BIOL 1111 BIOL 1111L BIOL 3500 BIOL 3650 SCI 3110
		Use science process skills in experiments and investigations, and to solve problems	BIOL 1111 BIOL 1111L BIOL 3500 SCI 3110L SCI 3120 (labs)
		Demonstrate understanding of experimental design	BIOL 1111 BIOL 1111L BIOL 3500 SCI 3110L SCI 3120 (labs)
		Demonstrate knowledge of the historical roots of science	BIOL 1111 BIOL 1112 BIOL 3500 BIOL 3650 SCI 3110	PHYS 4110
	B. Mathematics, Measurement, and Data Manipulation
		Demonstrate understanding of scientific measurement and notation systems	BIOL 1111L BIOL 3500 SCI 3110 SCI 3110L	BIOL 1111
		Demonstrate understanding of processes involved in scientific data collection, manipulation, interpretation, and presentation	BIOL 1111 BIOL 1111L BIOL 1112 BIOL 3500 SCI 3110 SCI 3110L
		Interpret and draw conclusions from data, including those presented in tables, graphs, maps, and charts	BIOL 1111 BIOL 1111L BIOL 3500 SCI 3120	PHYS 4110
		Identify and demonstrate an understanding of sources of error in data that is presented	BIOL 1112 BIOL 3500 SCI 3110L
	C. Laboratory Procedures and Safety
		Demonstrate understanding of procedures for safe preparation, storage, use, and disposal of laboratory and field materials	BIOL 1111L SCI 3110L SCI 3120 (labs)
		Identify laboratory and field equipment appropriate for scientific procedures	BIOL 1111L SCI 3110L SCI 3120 (labs)
		Demonstrate knowledge of safety and emergency procedures	BIOL 1111L SCI 3110L SCI 3120 (labs)
II. Basic Principles
	A. Matter and Energy
		Demonstrate understanding of the structure and properties of matter	BIOL 1111 SCI 3110 SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of the factors that influence the occurrence and abundance of the elements	BIOL 1111 SCI 3120
		Distinguish between physical and chemical changes of matter	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of the conservation of mass/energy	BIOL 1111 BIOL 1112 SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of energy transformations	BIOL 1111 BIOL 1112 BIOL 3500 SCI 3120
	B. Heat and Thermodynamics
		Distinguish between heat and temperature	SCI 3110
		Demonstrate understanding of measurement, transfer, and effects of thermal energy on matter	SCI 3110
		Solve quantitative problems dealing with the measurement and transfer or thermal energy	SCI 3110 SCI 3110L
		Demonstrate understanding of the First and Second Laws of thermodynamics	BIOL 1111 BIOL 1112 BIOL 3500 SCI 3110
	C. Atomic and Nuclear Structure
		Demonstrate understanding of atomic models and their experimental bases	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of atomic and nuclear structure and forces	SCI 3120
		Relate electron arrangement to the chemical and physical properties of an atom	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate knowledge of characteristics of radioisotopes and radioactivity (for example, half-life)	BIOL 1111 SCI 3120	PHYS 4110
		Identify products of nuclear reactions	SCI 3120	PHYS 4110
III. Physical Sciences
	A. Physics
		1. Mechanics
		Demonstrate understanding of (the variables involved in) straight-line motion, projectile motion, circular motion, and periodic motion	SCI 3110
		Demonstrate understanding of Newton’s laws of motion	SCI 3110
		Distinguish between weight and mass	SCI 3110
		Demonstrate understanding of friction	SCI 3110
		Distinguish among work, energy, and power	SCI 3110
		Demonstrate understanding of simple machines and torque	SCI 3110 SCI 3110L	BIOL 3650
		Demonstrate understanding of momentum	SCI 3110
		Demonstrate understanding of the conservation of energy and momentum	SCI 3110
		Demonstrate understanding of the force of gravity	SCI 3110
		Demonstrate understanding of Archimedes’ principle (buoyancy)
		Demonstrate understanding of Bernoulli’s principle
		Identify characteristics of the General Theory of Relativity	SCI 3110	PHYS 4110
		2. Electricity and Magnetism
		Demonstrate understanding of the repulsion and attraction of electric charges	SCI 3110
		Demonstrate understanding of the characteristics of current electricity and simple circuits (for example, resistance, electromotive force, potential difference, current)	SCI 3110 SCI 3110L
		Compare and contrast series and parallel circuits	SCI 3110
		Compare and contrast conductors and insulators	SCI 3110
		Apply Ohm’s law to series and parallel circuits	SCI 3110
		Compare and contrast direct current and alternating current	SCI 3110
		Identify sources of EMF (for example, batteries, Photocells, generators)	SCI 3110
		Demonstrate understanding of magnets, magnetic fields, and magnetic forces	SCI 3110 SCI 3110L
		Demonstrate understanding of how transformers and motors work	SCI 3110 SCI 3110L
		3. Waves
		Define and use the terms speed, amplitude, wavelength, and frequency	SCI 3110
		Distinguish between the characteristics of transverse and longitudinal waves	SCI 3110
		Demonstrate understanding of reflection, refraction, absorption, transmission, and scattering	SCI 3110
		Demonstrate understanding of diffraction and interference	SCI 3110
		Interpret the Doppler effect	SCI 3110
		Recognize the characteristics of sound waves (for example, pitch, loudness, speed)	SCI 3110
		Demonstrate understanding of how sound waves reproduced by the vibrations of air columns and strings	SCI 3110
		Characterize the electromagnetic spectrum (gamma rays to radio waves)	SCI 3110
		Demonstrate understanding of color and the visible spectrum (for example, addition and subtraction, relationship to wave frequency)	SCI 3110
		Demonstrate understanding of geometric optics (mirrors, lenses, prisms, fiber optics) and of polarization	SCI 3110 SCI 3110L
	B. Chemistry
		1. Periodicity
		Demonstrate understanding of the meaning of chemical periodicity	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of periodic trends in chemical and physical properties	SCI 3120
		2. The Mole and Chemical Bonding
		Demonstrate understanding of the mole concept and chemical composition	SCI 3120
		Interpret and use chemical formulas	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of the systematic nomenclature of inorganic compounds	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of the nomenclature of simple organic compounds	SCI 3120
		Identify the various types of bonds	SCI 3120
		Interpret electron dot and structural formulas	SCI 3120
		3. The Kinetic Theory and States of Matter
		Demonstrate understanding of kinetic molecular theory	SCI 3110
		Demonstrate understanding of phase changes	SCI 3110
		Demonstrate understanding of the relationships among temperature, pressure, volume, and number of molecules of a gas
		Demonstrate understanding of the characteristics of crystals	SCI 3120
		4. Chemical Reactions
		Demonstrate ability to balance chemical equations	SCI 3120
		Identify the various types of chemical reactions	SCI 3120
		Distinguish between endothermic and exothermic chemical reactions	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of the effects of temperature, pressure, concentration, and the presence of catalysts on chemical reactions	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of practical applications of electrochemistry
		5. Solutions and Solubility
		Use proper solution terminology and distinguish among types of solutions	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of various types of solvents and factors affecting the dissolving process	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of the effect of temperature and pressure on the solubility of a solute	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of the physical and chemical properties of acids, bases, and salts	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate knowledge of the meaning of pH and the effects of buffers	SCI 3120
IV. Life Sciences
	A. The Cell
		Demonstrate knowledge of the structure and function of organelles, including membranes	BIOL 1111 BIOL 1111L
		Distinguish between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells	BIOL 1111
		Demonstrate understanding of the cell cycle and cytokinesis	BIOL 1111 BIOL 1111L
		Demonstrate understanding of chemical reactions in respiration and photosynthesis	BIOL 1111 BIOL 1111L BIOL 1112
		Demonstrate understanding of mitosis and meiosis	BIOL 1111 BIOL 1111L
	B. Genetics
		Demonstrate understanding of DNA replication	BIOL 1111 BIOL 1111L
		Demonstrate understanding of the processes involved in protein synthesis	BIOL 1111
		Demonstrate understanding of the causes and results of mutation	BIOL 1111
		Demonstrate understanding of Mendelian inheritance (monohybrid and dihybrid crosses)	BIOL 1111
		Demonstrate understanding some aspects of non-Mendelian inheritance (for example, multiple alleles, multiple genes)	BIOL 1111
		Demonstrate knowledge of how recombinant DNA is constructed	BIOL 1111
		Identify uses of recombinant DNA (for example, in the production of ins ulin)	BIOL 1111
		Demonstrate understanding of the interaction between heredity and environment	BIOL 1111 BIOL 1112 BIOL 3650
		Identify chromosomal and gene aberrations that lead to common human genetic disorders (for example, Down syndrome)	BIOL 1111
	C. Evolution
		Identify evidence that supports the theory of evolution	BIOL 1111 BIOL 1111L BIOL 1112 BIOL 3650
		Demonstrate understanding of the mechanisms of evolution	BIOL 1111 BIOL 1111L BIOL 1112 BIOL 3650
		Demonstrate knowledge of isolating mechanisms and speciation	BIOL 1111L BIOL 1112 BIOL 3500 BIOL 3650	BIOL 1111
		Demonstrate understanding of the scientific hypotheses for the origin of life on Earth	BIOL 1111 BIOL 1112	BIOL 1111L
	D. Diversity of Life
		Demonstrate understanding of the levels of organization and characteristics of life	BIOL 1111 BIOL 1112 BIOL 3650
		Identify the elements of the hierarchical classification scheme into kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species	BIOL 1111 BIOL 3650	BIOL 1112
		Demonstrate knowledge of the characteristics of viruses, bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals	BIOL 1111 BIOL 1112
	E. Plants
		Demonstrate understanding of the characteristics of vascular and nonvascular plants		BIOL 1112
		Demonstrate understanding of the structure and function of roots, stems, and leaves	BIOL 1112
		Demonstrate understanding of control mechanisms (for example, hormones, photoperiods, and tropisms)
		Demonstrate understanding of water and nutrient uptake and transport systems	BIOL 1112
		Demonstrate understanding of sexual and asexual reproduction in plants	BIOL 1112
	F. Animals
		Demonstrate understanding of the anatomy and physiology of structures associated with life functions of organisms in the animal kingdom: digestion; circulation; respiration; excretion; nervous control; muscular- skeletal system; immunity; the endocrine system	BIOL 1112 BIOL 3650
		Demonstrate knowledge of homeostasis and how it’s maintained	BIOL 1112
		Demonstrate knowledge of how animals respond to stimuli	BIOL 3500
	G. Ecology
		Demonstrate understanding of population dynamics	BIOL 1112 BIOL 3500
		Demonstrate knowledge of social behaviors (for example, territoriality, dominance, altruism)	BIOL 3500
		Demonstrate understanding of intraspecific com petition	BIOL 1112 BIOL 3500
		Demonstrate understanding of interspecific relationships (for example, commensalism, mutualism, parasitism)	BIOL 1112 BIOL 3500
		Demonstrate understanding of succession	BIOL 1112 BIOL 3500
		Demonstrate understanding of the concepts of stability of ecosystems and the effects of disturbances	BIOL 1112 BIOL 3500
		Demonstrate understanding of energy flow (for example, trophic levels and food webs)	BIOL 1112 BIOL 3500
		Demonstrate understanding of biogeochemical cycles (for example, nitrogen, carbon, water)	BIOL 1112 BIOL 3500
		Identify the types and characteristics of biomes	BIOL 1112 BIOL 3500
V. Earth Science
	A. Physical Geology
		Demonstrate understanding of the processes of mineral and rock formation	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of the methods used to identify and classify different types of minerals, rocks, and soils	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate knowledge of the structure of the Earth and the physical characteristics of the various layers	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of the internal processes and resulting features of the Earth, including folding, faulting, earthquakes, and volcanoes	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of plate tectonic theory and the evidence that supports this theory	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of the hydrologic cycle andthe processes by which water moves through the cycle	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of the processes of weathering, erosion, and deposition	SCI 3120
	B. Historical Geology
		Demonstrate understanding of the principle of uniformitarianism	BIOL 3650 SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of the basics principles of stratigraphy	SCI 3120
		Distinguish between relative and absolute time	SCI 3120
		Recognize the processes involved in the formation of fossils	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of the types of information fossils provide	BIOL 3650 SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of the geologic time scale and how it was developed	BIOL 3650 SCI 3120
		Outline the sequence of Earth’s history	SCI 3120
	C. Oceanography
		Demonstrate understanding of the geographic location of oceans and seas	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of the processes involved in the formation and movement of ocean waves	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of the primary causes and factors that influence tides	BIOL 3500 SCI 3120
		Demonstrate knowledge of the major surface and deep-water currents in the oceans and the causes of these currents	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of the processes that influence the topography and landforms of the ocean floor and shorelines	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of the factors that influence the physical and chemical properties of seawater and nutrient cycles of the ocean	BIOL 3500
	D. Meteorology
		Demonstrate knowledge of the structure of the atmosphere and thermal and chemical properties of atmospheric layers	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate knowledge of the chemical composition of the atmosphere	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of the factors influencing seasonal and latitudinal variation of solar radiation	BIOL 3500 PHYS 4110 SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of the causes of global wind belts	BIOL 3500 SCI 3120
		Identify the factors that contribute to small-scale atmospheric circulation	SCI 3120
		Distinguish among the terms relative humidity, absolute humidity, dew point, and frost point	BIOL 3500 SCI 3120
		Demonstrate knowledge of various cloud and precipitation types and their formation	SCI 3120
		Characterize major types of air masses in terms of temperature, moisture content, and source areas	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of high- and low- pressure systems	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of the structure and movement of frontal systems (cold, warm, stationary, occluded) andthe air circulation around and weather associated with frontal systems	SCI 3120
		Interpret information on weather maps	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of the analyses needed to perform short-term weather forecasting and recognize some of the methods used to perform long-term weather forecasting	SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of the regional and local natural factors that affect climate	BIOL 3500 SCI 3120
		Demonstrate understanding of how humans affect and are affected by climate (for example, desertification, greenhouse effect, volcanic ash effect, El Niño)	BIOL 3500 SCI 3120
	E. Astronomy
		Demonstrate knowledge of the major theories of origin and structure of the universe	PHYS 4110
		Define and use large units of distance (for example, astronomical unit light- year, parsec)	PHYS 4110
		Demonstrate understanding of the origin and life cycle of stars	PHYS 4110
		Demonstrate understanding of the major theories involving the origin of the solar system	PHYS 4110
		Identify the major features and characteristics of the Sun and the source of the Sun’s energy	PHYS 4110
		Identify the components of the solar system and characterize the physical features and movements of the planets, asteroids, comets, and other solar system components	PHYS 4110
		Demonstrate understanding of the geometry of sun-Moon-Sun system and the causes of lunar and solar eclipses	PHYS 4110
		Demonstrate understanding of the causes of moon phases	PHYS 4110
		Demonstrate understanding of the causes of the Earth’s seasons	BIOL 3500 PHYS 4110
		Demonstrate knowledge of how units of time (for example, year, day, hour) are based on the Earth’s motions	PHYS 4110
		Demonstrate understanding of time zones on the Earth	PHYS 4110
		Demonstrate understanding of geosynchronous orbits and recognize how satellites have contributed to science and technology	PHYS 4110
		Recognize the contributions of manned and unmanned space missions and the present limitations of space exploration	PHYS 4110
		Recognize the scientific contributions of remote sensing	PHYS 4110
VI. Science, Technology, and Science
		Demonstrate understanding of the uses and applications of science and technology in daily life (e.g., production, transmission, and use of energy; production, storage, use, management, and disposal of consumer products; management of natural resources; nutrition and public health issues, agricultural practices, etc.)	BIOL 1111 BIOL 1112 BIOL 3500 BIOL 3650 SCI 3110	PHYS 4110
		Demonstrate understanding of the social, political, ethical and economic issues arising from the use of certain technologies (e.g., cloning, prolonging life, prenatal testing, etc.) andthe impact of science and technology on the environment and human affairs	BIOL 1111 BIOL 1112 BIOL 3500 BIOL 3650 SCI 3110