Science

The Science Department’s primary mission is to provide for all students a foundation of excellence in the study of science. Whether as scientists or as scientifically literate citizens, Exonians must be well-prepared to enter a world of increasing social and technological complexity. In order to assist students in reaching this goal, the science curriculum is designed to offer students a variety of opportunities to engage with the world around them—in the classroom, in the laboratory, and in field work.

Hands-on learning, both collaborative and individual, is at the heart of our course of instruction. The department considers the laboratory and the field to be its Harkness table, and students will have extensive practical experience. Therefore, classrooms in the Phelps Science Center and in the Grainger Observatory include both laboratory and discussion space. The department has integrated technology into the curriculum in a variety of guises, all designed to place the tools for discovery directly into the hands of the students.

The Science Department believes that successful scientific inquiry requires the integration of observational ability, quantitative skills, and analytical thinking; in all courses, students will be challenged to reason creatively and to think critically.

In keeping with the program broadly outlined above, the Phillips Exeter Academy Science Department strongly encourages students to take all three basic courses—biology, chemistry and physics—as a minimal preparation for college.