Apologia Educational Ministries was founded in 1996, and has since helped many homeschooling families by producing high-quality, easy-to-use science curriculum resources. The company is above all else, a Christian organization, and they strive to stay true to their faith base while providing curriculum that is current and accurate.
The program’s science materials are available for elementary, junior high and high school students. Available courses include general science, physical science, physics, marine biology, astronomy, botany, zoology, anatomy and physiology. Along with the textbooks, Apologia biology textbooks, Apologia chemistry textbooks and Apologia physics textbooks being some of the popular choices, the company also sells any materials needed to perform the lessons, such as lab equipment and various multimedia options. Some science courses, such as chemistry, biology and physics offer advanced curriculum as well, in case students wish to delve further into a particular subject.
For homeschoolers who prefer to have more personal interaction with teachers and other students, the website offers an online academy for students who are currently in 7th-12th grade. These online classes are not only offered for science courses, but also include courses on bible, apologetics & worldview.
Although course choices are ultimately up to the parents of each child, Apologia can help you plan your science curriculum if that is desired. The website offers course sequencing information that can help students and parents get the most out of their classroom resources. If further direction is still needed, Apologia ‘s educational experts are always available for individualized recommendations.
It should be noted that the curriculum does not include teacher’s editions, but they are not really needed anyway since the courses are designed for independent study. The textbooks do come with separate manuals that contain the solutions to all of the practice, review and test questions, so these are really all that a parent needs to be able to teach these courses effectively.
Many homeschooling parents have asked if the website’s science materials are college preparatory. The answer is a resounding “yes”. The writer of the scientific curriculum is a man named Dr. Wile, who is a former college professor. When writing the textbooks and other study materials, Dr. Wile was careful to include everything that would be expected for first-year college students to know when they enter their university level science classes.
Apologia continues to care about their students even after they graduate from their homeschooling classes. In fact, they currently offer three scholarship opportunities for former homeschooling students. These scholarships are made possible by Apologia Mission, a non-profit affiliate of Apologia Educational Ministries.