Project Lead the way

Find more information about this program under the "Special Programs" link.

Biomedical Science Course Descriptions

Principles of Biomedical Science (PBS)

Grade: 9-10             Credit: 1.0 Practical Art       Length: Year

Prerequisite: none

Course Description: From design and data analysis to outbreaks, clinical empathy, health promotion, and more, students explore the vast range of careers in biomedical sciences. They develop not just technical skills, but also in-demand, transportable skills that they need to thrive in life and career. College Credit is available. 

Human Body Systems (HBS)

Grade: 10-11             Credit: 1.0 Practical Art       Length: Year

Prerequisite: Successful completion of PBS

Course Description: Human Body Systems (HBS) is a full-year high school course designed to follow Principles of Biomedical Science (PBS) in the PLTW Biomedical Science pathway. The HBS course provides foundational knowledge and skills in anatomy and physiology, clinical medicine, and laboratory research. The course engages students in how this content can be applied to real-world situations, cases, and problems. The HBS course includes interviews, challenges, and testimonials from biomedical professionals in a variety of settings—clinical, research, and public health.

Medical Interventions (MI)

Grade: 11-12             Credit: 1.0 Practical Art       Length: Year

Prerequisite: Successful completion of PBS & HBS

Course Description: Students become involved in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease as they follow the lives of a fictitious family. A "How-To" manual for maintaining overall health and homeostasis in the body, the course will explore how to prevent and fight infection, how to screen and evaluate the code in our DNA, how to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer, and how to prevail when the organs of the body begin to fail. Through these scenarios, students will be exposed to the wide range of interventions related to Immunology, Surgery, Genetics, Pharmacology, Medical Devices, and Diagnostics. Each family case scenario will introduce multiple types of interventions and will reinforce concepts learned in the previous two courses. These interventions will be showcased across the generations of the family and will provide a look at the past, present, and future of biomedical science. Lifestyle choices and preventive measures are emphasized throughout the course as well as the important role scientific thinking and engineering design play in the development of interventions of the future. 

Biomedical Innovations (BI)

Grade: 12             Credit: 1.0 Practical Art       Length: Year

Prerequisite: Successful completion of PBS, HBS, & MI

Course Description: In this capstone course, students apply their knowledge and skills to answer questions or solve problems related to the biomedical sciences. Students design innovative solutions for the health challenges of the 21st century as they work through progressively challenging open-ended problems, addressing topics such as clinical medicine, physiology, biomedical engineering, and public health. They have the opportunity to work on an independent project and many work with a mentor or advisor from a university, hospital, physician's office, or industry. Throughout the course, students are expected to present their work to an adult audience that may include representatives from the local business and healthcare community. College credit is available. 

Engineering Course Descriptions

Introduction to Engineering and Design (IED)

Grade: 9-10             Credit: 1.0 Practical Art       Length: Year

Prerequisite: none

Course Description: This course is a foundation course in the Engineering Academy that teaches students problem-solving skills using the design and production process. Hands-on labs and Inventor design software are used as learning tools for students to design and produce projects related to industry. Students should take this as the first course in the sequence of courses offered in the Engineering Academy program. 

Principles of Engineering (POE)

Grade: 10-11             Credit: 1.0 Practical Art       Length: Year

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Algebra 1

Course Description: This course is a foundation course in the Engineering Academy that helps students understand the field of engineering by exploring various technology systems and manufacturing processes. Students learn how engineers use math, science, and technology in the engineering problem solving process. Hands-on labs and Inventor software are used as learning tools. This is the second course in the sequence of courses offered in the Engineering Academy program. College credit is available. 

Robotics and Automation (Computer Integrated Manufacturing)

Grade: 10-12             Credit: 1.0 Practical Art       Length: Year

Prerequisite: none

Course Description: Manufacturing transforms ideas into projects. Learn the skills needed for this high demand field. This course provides an opportunity to develop a better understanding of this innovative and exciting industry. Students will learn about the manufacturing processes, product design, robotics and automation. Students will develop their knowledge and skills of Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing to produce projects using a Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) mill. Students will apply the knowledge and skills gained in this course as they collaborate to design, build, and program factory systems models. Students can earn a virtual manufacturing badge recognized by the National Manufacturing Badge system.

Civil Engineering and Architecture (CEA) (Offered based on enrollment)

Grade: 11-12             Credit: 1.0 Practical Art       Length: Year

Prerequisite: none

Course Description: This course involves completion of long-term projects which involve the development of property sites. Students have freedom to develop the property as they apply aspects of civil and architectural engineering to the project. Using 3D design software, students work in teams exploring hands-on activities to learn the characteristics of civil engineering and architecture. Also, students learn about documenting their project, solving problems, and communicating solutions to both peers and members of the professional civil engineering and architecture community. (Offered based on student interest) 

Aerospace Engineering (AE) (Offered based on enrollment)

Grade: 11-12             Credit: 1.0 Practical Art       Length: Year

Prerequisite: none

Course Description: This course involves completion of long-term projects which involve the development of property sites. Students have freedom to develop the property as they apply aspects of civil and architectural engineering to the project. Using 3D design software, students work in teams exploring hands-on activities to learn the characteristics of civil engineering and architecture. Also, students learn about documenting their project, solving problems, and communicating solutions to both peers and members of the professional civil engineering and architecture community. (Offered based on student interest) 

PLTW Capstone

Grade: 12             Credit: 1.0 Practical Art       Length: Year

Prerequisite: Successful completion of two PLTW Engineering courses 

Course Description: This is the capstone course in the PLTW high school engineering and computer science programs. It is a research course in which students work in teams to design and develop an original solution to a valid open-ended technical problem by applying the design process. The course applies and concurrently develops secondary level knowledge and skills in mathematics, science, and technology. Students will perform research to choose, validate, and justify a technical problem. After carefully defining the problem, teams of students will design, build, and test their solution. Finally, student teams will present and defend their original solution to an outside panel. While progressing through the design process, students will work closely with experts and will continually hone their organizational, communication and interpersonal skills, their creative and problem solving abilities, and their understanding of the design process. College credit is available. 

Computer Science

Computer Science Essentials

Grade: 9-12             Credit: 1.0 Practical Art       Length: Year

Prerequisite: none

Course Description: Computer Science Essentials is an introductory course. You will use visual, block-based programming and seamlessly transition to text-based programming with languages such as Python® to create apps and develop websites, and learn how to make computers work together to put their design into practice. You will be exposed to a diverse set of computational thinking concepts, fundamentals, and tools, allowing them to gain understanding and build confidence. You will apply computational thinking practices, build your computer vocabulary, and collaborate just as computing professionals do to create products that address topics and problems.

AP Computer Science Principles (Offered 25-26)

Grade: 9-12             Credit: 1.0 Practical Art       Length: Year

Prerequisite: A "C" or better in Computer Science Essentials or instructor approval

Course Description: Computer Science Principles helps students develop programming expertise and explore the workings of the Internet. Projects and problems include app development, visualization of data, cybersecurity, and simulation. Using Python as the primary tool and incorporating multiple platforms and languages for computation, this course aims to develop computational thinking, generate excitement about career paths that utilize computing, and introduce professional tools that foster creativity and collaboration. This course is recognized by the College Board as AP Computer Science Principles. 

Cyber Security (Offered 26-27)

Grade: 11-12             Credit: 1.0 Practical Art       Length: Year

Prerequisite: A "C" or better in AP Computer Science Principles AND approval of instructor and Director of Technology 

Course Description: Cybersecurity introduces the tools and concepts of cybersecurity and encourages students to create solutions that allow people to share computing resources while protecting privacy. Nationally, computational resources are vulnerable and frequently attacked; in Cybersecurity, students solve problems by understanding and closing these vulnerabilities. This course raises students’ knowledge of and commitment to ethical computing behavior. It also aims to develop students’ skills as consumers, friends, citizens, and employees who can effectively contribute to communities with a dependable cyber-infrastructure that moves and processes information safely

AP Computer Science A

Grade: 11-12             Credit: 1.0 Practical Art       Length: Year

Prerequisite: A "C" or better in AP Computer Science Principles or Instructor Approval

Course Description: AP Computer Science A introduces students to computer science through programming. Fundamental topics in this course include the design of solutions to problems, the use of data structures to organize large sets of data, the development and implementation of algorithms to process data and discover new information, the analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing systems. The course emphasizes object-oriented programming and design using the Java programming language.