This pathway prepares individuals to apply scientific and mathematical principles to the design, development, and implementation of automated and robotic systems. The pathway includes instruction in materials science and engineering, manufacturing processes, process engineering, assembly and product engineering, robotic systems design, and manufacturing competitiveness. Automation Engineers plan the practices of manufacturing by researching and developing tools, processes, machines, and equipment to integrate the facilities and systems for producing quality products with the optimal expenditure of capital.
KDE Suggested Academic Attainment by Completion of Pathway: Minimum of Pre-Calculus, Physics, Chemistry
An Engineering Scholar will become postsecondary ready after successful completion of one (1) of the following:
Engineering Industry Certification
KDE approved Dual Credit Course aligned to the CTE Pathway
Pathway Course Sequence
Class of 2028 and Beyond Pathway Course Sequence
Grade level: 9-12
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: None
This course applies the skills, concepts, and principles of engineering. Students explore various technological systems and engineering processes in related career fields. Topics include investigating technological system, design optimization, and problem solving. Students utilize CAD and physical and virtual modeling concepts to construct, test, collect, and report data. Participation in Kentucky Technology Student Association will greatly enhance instruction.
Grade level: 10-12
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: 210221 Engineering I
This course is a project and research-based course that extends the learning experiences where students focus on mechanical, electrical, fluid and thermal systems allowing in-depth exploration in selected disciplines of engineering areas such as manufacturing, power/energy/ transportation, robotics, hydraulics, electricity/electronics, communications, construction systems, alternative energy, computer-aided design, and problem-solving. Participation in Kentucky Technology Student Association (TSA) will greatly enhance instruction.
Grade level: 10-12
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: 210221 Engineering I and/or Engineering II
This course provides students with the foundation in content and skills associated with robotics and automation, including artificial intelligence, electronics, physics, and principles of engineering. Participation in Kentucky Technology Student Association will greatly enhance instruction.
Grade level: 10-12
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: None
An introduction to additive rapid prototyping manufacturing (three-dimensional printing), and its applications in conjunction with computer technology, including hardware, software, three-dimensional printing technology, file management, internet, security, and computer intellectual property ethics. Presents basic use of applications, programming, systems, and utility software.
Class of 2027 Pathway Course Sequence
Grade level: 9-12
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: None
This course applies the skills, concepts, and principles of engineering. Students explore various technological systems and engineering processes in related career fields. Topics include investigating technological system, design optimization, and problem solving. Students utilize CAD and physical and virtual modeling concepts to construct, test, collect, and report data. Participation in Kentucky Technology Student Association will greatly enhance instruction.
Grade level: 9-12
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: None
This course provides students with the foundation in content and skills associated with robotics and automation, including artificial intelligence, electronics, physics, and principles of engineering. Participation in Kentucky Technology Student Association will greatly enhance instruction.
Grade level: 10-12
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: 210221 Engineering I
This course is a project and research-based course that extends the learning experiences where students focus on mechanical, electrical, fluid and thermal systems allowing in-depth exploration in selected disciplines of engineering areas such as manufacturing, power/energy/ transportation, robotics, hydraulics, electricity/electronics, communications, construction systems, alternative energy, computer-aided design, and problem-solving. Participation in Kentucky Technology Student Association (TSA) will greatly enhance instruction.
Grade level: 9-12
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: None
An introduction to additive rapid prototyping manufacturing (three-dimensional printing), and its applications in conjunction with computer technology, including hardware, software, three-dimensional printing technology, file management, internet, security, and computer intellectual property ethics. Presents basic use of applications, programming, systems, and utility software.
Class of 2026 Pathway Course Sequence
Grade level: 9-12
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: None
This course applies the skills, concepts, and principles of engineering. Students explore various technological systems and engineering processes in related career fields. Topics include investigating technological system, design optimization, and problem solving. Students utilize CAD and physical and virtual modeling concepts to construct, test, collect, and report data. Participation in Kentucky Technology Student Association will greatly enhance instruction.
Grade level: 9-12
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: None
This course provides students with the foundation in content and skills associated with robotics and automation, including artificial intelligence, electronics, physics, and principles of engineering. Participation in Kentucky Technology Student Association will greatly enhance instruction.
Grade level: 9-12
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: None
An introduction to additive rapid prototyping manufacturing (three-dimensional printing), and its applications in conjunction with computer technology, including hardware, software, three-dimensional printing technology, file management, internet, security, and computer intellectual property ethics. Presents basic use of applications, programming, systems, and utility software.
Pathway Elective Courses
Grade level: 9-12
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: 110110 Computer Literacy
AP Computer Science Principles introduces students to the breadth of the field of computer science. In this course, students will learn to design and evaluate solutions and to apply computer science to solve problems through the development of algorithms and programs. They will incorporate abstraction into programs and use data to discover new knowledge. Students will also explain how computing innovations and computing systems, including the Internet, work, explore their potential impacts, and contribute to a computing culture that is collaborative and ethical. It is important to note that the AP Computer Science Principles course does not have a designated programming language. Teachers have the flexibility to choose a programming language(s) that is most appropriate for their students to use in the classroom. Students spend at least 20 hours of programming and applying learned concepts through programming. (Programming is defined, by the K-12 CS Framework, as the craft of analyzing problems and designing, writing, testing, and maintaining programs to solve them). College credit is earned with a qualifying score on an AP exam. Participation in Kentucky Technology Student Association or SkillsUSA will greatly enhance instruction.
Grade level: 11-12
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: None
This course is an introduction to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). A history of UAS, typical applications and an overview of regulations, airframe and powerplant systems, sensors, ground control stations, airspace, weather, and other foundational skills needed to safely operate UAS in the U.S. airspace systems will be covered. This course will incorporate hands-on practical applications and will give students the opportunity to design, build, and pilot UAS, both remotely and autonomously. Students will be prepared to complete the Federal Aviation Administration's Part 107 Remote Pilot written exam upon completion of this course. Participation in Kentucky Technology Student Association will greatly enhance instruction.
Grade level: 12
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: None
Engineering scope, content, and professional practices are presented through practical applications in this capstone course. Students in engineering teams apply technology, Kentucky Academic Standards, and skills to solve engineering design problems and create innovative designs. Students research, develop, test and analyze engineering designs using criteria such as design effectiveness, public safety, human factors and ethics. Participation in Kentucky Technology Student Association will greatly enhance instruction. One option is UK’s College of Engineering Transition to Engineering course. This course introduces students to creativity that is inherent in how engineers and computer scientists approach innovation, design, and problem solving. Students are introduced to general engineering content, tools of the trade, and ethical implications of creative engineering endeavors. Students will engage in a hands-on project with an emphasis on problems and techniques common across various engineering domains with a focus on coding.
Grade level: 11-12
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: Meet Fusion Work-Based Learning Program Criteria
Internship for CTE courses provides supervised work-site experience for high school students associated with their identified career pathway. Internship experiences consist of a combination of classroom instruction and field experiences. Participation in Kentucky Technology Student Association will greatly enhance instruction.
Grade level: 12
Credit: 2
Prerequisite: Meet Fusion Work-Based Learning Program Criteria
Cooperative education is a paid educational program consisting of in-school instruction combined with program-related on-the-job work experience in a business or industrial establishment. These are planned experiences supervised by the school and the employer to ensure that each phase contributes to the student's Individual Learning Plan (ILP). Refer to the KDE Work-Based Learning Manual for further specifications. Participation in Kentucky Technology Student Association will greatly enhance instruction.
Industry Certification Opportunities
FAA Remote Pilot Certificate
OR
NOCTI CAD Foundations
OR
FCR-01 FANUC Certified Robot Operator-1
OR
End of Program Assessment - Automation Engineering (A passing score on the CTE EOP Assessment may earn articulated credit.)