Career and Technical Education (CTE)

An Introduction to Engineering Design (IED) students are introduced to the engineering design process, applying math, science, and engineering standards to identify and design solutions to a variety of real problems. They work both individually and in collaborative teams to develop and document design solutions using engineering notebooks and 3D modeling software.

Estimated Homework Time: 2-5 hours/week

College & Career Connection: Engineering or Technology

Through problems that engage and challenge, students explore a broad range of engineering topics, including mechanisms, the strength of structures and materials, and automation. In Principles of Engineering (POE) Students develop skills in problem-solving, research, and design while learning strategies for design process documentation, collaboration, and presentation.

Estimated Homework Time: 3-6 hours/week

College & Career Connection: Engineering or Technology

From smartphones to appliances, digital circuits are all around us. This Digital Electronics (DE) course provides a foundation for students who are interested in electrical engineering, electronics, or circuit design. Students study topics such as combinational and sequential logic and are exposed to circuit design tools used in industry, including logic gates, integrated circuits, and programmable logic devices.

Estimated Homework Time: 3-5 hours/week

College & Career Connection: Engineering or Technology

Civil Engineering and Architecture (CEA) is a high school-level specialization course in the PLTW Engineering Program. In CEA students are introduced to important aspects of building and site design and development. They apply math, science, and standard engineering practices to design both residential and commercial projects and document their work using 3D architectural design software. Utilizing the activity-project-problem-based (APB) teaching and learning pedagogy, students will progress from completing structured activities to solving open-ended projects and problems that require them to develop planning, documentation, communication, and other professional skills.

Estimated Homework Time:  3-5 hours/week

College & Career Connection: Engineering or Technology

This course serves as a foundational course in the fields of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management for the development of competencies leading to entry-level industry employment. Students will examine the topics of food safety, sanitation, security procedures, professional knife skills, basic nutrition, and menu planning.  

They will apply skills through project-based learning in the areas of basic food preparation and the use of industrial equipment, procedures, terminology, and training. Throughout this course, technical, employability, and academic skills are integrated.  Students will be evaluated on their proficiency by the school and industry professionals.

Estimated Homework Time: 1 hr per day, this may vary

College & Career Connection:  After this course, students will decide whether to concentrate on “Front of the House”(Hospitality) or “Back of the House” (Culinary Arts, Baking & Pastry) 

Students will review and continue work toward mastery of knife skills, safety/sanitation/security procedures, nutrition concepts, and menu planning. They will also work towards mastery of intermediate-level food preparation and presentation, as well as the use of industrial equipment, procedures, and terminology. 

Through project-based learning experiences and presentations, the students will receive collaborative evaluations of competencies from school and industry professionals. Some of the following topics will be examined: baking yeast bread, researching careers, researching post-secondary education/training, exploring internships and jobs, and participating in culinary competitions. The culminating activity of this class is the preparation and serving of a buffet.

Estimated Homework Time: 1 hour per day, this may vary

College & Career Connection: After this course, students will decide whether to concentrate on “Front of the House”(Hospitality) or “Back of the House” (Culinary Arts, Baking & Pastry)

This is the third course in a three-year sequence of Culinary Arts.  This course is designed to continue industry standards-based instruction that will lead to the development of advanced level student competencies and subsequent industry employment. Industry-based unit topics will include cost control, equipment operation, vocabulary, and sanitation license criteria. The use of industry equipment, procedures, terminology, and training will be emphasized.

Estimated Homework Time: 1 hour per day, this may vary

College & Career Connection: Upon completion of this course, students will be prepared to pursue post-secondary education or enter the Culinary Arts and hospitality management industry in an entry-level position

The fall semester of the Introduction to Allied Health Sciences is an orientation level course in the Health Sciences cluster of Career and Technical Education (CTE) within Chicago Public Schools (CPS).  The course includes segments, which cover various health careers such as community health, nursing, rehabilitation services, medical office, radiology (x-ray), emergency medicine, dentistry, nutrition, and environmental health to name a few. The units of instruction includes the history of health care, health care systems, personal qualities of a health care worker, legal and ethical issues in health, communication, and safety. The course strongly reinforces "soft skills", which are needed to ensure the success of future health professionals. In the spring, students in this course take a college-level Medical Terminology course, BIO120, through City Colleges of Chicago, where students learn essential vocabulary for medical professionals related to human body systems.

Estimated Homework Time: 30 minutes -1.0 hours per day

College & Career Connections: Medical Office Administrative Assistant, Phlebotomist, Pharmacy Technician, ECG Technician, or CNA.  Upon completion of several stackable certifications, they will be eligible to take the exam for Patient Care Technician (PCT) 

The first semester of this second-level course will build on the foundation laid in Introduction to Health Sciences, providing students with a more in-depth overview of the health care system. The course will include a more extensive study of basic health care skills.  Topics include human growth and development, nutrition and wellness, geriatric care, vital signs, First Aid & CPR, infection control, and a strong emphasis on Medical Terminology. Upon completion of this course, students will sample the work of at least three health care careers, and be able to communicate different pathways to various healthcare careers: specifically education and certification requirements. In the spring semester, students enroll in college-level Anatomy and Physiology, BIO116 through City Colleges of Chicago. This course covers human structure and function from the cellular level to organ systems, including common laboratory and medical techniques.

Students will participate in numerous lab activities and class discussions. Field trips to hospitals, health care professional speakers, and medical labs will further aid the student with the selection of a future career in medicine. Volunteer work and work-based learning experiences are required of this course where students will receive advanced training, service-learning hours, and potentially certification in areas of interest by the third year in the program. 

Estimated Homework Time: 30 minutes -1.0 hours per day 

College & Career Connections: Medical Office Administrative Assistant, Phlebotomist, Pharmacy Technician, ECG Technician, or CNA.  Upon completion of several stackable certifications, they will be eligible to take the exam for Patient Care Technician (PCT). 

This third level course will build on the foundation laid in Allied Health I, providing students with an overview of pathophysiology and disease the health care system. The course will include a more extensive study of careers and training in basic health care skills as it relates to the impact of disorders on the various body systems.  Topics include diseases in the integumentary, digestive, neurologic, endocrine, cardiovascular systems and others.  During this year, students will be sent from the school to participate in Senior Practicums located at various local hospitals and health care centers.  While at the practicum site, they will be placed in various departments according to their interests or hospital needs.  Students will also have the opportunity to apply to train in a particular field for certification. 

Estimated Homework Time: 30 minutes -1.0 hours per day

College & Career Connections: Medical Office Administrative Assistant, Phlebotomist, Pharmacy Technician, ECG Technician, or CNA.  Upon completion of several stackable certifications, they will be eligible to take the exam for Patient Care Technician (PCT).