Biomedical Sciences
CIP 51.000 - Health Sciences Career Cluster
Printable One Page Fact Sheet: WE NOW OPERATE UNDER HEALTH SCIENCES CIP 51.0000
CTE_Biomedicalv2021.pdfWhat is the Biomedical program?
What is the Biomedical program?
biomed promo video 2020.m4vProgram Mission
Program Mission
To provide school to college or school to career preparation for careers in Biomedical Sciences and related fields. Working with the same equipment and tools used by lab professionals, PLTW Biomedical Science students are empowered to explore and find solutions to some of today’s most pressing medical challenges. Through scaffolded activities that connect learning to life, students step into the roles of biomedical science professionals and investigate topics including human medicine, physiology, genetics, microbiology, and public health. Students work together in teams to find unique solutions, and in the process, learn in-demand, transferable skills like critical thinking and communication.
To provide school to college or school to career preparation for careers in Biomedical Sciences and related fields. Working with the same equipment and tools used by lab professionals, PLTW Biomedical Science students are empowered to explore and find solutions to some of today’s most pressing medical challenges. Through scaffolded activities that connect learning to life, students step into the roles of biomedical science professionals and investigate topics including human medicine, physiology, genetics, microbiology, and public health. Students work together in teams to find unique solutions, and in the process, learn in-demand, transferable skills like critical thinking and communication.
The Course Sequence
The Course Sequence
1) Principles of Biomedical Sciences
1) Principles of Biomedical Sciences
The Principles of Biomedical Science (PBS) course provides an introduction to biomedical science through exciting hands-on projects and problems. Students investigate concepts of biology and medicine as they explore health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, sickle-cell disease, hypercholesterolemia, and infectious diseases. They will determine the factors that led to the death of a fictional woman as they sequentially piece together evidence found in her medical history and her autopsy report. Students will investigate lifestyle choices and medical treatments that might have prolonged the woman's life and demonstrate how the development of disease is related to changes in human body systems.
The Principles of Biomedical Science (PBS) course provides an introduction to biomedical science through exciting hands-on projects and problems. Students investigate concepts of biology and medicine as they explore health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, sickle-cell disease, hypercholesterolemia, and infectious diseases. They will determine the factors that led to the death of a fictional woman as they sequentially piece together evidence found in her medical history and her autopsy report. Students will investigate lifestyle choices and medical treatments that might have prolonged the woman's life and demonstrate how the development of disease is related to changes in human body systems.
The activities and projects in PBS introduce students to human physiology, basic biology, medicine, and research processes and allow students to design experiments to solve problems. Key biological concepts, including maintenance of homeostasis in the body, metabolism, inheritance of traits, and defense against disease are embedded in the curriculum. This course is designed to provide an overview of all the courses in the biomedical science program and lay the scientific foundation for subsequent courses.
The activities and projects in PBS introduce students to human physiology, basic biology, medicine, and research processes and allow students to design experiments to solve problems. Key biological concepts, including maintenance of homeostasis in the body, metabolism, inheritance of traits, and defense against disease are embedded in the curriculum. This course is designed to provide an overview of all the courses in the biomedical science program and lay the scientific foundation for subsequent courses.
Students practice problem solving with structured activities and progress to open-ended projects and problems that require them to develop planning, documentation, communication, and other professional skills. Student work involves the study of human medicine, research processes and an introduction to bioinformatics. Students investigate the human body systems and various health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, sickle-cell disease, hypercholesterolemia, and infectious diseases.
Students practice problem solving with structured activities and progress to open-ended projects and problems that require them to develop planning, documentation, communication, and other professional skills. Student work involves the study of human medicine, research processes and an introduction to bioinformatics. Students investigate the human body systems and various health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, sickle-cell disease, hypercholesterolemia, and infectious diseases.
2) Human Body Systems
2) Human Body Systems
In the Human Body Systems (HBS) course, students examine the interactions of body systems as they explore identity, communication, power, movement, protection, and homeostasis. Students design experiments, investigate the structures and functions of the human body, and use data acquisition software to monitor body functions such as muscle movement, reflex and voluntary action, and respiration. Exploring science in action, students build organs and tissues on a skeletal manikin, work through interesting real world cases, and often play the role of biomedical professionals to solve medical mysteries.
In the Human Body Systems (HBS) course, students examine the interactions of body systems as they explore identity, communication, power, movement, protection, and homeostasis. Students design experiments, investigate the structures and functions of the human body, and use data acquisition software to monitor body functions such as muscle movement, reflex and voluntary action, and respiration. Exploring science in action, students build organs and tissues on a skeletal manikin, work through interesting real world cases, and often play the role of biomedical professionals to solve medical mysteries.
Students practice problem solving with structured activities and progress to open-ended projects and problems that require them to develop planning, documentation, communication, and other professional skills. Students will engage in the study of the processes, structures, and interactions of the human body systems. Important biomedical concepts in the course include: communication, transport of substances, locomotion, metabolic processes, defense, and protection.
Students practice problem solving with structured activities and progress to open-ended projects and problems that require them to develop planning, documentation, communication, and other professional skills. Students will engage in the study of the processes, structures, and interactions of the human body systems. Important biomedical concepts in the course include: communication, transport of substances, locomotion, metabolic processes, defense, and protection.
3) Medical Interventions
3) Medical Interventions
Medical Interventions (MI) allows students to investigate the variety of interventions 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, reinforce concepts learned in the previous two courses, and present new content. Interventions may range from simple diagnostic tests to treatment of complex diseases and disorders. 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 that scientific thinking and engineering design play in the development of interventions of the future.
Medical Interventions (MI) allows students to investigate the variety of interventions 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, reinforce concepts learned in the previous two courses, and present new content. Interventions may range from simple diagnostic tests to treatment of complex diseases and disorders. 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 that scientific thinking and engineering design play in the development of interventions of the future.
Students practice problem solving with structured activities and progress to open-ended projects and problems that require them to develop planning, documentation, communication, and other professional skills.
Students practice problem solving with structured activities and progress to open-ended projects and problems that require them to develop planning, documentation, communication, and other professional skills.
4) Honors Biomedical Innovations
4) Honors Biomedical Innovations
Students design innovative solutions for the health challenges of the 21st century. 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 with a mentor or advisor from a university, hospital, research institution, or the biomedical industry.
Students design innovative solutions for the health challenges of the 21st century. 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 with a mentor or advisor from a university, hospital, research institution, or the biomedical industry.
Throughout the course, students are expected to present their work to an audience of STEM professionals. This course is designed for 12th grade students.
Throughout the course, students are expected to present their work to an audience of STEM professionals. This course is designed for 12th grade students.
The Career Technical Student Organization (CTSO)
The Career Technical Student Organization (CTSO)
HOSA - Future Health Professionals:
HOSA - Future Health Professionals:
HOSA's two-fold mission is to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people.
HOSA's two-fold mission is to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people.
Work Based Learning Experience
Work Based Learning Experience
Job Shadow: Students will have the opportunity to shadow at venues such as: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia- Emergency Room Pediatric Trauma Nurse; Athletic Trainers - Oakcrest High School’s Athletic Trainer/Science Teacher; Rothman Institute. Students will be responsible for keeping a journal of these experiences and the doctors/practitioners will be available to meet students before and after their shadowing to answer questions and help enrich their experience.
Job Shadow: Students will have the opportunity to shadow at venues such as: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia- Emergency Room Pediatric Trauma Nurse; Athletic Trainers - Oakcrest High School’s Athletic Trainer/Science Teacher; Rothman Institute. Students will be responsible for keeping a journal of these experiences and the doctors/practitioners will be available to meet students before and after their shadowing to answer questions and help enrich their experience.
Volunteer: We offer our students countless volunteer opportunities and summer programs. Two significant opportunities: 1. AtlantiCare Junior Volunteers and 2.Shore Memorial Junior Volunteers. At both of these locations, students will be immersed in hospital setting (with minimum patient contact as they are under 18) shadowing different professionals from various departments. They will volunteer a minimum of 3 hours/week during the summer. Another community serviced based organization, Lemon Club, is a club that has been adopted by our biomedical students. It is a student-run organization affiliated with Alex’s Lemonade Stand. Students hold events, fund raise and sell merchandise to raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and awareness for pediatric cancer
Volunteer: We offer our students countless volunteer opportunities and summer programs. Two significant opportunities: 1. AtlantiCare Junior Volunteers and 2.Shore Memorial Junior Volunteers. At both of these locations, students will be immersed in hospital setting (with minimum patient contact as they are under 18) shadowing different professionals from various departments. They will volunteer a minimum of 3 hours/week during the summer. Another community serviced based organization, Lemon Club, is a club that has been adopted by our biomedical students. It is a student-run organization affiliated with Alex’s Lemonade Stand. Students hold events, fund raise and sell merchandise to raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and awareness for pediatric cancer
College Articulation Agreements through PLTW
College Articulation Agreements through PLTW
*Must be applied for through institution of higher learning—
*Must be applied for through institution of higher learning—
See individual school information using above link to PLTW partners
See individual school information using above link to PLTW partners
Industry Valued Credentials
Industry Valued Credentials
*Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certification (summer- tuition fee)
*911 Dispatch Certification (summer—tuition fee)
*First Aid / CPR training—American Red Cross
* EKG Technician Certification