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Engineering Academy Required Courses

A total of four courses or five (computer engineering), an internship and one year of an after school course are required for each Engineering Academy student. There are eight engineering courses taught during the regular school day, which are Introduction to Design (ID),Honors Introduction to Engineering Design (IED), Architectural Design 1-2 (AD), Honors Principles of Engineering (POE), Honors Civil Engineering and Architecture (CEA), Honors Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM), AP Computer Science Principles (CSP), and Honors PLTW Capstone. There are two courses taught after school, which are Science Olympiad and Robotics (which Robotics is a course and Science Olympiad a club). Students are expected to be part of one of these after-school programs for one year of high school in order to receive the “Engineering Academy Certificate of Completion” recognition. In addition to the regular school day and after-school courses, students are required to enroll in an Engineering Internship through PUSD during their senior year. Northrop Grumman, Palomar Technologies and other companies in Poway provide opportunities for high school interns through PUSD.

Engineering Academy “Core” Course Descriptions

Below is a list of courses that are included in the Engineering Academy “core”. These courses can also be found in the Poway High School Course Catalog. Students choosing to enroll in courses as an exploration pathway can take courses in any order or amount. Students choosing to commit to the academy through the application process must take two Foundations courses (one design + one applied science), one specialization course, the capstone, an internship, plus one after school course for a year. If you are intending to complete the computer engineering focus, then you need to complete both CIM and CSP.

TWO FOUNDATIONAL COURSES

Design Courses: (Choose one)

Introduction to Design (ID), or

Honors Introduction to Engineering Design (IED)

Recommended Prerequisite: None

Introduction to Design or Honors Introduction to Engineering Design is a project-based course that concentrates on the Engineering Design process focusing on the Principles and Elements of Design, 3D Modeling, Reverse Engineering, and Design Challenges. Students will learn how to use professional software designing a toy car and other projects of their very own, such as a marshmallow cannon or automata and building a functional prototype. Its lots of fun as students get to work with peers designing and coming up with solutions to engineering problems through competitions or games. The course work is primarily in class with little homework. As part of the national Project Lead the Way Engineering pathway curricula students will take a national engineering test to receive college credit to any university or college. Introduction to Design meets PUSD and UC/CSU ‘f’ College Prep Elective Credit. Honors Introduction to Engineering Design meets PUSD and UC/CSU ‘d’ Science Elective Credit or UC/CSU ‘g’ College Prep Elective Credit.

Architectural Design 1-2 (AD)

Recommended Prerequisite: None

Architectural Design 1-2 focuses on the art of architecture. Students will study the history of architecture and design a set of architectural plans using Computer Aided Design software (Autodesk Revit) of their dream home. Students will have fun as they create a 3D model of their future dream house and create an interior design plan. The course includes the study and application of the elements and principles of design, the study of the history of ancient architecture from Stonehenge to Baroque and its relevant vocabulary and structural devices, and an introduction to basic sketching and technical drawing skills. The course work is primarily in class with little homework. Architectural Design 1-2 meets PUSD and UC/CSU ‘f’ Fine Art Elective Credit. Students who register for Palomar College and receive a B or better in the course will receive college credit transferable to any university or college.

Applied Science Course:

Honors Principles of Engineering (POE)

Recommended Prerequisite: Integrated Math 1

Honors Principles of Engineering is a UC Honors hands on project based course where students are exposed to many core concepts in physics and engineering that they will encounter in a postsecondary engineering course of study, including kinematics, energy , power, materials, structures, control systems, and statistics. As part of the Project Lead the Way National Engineering pathway curricula, this course provides students the opportunity to develop skills and gain an understanding of engineering concepts through laboratory activities, projects, and problem-based learning. It’s lots of fun as students will work with fuel cell technology by building a fuel cell car and boat, learn about civil engineering by designing bridges, create electronic projects, and design, code and build robots for future space exploration. The course work is primarily in class with little homework. As part of the National Project Lead the Way Engineering pathway curricula students will take a national engineering test to receive college credit to any university or college. For PUSD graduation requirements, the course fulfills your UC/CSU ‘g’ College Prep Elective Credit or your UC/CSU ‘d’ Science Credit counting toward your 3rd year of science for college admittance. This course is on a weighted 5.0 scale.

ONE/TWO SPECIALIZATION COURSE SELECTION BY PATHWAY

NOTE: Choose CIM, CEA, or CIM/CSP specialization course(s) to complete the Academy or anyone to complete the pathway, or you can enroll in all three. CIM or CSP can be taken for the pathway singly. For the Academy both CIM and CSP are required if you are choosing the Computer Engineering Pathway. Both the Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering Architecture only require one specialization course.

Honors Civil Engineering and Architecture (CEA)

Recommended Prerequisite: Architectural Design 1-2 (AD)(Encouraged), Introduction to Engineering Design (IED), Introduction to Design (ID) or Principles of Engineering (POE)

Civil Engineering and Architecture is a specialization course in the sequence of Project Lead the Way Engineering courses. This course provides an overview of the fields of Civil Engineering and Architecture, while emphasizing the interrelationship and dependence of both fields upon each other. Students use state of the art software to solve real world problems and communicate solutions to hands-on projects and activities. This course covers topics such as: Project Planning, Site Planning, Building Design, Project Documentation and Presentation. Students learn 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 architecture design software. As part of the National Project Lead the Way Engineering pathway curricula students will take a national engineering test to receive college credit to any university or college. For PUSD graduation requirements, the course fulfills your UC/CSU ‘g’ College Prep Elective Credit or your UC/CSU ‘d’ Science Credit counting toward your 3rd year of science for college admittance.

Honors Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM)

Recommended Prerequisite: Architectural Design 1-2 (AD), Engineering Geometry (EG), Introduction to Engineering Design (IED), Introduction to Design (ID) or Principles of Engineering (POE)

Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) is the study of manufacturing planning, integration, and implementation of automation. The course explores manufacturing history, individual processes, systems, and careers. In addition to technical concepts, the course incorporates finance, ethics, and engineering design. This reflects an integrated approach that leading manufacturers have adopted to improve safety, quality, and efficiency. Utilizing the activity-project-problem-based (APPB) teaching and learning pedagogy, students will analyze, design, and build manufacturing systems. While implementing these designs, students will continually hone their interpersonal skills, creative abilities, and understanding of the design process. Students apply knowledge gained throughout the course in a final open-ended problem to build a factory system. CIM is one of the specialization courses in the Project Lead The Way high school engineering program. The course applies and concurrently develops secondary-level knowledge and skills in mathematics, science, and technology. As part of the National Project Lead the Way Engineering pathway curricula students will take a national engineering test to receive college credit to any university or college. For PUSD graduation requirements, the course fulfills your UC/CSU ‘g’ College Prep Elective Credit or your UC/CSU ‘d’ Science Credit counting toward your 3rd year of science for college admittance.

AP Computer Science Principles (CSP)

Recommended Prerequisite: Principles of Engineering (POE), Pre-Engineering and Design, or Introduction to Computer Science

Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles(CSP) uses Python® as a primary tool and incorporating multiple platforms andlanguages 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. Computer Science Principles helps students develop programming expertise and explore the workings of the Internet. Projects and problems include app development for cell phones and computers, visualization of data, cybersecurity, and simulation. This course meets PUSD and UC/CSU ‘g’ College Prep Elective Credit.

NOTE: Choose CIM, CEA, or CIM/CSP specialization course(s) to complete the Academy or anyone to complete the pathway, or you can enroll in all three. CIM or CSP can be taken for the pathway singly. For the Academy both CIM and CSP are required if you are choosing the Computer Engineering Pathway. Both the Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering Architecture only require one specialization course.

CAPSTONE COURSES

Engineering Design and Development (EED)

Recommended Prerequisite: Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM), Civil Engineering and Architecture (CEA), and/or AP Computer Science Principles (CSP)

Engineering Design and Development (EDD) is the capstone course in the PLTW high school engineering program. It is an engineering 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 engineering design process. The course applies and concurrently develops secondary level knowledge and skills in mathematics, science, and technology. Utilizing the activity-project-problem-based (APPB) teaching and learning pedagogy, 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 engineering 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. Engineering Design and Development is a high school level course that is appropriate for 12th grade students. Since the projects on which students work can vary with student interest and the curriculum focuses on problem solving, EDD is appropriate for students who are interested in any technical career path. EDD should be taken as the final capstone PLTW course since it requires application of the knowledge and skills from the PLTW foundation courses. For PUSD graduation requirements, the course fulfills your UC/CSU ‘g’ College Prep Elective Credit or your UC/CSU ‘d’ Science Credit counting toward your 3rd year of science for college admittance.

Internship

Recommended Prerequisite: Computer Integrated Manufacturing(CIM), Civil Engineering and Architecture (CEA), AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) or Engineering Design and Development (EED)

Internships will be managed through the Career Technical Education (CTE) and Poway High School counseling. CTE currently offers several internships with Northrop Grumman. Students completing this internship or any internship with Poway Unified School District in conjunction with enrollment in the PUSD internship program will receive high school credit on their transcript. Students can complete their internship during the summer between their junior and senior year. See internships.

ONE FULL YEAR AFTER SCHOOL COURSE

Robotics

Become a member of FIRST or FTC Robotics Team Spyder 1622. Work with students and industry partners to design and build a 2 x 3 x 6 foot robot to compete in San Diego and out of state competitions (such as Seattle and Las Vegas), and the World Champions in St. Louis or Anaheim. The focus will be on Product Design, Computer Animation, CAD, programming, and more. This course meets PUSD after school and UC/CSU ‘g’ College Prep Elective Credit during periods 1-5.

Science Olympiad

Students will research and prepare for Science Olympiad events. Students must complete an engineering project. Students can participate for fun or to compete in the competitions. Science Olympiad is a club. Since Science Olympiad is half a year, students must complete two years to equal a full year.