Engineering

Engineering Pathway

The Engineering Pathway is an exciting opportunity for students to explore the ever-changing world around them.

In Project Lead The Way Engineering, students engage in open-ended problem solving, learn and apply the engineering design process, and use the same industry-leading technology and software as are used in the world’s top companies. Students are immersed in design as they investigate topics such as sustainability, mechatronics, forces, structures, aerodynamics, digital electronics and circuit design, manufacturing, and the environment, which gives them an opportunity to learn about different engineering disciplines before beginning post-secondary education or careers.

The curriculum has been designed by Project Lead the Way. Learn more at the PTLW site: PTLW Engineering Curriculum

Project Lead The Way: Engineering

PLTW Engineering is more than just another high school engineering program. It is about applying engineering, science, math, and technology to solve complex, open-ended problems in a real-world context. Students focus on the process of defining and solving a problem, not on getting the "right" answer. They learn how to apply STEM knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to make the world a better place through innovation.

PLTW students have said that PLTW Engineering influenced their post-secondary decisions and helped shape their future. Even for students who do not plan to pursue engineering after high school, the PLTW Engineering program provides opportunities to develop highly transferable skills in collaboration, communication, and critical thinking, which are relevant for any coursework or career.

ENGINEERING CURRICULUM

In Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Engineering, students engage in open-ended problem solving, learn and apply the engineering design process, and use the same industry-leading technology and software as are used in the world’s top companies. Students are immersed in design as they investigate topics such as sustainability, mechatronics, forces, structures, 3-dimensional design, digital electronics and circuit design, manufacturing, and the environment, which gives them an opportunity to learn about different engineering disciplines before beginning post-secondary education or careers.

Schools offer a minimum of three courses by the end of the third year of implementation: Introduction to Design (Engineering Essentials) Introduction to Engineering Design, Principles of Engineering, and Computer Integrated Manufacturing.

Foundation Courses

Introduction to Design (ID, 1 year) (PLTW Engineering Essentials)

Students learn the basics of drafting by hand and using computer-assisted design, applying math, science, and engineering standards to hands-on projects.

Introduction to Engineering Design (IED, 1 year)

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

Principles of Engineering (POE, 1 year)

Students dig deeper into the technical side of design, using learning new programming software and the wide array of careers their skills will apply to. Students expand use circuit tools in combination with the simple machines they've studied in previous courses to program logic devices and design more complex technical solutions to engineering challenges.

Capstone Course

Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM, 1 year)

Students combine the skill sets they've developed over the foundational course sequence to address more complex engineering challenges and leverage new technical skills. Students use manufacturing machinery to design a capstone project prototype as a solution to a real-world problem, and present their project in a Senior Showcase at the end of the year.

Partners

Friends of the Hollywood Central Park Friends of the Hollywood Central Park is formed to raise funds to create a new park in Hollywood, one of the most dense and green space starved neighborhoods in Los Angeles, by covering a portion of the Hollywood Freeway (US 101) witha 38-acre street level community park. Learn more about this partner at hollywoodcentralpark.org
University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering This prestigious School of Engineering is partnering with STEM to work on environmental concerns in Southern California. See more about the STEM Spotlight program on the USC website.
Los Angeles Community College LACC provides afterschool classes at STEM to provide students with college credit in courses like Engineering 101, Art 201, and Communications 101. The classes change every semester. See more at their website.
California State University - Los Angeles One of STEM's original Engineering partners was Cal-State LA's College of Engineering, Computer Science, & Technology. They provide field trips and access to their engineering facilities to STEM students and help high school students make the difficult transition to college-level engineering. See more at their website.