Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Biomedical Sciences Academy

  • Program Goal:

    The goal of the PLTW Biomedical Sciences Program is to provide a sequence of courses, all aligned with appropriate national learning standards, which follows a proven hands-on, real-world, problem-solving approach to learning. Student explore the concepts of human medicine and are introduced to topics such as physiology, genetics, microbiology and public health. Through activities such as dissections and experimentation, students examine the processes, structures, and interactions of the human body. They also explore the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. Students work collaboratively to investigate and design innovative solutions to health challenges like fighing cancer with nanotechnology.
     

    College Advantage

    Whether a student plans to attend a four-year university or two year associate program CATA offers all the required subjects necessary for post-secondary education. Many required courses in the Medical Sciences Academy carry honors credit. Advanced Placement (AP) opportunities also exist within the core curriculum. Successful completion of Honors and/or AP courses can boost a student’s GPA.

     
    Foundation Medical Sciences Courses

    PLTW Biomedical Sciences Pathway

    Medical Science

    9th

    PLTW Principles of Biomedical Honors

    Health Science I Honors

    10th

    PLTW Human Body Systems Honors

    Health Science II Honors

    11th

    PLTW Medical Interventions Honors

     

    12th

    PLTW Biomedical Innovation Honors

    Optional electives: Sports Medicine 1 Honors, CTE Medical Internship

    Recommended electives: Medical Spanish 

    Grade 9:

    PLTW Principles of Biomedical Sciences- This honors course is designed for students to investigate the human body systems and various health conditions. They determine factors that lead to the death of a fictional person and investigate lifestyle choices and medical treatments that might have prolonged the person's life. Activities and projects introduce students to human physiology, medicine, and research processes.
     

    Grade 10:

    PLTW Human Body Systems- In this honors course students examine the interactions of human body systems. Students design experiments 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 the biomedical professional to solve medical mysteries.

    Grade 11: 

    PLTW Medical Interventions- This honors course allows students to investigate the interventions involved in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. It is a “How-to” manual for maintaining overall health and homeostasis in the body. Students explore how to prevent and fight infection; screen and evaluate the code in human DNA; prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer. Students are exposed to a range of interventions related to immunology, surgery, genetics, pharmacology, medical devices, and diagnostics.

    Grade 12: 

    PLTW 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, public health, physiology and biomedical engineering. They have the opportunity to work on an independent project and may work with a mentor in the healthcare industry.