PLTW | Engineering

The PLTW | Engineering program is a sequence of courses which follows a proven hands-on, real-world problem-solving approach to learning. Throughout the coursework students learn and apply the design process, acquire strong teamwork and communication proficiency, and develop organizational, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.

They discover the answers to questions like how are things made and what processes go into creating products? Students use the same industry-leading 3D design software used by companies like Intel and Lockheed Martin. They design, test, and actually construct circuits and devices such as smart phones and tablets and work collaboratively on a culminating capstone project. It's STEM education, and it's at the heart of today's high-tech, high-skill global economy.

PLTW | Engineering courses complement traditional mathematics, science and English language arts courses and are designed to prepare students to pursue a post-secondary education and careers in STEM-related fields.

Freshman Year

Civil Engineering and Architecture (CEA)
Students learn about various aspects of civil engineering and architecture and apply their knowledge to the design and development of residential and commercial properties and structures. In addition, students use 3D design software to design and document solutions for major course projects. Students communicate and present solutions to their peers and members of a professional community of engineers and architects.

Sophomore Year

Introduction to Engineering Design (IED)
The major focus of IED is the design process and its application. Through hands-on projects, students apply engineering standards and document their work. Students use industry standard 3D modeling software to help them design solutions to solve proposed problems, document their work using an engineers notebook, and communicate solutions to peers and members of the professional community.

Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM)
How are things made? What processes go into creating products? Is the process for making a water bottle the same as it is for a musical instrument? How do assembly lines work? How has automation changed the face of manufacturing? While students discover the answers to these questions, they are learning about the history of manufacturing, robotics and automation, manufacturing processes, computer modeling, manufacturing equipment, and flexible manufacturing systems.

Junior Year

Principles Of Engineering (POE)
POE is a survey course that exposes students to major concepts they will encounter in a post-secondary engineering course of study. Topics include mechanisms, energy, statics, materials, and kinematics. They develop problem-solving skills and apply their knowledge of research and design to create solutions to various challenges, document their work and communicate solutions.

Digital Electronics (DE)
Digital electronics is the foundation of all modern electronic devices such as mobile phones, MP3 players, laptop computers, digital cameras and high-definition televisions. Students are introduced to the process of combinational and sequential logic design, engineering standards and technical documentation.

Senior Year Capstone Course

Engineering Design and Development (EDD)
In this capstone course, students work in teams to design and develop an original solution to a valid open-ended technical problem by applying the engineering design process. Students perform research to choose, validate, and justify a technical problem.

After carefully defining the problem, teams design, build, and test their solutions while working closely with industry professionals who provide mentoring opportunities. Finally, student teams present and defend their original solution to an outside panel.