Students enrolled in the high school Career and Technical Education Program may choose a three- or five-unit sequence. However, students who do not wish to pursue a CTE pathway may also take technology courses as electives. Students pursuing a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation may also elect to complete five units of business, family and consumer science, and technology electives in place of the World Language requirement.
Technology Department Head: Michael Gallagher (ext. 33355)
Additional considerations:
- The following pathways are recommended, however, students with the necessary prerequisites can change pathways.
- All students can take technology electives and are not required to complete a three- or five-unit pathway.
Project Lead the Way (Pre-Engineering) Progressions (Sample)
Grade 9
- Introduction to Engineering Design
- Design and Drawing for Production
Grades 10
- Digital Electronics
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Integrated Manufacturing
- Software Engineering
- Introduction to Engineering Design
Grade 11
- Principles of Engineering
- (plus, any course not completed in 10th grade)
Grade 12
- Engineering Design and Development
Students who enroll in the program are expected to complete a college preparatory sequence of courses in Mathematics.
A strong math/science background and an aptitude for the selected subject are highly recommended for all PLTW classes.
PLTW COURSES – TECHNOLOGY, SCIENCE AND MATH
This is a high school pre-engineering and engineering technology program. Students who enroll in the program are also expected to complete a college preparatory sequence of courses in mathematics. College credit may be applied for these courses. Any student expressing an interest in a single PLTW course out of sequence should demonstrate a strong math/science background and an aptitude for the selected course. Approval by the department head or instructor will then be necessary.
INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING DESIGN (PLTW)
0489 Full Year 1 Credit Grades 9-12
This is an introductory course which develops student problem-solving skills, with emphasis placed on the development of three-dimensional solid models. The topics covered will include all the content of Design and Drawing for Production with the computer used in place of the traditional drafting board. Computer Aided Design (CAD) will also be used to analyze and evaluate the product design. IED is a very beneficial course for any student pursuing a sequence in any technical field or engineering.
Prerequisite: STEM Academy or Design and Drawing for Production
*Can be used for Fine Arts requirement.
College credit: Rochester Institute of Technology. Fee required for college credit.
DIGITAL ELECTRONICS (PLTW)
0492 Full Year 1 Credit Grades 10-12
This course is the study of electronic circuits that are used to process and control digital signals. Digital electronics is the foundation of all electronic devices such as cellular phones, laptop computers, digital cameras, and high-definition televisions. The major focus of the DE course is to expose students to the design process of combinational and sequential logic design, teamwork, communication methods, engineering standards, and technical documentation. Students are also exposed to circuit design tools used in industry, including logic gates, integrated circuits, and programmable logic devices. This course is designed for students exploring a career in engineering or engineering technology.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Introduction to Engineering Design.
College credit: Rochester Institute of Technology. Fee required for college credit.
CIVIL ENGINEERING/ARCHITECTURE (PLTW)
0496 Full Year 1 Credit Grades 10-12
Civil Engineering is the study of the built environment including the infrastructure of our transportation systems. Students will explore the construction of highways, bridges, tunnels, and other public works systems. Community planning and the application of zoning laws will be investigated. Architectural drawing will explore residential and commercial structures within their context to the built environment.
College credit: Rochester Institute of Technology. Fee required for college credit.
COMPUTER INTEGRATED MANUFACTURING (PLTW)
0493 Full Year 1 Credit Grades 10-12
This is a course that applies the principles of rapid prototyping robotics and automation. This course builds upon the computer solid modeling skills developed in Introduction of Engineering Design. Students will use computer-controlled rapid prototyping and CNC equipment to solve problems by constructing actual models of their three-dimensional designs. Course topics include evolution of automation, computer technology, sensors and actuators, CAC/CAM, computer integrated engineering.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Introduction to Engineering Design.
College credit: Rochester Institute of Technology. Fee required for college credit.
PRINCIPLES OF ENGINEERING (PLTW)
0491 Full Year 1 Credit Grades 11-12
A challenging broad-based survey course designed to help students understand the field of engineering and engineering technology and its career possibilities. Students will develop engineering problem-solving skills that are involved in post-secondary education programs and engineering careers. This course uses principles from math and science to solve engineering challenges.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Introduction to Engineering Design.
College credit: Rochester Institute of Technology. Fee required for college credit.
ENGINEERING DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT (PLTW)
0494 Full Year 1 Credit Grade 12
Engineering Design and Development is a project based independent study course that serves as a capstone of the Project Lead the Way curriculum for students that have completed most PLTW courses. Students develop the solution to a real-life problem and meet project and prototype requirements throughout the year. Students present their work to a panel of engineers at the end of the year.
Prerequisites: Students must have successfully completed Introduction to Engineering Design (PLTW) AND three of the six following courses: Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Digital Electronics, Civil Engineering & Architecture, Principles of Engineering, Software Engineering, or Python and Multimedia.
A written proposal must be submitted to the teacher for approval before being accepted into the course.
DESIGN AND DRAWING FOR PRODUCTION
0474 Full Year 1 Credit Grades 9-12
This course teaches basic concepts and principles of technical drawing, projection, size description, pictorial representation, and similar processing techniques and tools. Students develop solutions to various design or product problems, and proposed solutions are researched, sketched, refined, and rendered as technical drawings. It is an excellent foundation for students wishing to take other technology courses.
*Can be used for the fine arts requirement
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION
0460 Full Year 1 Credit Grades 9-12
This class introduces students to the field of construction and familiarizes them with building codes and safe material handling. The course provides thorough, up-to-date coverage of the core academic areas that are necessary for success in the construction field. Topics include work ethic, math, communications, print reading, safety, and common tools. A willingness to work with hands-on projects is a must.
CARPENTRY AND MASONRY
0461 Full Year 1 Credit Grades 10-12
Based on industry standards developed by the “National Association of Home Builders” and its “Home Builders Institute”, this course covers the essentials of residential construction carpentry, including tools and materials, rough carpentry, and exterior and interior finish carpentry, ensuring professional success on any jobsite. “Procedure” sections in nearly every chapter combine precise, step-by-step instructions with helpful drawings, making it easy to understand key concepts and master important techniques. This course will also focus on modern residential masonry construction procedures, as well as current building and construction industry safety regulations relevant to the field. Prerequisite: Basic Principles of Construction.
ROBOTICS I: INTRODUCTION TO ROBOTICS
0462 1 Semester .5 Credit Grades 10-12
This course is designed to introduce students to some of the aspects of robotics, computer science, programming, and electronics engineering. Students will explore and discuss the many career opportunities available in all these areas. The course includes opportunities to learn or refine computer programming skills using ROBOTC programming as well as practice skills in mechanics, engineering, and building using the VEX Robotics systems. Students will design build and program basic robots.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Engineering Design
ROBOTICS II: ADVANCED ROBOTICS
0463 1 Semester .5 Credit Grades 10-12
This course is designed to enhance and challenge students Robotics skill levels through the introduction of more sophisticated robot building and programming. Students will explore the use of more advanced computer programming skills such as functions, variables, and more advanced sensors. Students will also learn how to build and program with Arduinos as well as have opportunities to design, build and program a robot to compete in the following years Vex Robotics Challenge or partner with a local business to solve a real-world problem using their robotics skills.
Prerequisite: Robotics I
MATERIALS PROCESSING – WOOD
0472 1 Semester .5 Credit Grades 9-12
Materials Processing – Wood is a course providing a broad, generic view of the way humans convert materials and a study of various materials undergoing similar processing techniques, such as forming, separating, combining, and conditioning.
PRODUCTION SYSTEMS – WOOD
0486 1 Semester .5 Credit Grades 9-12
This course provides instruction on the systems of manufacturing and construction – their resources, processes, products and quality assurance, their impact on society, the economy, the environment, and manufacturing. Students will design and produce a saleable product. A scale model or structure will also be constructed.
Prerequisite: Material Processing – Wood
ADVANCED WOODS
0479 1 Semester .5 Credit Grades 10-12
This is an in-depth and hands-on course dealing with processing methods, techniques, tools, and safety associated with custom carpentry and fabrication. Students will utilize advanced methods of processing and forming and incorporate them into projects that they design and create. Students will also explore the diverse physical properties of different types of materials and be exposed to their unique and diverse applications.
Prerequisite: Materials Processing
ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING
0469 Full year 1 Credit Grades 11-12
Architecture is both the process and the product of planning, designing, and constructing buildings and other physical structures. This course is designed for students who might be considering a future in the field of architecture, design, or building construction management. It will include college and career research, portfolio development, independent and group design projects, landscape design and city planning, exploration of design theories, and skill development in understanding and creating construction documents.
Prerequisite: Completion of Civil Engineering and Architecture, or Portfolio Development 1
HOME & SMALL ELECTRONICS
0478 1 Semester .5 Credit Grades 9-12
This course covers the fundamentals of DC and AC electric circuit theory. It provides students with an understanding of small electronics and methods of analyzing circuits with a hands-on approach. They will learn how to use circuit methodology to solve practical electrical problems. This is an applications course with circuit techniques. The course will also focus on the basic concepts of electrical and electronic devices, power supplies, as well as home electricity. The laboratory will include experiments using computer simulations, measuring instruments, and electronic workstations.
CTE Technology Pathways
In addition to the course electives listed at the beginning of this section, the Technology Department also offers four career pathways. Each career pathway or sequence of courses is approved by the New York State Education Department and includes a professional exam and an internship. Students who complete all the required courses and pass the professional exam will receive the Regents CTE endorsement on their diploma.
NYSED Approved Technology Pathways
*College credit-bearing courses
+Career & Financial Management (CFM) is offered in the Business Education Department
~Discovering Computer Science and Software Engineering are offered in the Computer Science Department
^Successful completion of DDP, or Introduction to Engineering Design (PLTW) satisfies a student’s Fine Arts graduation requirement.
Architectural Technology
- *+Career & Financial Mgmt. .5
- *^Introduction to Engineering Design (PLTW) 1.0
- *Civil Engineering and Architecture (PLTW) 1.0
- Architectural Drawing 1.0 or Basic Principles of Construction 1.0
Building Sciences
- *+Career & Financial Mgmt. .5
- *^Introduction to Engineering Design (PLTW) 1.0
- Basic Principles of Construction 1.0
Choose 1.0 unit from below:
- Masonry & Carpentry 1.0
- Materials Processing .5
- Advanced Wood .5
- Production Systems .5
Engineering Technology
- *+Career & Financial Mgmt. .5
- *^Introduction to Engineering Design (PLTW) 1.0
or
- ^Design & Drawing for Production 1.0
- *Computer Integrated Manufacturing (PLTW) 1.0
- Robotics I .5
- Robotics II .5
Pre-Engineering Technology
- *+Career & Financial Mgmt. .5
- *^Introduction to Engineering Design (PLTW) 1.0
- *Principles of Engineering (PLTW) 1.0
Choose one course below:
- *Computer Integrated Manufacturing (PLTW) 1.0
- *Digital Electronics (PLTW) 1.0
- *Civil Engineering and Architecture (PLTW) 1.0
Additional Technology Education Courses:
- ~Discovering Computer Science 1.0
- ~Software Engineering 1.0
- Home and Small Electronics .5