This is a two-year program intended for students who are considering college studies in engineering or architecture as well as for students interested in related non-professional career tracks. Students planning to apply to college level engineering or architecture programs should continue to take the normal sequence of math and science courses in addition to Engineering & Architecture to meet the prerequisites for those programs.

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Engineering & Architecture I
This course starts with an introduction to the design process and building communication skills essential to the design professions: hand sketching, technical drawing (by hand and with AutoCAD), 3D modeling (SketchUp), preparing professionally-formatted calculations by hand and in Excel, effective business communication, and manipulation of documents in a digital environment. The middle half of the course consists of nationally-known Project Lead the Way’s “Principles of Engineering” curriculum, covering a broad range of engineering concepts and calculations that are foundational to multiple fields of engineering. Topics such as mechanical systems, energy and power, electrical circuits, statics, strength of materials, and machine controls are explored through hands-on activities and design projects, many of them involving VEX robotics kits. The spring term includes architectural design and application of civil, structural, and mechanical engineering principles to residential design projects, using REVIT to model buildings and prepare drawings. Note that this course has a lot of math, science, and computer work; it is not appropriate for students seeking primarily hands-on experience. Most of the math is at the Algebra I level, with some trigonometry that will be taught as part of the class.

Prerequisites: Basic proficiency in independently solving Algebra 1 equations for a single unknown, calculating area, and calculating volume; able to work both independently and in a team-based environment.
 

Engineering & Architecture II
This course is intended for students with the maturity to work independently to explore areas of personal interest in depth. All students in the second-year program are encouraged to participate in Cooperative Work Experience (co-ops) two days per week. The in-class component continues where Engineering & Architecture I left off, extending the application of architectural and engineering design from the residential scale to the commercial scale where the projects are more complex and more technical in nature. In the second semester, the in-class activities will largely consist of student-driven independent work, including architecture or engineering design projects in areas of student interest and/or pursuit of industry-recognized software credentials (i.e. REVIT).
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Engineering & Architecture I, ability to work independently on an individual project, maturity level suitable for a co-op placement, and recommendation of the instructor.

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GRADES 11-12 | HALF DAY | 120 MINUTES DAILY