Biomedical Sciences

Grades 9, 10 – 1.0 credit (Elective)
Prerequisite:
• Incoming Freshman: Department recommendation
• For all other students: Grades of B+ or better in all science courses and department approval
• All students must be taking or have taken Biology. Freshmen in this course will be concurrently enrolled in Honors Biology BMS.
Note: This is not a weighted course.

Whether seeking a career in medicine or healthcare or simply looking for the challenge of real-world problems, students in Principles of Biomedical Science (PBS) will practice how to think creatively and critically to innovate in science and gain practical experience tackling real-world challenges faced by biomedical professionals in the field. PBS is a full-year high school course in the PLTW Biomedical Science program. This course serves to provide foundational knowledge and skills in fields such as biology, anatomy and physiology, genetics, microbiology, and epidemiology, as well as engage students in how they can apply this content to real world situations, cases, and problems such as solving a medical mystery case, diagnosing and treating a patient, or responding to a medical outbreak.

Through multiple problems and scenarios, the course challenges students to dive into the roles of various biomedical science professionals. This allows students to develop proficiency in laboratory and clinical skills using real equipment, setting them up for success in college and career, and explore the vast range of careers in the biomedical sciences. Integrated technology is intentionally used to maximize the student and teacher experience. Interactive, 3D animations and images allow students to immerse themselves in the curriculum and experience content in a unique way.

Grades 10, 11 or 12 – 1.0 credit (Elective)
Prerequisite: grade of B- or better for all quarters in Principles of Biomedical Science or department approval
Note: This is not a weighted course.

Students examine the processes, structures, and interactions of the human body systems to learn how they work together to maintain homeostasis (internal balance) and good health. Using real-world cases, students take the role of biomedical professionals and work together to solve medical mysteries. Hands- on projects include designing experiments, investigating the structures and functions of body systems, and using data acquisition software to monitor body functions such as muscle movement, reflex and voluntary actions, and respiratory operation. Important concepts covered in the course are communication, transport of substances, locomotion, metabolic processes, defense, and protection.

Grades 11 or 12 - 1.0 credit (Elective)
Prerequisite: grade of B- or better for all quarters of Principles of Biomedical Science and Human Body Systems or department approval
Note: This is a weighted course.

Students will investigate the variety of interventions involved in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease as they follow the lives of a fictitious family. The course is a “How-To” manual for maintaining overall health and homeostasis in the body as students explore how to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer and how to prevail when the organs of the body begin to fail. Through these scenarios, students are exposed to the wide range of interventions related to immunology, surgery, genetics, pharmacology, medical devices, and diagnostics. Lifestyle choices and preventive measures are emphasized throughout the course as well as the important roles scientific thinking and engineering design play in the development of interventions of the future.

Grade 12 - 1.0 credit (Elective)
Prerequisites: successful completion of HBS, PBS and MI with grades of B- or better for each quarter

In this capstone course, students apply their knowledge and skills to answer questions or solve problems related to the biomedical sciences. Students design innovative solutions for the health challenges of the 21st century as they work through progressively challenging open-ended problems, addressing topics such as clinical medicine, physiology, biomedical engineering, and public health. They have the opportunity to work on an independent project and may work with a mentor or advisor from a university, hospital, physician’s office, or industry. Throughout the course, students are expected to present their work to an adult audience that may include representatives from the local business and healthcare community.