Empower Tomorrow's Biomedical Science Professionals Today
Whether discovering new cancer treatments or teaching healthy lifestyle choices to their communities, today’s biomedical science professionals are tackling big challenges to make the world a better place.
PLTW Biomedical Science students are taking on these same real-world challenges – and they’re doing it before they even graduate from high school. Working with the same tools used by professionals in hospitals and labs, students engage in compelling, hands-on activities and work together to find solutions to problems. Students take from the courses in-demand knowledge and skills they will use in high school and for the rest of their lives, on any career path they take.
To learn more about PLTW visit the official PLTW Biomedical Science website here.
Pathway Classes
PLTW® Principles of Biomedical Sciences
Students provide their own scrubs (optional). In the introductory course of the PLTW Biomedical Science program, students explore concepts of biology and medicine to determine factors that led to the death of a fictional person. While investigating the case, students examine autopsy reports, investigate medical history, and explore medical treatments that might have prolonged the person’s life. The activities and projects introduce students to human physiology, basic biology, medicine, and research processes while allowing them to design their own experiments to solve problems.
PLTW® Human Body Systems
Students provide their own scrubs (optional). Students examine the interactions of human body systems as they explore identity, power, movement, protection, and homeostasis. Exploring science in action, students build organs and tissues on a skeletal Manikin®; use data acquisition software to monitor body functions such as muscle movement, reflex and voluntary action, and respiration; and take on the roles of biomedical professionals to solve real-world medical cases. This course serves as the precursor for PLTW Principles of Biomedical Science 1662.
PLTW® Medical Interventions
Students provide their own scrubs (required). Students follow the life of a fictitious family as they investigate how to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease. Students explore how to detect and fight infection; screen and evaluate the code in human DNA; evaluate cancer treatment options; and prevail when the organs of the body begin to fail. Through real-world cases, students are exposed to a range of interventions related to immunology, surgery, genetics, pharmacology, medical devices, and diagnostics. This course is sequenced after PLTW Human Body Systems 1661.
PLTW® Biomedical Innovations
Students provide their own scrubs (required). In the final course of the PLTW Biomedical Science sequence, students build on the knowledge and skills gained from previous courses to design innovative solutions for the most pressing health challenges of the 21st century. Students address topics ranging from public health and biomedical engineering to clinical medicine and physiology. They have the opportunity to work on an independent design project with a mentor or advisor from a university, medical facility, or research institution. This course is sequenced after PLTW Medical Interventions 1662.
Health Care Sciences (Other)
Students provide their own scrubs (required). Course provides students with the opportunity to work alongside a community leader, administrator, or other type of professional, learning the concepts of management and professional activities. These courses do not have a regular in school component (although the students typically have access to a school official, teacher, or coordinator to discuss concerns or problems).
