Engineering & Architecture
This sector is designed to provide a foundation in engineering, architecture, and design for students in California. Students are engaged in an instructional program that integrates academic and technical preparation and focuses on career awareness, career exploration, and career preparation in four pathways that emphasize real-world, occupationally relevant experiences of significant scope and depth: Architectural Design; Engineering Technology; Engineering Design; and Environmental Engineering.
To prepare students for continued training, advanced educational opportunities, and direct entry to a career, the Engineering and Architecture programs offer the following components: classroom, laboratory, and hands-on contextual learning; project- and work-based instruction; and leadership and interpersonal skills development.
Engineering & Architecture
Pathway Courses at RUSD
ENGINEERING CAREER PATHWAY
The Engineering Design Career pathway provides learning opportunities for students interested in preparing for careers in the design and production of mechanical, electrical, and computer systems.
• Engineering and Design Technology
Articulation with Mt. SAC (Courses IDE 120)
Engineering & Design Technology provide learning opportunities for students interested in preparing for careers in the design and production of visual communications. Students plan, prepare and interpret drawings and models through traditional drafting or computer-aided drafting and design (CADD) techniques. The final design projects provide students with the knowledge and skills to develop, collaborate and work on a design team and complete two projects: one architectural and one mechanical. Means of reaching the completion of these projects are reversing engineering, original design modification, or from original idea conception. The final designs are accompanied by proper documentation, which includes broad drafts, CAD drawings, project abstract, project summary and project specifications.
This course meets the University of California/California State University “g” (College Preparatory Elective) entrance requirements.
• Engineering and Design Technology II
Prerequisite: Engineering & Design Technology
This concentrator course builds upon the Engineering Design I introduction course and provides students with additional concepts and experiences required for career readiness and pursuing further education in Engineering Technology career pathway, which precedes this pathway capstone course. This concentrator course leads to the capstone course in the Engineering Technology pathway sequence of courses. Students will walk through the design and build a mobile robot to play a sport-like game. During this process, they will learn key STEM principles, and robotics concepts. At the culmination of this class, they will compete head-to-head against their peers in the classroom, or in a sponsored Robotics Competition.This course meets the University of California/California State University “g” (College Preparatory Elective) entrance requirements.
• Engineering and Design Technology III
Prerequisite: Engineering & Design Technology II
Engineering Design III is the completion course and expands learning opportunities for students interested in preparing for careers in the design, prototyping and production of advanced visual communications. Students plan, prepare and interpret drawings and models through traditional drafting or computer-aided drafting and design (CADD) techniques to produce a product. This course will focus on methods and tools used for creating production prototypes, mock-ups and proof of concepts through additive/subtractive manufacturing process. Focus is on tool and process selection, safety and machine operation skills and techniques. The final design projects provide students with the knowledge and skills to develop, collaborate and work on a design team and complete 3 projects: Bridge Builder, CAD/CAM and CNC project. Means of reaching the completing these projects are reversing engineering, original design modification, or from original idea conception. The final designs are accompanied by proper documentation includes broad drafts, CAD drawings, project abstract, project summary and project specifications.
This course meets the University of California/California State University “g” (College Preparatory Elective) entrance requirements.
• PLTW Civil Engineering/Architecture
Civil Engineering and Architecture (CEA) is a high school level specialization course in the PLTW Engineering Program. In CEA students are introduced to important aspects of building and site design and development. They apply math, science, and standard engineering practices to design both residential and commercial projects and document their work using 3D architectural design software. Utilizing the activity-project-problem-based (APB) teaching and learning pedagogy, students will progress from completing structured activities to solving open-ended projects and problems that require them to develop planning, documentation, communication, and other professional skills.
Through both individual and collaborative team activities, projects, and problems, students will solve problems as they practice common design and development protocols such as project management and peer review. Students will develop skill in engineering calculations, technical representation and documentation of design solutions according to accepted technical standards and use of current 3D architectural design and modeling software to represent and communicate solutions.
The course requires a rigorous pace, and it is likely to contain more material than a skilled teacher new to the course will be able to complete in the first iteration. Building enthusiasm for and a real understanding of role, impact, and practice of civil engineering and architecture as it relates to building design and development is a primary goal of the course.
This course meets the University of California/California State University “d” (College Preparatory Elective) entrance requirements.
• PLTW Engineering Design/Development
Engineering Design and Development (EDD) is the capstone course in the PLTW high school engineering program. It is an open-ended engineering research course in which students work in teams to design and develop an original solution to a well-defined and justified open-ended problem by applying an engineering design process.
Students will perform research to select, define, and justify a problem. After carefully defining the design requirements and creating multiple solution approaches, teams of students select an approach, create, and test their solution prototype. Student teams will present and defend their original solution to an outside panel. While progressing through the engineering design process, students will work closely with experts and will continually hone their organizational, communication and interpersonal skills, their creative and problem solving abilities, and their understanding of the design process.
Since the projects on which students work can vary with student interest and the curriculum focuses on problem solving, EDD is appropriate for students who are interested in any technical career path. EDD should be taken as the final capstone PLTW course since it requires application of the knowledge and skills introduced during the PLTW foundation courses.
This course meets the University of California/California State University “d” (College Preparatory Elective) entrance requirements.
• PLTW Principles of Engineering Design
Principles of Engineering (POE) is a foundation course of the high school engineering pathway. This survey course exposes students to some of the major concepts that they will encounter in a postsecondary engineering course of study. Through problems that engage and challenge, students explore a broad range of engineering topics, including mechanisms, the strength of materials and structures, automation, and kinematics. The course applies and concurrently develops secondary level knowledge and skills in mathematics, science, and technology.
Students have the opportunity to develop skills and understanding of course concepts through activity-, project-, and problem-based (APB) learning. By solving rigorous and relevant design problems using engineering and science concepts within a collaborative learning environment, APB learning challenges students to continually hone their interpersonal skills, creative abilities, and problem solving skills. Students will also learn how to document their work and communicate their solutions to their peers and members of the professional community. It also allows students to develop strategies to enable and direct their own learning, which is the ultimate goal of education.
This course meets the University of California/California State University “d” (College Preparatory Elective) entrance requirements.
ARCHITECTURE DESIGN CAREER PATHWAY
The Architectural Design Career pathway provides learning opportunities for students interested in preparing for careers in such areas as architecture, industrial design, and civil engineering.
• Architecture and Design
Articulation with Mt. SAC (Course ARCH 141)
Architecture and Design is the first-year course in which students will build upon information and skills previously acquired in engineering and Design. This course focuses on the study and application of the design process through the review and application of the elements of art and the principles of design. Students will study of the history of residential architecture, including the language of architecture and how culture influences structure and design trends. Master architects, past and present, will be also studied. Students will express their creativity in a visual form through sketching, mechanical drawing, and other architectural design methods using a variety of different mediums including pencils, pen and ink, watercolor, computer generation, and assorted model building materials. Theories of aesthetic valuing will be stressed using portfolio review.
This course meets the University of California/California State University “f” (College Preparatory Elective) entrance requirements.
• Advanced Architecture and Design
Prerequisite: Architecture and Design
Articulation with Mt. SAC (Courses ARCH 101)
Advanced Architectural Design is a second-year course in which students will build upon information and skills previously acquired to showcase their creativity and aesthetic expression by developing original, creative, and functional architectural works. This course focuses on the study and application of the design process through the review and application of the elements of art and the principles of design. Students will study of the history of residential architecture, including the language of architecture and how culture influences structure and design trends. Master architects, past and present, will be also studied. Students will express their creativity in a visual form through sketching, mechanical drawing, and other architectural design methods using a variety of different mediums including pencils, pen and ink, watercolor, computer generation, and assorted model building materials. Theories of aesthetic valuing will be stressed using portfolio review.
This course meets the University of California/California State University “f” (College Preparatory Elective) entrance requirements.
• Senior Seminar - Technology
Prerequisite: Completion of the Engineering/Construction/Transportation Career Pathway core courses culminating in a “B” average and completion of Pathway area of concentration courses culminating in a yearly “B” average in each class.
Senior Seminar is a one-year course offered to senior students who are completing the Career Certification Program in the Engineering/Construction/Transportation Career Pathway. This course includes a 36-hour internship, which provides students with a supervised practical workplace experience. Students complete an extensive research project, which is presented both orally and in writing. Students also develop a portfolio, which will help them organize and present a collection of their work for the purpose of assessment as well as for presentation to prospective employers. They also enhance their employment skills by participating in an interview with a panel of judges. Upon successful completion of this course, students will receive a certificate of completion.
This course meets the University of California/California State University “g” (College Preparatory Elective) entrance requirements
For more career information, visit the
California Career Zone Website
Engineering and Architecture Industry Sector
Career Technical Service Organization for Engineering & Architecture |