Antelope Valley School District

Biomedical Science

Principles of Biomedical Science Honors (PLTW) 12561
1 year course – 5 science credits per semester
Open to grade: 9
Prerequisites: Acceptance into the Biomedical Science Academy based on completion of academy application
UC A-G Certification: Meets the UC a-g [d] Laboratory Sciences requirement with a C or better grade
NCAA Approved Core Course: Natural/Physical Science
Description: First course in Biomedical Science Academy. Students investigate various health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, sickle-cell disease, hypercholesterolemia, and infectious diseases. They determine the factors that led to the death of a fictional person, and investigate lifestyle choices and medical treatments that might have prolonged the person’s life. The activities and projects introduce students to human physiology, medicine, and research processes. This course provides an overview of all the courses in the Biomedical Sciences academy and lay the scientific foundation for subsequent courses.

Human Body Systems Honors (PLTW) 12578
1 year course – 5 science credits per semester
Open to Grade: 10
Prerequisites: Grade of D or better in Principles of Biomedical Science
UC A-G Certification: Meets the UC a-g [d] Laboratory Sciences requirement with a C or better grade
NCAA Approved Core Course: Natural/Physical Science
Description: Second course in the Biomedical Science Academy. Students examine the interactions of human body systems as they explore identity, power, movement, protection, and homeostasis. Students design experiments, investigate the
structures and functions of the human body, and use data acquisition software to monitor body functions such as muscle movement, reflex and voluntary action, and respiration. Exploring science in action, students build organs and tissues on a
skeletal manikin, work through interesting real world cases and often play the roles of biomedical professionals to solve medical mysteries.

Medical Interventions Honors (PLTW) 12575
Open to Grade: 11
Prerequisites: Grade of D or better in Human Body Systems Honors
UC A-G Certification: Meets the UC a-g [d] Laboratory Sciences requirement with a C or better grade
NCAA Approved Core Course: Natural/Physical Science
Description: Third course in the PLTW pathway. Medical Interventions (MI) allows students to investigate the variety of interventions involved in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease as they follow the lives of a fictitious family. A “How-To” manual for maintaining overall health and homeostasis in the body, the course will explore how to prevent and fight infection, how to screen and evaluate the code in our DNA, how to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer, and how to prevail when the organs of the body begin to fail. Through these scenarios students will be 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 role that scientific thinking and engineering design play in the development of interventions of the future. Students practice problem solving with structured activities and progress to open-ended projects and problems that require them to develop planning, documentation, communication, and other professional skills.

Biomedical Innovation Honors (PLTW) 11466
1 year course – 5 science credits per semester
Open to Grade: 12
Prerequisites: Grade of D or better in Medical Interventions Honors
UC A-G Certification: Meets the UC a-g [d] Elective requirement with a C or better grade
NCAA Approved Core Course: Natural/Physical Science
Description: The capstone course in the Biomedical Science Academy. By immersing students in activities like practicing suturing and constructing body structures from clay, PLTW Biomedical Science empowers students to build knowledge and skills in biomedical science, as well as in-demand, transportable skills like problem solving, critical and creative thinking, communication, and collaboration. Students build on the knowledge and skills gained from previous courses to design their own innovative solutions for the most pressing health challenges of the 21st century.