Life Skills is designed to provide students with information they will need as they begin the next phase of their life, adulthood. Students will learn to become more responsible for their own decisions as they move toward adulthood. Throughout the course, students will have the opportunity to begin making some plans for what they want to accomplish in their lives. This course will guide students in figuring out who they are, including their personality, abilities, and interests.

Creative and Critical Thinking is a four-unit course in which students will explore how and why we think critically and creatively and how engineers, scientists, and professionals in other technical careers benefits from developing these skills. Through this course, students will explore and develop their own critical and creative thinking processes as well as engage in their own inquiry, investigation, and discovery. While the course supports the  Engineering Series, it explores a wide range of topics including self-awareness, attitudes and beliefs, and system (holistic) thinking.

It is recommended that students considering registering for Creative and Critical Thinking successfully complete Introduction to Engineering or equivalent course work before enrolling.

Introduction to Engineering, a four-unit course, provides an overview of the field of engineering and the primary processes and procedures used by engineers. Engineers play a central role in developing products and systems that improve our everyday lives, in areas such as transportation, computing, and medicine. In this course, students will explore each step of the product development cycle, from modeling and prototyping through production. Students will discover the interdependencies between the fields of engineering, science, and technology, and will explore engineering careers that suit their personal interests and abilities. Finally, students will examine the ethical and societal effects of engineering, which play a key role in the development of all engineered products and systems. Content for this course was developed by engineering and technology education professors at California University of Pennsylvania. Videos for this course were developed in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory.

It is recommended that students registering for CES: Introduction to Engineering successfully complete Physical Science, Algebra I, and Geometry before enrolling.

Stem Cell Research, a two-unit course, will introduce students to the fascinating world of stem cells. Students will learn all the basic terminology used in this field. The course will discuss the different types of stem cells, as well as the controversies surrounding the use of human embryonic stem cells. Additionally, the course will examine possibilities that may be in store for the treatment of disease using stem cell therapy. The first unit emphasizes the impact of modern research methods and resources on stem cell research and explores some challenges that still exist in the field. Students will learn the advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of stem cell research. This section concludes with an examination of the possible alternate sources of stem cells. The second unit examines the applications and the roles of stem cell research, particularly in the topics of leukemia, spinal cord injuries, Alzheimer’s disease, cord blood, and drug testing. The course culminates with the investigation of the accuracy, validity, and reliability of scientific research and claims.

It is recommended that students considering registering for CES: Stem Cell Research successfully complete at least one year of high school biology before enrolling in this course.

CES: Sports Medicine is a two-unit introductory course that will provide students with basic knowledge about the field of sports medicine, the anatomy of the body, and the common injuries that occur in sports. The first half of the course deals with the anatomy of the body and techniques used in sports medicine to train and strengthen the body. The second half helps students better understand how injuries occur and what treatment options are available.

It is recommended that students considering registering for CES: Sports Medicine successfully complete at least one year of high school biology before enrolling in this course.

CES: Emerging Genetics is a two-unit course that provides students with the basic knowledge necessary to understand genetics and its applications. The introduction offers early discoveries in genetics, such as the contributions of Charles Darwin, Alfred Wallace, and Gregor Mendel. Students will conceptualize and apply Mendelian genetics and advance through the timeline of this field to study the great contributions of James Watson, Francis Crick, Rosalind Franklin, and Maurice Wilkins. With the structure of DNA covered in detail, students will apply this structure to its unique and complex function with the realm of the central dogma and mutations brought to light. The second portion of this course provides students with the basic skills needed to understand molecular genetics and its application to today’s society. The introduction consists of learning about techniques such as cloning and hybridization. Gaining an understanding of these techniques will allow the learner to see how they are applied to such areas as GMOs, animal development, cancer studies, DNA fingerprinting, and pharmacogenomics. Throughout this portion, the importance of population genetics and the theory of nature versus nurture will also be stressed.

It is recommended that students considering registering for CES: Emerging Genetics successfully complete at least one year of high school biology before enrolling in this course.

The Biotechnology Module is divided into two units. The first section provides a background on the basics of biotechnology and includes its historical context, laboratory equipment, and techniques, and safety criteria, and gives a comparison between research and production laboratories. The first section concludes with a review of basic chemistry and comparative cellular and molecular biology concepts. The second section presents more advanced topics and the current application of biotechnology. These topics include the structure and functions of proteins, genetic sequencing, polymerase chain reactions, genetic transformation, and the use of antibodies in biotechnology. The second unit culminates by introducing professionalism and a sample of the careers available in the field of biotechnology.

It is recommended that students considering registering for CES: Biotechnology successfully complete at least one year of high school biology before enrolling in this course.

Epidemiology is the study of health and disease within a population. In this two-unit course, students will look at different ways to collect and analyze data and explore how to best communicate results. Starting with the example of Dr. John Snow and the cholera outbreak in the 1800s, students will look at a number of case studies surrounding disease control and apply them to the population’s current health status. There will also be a concentration on the different types of data used in epidemiology. The course will discuss the use of this data to determine the health of a population. The final step will be to determine the possible need for public policies and to establish a goal to improve the health status within a population.

It is recommended that students considering registering for CES: Epidemiology successfully complete at least one year of high school biology before enrolling in this course.

Money Management will offer guidance in responsible money organization skills. Topics covered in this course include various methods and approaches to saving and investing money for retirement, developing a sound budget, and eliminating debt. Students will also learn about several types of insurance, career planning, and the “ins and outs” of real estate and mortgages. This course is designed to provide a solid foundation for a lifetime of wise financial decision making.

Throughout this course, students will discover the various ways marketing and advertising touch their lives. Students will learn to identify customers’ desires and discover what is needed to create, advertise, and sell products to fit these needs. The course guides students to develop the skills they need as consumers and advertisers. Also, it will provide a solid foundation for those students contemplating careers in marketing, advertising, or other business-related fields.