The Biosciences Academy
Maryland State Certified Project Lead The Way Program
We bring students together from diverse cultures and learning styles to unite them through shared experiences that challenge them to think about their future. We prepare students for the challenges of college and the many rapidly expanding careers in biomedical science. We use in-depth learning activities, utilizing laboratory and computer equipment, together with research, to build critical thinking skills necessary for today’s workforce.
Recommended Bioscience Academy Pathway
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Grade 9 |
Grade 10 |
Grade 11 |
Grade 12 |
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English English 9/ Honors |
English English 10/ Honors |
English English 11/ Honors/ AP |
English English 12/ Honors/ AP |
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Mathematics Algebra 2/ Honors or Geometry/ Honors or Algebra 1/ Honors |
Mathematics Pre-calculus/ Honors or Algebra 2/ Honors or Geometry/ Honors |
Mathematics AP Calculus AB/ BC or Pre-calculus/ Honors or Algebra 2/ Honors |
Mathematics AP Statistics/ College Level Math or AP Calculus AB/ BC or Pre-calculus/ Honors |
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Science Honors Biology |
Science Chemistry/ Honors |
Science Physics/ Honors/ AP and/or another AP Science |
Science Biology/ AP Chemistry/ AP |
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Social Studies U.S. History/ Honors/ AP |
Social Studies National, State, & Local Government / Honors/ AP |
Social Studies Modern World History/ Honors/ AP |
Emviornmental Science AP Physics C |
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World Language |
World Language1 |
World Language1 |
College Coursework or Internship |
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Academy Coursework Principles of the Biomedical Sciences |
Academy Coursework Human Body Systems |
Academy Coursework Medical Interventions |
Academy Coursework Biomedical Innovation |
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Physical Education |
Health and Elective Coursework2 |
Elective Coursework 2 |
Technology Coursework 3 |
1 World Language: French Italian, Spanish, or Chinese (choose one language).
2 Elective Coursework: Fine Arts/ Music (choose as needed).
3 Technology Coursework: Introduction to Engineering Design or Foundations of Technology
4 Single period AP Science allows for an additional elective course to be taken.
Summer Enrichment or Internship Suggested in the summer between Grade 11 and 12. Students find their own internship.
Bioscience Academy Course Descriptions
Principles of the Biomedical Sciences (PBS)
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 program and lay the scientific foundation for subsequent courses. This course is the first course within the Bioscience Academy Pathway and is a prerequisite for all other classes.
Human Body Systems (HBS)
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. Prerequisite: Principles of Biomedical Science.
Medical Interventions (MI)
Students explore a variety of interventions involved in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease as they follow the life of a fictitious family. The course is a "How-To" manual for maintaining overall health and homeostasis in the body. Students explore how to prevent and fight infection; screen and evaluate the code in human DNA; prevent, diagnose and treat cancer; and prevail when the organs of the body begin to fail. Through these scenarios, students are exposed to a range of interventions related to immunology, surgery, genetics, pharmacology, medical devices, and diagnostics. Prerequisite: Human Body Systems.
Capstone Course: Biomedical Innovation (BI)
Students design innovative solutions for the health challenges of the 21st century. 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 with a mentor or advisor from a university, hospital, research institution, or the biomedical industry. Throughout the course, students are expected to present their work to an audience of STEM professionals. Prerequisite: Medical Interventions.
Bioscience Academy Course Teachers and Syllabi
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Principles of Biomedical Sciences (PBS) - Syllabus
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Human Body Systems (HBS) - Syllabus
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Medical Interventions (MI) - Syllabus
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Biomedical Innovation (BI) - Syllabus
Community Partnerships
Our Bioscience students have the opportunity to engage with local experts through a variety of ways. Georgetown University students mentor our seniors through their capstone projects; post-grad students at the University of Maryland mentor our AP Biology students through their research projects. NIH scientists speak to our students about a variety of topics monthly.
Students have toured the United Therapeutics campus in downtown SIlver Spring, attended the USA Science and Engineering Expo and visited the National Museum of Heath and Medicine as part of the Bioscience Academy. Additionally, many of our Bioscience students intern at Holy Cross Hospital.
Lunch and Learn Sessions
What is a Lunch and Learn?
A lunch and learn is an opportunity for students to get a first hand description from professionals about their careers within a variety of fields. These professionals share their educational paths and life experiences that have gotten them where they are today.
Past Lunch and Learns Include:
-Kasandra Hunter, PhD Candidate at USUHS; The Zika Virus Outbreak
-Marc Shnider MD, Harvard Medical School Faculty; Anesthesiology
-Monique Shockley MD and Michelle Martin MD; Physical Rehabilitation
-Kadijah Mitchell PhD; Epigenetics