Skip to main content
Main Menu Toggle
Academics » Career Pathways

Career Pathways

The ASK Academy is all about allowing scholars to explore career pathways and skills they are passionate about. Upon acceptance, scholars choose between two pathways and work their way toward an exciting STEM career. Project-based, hands-on learning allows scholars the opportunity to solve real-world problems with the teacher as the facilitator. Learn more about those pathways here.

Biomedical Sciences

The ASK Academy biomedical science program connects rigorous academic learning with skills needed for 21st-century careers in biomedical sciences and beyond. Scholars are exposed to a wide variety of biomedical topics beginning in 6th grade through project-based learning which focuses on the application of skills and knowledge in real-world scenarios.


The Project Lead The Way (PLTW) curriculum sets the framework for courses with additional content and skills being added by highly qualified faculty. Scholars are encouraged to complete additional coursework and micro-credentials to become hireable in the biomedical workforce upon graduation and/or to be highly successful in healthcare track college courses. Extra and co-curricular activities provide opportunities for scholars to reach individual goals, develop professional skills, and explore careers within the biomedical science umbrella.

 

Objectives of pathway:

- To provide ASK Academy scholars with the support necessary to achieve career entry during or immediately after high school graduation.

 

- To encourage career exploration through workplace learning

 

- To provide real-world, tangible educational opportunities that promote career and college readiness.
 
Overview of Classes:
  • Principles of Biomedical Sciences (PBS - PLTW)
    • 9th-10th graders
    • Forensic sciences, introduction to clinical skills, phlebotomy
  • Community Health/CPR First Aid (CH)
    • 9-12th grade
    • Societal aspects of health include skills and knowledge for the prevention and treatment of minor illness and injury; and training in first aid to common life threats.
    • Counts for health credit
  • Human Body Systems I (HBS I)
    • 10-11th grade
    • Anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of integumentary, skeletal-muscular, nervous and endocrine systems.
    • Prepares scholars for dual credit Biol 2210
  • Human Body Systems II (HBS II)
    • 11th-12th grade
    • Anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of cardiovascular, lymphatic, pulmonary, digestive, and reproductive systems.
    • Counts for health credit
    • Prepares scholars for dual credit Biol 2225
  • Microbiology (Micro)
    • Explores the pathogenic and symbiotic relationships between humans and microbes.
    • Teaches laboratory skills including isolation and identification of bacteria
    • Prepares scholars for dual credit Biol 2310 +L
  • Allied Healthcare Careers/Biomedical Capstone(AHC)
    • Career exploration through work-based learning. 
    • Scholars can earn HS credit for completing job shadowing or having a biomedical-related job.
    • Can be taken up to 2x

 

Engineering & Design

Project Lead the Way (PLTW) – a National Pre-Engineering Program

Once nationally certified, ASK engineering scholars can receive college credit for their efforts in PLTW high school courses offered. A few foundational classes available for all freshmen and sophomores interested in engineering are as follows:

  • Introduction to Engineering & Design (IED) - Using 3D computer modeling software, scholars learn the design process and solve design problems for which they develop, analyze, and create product models.
  • Principles of Engineering (POE) - Scholars explore technology systems and engineering processes to find out how math, science, and technology help people. There are four specialized courses for juniors to choose from based on their interest.
  • Aerospace Engineering (AE) - Scholars learn about aerodynamics, astronautics, space-life sciences, and systems engineering through hands-on engineering problems and projects. This is a capstone course for seniors.
  • Computer Science & Software Engineering (CSE) - Scholars work in teams to develop computational thinking and problem solving skills. The course covers the College Board’s new CS Principles framework. The course does not aim to teach mastery of a single programming language but aims instead to develop computational thinking, to generate excitement about the field of computing, and to introduce computational tools that foster creativity. The course also aims to build students awareness of the tremendous demand for computer specialists and for professional in all fields who have computational skills. Each unit focuses on one or more computationally intensive career paths. This course also aims to engage scholars to consider issues raised by the present and future societal impact of computing.
  • Engineering Design and Development (EDD) - Teams of scholars, guided by community mentors, work together to research, design, and construct solutions to engineering problems.
  • Non PLTW Engineering courses: 
  •  
    • RoboRAVE courses I, II, III, and IV for 9th grade through 12th grade. These courses prepare the scholars for robotic competitions, teaching them computer programming and mechanical engineering to design and build autonomous and remote control robots.
    • CS-108 Computer Programming - A dual credit computer science course from the University of New Mexico; taught by ASK staff. Scholars will receive both high school and college credit as they are introduced to computer programming in multiple languages. 
    • A UNM/CNM course teaching microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. This course may rotate every other year with aerospace engineering. This course focuses on micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) including micro and nano-enable systems and covers how these tiny devices work, are made, and designed, and where they are used in this emerging high technology field. Devices studied include those used in micro optical displays, sensors and microfluidic pumps used in bio-MEMS, pressure sensors and inertial sensors used in transportation and gaming applications. No books required, all is provided online and includes reading, animations, and streaming lecture educational materials. This course earns dual enrollment credit through CNM. 
  • Of course the Engineering scholar can take BioMed Advanced elective courses where their schedule allows.