Medical and health science
- 6th grade course: Fundamentals of Health Care
- 6th grade course: Forensics (offered during Academic Enhancement)
- 7th grade course: Introduction to Health Professions
- 7th grade course: Medical Detectives (offered during Academic Enhancement)
- 8th grade course: Principles of Health Science (high school credit)
- 8th grade course: STEM- Anatomy (offered during Academic Enhancement)
- Related extracurricular programs
- Alignment to high school programs
6th grade course: Fundamentals of Health Care
Course length: 18-weeks
Course number: 170236
Course description: This is an introductory course designed to provide students with the basic foundational principles of healthcare. Throughout the course, students will examine various aspects of the healthcare field, including personal traits, teamwork, government agencies, criminal and civil law, basic math used in the healthcare field, religious and cultural beliefs, common diseases, and many different body systems. It is a course that is designed to introduce the many aspects of the healthcare field.
Students will:
- Demonstrate Professionalism in Healthcare – Identify key personal traits of a healthcare worker, such as honesty, empathy, accountability, and cultural awareness.
- Understand Healthcare Teams and Collaboration – Describe roles and responsibilities within a healthcare team, the benefits of teamwork, and the importance of conflict resolution.
- Develop Effective Communication Skills – Differentiate between verbal and nonverbal communication and explain the role of HIPAA in patient privacy and confidentiality.
- Explore Healthcare Facilities and Services – Identify various healthcare facilities, government agencies, and volunteer organizations that provide medical services in the U.S.
- Understand Healthcare Laws and Ethics – Compare criminal and civil law in healthcare, recognize ethical dilemmas, and explore cultural and religious impacts on patient care.
- Apply Math and Time Skills in Medicine – Read military time and use medical math, including ratios, percentages, fractions, Roman numerals, and the metric system.
- Learn Human Body Organization and Function – Describe body organization from cells to systems, use anatomical directional terms, and identify body cavities and quadrants.
- Explore Body Systems and Common Diseases – Study the structure, function, and common disorders of major body systems, including their causes, treatments, and prevention.
- Promote Health and Wellness – Identify the benefits of regular exercise, a balanced diet, and effective stress management strategies for overall well-being.
- Prepare for a Future in Healthcare – Develop a budget and set financial goals related to potential healthcare careers.
6th grade course: Forensics (offered during Academic Enhancement)
Course Length: 18 Weeks
Course number: 302616
Course Description: In this engaging introductory course, students explore the fundamentals of forensic science and how scientific principles are used to investigate real-world scenarios. Through hands-on labs and inquiry-based learning, students examine evidence such as fingerprints, DNA, and physical forces while building foundational skills in observation, data analysis, and critical thinking. This course introduces students to the scientific practices and problem-solving skills essential for success in the Health and Medical Sciences pathway.
Students will:
-
Analyze and interpret evidence such as fingerprints and basic DNA models
-
Use scientific practices to investigate questions and solve problems
-
Apply concepts of forces and motion to real-world forensic scenarios
-
Develop and use models to explain biological systems
-
Collect, organize, and analyze data to draw evidence-based conclusions
-
Communicate findings using appropriate scientific vocabulary
-
Demonstrate safe and responsible practices during investigations
7th grade course: Introduction to Health Professions
Course length: 18 weeks
Course number: 170237
Course description: This course is designed to empower students with basic knowledge of the healthcare industry, enabling them to make an informed decision about their career path. Throughout the course, students will explore various careers within the healthcare industry, covering diagnostic, therapeutic, health informatics, support services, and biotechnology research fields. Students will gain insight into these sectors along with an understanding of the training requirements, salary ranges, job outlook, and basic skills within these sectors.
Students will:
- Explore Health Science Career Pathways – Identify careers in diagnostic, therapeutic, health informatics, support services, and biotechnology research and development.
- Understand Diagnostic Services – Compare roles of professionals like pathologists and phlebotomists, research their education and job outlook, and demonstrate basic diagnostic skills.
- Prevent and Control Infection – Differentiate between pathogenic and nonpathogenic microorganisms, identify the chain of infection, and demonstrate infection prevention techniques.
- Investigate Therapeutic Services – Compare roles of healthcare providers such as nurses, physical therapists, and physicians, and demonstrate basic patient care skills.
- Develop Emergency and Clinical Skills – Perform basic CPR and AED use, measure and chart vital signs, and demonstrate medication administration or patient mobility techniques.
- Examine Health Informatics Careers – Compare roles like healthcare administrators and medical coders, research their career requirements, and practice patient record management.
- Understand Medical Ethics and Privacy – Define HIPAA, recognize the importance of patient confidentiality, and perform tasks such as phone etiquette and medical illustration creation.
- Explore Support Services in Healthcare – Identify careers in hospital maintenance and central supply, research their training and safety protocols, and practice sterilization techniques.
- Investigate Biomedical Careers – Research professions such as genetic counselors and forensic scientists, and engage in bioethical discussions or laboratory simulations.
- Develop Financial and Career Planning Skills – Set a personal financial goal, research a career to meet that goal, and create a plan for achieving financial stability.
7th grade course: Medical Detectives (offered during Academic Enhancement)
Course Length: 18 Weeks
Course Number: 219916
Course Description: Medical Detectives is a Project Lead the Way (PLTW) course that immerses students in real-world medical investigations. Students take on the role of medical professionals as they analyze patient cases, study disease transmission, and explore how body systems function together. Through collaborative, problem-based learning, students apply science, math, and literacy skills to diagnose medical conditions and propose solutions, preparing them for advanced study in the Health and Medical Sciences pathway.
Students will:
-
Analyze medical case studies to identify symptoms, causes, and treatments
-
Investigate the structure and function of human body systems
-
Interpret data related to disease transmission and prevention
-
Apply mathematical reasoning to analyze patterns and variability in data
-
Read and write scientific texts to explain findings and support claims
-
Engage in collaborative problem-solving and evidence-based reasoning
-
Conduct investigations and analyze results using scientific practices
8th grade course: Principles of Health Science (high school credit)
Course length: Full year
Course number: 170111
Course description: Principles of Health Science is an orientation and foundation for occupations and functions in any health care profession. The course includes broad health care core standards that specify the knowledge and skills needed by the vast majority of health care workers. The course focuses on exploring health career options, history of health care, ethical and legal responsibilities, leadership development, safety concepts, health care systems and processes, and basic health care industry skills. This introductory course may be a prerequisite for additional courses in the Health Science program.
Students will:
- Examine the Evolution of Healthcare – Analyze medical milestones, trends, and healthcare systems to understand their impact on modern medicine.
- Understand Healthcare Careers and Teams – Explore career pathways, roles, and responsibilities of healthcare professionals.
- Demonstrate Ethical and Legal Responsibility – Apply ethical principles, cultural awareness, and legal guidelines, including HIPAA.
- Develop Effective Communication Skills – Use verbal, written, and technological communication methods in healthcare settings.
- Apply Health and Safety Standards – Follow workplace safety procedures to prevent injury, illness, and contamination.
- Analyze Human Behavior in Healthcare – Explore Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and its impact on patient care and healthcare interactions.
- Make Informed Healthcare Consumer Decisions – Evaluate services, products, and community resources to support personal and public health.
- Demonstrate Career Readiness Skills – Practice job applications, resume writing, and interview techniques for healthcare professions.
- Utilize Health Science Leadership Organizations – Engage in HOSA-Future Health Professionals for leadership and career development.
- Integrate Core Academic Skills – Apply literacy, numeracy, and technology to problem-solving in health science fields.
8th grade course: STEM- Anatomy (offered during Academic Enhancement)
Course Length: 18 Weeks
Course Number: 300190
Course Description: STEM:-Anatomy is an advanced course focused on the structure and function of the human body. Students explore major body systems through hands-on labs, modeling, and scientific inquiry while making connections to health and medical careers. Aligned to high school-level standards, this course prepares students for advanced science coursework and future opportunities within the Health and Medical Sciences pathway.
Students will:
-
Analyze the structure and function of major human body systems
-
Develop and use models to explain how body systems interact
-
Conduct investigations and analyze data related to human anatomy
-
Apply scientific reasoning to explain how the body maintains homeostasis
-
Interpret scientific data and use evidence to support conclusions
-
Engage in lab-based learning using appropriate tools and techniques
-
Communicate scientific understanding through writing, discussion, and presentation
Related extracurricular programs
Alignment to high school programs
Bryan Station High School
- Academy of Medical Science: Allied Health, Pre-Nursing, and Pharmacy Technician
Frederick Douglass High School
- Academy of Health Sciences: Allied Health
The HILL (Hub for Innovative Learning and Leadership)
- Health Sciences Pathway
Tates Creek High School
- Academy of Medical and Emergency Services: Allied Health, Nursing
