Ready to launch a future in aerospace? In this hands-on course, students dive into the world of high-tech manufacturing and aviation, exploring how cutting-edge aircraft and components are designed, built, and tested. Learn about materials science, applied physics, electrical systems, hydraulics, sheet metal manufacturing, and much more by tackling real-world challenges and projects. Whether operating advanced shop tools or troubleshooting complex systems, students gain the skills to create, innovate, and problem-solve—just like industry pros. By the end of this course, students will be prepared for career opportunities or further studies in aerospace and advanced manufacturing.

This exciting STEM enriched course prepares individuals to engage in the specialized servicing and maintenance of all types of automobiles. Students learn in National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) accredited training facilities. Topics revolve around the eight nationally recognized Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) areas. Leadership, Interpersonal, ASE supplemental tasks, and 21st Century Skills are embedded throughout this course along with a heavy correlation to science, physics, and chemistry and cross-referenced to the Next Generation Science Standards. Students read college level textbooks and practice technical writing skills. Students will be introduced to chemical interactions, electricity and conductance, physical properties of solids/liquids/vapors and corresponding pressures of materials in these states.

This is a full year 3-period Skill Center class (3 high school credits). This STEM enriched course is an entry point into a multitude of careers in the aerospace industry including Airline Pilot, Aerospace Engineer, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operator (Remote Pilot), and Air Traffic Controller. Students will have the opportunity to earn a private pilot ground-school certificate VFR/IFR/Drone. This program offers a broad foundation in aviation science. AOPA Curriculum includes: Private Pilot Ground School (FAA Approved), Aviation Safety and Human Factors, Aviation History and Careers, Basic Aerodynamics, Aviation Weather, Basic Flight Instruction (Simulators), Introduction to Aircraft Systems, Aerospace Environment & Decision Making, Intro to Navigation and Flight Planning, Aerospace Engineering Design Process, National Airspace System, Professionalism/Leadership Skills.

In this advanced course, students learn the techniques of mixing, shaping, and folding while applying the science and math behind baking. Students practice how to successfully make quick breads, decorated cakes, pies, mousses, sauces, custards, frozen desserts, cookies, and confections. They gain expertise in highly skilled techniques such as sugar decorating and chocolate garnishing in a well-equipped, industry-standard kitchen and prepare food for student presentations, school functions, and community service events. This course includes classroom instruction and practical lab work in a commercial kitchen.

Work with industry experts who provide professional knowledge and first-hand experience. Utilize different materials and methods, fasteners and adhesives, learn to safely operate the various industry tools, and learn jobsite safety and OSHA requirements. Design and carry out hands-on skills in practices such as rigging, lifting, and safely moving a load utilizing principles of mechanical advantage. Read, understand, and interpret basic plan sets and engineering drawings. Apply academic concepts such as math and physics for a well-designed project, key concepts in plumbing and electrical, along with energy utilization and energy efficiencies. Learn about a variety of project management approaches. Learn and practice the 4 core concepts of the course which are designing the project, estimating the costs of a project, scheduling and or estimating the time it will take to complete a project, and building/constructing a project.

Year 1: Discover how to design, build, manage, and troubleshoot corporate enterprise networks. Learn mitigation of security threats, cybersecurity threat management, and advanced troubleshooting skills with a major emphasis on hands-on learning. Each day half the class time is spent working in a state-of-the-art networking lab. Students take the Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) exam at the completion of the course. Year 2: This advanced curriculum trains students to install, configure, and operate local and wide area networks using protocols and technologies such as TCP/IP, OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, AAA, IPv6, MPLS, STP, DSL, VTP, Gigabit, and 10 Gigabit Ethernet. This course makes extensive use of labs to focus on developing skills to build campus networks using multilayer switching technologies, creating and deploying a global intranet, and troubleshooting. Aspects of Voice-over-IP (VoIP) and Cisco Unified Communication Manager will be covered as well as aspects of VMWare and Microsoft virtualization of servers. Students also gain experience in setting up and configuring Microsoft Server products. Students take the Cisco Certified Networking Professional (CCNP) exams at the completion of the course.

Year 1: This comprehensive, career-focused program prepares students for the hospitality industry in a commercial kitchen classroom. Students learn French cooking techniques, culinary terminology, knife skills, aesthetics of food presentation, baking and pastry techniques, and prepare a wide variety of foods and cuisines. In addition, students practice safety and sanitation procedures, restaurant management, customer relations, team and leadership skills, and catering and table service. There are also industry-related field trips to observe professionals and learn about career possibilities. Year 2: Students in Advanced Culinary Arts expand and refine their culinary expertise. Students are prepared with broad and transferable skills in planning, management, communication, and advanced food production for employment and post-secondary education.

In a state-of-the-art learning lab, discover the rewarding dental career field. Learn about instruments, dental materials, four-handed dentistry, preventative, restorative, and specialty procedures, patient charting, sterilization, radiography, general and oral anatomy, microbiology, terminology, First Aid/CPR, and infection control. Program includes field trips, guest speakers, team building, and leadership activities and prepares students for further education or an exciting career. Students read college level textbooks and practice technical writing skills. Students who successfully complete this program have the experience required to work in a dental office as a sterilization or hygiene assistant.

Students gain hands-on experience with using artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics to make sense of the extensive collection of information shaping the modern world. Students learn how to clean, organize, and visualize data, then apply mathematical concepts and programming to build models that identify past trends and support data-driven predictions. Students will: Understand how AI and data analytics are applied in industries such as sports, media, healthcare, and finance. Learn python programming and apply it to solve problems with data. Explore statistics, probability, and linear algebra to discover patterns and relationships in complex datasets. Build and test predictive models using machine learning Create compelling visualizations that clearly communicate insights to others. Examine the ethical implications of data and AI, including issues of bias, privacy, and fairness. Work in teams on projects that mirror real-world data science workflows.

The DigiPen Art & Animation track focuses on establishing this foundation, concentrating on both art and animation techniques that strengthen artistic skills. No prior art or animation skills are required as this structured program covers the basics including perspective, color, form, value, design, composition, and timing. Like learning a new language, students gain an understanding of the "grammar" of art and develop a fluency with their digital art skills, they apply critical design process to create the amazing visuals and animation expected by today's audience. Students will: Practice the nature of drawing with emphasis on perspective and effective use of depth cues to create the illusion of form and space. Discover how shape, color, and value work together to create 2D visual artworks. Understand the role and responsibilities of a production artist in solo and group settings. Apply critical animation principles such as timing, spacing, and keyframes. Utilize 2D and 3D digital tools and techniques to aid in the art production process. Practice the Video Game production process including pitches, design documents, scheduling, milestones, testing, time management, and working on interdisciplinary teams.

What makes games fun, useful, or engaging? How can we design systems to allow users to get the most enjoyment, the greatest payoff? How do we provide the best value for the player's investment of time and energy? This program is intended to complement the current Video Game Programming track. It is for creative-minded students who are deeply curious to understand the behavior and psychology behind games and are eager to learn the skills and methods used for designing fun and engaging interactive experiences. Students in this project-based program study engagement theory alongside concepts from computer science, psychology, economics, communications, and user experience. Students will: Identify and apply foundational game design theories and mechanics. Investigate different game design disciplines including: systems design, level design, user experience design, narrative design, and technical design. Apply essential user experience design (UXD) techniques like wireframing, prototyping, user research, and usability testing. Learn basic scripting and programming skills to develop game prototypes using game engine. Identify industry game design roles and the specific skill sets required by each role, to develop a successful, individual career path. Collaborate on team projects with students from the other DigiPen WANIC tracks. Second Year Game Design sets out to expand students' voice as designers by building: confidence, communication techniques, programing, specialized expertise.

Sound and music play a critical role in how audiences experience games, animated films, and other forms of entertainment, making skilled sound designers essential to a project's success. This program focuses on the creative and technical aspects of music and sound design, production, and implementation. Students study composition, theory, performance, audio recording and mixing, and technical sound design for animations and video games. Students gain valuable experience creating and implementing original music and sound using the latest in digital design tools, all of which can help launch them into this field. Students will: Learn basic music theory including music notation, keys and music analysis. Apply elements of rhythm, pitch, and harmony. Develop skills in transcription and composition. Develop a more intuitive understanding through ear training. Expand knowledge of music history and genres. Gain competency with the use of digital music production tools and processes. Learn basic audio engineering skills for recording and mixing. Practice the Video Game production process including pitches, design documents, scheduling, milestones, testing, time management, and working on interdisciplinary teams.