About the Program

As part of the Roanoke County Governor's STEM Academy at BCAT, the Center for Engineering offers a four-year advanced curriculum integrating math, science, and technology as a study of the profession of engineering. The Center's curriculum focuses on the development of science and mathematics disciplinary content and the use of that knowledge in problem solving through a design-based approach that is the hallmark of the engineering discipline. Students develop technical and analytical skills along with written and oral communication skills in a collaborative and hands-on learning environment. Students who are not enrolled in Geometry in the 8th grade must take Geometry in summer school before admission or take it as a 9th grader at their base school in addition to Algebra II at the Engineering Center.

Engineering students at Burton cover such skills as learning Computer Aided Design and manufacturing, 3-D printing and engraving, soldering electrical circuits, designing and building innovative solutions to original ideas or problems, and precision measuring. Additionally, students collaborate in teams to explore multiple disciplines, use mathematical models to represent and understand quantitative relationships, and analyze change in various contexts.

Goals and Objectives:

• To establish a foundation for the understanding of engineering as a profession;
• To introduce and cultivate the development of engineering analysis, problem solving, and design skills;
• To integrate mathematical and scientific concepts into practical engineering applications;
• To provide individual and group hands-on learning experiences for students;
• To offer real-world engineering experiences through mentoring/internships in a professional setting.