Junior-Year Requirements

• Applied Science Elective*: choose either Design Engineering, Software Engineering, Robotics, or AP Computer Science
• STEM Club participation (one club per year)
• STEM speaker participation (attend eight STEM speakers over two years)
• Outside-of-school STEM experience (approved experiences include summer college-hosted STEM programs, Spring Break travel to complete a STEM project, and weekly volunteer sessions in a STEM environment). Multiple experiences are possible but must add up to an equivalent of five (5) days.
• STEM course work (must have three math, three science, and a ½ credit in technology for graduation)

   

*AP Computer Science also meets this requirement.

Senior-Year Requirements

• STEM Club participation (one club per year)
• STEM placement for Horizon program
• STEM speaker participation (attend eight STEM speakers over two years)

Design Engineering*
Grade 11
.5 credit
This course will give students multiple experiences applying the Engineering Design Cycle. Using CAD and graphics software, hand tools, a 3D printer, a laser cutter, and a variety of materials, students will design, build, and test a solution to a given problem. Students will apply the engineering design cycle to improve their design’s performance. This course will give students opportunities to develop important twenty-first-century skills such as collaborating with one another, identifying and working effectively to problem solve, honing presentation and writing ability, and learning how to complete a project on time and on budget. Students will document their learning by keeping an engineering notebook. 
*Prerequisite: Successful application to the Applied Science Certificate Program
Offered fall and spring semesters

Robotics (Non-Lab)*
Grades 11 and 12
.5 credit
In this semester course, students are introduced to the engineering design cycle, robotics, and computer programming. A study of the logic and algorithmic processes used by computers to perform tasks will lead to the use of the programming language PYTHON. As the students develop confidence and mastery in the use of hardware and programming, they will write their own functions to perform simple tasks. As the semester progresses, students will design more advanced programs, based on individual ability and curiosity.
Offered fall semester
*Corequisite: Algebra II or above
*Successful completion of the course garners credit for the Applied Science Certificate Program.

Software Engineering I
Grades 10-12
.5 credit

In this course students learn the fundamental programming skills required to design and build software, as well as have multiple experiences applying the Software Development Life Cycle. In addition to learning the fundamentals of programming in Java, this course gives students opportunities to develop important twenty-first-century skills like collaborating with fellow developers, breaking a system down into functional components, and learning how to complete a project on time through an iterative development process. The culminating project in the course has students work to solve a problem of their own choosing.
*Prerequisite: Ninth-Grade Seminar or permission of the department
Offered fall 2026

There are no specific costs associated with the Applied Science Certificate Program. Requirements for outside-of-school STEM experiences can be achieved without additional cost. Multiple experiences are possible but must add up to an equivalent of five (5) days.

All Pennington students in Grades 10 and 11 who are interested in STEM and in making a contribution to the larger world we share are good candidates for this program. We welcome all students in those grades to apply!

No. All course requirements can be met without the need to take an honors-level class. We encourage all interested students in Grades 10 and 11 to apply for the program!

Yes. You will receive credit toward the Applied Science Certificate for any classes on the list of approved classes that you have previously completed at Pennington, including world languages classes.