Welcome to the Health, Medical & Biotech CTE Pathway at Ballard!

Ballard High School is pleased to offer three complimentary courses and a student leadership organization that provide students with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of challenges and innovations in health, medicine and biotechnology, and develop professional skills that are applicable to any field.

The following courses are open to all students and include laboratory explorations using authentic laboratory equipment. Curriculum includes real-world phenomena and activities developed by Institute for Systems Biology, Fred Hutch, UW Genome Sciences, Shoreline Community College, and more! All three courses are taught by experienced scientist and educator, Dr. Becky Howsmon.

HOSA is an internationally recognized student leadership organization that provides opportunities for students to explore health, medical and biotech careers, develop their technical and leadership skills, and compete in state and international competitions. The BHS HOSA chapter is open to all students, is advised by Dr. Howsmon, and meets every Monday during lunch.

Biotech Biology A/B

• This year-long course is open to all incoming freshman who are interested in learning about biotechnology, particularly those students who are interested in taking the upper-level Physiology A/B & Systems Medicine courses in the future.
• This is an alternative option for completing the Biology A/B requirements for students.
• The course follows the same units as Biology A/B with the addition of biotech connections in every unit!
• This is a CTE course, so students have the opportunity to receive their Biology A/B lab science credit as well as CTE credit.

**Physiology A/B

• This year-long course is open to all students who have completed Biology A/B or Biotech Biology.
• This is an elective course for students interested in learning about the anatomy and physiology of the human body, gaining experience with basic medical skills and terminology, and learn about health and medical careers.
• Students have the opportunity to earn industry-recognized certifications and dual credit through Highline Community College.
• Throughout the course students will:  engage with hands-on activities, labs, dissections, group and independent projects, and connections to real-world challenges and case studies.
• This is a CTE course, so students have the opportunity to receive 1 Lab science credit and 1 CTE credit.

**Systems Medicine

• This year-long course is open to all students who have completed Biology A/B or Biotech Biology.
• This is an elective course for students interested in exploring factors that impact health, systems approaches for addressing current and future challenges in health and healthcare, and interdisciplinary STEM and health careers.
• Students have the opportunity to earn industry-recognized certifications.
• Throughout the course students will: Analyze population health statistics; Create interactive models; Explore innovative research studies; Conduct lab investigations; Use machine learning to predict, personalize and prevent disease; Design community action projects; and more!
• This is a CTE course, so students have the opportunity to receive 1 Lab science credit and 1 CTE credit.

**Physiology A/B and Systems Medicine will alternate annually, with Physiology offered on odd school years (2025-2026, 2027-2028, etc.) and Systems Medicine offered on even school years (2024-2025, 2026-2027, etc.). Biotech Biology is offered every year.

Under the state’s 24-credit graduation requirement, students must earn 1 Career & Technical Education (CTE) credit​. Students can choose to earn a second CTE credit in the same Program Area to fulfill their Graduation Pathway requirement​. Biotech Biology, Systems Medicine, and Physiology A/B are within the same program area: SPS Health & Medical Sciences.

Refer to the BHS Course Catalog for more information on courses offered at Ballard HS.

As of Dec. 18, 2024