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Biotech Pathway

Welcome to Ballard Biotech!

Ballard High School is pleased to offer three complimentary biotechnology-based courses that provide students with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of real-world issues, explore applications in biotechnology, and develop professional skills that are applicable to any field.

Biotech 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 biotech courses are taught by experienced scientist and educator, Dr. Becky Howsmon.

Biotech Biology

  • 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 Biotech Genetics & 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 explorations in every unit, including: cheese making, painting with bacteria, debating the pros and cons of genetic engineering, growing algae and exploring their use as a biofuel, investigating changes in yeast over time, and more!
  • *This is a CTE course, so students have the opportunity to receive their Biology A/B credit as well as CTE credit.

Biotech Genetics

  • This year-long course is open to all students who have completed Biology A/B or Biotech Biology, and Chemistry A
  • This is an elective course for students interested in learning more about genetics, diverse biotech careers, and in developing their critical thinking and laboratory skills.
  • Throughout the course we will: Isolate & explore DNA from plant, animal, and bacterial cells​; Analyze the bioethics of genetic testing & genetic engineering​; Design experiments with authentic lab equipment​; Investigate the causes of disease and natural phenomena​; and more!
  • *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, and Chemistry A.
  • 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.
  • Throughout the course we 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.

* 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 Genetics & Systems Medicine are within the same program area: Health Science & Biotechnology.