The goal of the program is to introduce students to Robotics and the five major disciplines of Engineering including, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering.

Worked with NASA-JPL to beta test their design of a robot modelling the Mars Rover Curiosity.  Worked with the US Navy to test the design of their SeaGlide underwater glider/rover.  Teachers in this program have won Ventura and Santa Barbara Engineering Teacher of the Year in 2017 from the Engineer Week Celebration at Cal State Channel  Islands.

Academy Course List

(Total 50 Credits)

ROP Honors Engineering (10 Credits)
Engineering is a profession that contributes to change and improvements in our world.  It creates imaginative and visionary solutions to the challenges of the 21st century – the problems of feeding the world, how we will use energy and continue to protect our environment.  ROP Honors Engineering is designed to introduce students to the major disciplines of Engineering including Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Chemical and Computer.  Ever wondered how to design something new or draw out an idea to show your friends? Stop wondering and do it, using Autodesk Fusion 360, the industry-leading 3D design software! Discover the role of an engineer in taking an idea from the design process to manufacturing or production. Produce an incredible, working prototype of your project with state-of-the-art resin and/or filament 3D printers.  Design and build 2D models and prototypes using our state of the art CO2 laser cutter/engraver.  You will work on projects, activities, and problems not only of interest to you, but that have global and human impacts. Work in teams to design and improve products, document your solutions, and communicate them to others.  The culmination project of this course is to understand and build a prototype robotic rover model of NASA’s Curiosity Rover.   By engaging in hands-on, real-world projects, students understand how the material covered in class can be applied in their everyday lives.  Ready to start the journey?

Robotics and Engineering (10 Credits)
The world faces an unprecedented need for innovators, problem solving leaders and thinkers.  Robotics and Engineering is a course whose objective is to introduce students to the field of Robotics and stimulate their interests in science and engineering through the participation of the entire engineering design process. This course covers a variety of multidisciplinary topics necessary to understand the fundamentals of designing, building, and programming robots. Students learn hands on skills including soldering, circuit design, Arduino programming introduction to Python programming language and working in our state of the art maker space learning how to use hand and electric tools. Students will work with Autodesk Tinkercad to design and 3D print their projects on our state of the art resin and filament printers.  Students will also work on 2D CAD designs and complete their projects on our CO2 laser cutter/engraver.  During this course, students will be required to gradually complete the design and construction of a robot using the Vex Robotic System kit and following the constraints and objectives compete on their final project demonstration.  In addition, students will complete the construction and programming of the SeaGlide Underwater Robot designed by teams from the United States Navy.  Are you excited for your introductory journey into Robotics and Engineering?‍

ROP Entrepreneurship and Innovation Honors
(10 Credits)
‍A hands on course focusing on Design (Planning), Manufacturing (Building), and Entrepreneurship (Selling). Students learn Adobe Illustrator (2D) to draw plans, Fusion 360, and Sketch-Up (3D) to visualize these designs in a computer 3D environment. This course will prepare you for your internship in DMS Solutions the following year. Students will also learn how to use practical tools like a drill, table saw, skill saw, router, etc, to create and build what was drawn on the computer. While in this class we may do projects that use various software programs, do small woodshop type projects, build pallet furniture, and cover construction techniques. This may lead to an internship in our company DMS (Design, Make, Sell) Solutions.

ROP Entrepreneurship and Innovation Honors (DMS Solutions)
(10 Credits)
DMS Solutions is a student run company comprised of graphic design, and engineering students working together in an entrepreneurial capacity from Santa Susana Magnet High School. The completion of prerequisite courses are highly encouraged. Students will design products client request, make it, then sell it, and in some cases, for real money through a paid internship! Please visit our company site at DMSSolutions.us.

For more info on these specific courses, please see Mr. Abbe in room 203 and click this link.

Honors Biology (10 Credits)
This course is designed for those anticipating a career in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields.  The material covered provide a strong foundation for the SSHS Pre-med pathway and health career areas, as well as critical thinking skills for the SSHS Engineering pathway.  Gene editing with CRISPR-Cas9, organism and gene cloning, evolutionary biology, translational medicine, Stem cell applications, GMO’s, and bioethics are among the key topics and themes explored in the year-long course.