Marshall Academy:

Engineering Systems

Marshall Academy's Engineering Systems (ES) program is in its third year, and now a two-year elective sequence. The Engineering Systems sequence is designed for serious, enthusiastic students with a strong interest in engineering and technology who seek to be admitted to colleges or universities with strong science and engineering programs. Through the application of system development programmatics and systems engineering principles, student engineers learn the methodological basis for development of complex modern systems.

Engineering Systems I (ES 1) is a college-level course that is heavily oriented toward laboratory experimentation and systems engineering. The ES 1 curriculum addresses advanced land and water systems, space systems, and robotics systems; and includes participation in the Botball regional robotics competition. Students also assemble and utilize a satellite tracking station, and become certified ham radio operators. In 2007-2008, the class will apply for approval to communicate with the International Space Station. ES 1 students who earn a course grade of B or higher, and complete the necessary application, receive three hours of college credit.

The Engineering Systems II (ES 2) curriculum is heavily oriented toward in-depth, research and development of two system projects which address national needs for advanced systems in energy, transportation, air and space. This year’s class is constructing an operational module for a satellite that is manifested to be launched into space on Space Shuttle mission STS-127 in 2009. Over the year, students become second- and third-level ham radio operators.

Each course (ES 1 and ES 2) includes curriculum-related field trips and periodic career, college, and curriculum-oriented information seminars. As a condition of enrollment, ES 1 students must agree to participate in their competition activities. A $30 Materials fee is required for each course. Qualified students are eligible to enroll concurrently in the Engineering Physics program.