Bronx Science has introduced changes to the STEM curriculum, in the hopes of strengthening it and providing a wider variety of STEM classes for students.

Previously, freshmen took one semester of Research Literacy, a class geared towards scientific investigation and writing, and Writing Seminar, which focused on text interpretations and compositions. However, starting this year, Writing Seminar has been replaced with Elements of Engineering Design, which teaches introductory engineering concepts and uses physical modeling to solve various problems.

“I think it’s nice that we have to take the course as freshmen, because it is more of a hands-on class and involves a lot of group work, so we get to know our classmates better than we might in other classes,” said Jenny Brown, ’20.

The course also teaches many fundamental engineering concepts, which can be instrumental for freshmen interested in pursuing this path. “The topics have played a tremendous role in society, and will have lasting effects on our futures. As a freshman, looking into all of these advanced topics is really exciting,” Elena Morgan, ’20 said.

Overall, the new freshman required minor is opening up many students’ minds to classes outside of their core subjects. “I was never given the chance to take an engineering class before, so it’s exciting going into class and not knowing entirely what to expect,” Morgan added.

Topics in Modern Physics, a class now offered to students who have completed AP Physics 1, has been added to the curriculum. This class delves into physics concepts up to the 1900s, and teaches students about modern developments in physics. The introduction of this class into the Physical Science curriculum provides another option for students with strong interests in the STEM fields.
Other schools are also seeing changes in their science curriculum. Hunter College High School, located in Manhattan, is offering ninth graders the option to take a computer science course starting this year, and a forensics course was also introduced to the curriculum. Compared to Bronx Science, Hunter is a more humanities-based school, but it is still advancing its STEM curriculum, and exhibiting a stronger push towards science.

At Stuyvesant High School, several science electives are offered to students; in biology, students can take human pathophysiology, human diseases, forensics, and a research class relating to molecular biology. Stuyvesant also has strong computer science electives, including software development and system programming/graphics, with the prerequisite of AP Computer Science.
The new additions to our school’s curriculum are steps in strengthening the STEM programs, and give more options to students looking to expand their knowledge of the STEM field.