Introduction to Engineering
Engineering 102 High School (ENGR 102 HS) is a three unit, dual credit, UA course for high school students who want to learn more about engineering. Since ENGR 102 is a required course for all UA engineering students, those who take it in high school get a head start on their freshman year of college. The ENGR 102 HS credit is transferable to all Arizona public institutions of higher learning as well as to most of those out of state.
ENGR 102 HS is taught in participating high schools by trained high school teachers. This award-winning, hands-on course is offered in 35 high schools across Arizona and California. Students who sign up pay significantly reduced tuition. High school juniors and seniors who are taking pre- calculus or above may enroll. Check here to see if your school offers ENGR 102 HS.
While taking ENGR 102 HS, students learn about opportunities in various engineering fields and experience how engineers improve people’s lives. In addition to the solar oven project, catapults and paper helicopter design and build, high school teachers and their students select additional topics to study throughout the school year, for example:
- Solar go-karts
- Cellphone chargers
- Robotics
- Balsa wood bridges
- Arduino microprocessor activities
- Duct tape canoes
- Neuro Engineering projects
- Design and build a Biomechanical hand
- Model an artificial heart valve
- Design for artificial bone growth
For answers to frequently asked questions about ENGR 102 HS, check here.
For ENGR 102 HS admissions, registration and payment deadlines, check here.
Hands-on Prep for College
“Once I took the class, I said, 'Oh my gosh;
this is what I want to do with my life.”
Cali Squire
“I’ve been to a lot of workshops in my 20 years of teaching. This is a good one. I love brainstorming with teachers from Arizona and California and getting to experience what they are doing in their courses.”
AnnMarie Condes, Palo Verde High Magnet School
“This class really helped me transition because I had the help of my instructor and peers, and the College of Engineering.”
Johana Guzman
“We weave the aspects of STEM into our Engineering 102 High School classes and pack each project full of
upper level math and science to show students how important those subjects are to practical applications.”
Mike Schmidt, University High School
Participating High Schools
| High School | Teacher | Location |
| Andrada Polytechnic High School | Justin Villard | Vail |
| Brophy Prep | Kevin Elinski | Phoenix |
| Buena High School | Amy Martinez | Sierra Vista |
| Canyon Del Oro High School | Sara Arnold | Oro Valley |
| Catalina Foothills High School | Bryan Reyes | Tucson |
| Chaparral High School | Steve Geislinger | Scottsdale |
| Cibola High School | Steven Fritz | Yuma |
| Corona Del Sol High School | Mel Wendell | Scottsdale |
| CREST/Paradise Valley | Reeni Samuel | Phoenix |
| Desert View High School | Richard Duarte | Tucson |
| Desert Vista High School | Rick Schapler | Phoenix |
| East Valley IT | Alexander Anzar | Phoenix |
| East Valley IT | Larry Kuhn | Phoenix |
| Fairmont Prep | Lily Lin | Anaheim, CA |
| Flowing Wells High School | William Golden | Tucson |
| Gila Ridge High School | Travis Bogart | Yuma |
| High School | Teacher | Location |
| Hamilton High School | Jim Clark | Chandler |
| Ironwood High School | Chuck Balogh | Glendale |
| Ironwood Ridge High School | Carmen Shugert |
Oro Valley |
| Liberty High School | Travis Hutchison | Peoria |
| Mica Mountain High School | Derek Langley | Vail |
| Mountain Point High School | Nick Bonds | Phoenix |
| Mountain View High School | David Class | Marana |
| Notre Dame Prep | Carmene Carbone | Scottsdale |
| Pusch Ridge Academy | Caleb Clinkingbeard | Tucson |
| Saguaro High School | Susan Lindberg | Phoenix |
| Sahuaro High School | Benjamin Davis | Tucson |
| Salpointe Catholic High School | Cecilia Gossler | Tucson |
| Sonoran Academy- Davis Monthan | Oguz Guvenc | Tucson |
| Sonoran Academy- Tucson | Ebubekir Sen | Tucson |
| The Gregory School | Dennis Conner | Tucson |
| University High School | Mike Schmidt | Tucson |
If you are an educator at one of these schools and have students interested in signing up, please see ENGR 102 HS Registration.
Goals for the ENGR 102 HS Curriculum
- Demonstrate how engineers use math and science to help people in a variety of global, economic, environmental, and cultural settings.
- Increase high school students’ belief in their ability to pursue and succeed in the engineering profession.
- Offers students an inside look at the UA College of Engineering through campus visits and lab tours.
- Upon successful competition of the course, high school students receive 3 units of required UA coursework at significantly reduced tuition.
Responsibilities of the Participating High Schools
- High schools participating in ENGR 102 HS will provide a classroom and qualified instructor.
- In order to maintain a diverse classroom experience, high schools are required to enroll 10 to 25 students per class — twenty students is a good target number.
- High schools are asked to screen students who satisfy co-enrollment of pre-calculus or above before enrolling in ENGR 102 HS.
- High schools and teachers will maintain communication with the UA regarding the progress of the students and keep abreast of other administrative issues.
- High school teachers will turn in course evaluations and student grades at the end of each school year.
Responsibilities of the University of Arizona
- The College of Engineering will supply the participating high schools with a basic curriculum as well as assist teachers with new project development.
- Develop, coordinate and conduct the summer workshops for teacher training.
- Facilitate enrollment of participating students into the University of Arizona as a non-degree student.
- Some course materials are available for check out and College of Engineering funds are available for purchase of additional course materials and supplies.
- Coordinate directly with participating high schools with regards to University of Arizona & College of Engineering admission and specialized campus visits
More information about how students register for ENGR 102 HS can be found here:
For info on training & curriculum for Engineering 102 High School, please call 520.621.5155 or email kjgc@arizona.edu
ENGR 102 HS in the News
EPICS High School
Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS), is a service learning program that many participating schools include as part of their ENGR 102 HS course. High school students in the program work with mentors in engineering fields on real-world projects that help members of their communities. Projects vary; from a portable wheelchair swing, a tweeting otter at the Tucson Desert Museum, to a waterwheel science demo for school children.
EPICS, which originated at Purdue University, was created to increase student interest in STEM fields and to meet the engineering needs of nonprofit organizations. EPICS takes place in hundreds of high schools throughout the United States. Currently, 15 ENGR 102 HS classrooms participate in EPICS service learning projects.
The University of Arizona supports high school teachers to implement and grow EPICS High programs.
We can help you:
- Identify community partners and engineering mentors
- Develop project ideas
- Acquire project materials and supplies
“Students see what it means to work on a project with a real customer, hard deadlines and real-life consequences. They realize they are capable of so much more than they give themselves credit for.”
Sarah Streb, Salpointe ENGR 102 HS teacher
For more information about UA EPICS High call 520.621.5155 or email kjgc@arizona.edu