Science and Engineering Learning Community

The Science & Engineering Learning Community is a four year program of study for high achieving Glenbrook South students interested in pursuing an integrated pathway of science and engineering courses. Students are invited to enroll in the SELC in January of a student's 8th grade year.

Student Testimonials

"The SELC and its resources have allowed me to create things that I would have never imagined I would be able to create."- Adam Pawlik, Class of 2022

"The tools and support available as part of the SELC program are like nothing else at GBS."

- Emily Northrip, Class of 2023

Course Sequence

You may have the opportunity of being a part of the Science & Engineering Learning Community at GBS! This is an integrated program of study open to Glenbrook South students who have been placed in honors science, who have received a placement of Geometry Honors, Algebra 2, or Algebra 2 Honors, and who have identified themselves as desiring to take integrated science and engineering coursework in high school given their interest in engineering and related STEM careers.

Subject	9th Grade	10th Grade	11th Grade	12th Grade
Science	Physics Honors	Chemistry Honors	AP Biology	AP Physics, AP Chemistry, and/or AP Env. Science
Engineering	Intro to Engineering Design Honors	Principles of Engineers Honors	Digital Electronics Honors	Engineering Design & Development Honors
Math	Geometry Honors or Higher	Algebra 2 Honors or Higher	Pre-Calc or Higher	Calculus and/or Computer Science

The sequence includes four years of science, four years of math, and four years of Project Lead the Way (PLTW) engineering culminating in the capstone Engineering Design & Development course in which students apply all prerequisite coursework to identify, design, and create a solution to a real-world engineering problem. Science and engineering courses taken in grades 9-11 have been designed to uniquely integrate projects and learning experiences between the science and engineering courses. During grade 12, a student will have the opportunity to take one of four AP science courses–AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics 1 (algebra-based), AP Physics C (calculus-based)–along with the PLTW Engineering Design & Development Honors course.

Joining SELC

The Request to Enroll for the Class of 2029 will open in January of 2025. For additional information, please plan on attending the SELC Information Night on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 7 - 8:30 p.m. in the Glenbrook South Lyceum. An email will be sent to all incoming freshmen and their families with additional details. Should you have additional questions, please feel free to reach out to Jeff Rylander or Dawn Hall.

Alumni

Since the implementation of the Science and Engineering Learning Community at Glenbrook South High School in 2014-15, students who have taken 2 or more SELC classes have been accepted to and gone on to study at the following colleges and universities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What courses make up the SELC?

The SELC is an integrated STEM program of study option for honors level Glenbrook South students who have identified themselves as students desiring to take integrated science and engineering coursework and for whom pursuing a STEM-related field in the future is a significant possibility. The pathway includes 4 years of science, 4 years of math, and 4 years of Project Lead the Way (PLTW) engineering culminating in the capstone Engineering Design & Development course in which students apply all prerequisite coursework to identify, design, and create a solution to a real-world engineering problem.

What are the benefits to being a part of this community?

If you are considering a possible future career in an engineering or technical field, the SELC will provide an opportunity for you to see how the questions that scientists ask can lead to the solutions that engineers design. You will use your mathematical and technological skills to arrive at such solutions. In addition, opportunities through field experiences, getting to know and work with real engineers and scientists, being part of a team that is working to apply what you learn in the classroom to real life projects, and programs addressing career opportunities in STEM fields will be provided.

Is this the only STEM option at GBS?

No. GBS has many opportunities for students interested in STEM-related fields. The traditional science sequence has provided a strong background for students to become doctors, scientists, and every other career that is out there. Our PLTW honors engineering program is open to all students – both inside and outside of the SELC – and provides a sequence of engineering courses that allow students to explore and refine design and problem solving skills. Computer science opportunities and various design courses in technology as well as a rich array of math courses are also part of the curricular offerings at GBS. In addition, nearly a dozen STEM-related clubs exist at GBS that will allow students to explore their passions outside of the classroom. These are open to all students.

Can I be in the Science & Engineering Learning Community and Academy of International Studies?

Students will need to select either the Science & Engineering Learning Community or Academy of International Studies. Both programs are integrated and rigorous academic pathways for students seeking academic challenge and unique learning experiences, and the scheduling challenges of being in both programs is extremely burdensome. The areas of study in the Academy and SELC offer different paths and we encourage you to follow your strongest area of passion and interest as you prepare for college and career.

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