Engineering & Innovation Institute

The Institute exposes students to a variety of engineering concepts, skills, and applications so the student will have a solid engineering background.

College Engineering Courses

As the home base for Accelerate, GSSM's statewide engineering program, The Duke Energy Engineering & Innovation Institute also offers college-level engineering courses to GSSM Residential students. The Institute enables students to master engineering concepts, skills, and applications to build a solid engineering background for college and beyond.

GSSM Residential students who meet prerequisites may register for engineering courses listed in the course catalog.

Course Descriptions

Applications of Engineering Design (FALL Semester - 0.5 unit)

This course is appropriate for students who are interested in design and engineering. The learning objectives for this course are the following:

  • Understand and use the engineering design thinking process
  • Create 3D designs using hand drawings, SolidWorks and 3D printing
  • Understand physical computing with the Arduino
  • Understand some of the global and human impacts of technology by simulating an Internet Fulfillment Center warehouse using Lego robots

Includes a 2 hour weekly lab.

Engineering Mechanics: Statics (SPRING Semester – 0.5 unit)

This course studies the mechanics of static structures. Topics covered in this course include vector force systems, systems in equilibrium, structural analysis of trusses and frames, friction, distributed forces, center of gravity, and moment of inertia.

Technical drawing and design skills will be used to build a bridge structure out of bass wood and test its strength. PREREQ: PHY101-H, PHY151-H, PHY201-AP or permission of the instructor. Includes a 2 hour weekly lab. This course may or may not be offered depending on the availability of an instructor.

Engineering: SolidWorks (SPRING Semester – 0.5 unit)

Students join the 3D printing revolution in learning how to create their designs in SolidWorks, including sketching, part and assembly creations, and creating drawings with which to communicate their ideas. A final project will include 3D printing their design.

Engineering: ProductDesign (SPRING Semester – 0.5 unit)

Students research and develop a new product or process. The product can be either an invention or innovation, and should include the building of a prototype.  The process should be a new way of doing something of a technical nature.

Students will communicate their solutions to their peers and members of the professional community. Includes a 2 hour weekly lab. PREREQ: ENGIN205-H or permission of the instructor.

GSSM Residential students who have completed the 10th grade year of the Accelerate Engineering Program may opt to continue in Accelerate engineering courses while attending in residence.