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Center for Biotechnology and Engineering
The Center for Biotechnology and Engineering is a four-year program of study for students interested in health sciences, engineering, and related fields. This program emphasizes the broad understanding of theory and the application of science, math, and engineering to real-world issues. It provides students with opportunities to pursue authentic and meaningful, hands-on research projects. The Center for Biotechnology and Engineering provides students with a rich environment of integrated humanities and the opportunity to enroll in a variety of Advanced Placement (AP) science courses. Students pursuing this program are required to complete an Advanced Studies Diploma. Key elements of the Center for Biotechnology and Engineering include specialized science courses in Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, and Physics; integrated social studies and language arts classes in grades 9 and 10, designed to help students examine how history, literature, art, architecture, music, and philosophy are influenced by science; biotechnology or engineering strands in grades 11 and 12 to complete the program; variety of science, math, and engineering choices that include high-interest classes; science and engineering-related extracurricular and co-curricular community activities and partnerships.
Biotechnology and Engineering at OPHS Service Hours
Biotech & Engineering students are required to complete 100 service hours to receive the Biotechnology Pathway or Engineering Pathway Certificate. The full documentation of at least 100 hours is due by May 1st of the senior year. They can be service or learning hours that relate to material learned or ideas that are related to a science or engineering class or the program as a whole. Judging a science fair, ecology club, robotics club, science or nature camp, and going to museums are a few examples of things that count in addition to donating time to a science service organizations. We want to see that students are applying what they learn in school to the real world and that students are making connections between the classroom and their lives outside of the classroom.
Required BioTech and Engineering Hours
How to Receive Credit
Students should submit all service hours using the Microsoft Form below. You will submit science hours, book reflections, and community service hours all in the form. You will not need to submit any additional documentation. Directions are included in the form with all you need to successfully submit your hours!
Please note that reflections are not required for community service activities, only science hours submitted.
To submit your hours, please complete the Biotech & Engineering Hours Form
Application Information
Application Information
Specialty program applications will be accepted November 3, 2025-February 1, 2026.
Visit the Specialty Programs Application Process website to learn more about the application process.
Who can apply?
Applications for this program are open to rising 9th and 10th grade students who live in Prince William County. Applicants must have a “C” or better in all class to qualify for admission.
Program Type
Transfer Program – Students participating in this program will transfer to Osbourn Park High School for all courses and activities. Express Bus Transportation is available to accepted students living outside the program location boundaries through Specialty Program Transportation.
Specialty Program Information Sessions
Osbourn Park High School will host two program-specific information sessions. We will be on hand to share information about the Biotechnology/Engineering Program, the Project Lead the Way Biomedical Sciences Program, and Pre-Governors Program which are available to OPHS students, transfer students, and rising ninth and tenth graders.
If you have questions about any of the programs available at OPHS, feel free to join us. The informational sessions will be held on November 6, 2025, 6 p.m. and January 13, 2026, 6 p.m. at Osbourn Park HS
Important Dates
- November 3, 2025, at 8 a.m. – Specialty Program Application Opens
- February 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. – Specialty Program Application Closes
- March 1, 2026 – Application results will be available for parents
- March 5, 2026 – Deadline to accept or decline an offer
Complete the Online Specialty Program Application
- The application must be completed by a parent/guardian.
- The student's grade level for the 2026-27 school year and attendance areas will determine the specialty programs available when completing the application.
- Up to five programs can be selected for high school students.
- The selected programs must be ranked in the order of preference before submitting the application.
Parents/guardians: You must use an email address or phone number associated with your ParentVUE account when creating an account.
- Go to the PWCS Specialty Programs Application website.
- Select sign up and choose if you want to register using an email address or phone number associated with your ParentVUE account.
- For phone number:
- Enter your mobile phone number in the box and select Send Verification Code.
- Once you receive the verification code via text message, type it into the verification code box and select Verify.
- Enter and confirm your password.
- For email address:
- Enter your email into the textbox, enter and confirm your password, and select sign up again.
- A confirmation message will appear and you will receive an email containing a verification link.
- Click Verify account in the email. A confirmation message will appear and you can now log in.
Program Information
Transfer Program
Students participating in this program will transfer to the program location for all courses and activities.
Express bus transportation is available to accepted students living outside the program location boundaries through Specialty Program Transportation.
Returning Specialty Program Students
OPHS Science Fair 2026
Biotech students are welcome and encouraged to participate in the OPHS school based science fair to earn 30 hours and additional 10 hours if they qualify for regionals.
Science fair participation facilitates skills that are essential in preparation for undergraduate and graduate degrees, including academic writing, verbal, written and public communication, and problem-solving skills. Science fair is an exceptional way for students to engage in active learning and develop sufficient science literacy. In addition to these benefits, the science fair participation helps distinguish students on college applications. I encourage biotech students to participate in the science fair with a partner or individually.
Science Fair 2026 Dates and Deadline
Judging for the OPHS Science and Engineering Fair will be held on January 21 – January 25, 2026.
- Students should complete their Science Fair project by January 20, 2026.
- Winning projects will earn the opportunity to move on to the districtwide PWCS Regional Science Fair.
- Winning projects will be announced on January 30, 2026.
- Registration information for the PWCSEF can be found here.
- Students must be on the Science Fair Canvas page to see additional announcements/instructions.
- Information about mini-grant applications can also be found on the OPHS Canvas Science Fair page.
For further information, please contact:
Ms. Wilson-Keys, Science Fair Administrator
Ms. Szabo-Maas, Science Fair Coordinator
Please use the link below to access the Science Fair webpage:
https://osbournparkhs.pwcs.edu/extracurricular_activities/science_fair_information
Biotechnology Pathway Requirements
All Biotechnology and Engineering students are required to complete the Advanced Studies Diploma; to include study in 3 or more science disciplines. They must also complete all their courses with a grade of “C” or better. In addition, they must complete a total of seven science courses, with two of those courses being at the AP level. Lastly, all Biotech and Engineering students must complete and fully document 100 hours of extra -curricular activities that correspond to the goals and objectives of the Biotechnology and Engineering program by May 1, of their senior year.
Required Courses
- Pre-AP English 9
- Pre-AP World Histor 1
- Advanced Biology
- Advanced Chemistry
- Any Physics course
- Algebra II
- All Advanced Diploma requirements
AP Science Courses
- AP Biology
- AP Chemistry
- AP Physics I, AP Physics II, AP Physics C
- AP Environmental Science
- AP Capstone Series
- AP Psychology
- AP Human Geography
Biotech Pathway Electives
- Earth Science (will no longer count as a biotech electives staring with the class of 2029)
- Geology (will no longer count as a biotech electives staring with the class of 2029)
- PLTW Engineering courses
- Engineering Exploration/Robotics
- PLTW Biomedical Science Courses
- Chemistry II: Organic Chemistry
- Biology II: Introduction to DNA and Biotechnology
- Biology II: Introduction to Genetics
- Biology II: Forensics and Microbiology
- Scientific Illustration
- Oceanography (will no longer count as a biotech electives staring with the class of 2029)
- AP Capstone series
- Computer Science courses
Engineering Pathway Requirements
Students who wish to pursue the Engineering pathway in 11th and 12th grades must be in good standing in the Biotechnology or Pre-Governor’s School program, be enrolled in Algebra II or higher math class, and have completed their first 50 Biotechnology service hours. All students completing the Engineering pathway will be required to work towards the completion of an advanced studies diploma. Students will study six courses that support the accelerated study of math and science while introducing principles of engineering. Students will maintain at least a C average in all of their courses as well as their engineering course electives.
Required Courses
- AP Calculus (AB or BC)
- AP Physics (I, II, or C)
- AP Science Elective (Environmental, Chemistry, Biology)
AP Electives
Engineering Pathway Electives
- PLTW Intro to Engineering Design
- PLTW Principles of Engineering
- PLTW Civil Engineering & Architecture
- PLTW Digital Electronics
- PLTW Engineering Design & Development
- Engineering Explorations
- Technical Drawing
- Architectural Drawing
- Engineering Drawing