Through modern instructional practices, Doherty High School’s Architecture and Engineering programs provide students with classroom instruction and hands-on experiences on many aspects of the design industry. Students have the opportunities to study in the following design disciplines: technical drawing, residential design, light commercial design, design engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and computer integrated manufacturing.

In addition to receiving high school credits, students are eligible for articulation and concurrent enrollment credits through Pikes Peak Community College (PPCC) and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS). Wiley Neumeyer, a 2018 DHS graduate and senior at the University of Wyoming says, “Concurrent Enrollment credits are like getting a scholarship. I am on track to graduate with my Bachelors in civil engineering within 36 months.” Architecture credits through PPCC equate to up to 11 hours of CAD and architectural drawing credits and can be applied to a certificate or corresponding degree at PPCC. Engineering credits attained through UCCS equate to 11 hours of engineering credits.

Students in the architecture program will learn the basic principles of architecture and learn to use the latest technology, such as AutoCAD and Revit, to design buildings and complete architectural drawings. Students master architectural skills such as preparing preliminary drawings and basic layouts and producing working drawings. A 2005 DHS graduate and practicing architect, Lori Dunn,  says “As an architect I still use the skills I learned in the DHS architecture program as often as the skills I learned in college.”

Students in the engineering program are exposed to computer technology industry standard practices to enhance the classroom experience. Students learn basic principles in design, mechanical, civil, and industrial engineering. These principles are taught with equipment such as CNC routers and mills, robotic arms, laser engraving technology, 3-d printing practices, and surveying equipment, all in a state-of-the-art makerspace.

As well as being exposed to these highly demanding and competitive fields in the classroom, students have co-curricular opportunities to apply their newly obtained skills. The architecture and engineering programs host an in-house VEX Robotics (VRC) team and have a Chapter of the Technology Student Association (TSA), which is a nationally recognized Career and Technical Student Organization.

The VEX Robotics Competition (VRC) challenges students to design and build a robot for competition. VRC is the world's largest robotics competition for middle school and high school students exceeding 20,000 teams and is growing each year. Every year, a new engineering challenge is introduced challenging students to create a fresh and improved machine. Doherty's robotics team, founded in 2015, consists of 3 VEX robotics teams and continues to expand. Robotics members learn about robots, mechanisms, and programming.SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. We help each student excel. A nonprofit national education association, SkillsUSA serves middle-school, high-school and college/postsecondary students preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations. SkillsUSA serves more than 372,655 students and instructors annually. This includes 20,598 instructors who join as professional members. Including alumni, SkillsUSA membership totals over 434,000. SkillsUSA has served 13.6 million annual members cumulatively since 1965 and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Labor as a successful model of employer-driven workforce development.

SkillsUSA’s core focus is to empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders, and responsible American citizens. By improving the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce through the development of skills including personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics. Our vision is to produce the most highly skilled workforce in the world, providing every member the opportunity for career success. SkillsUSA members learn and sharpen their workplace and technical skills not just in the classroom but also in district, state, national, and international competitions. Some of the SKillsUSA competitions include architectural design, engineering technology/design, principals of engineering/technology, CNC machining, robotics, technical drafting, public speaking, and job interview. Students can sharpen their leadership abilities by running and being elected to the chapter, state, or national officer teams. Community service projects include serving as judges at elementary STEM fairs, community outreach, and other special projects. At Doherty, we embed our mantra of We Before Me into our learning and service projects. We are proud to provide these CTE classes not only to prepare students for a successful future, but also to create a community of caring young people.