Project Lead The Way (PLTW)

Welcome to the University of Minnesota!

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) provides transformative learning experiences for K-12 students and teachers across the United States. The program creates an engaging, hands-on classroom environment and empowers students to develop in-demand knowledge and skills they need to thrive.

As a PLTW collaborator, the College of Science and Engineering recognizes PLTW as a program that inspires and equips the next generation of scientists, engineers, and mathematicians.

K-12 Opportunities

The College of Science and Engineering coordinates programs for youth in kindergarten through high school designed to inspire and equip youth to pursue a future in science, engineering, or mathematics that includes post-secondary education.

For Youth

Outreach events

Youth are invited to one-time outreach events that spark and increase interest in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Find out more about outreach events.

Enrichment programs

Youth are invited to enrichment program series that engage and build capacity in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Find out more about enrichment programs.

Summer camps

Youth are invited to engage and build capacity through immersive, on-campus explorations of science, engineering, technology, or mathematics. Find out more about summer camps.

Admissions visits

High school youth are invited to discover the benefits of attending the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, learn about the admissions process, and tour campus, including a residence hall. Find out more about admission visits.

For Educators

Field trips and tours

School groups and youth organizations are invited to try their hand at an engineering challenge, tour a research laboratory, learn about the college experience from our undergraduates, and more through customized field trip experiences. Find out more about field trips and tours.

Classroom resources

Educators are invited to complement their curriculum with the College of Science and Engineering’s virtual guest speakers, hands-on activities, videos, and more. Find out about CSE K-12 virtual classroom resources.

Professional development

Educators are invited to build capacity in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics education through a variety of programs offering on-campus training and experiences to bring back to their classrooms. Find out more about educator development.

Contact Information:

College of Science and Engineering Student Services
Lind Hall, Room 115
207 Church St. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
pltw@umn.edu

IMPORTANT CHANGES in College Credit for PLTW High School Students

Published April 2, 2020: For the 2019-2020 academic year, PLTW has made the determination to suspend their End-of-Course (EoC) Assessments. Therefore, the University of Minnesota has amended the requirements to apply for college credit. Please refer to the PLTW College Credit Registration Form linked below for full details.

Published Dec. 6, 2019: After the 2019-2020 academic year, the University of Minnesota no longer will offer college credit for PLTW high school coursework. Per the Office of the Registrar, the University no longer will offer college credit for any high school coursework without a course equivalency taught on campus. College credit opportunities for PLTW high school students may continue to be available at other colleges and universities.

To search for college credit opportunities available to PLTW students at other colleges and universities, please visit PLTW's Student Opportunities website.

For the 2019-2020 academic year, high school students successfully completing select PLTW courses may still register for University of Minnesota college credit at a cost of $100 per course. Students will receive three semester credits per course and a grade of S (satisfactory/pass) will appear on their official University of Minnesota transcript.

Download the PLTW College Credit Registration Form (docx) with instructions.

For PLTW coursework completed in fall 2019, College Credit Registration Forms must be postmarked no later than May 1, 2020.

For PLTW coursework completed in spring 2020, College Credit Registration Forms must be postmarked no later than Sept. 1, 2020.

Scholarship assistance in the form of a registration fee waiver is available for students with financial need. The PLTW College Credit Registration Fee Waiver Request Form must be fully completed and submitted with your College Credit Requisition Form.

Download the PLTW College Credit Registration Fee Waiver Request Form (PDF) with instructions.

Core Training

PLTW Core Training immerses teachers in a hands-on, collaborative learning environment that challenges them to look at their classrooms in a new way. Teachers take on the role of a student, engage in in-depth exploration of PLTW coursework, and gain invaluable experience to take back to their classrooms.

Core Training helps teachers build skills and confidence around activity-, project-, and problem-based (APB) learning; prepares educators to become facilitators and coaches; and empowers them to bring learning to life through their PLTW program.

The University of Minnesota is proud to be a 2020 PLTW Training Hub.

For more information, including course schedule and tuition, and to register for Core Training at the University of Minnesota and beyond, please visit PLTW’s Core Training website or email solutioncenter@pltw.org.