CRANFORD — Cranford High School (CHS) students are getting a head start in careers in engineering by learning to do things like design and build bridges, while other students interested in biomedical careers are witnessing surgeries and listening to presentations by medical experts.

The 43 engineering students are part of the C.T.E. Engineering Academy, and the 32 health science students are members of the Biomedical Career Academy, both offered at Cranford High School.

Both programs were added three years ago to replace the high school’s ScienceAcademy, which evolved into the two innovative programs, said Cranford Public Schools’ Supervisor of Science and Applied Technology K-12 and CTE Coordinator Biomedical & Engineering Lisa R. Hayeck. The students all take college-level courses at Cranford High School and then receive college credit once they pass an exam offered by Rutgers University for the Biomedical Career Academy and the New Jersey Institute of Technology for the C.T.E. Engineering Academy, she said.

“While the Science Academy has been an integral part of CHS for 20 years, it has been a rewarding experience to evolve the academy into a comprehensive career-focused program,” said Ms. Hayeck, herself a CHS alumna. “This transformation offers students a wealth of real-world experiences, rigorous coursework that provides college credit, interactions with industry professionals, competitions, career fairs and numerous other opportunities. The academy enables students to explore their career interests at a deeper level, helping to ignite their passions and clarify their future life goals.”

“Taking the NJIT Engineering course at CHS is really helping me figure out what I want to do for a career,” said junior Ryleigh Cucculo, a student in the EngineeringAcademy. “The opportunity to hear guest speakers and participate in engineering competitions has given me a real idea of what it could look like to pursue a career in the engineering field.”

Cranford eighth graders who are interested in engineering and health science can write essays about their interest in either field to apply to the C.T.E. Engineering Academy or the Biomedical Career Academy.

“Basically, what we are trying to do is give students exposure to different careers in the fields that we think they might be interested in,” Ms. Hayeck said. “They benefit from the program a few different ways; they walk out with college credit and explored careers in the field.”

Engineering students also get exposed to robotics, civil engineering and mechanical engineering, she said. In the engineering program, students compete in bridge-building competitions where they design bridges using a 3D printer or even out of tongue depressors.

The Biomedical Career Academy at CHS provides students with many opportunities and classes to broaden their understanding of science and health care. “The course Dynamics of Healthcare covered more than 40 healthcare careers, allowing me to gain further insight into my future,” said junior Anna Mutti.

“The Biomedical CareerAcademy has significantly impacted my education and allowed me to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor by providing a strong foundation in medicine and fostering my love for science,” said sophomore Natalia Reguera.