Career and Technology Studies

Senior High School Program of Studies

The CTS program centres around five clusters and more than 1000 1-credit courses in 28 occupational areas.

A cluster is a group of CTS courses that represent occupations with broad industry commonalities. Clusters in CTS are aligned with the National Occupational Classification (NOC) and function as an organizing tool for the CTS program:

 

Program Philosophy and Rationale

  • BIT: Business, Administration, Finance & Information Technology
    The BIT cluster focuses on the management, marketing and use of electronic technologies to access, use and manipulate information within personal, family, workplace, community and global contexts. Students are challenged to expand their confidence, experience and skills as innovators and leaders.
  • HRH: Health, Recreation & Human Services
    The HRH cluster focuses on a vast array of challenging and rewarding careers in health care, community supports, recreation, cosmetology, food services, tourism and law.
  • MDC: Media, Design & Communication Arts
    The MDC cluster is designed to provide students the flexibility to adapt to various situations relating to design, communication and esthetics. Courses relate to art and culture, such as the performing arts, film and video, broadcasting, journalism, writing, creative design, fashion, libraries and museums.
  • NAT: Natural Resources
    The NAT cluster focuses on conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources. Students develop the motivation and commitment to work individually and collectively as private citizens and members of the workforce toward the conservation and responsible use of air, energy, forests, land, minerals, water and wildlife.
  • TMT: Trades, Manufacturing & Transportation
    The TMT cluster focuses on skills and knowledge related to the design, construction, fabrication and maintenance of a product. Courses relate to manufacturing, processing, utilities, construction, mechanics, fabrication, trades supervision, trades contracting, logistics, transportation and heavy equipment.

Within each cluster are occupational areas that contain courses related to specific areas of work. There are a total of 28 occupational areas in CTS. Each occupational area is comprised of a group of courses designed to support positive career and occupational opportunities for students. Students can explore their interests by selecting and creating personalized pathways.

 

A pathway is a selection of courses to give students the opportunity to explore and acquire the attitudes, skills and knowledge for a career that is relevant to their interests. Pathways support goals that may include university, college, apprentice training or moving directly into the workforce. Teachers and students can select and combine CTS courses to create pathways for exploration, specialization and credentialing.

 

Each CTS course at the introductory, intermediate or advanced level represents approximately 25 hours of instruction. Some courses require one or more prerequisites which are essential for maintaining safety standards, appropriate instructional sequencing and articulation with post-secondary programs.

 

CTS courses are instructional units defined by general and specific learning outcomes to develop attitude, skills, knowledge and values supported through practical application and experience.

 

Courses are organized into three levels of achievement. Levels of achievement are not indicators of grade levels. Students progressing through the levels will be expected to meet higher standards and demonstrate an increasing degree of competence in both the general and specific outcomes.