Career & Technical Education

Investigating Careers 

Intended Audience: Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 

Credit: One trimester = 0.5 credit 

Major Outcomes:

• Current and future career trends in high demand, high wage areas

• College/post-secondary planning

• College options, admissions, requirements, financial aid availability

• Getting a job and keeping it, defining success at the workplace

• Self-assessment for career planning

• Career research

• Personal portfolio that reflects student’s work 

Projects, Activities, etc.:  Class portfolio,  detailed career plan including goals and objectives, action path to get to chosen career. Students will have an overview of college offerings how to access and utilize resources.  Students will create projects based on their self-assessment results and career choices. 

Instructional Focus: Speakers, PowerPoints, variety of technology access. Students will use Internet accessing career and college information. Students will utilize career center and connect with Career Placement Specialists to become aware of colleges, college visits, test prep, financial aid, and business connections.

Animal Management 

Intended Audience: Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 

Credit: One trimester = 0.5 credit, does not meet science credit requirements 

Major Outcomes:

• Comprehensive analysis of the animal science industry as it relates to companion animals such as horses, dogs, cats, and other recreational animals. 

Projects, Activities, etc.:  Animal presentations, field trips, and career exploration 

Instructional Focus: Hands-on, experiential activities, application of learning through digital assignments and active participation. 

Pre-Vet Animal Science 

Intended Audience: Grades 10, 11, and 12 

Credit: One trimester = 0.5 credit 

Major Outcomes:

• Comprehensive exploration of the Veterinary and Animal Science Career Pathway.  Units to include Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Reproduction, Nutrition and Careers. 

Projects, Activities, etc.: Field trips, presentations, and career exploration. 

Instructional Focus: Hands on experiential activities, application of learning through digital assignments, and active participation.

Coll Honors Animal Science 

Prerequisite/Selection Process: Pre-Vet Animal Science or Animal Mgmt recommended 

Intended Audience: Grades 11 and 12 

Credit: One trimester = 0.5 credit 

Major Outcomes: 

• This is a University of Minnesota Introduction to Animal Science (ANSC 1101) course with emphasis on genetics, physiology and nutrition. The course includes a study of production systems relative to the horse, dairy, sheep, poultry, swine and beef industries. Additional topics include man’s relationship to animals, current issues and future perspectives of animal agriculture. Students will experience laboratories at the University of Minnesota relating to Animal Science.  Students will be concurrently enrolled at the University of Minnesota and upon successful completion of this class; students will have four semester credits posted to their college transcript. 

Projects, Activities, etc.: Field trips, presentations, and career exploration. 

Instructional Focus: Hands on experiential activities, application of learning through digital assignments, and active participation. 

Fish and Wildlife Ecology 

Intended Audience: Grades 10, 11, and 12 

Credit: One trimester = 0.5 credit, does not meet science credit requirements 

Major Outcomes:

• Principles of Ecology

• Wildlife Management

• Principles of Forestry

• Relationships between organisms and  the environment 

Instructional Focus: Hands on experiential activities, application of learning through digital assignments, and active participation. 

Fish and Wildlife Zoology 

Intended Audience: Grades 10, 11, and 12 

Credit: One Trimester = 0.5 credit, does not meet science credit requirements 

Major Outcomes: 

• Principles of zoology

• Natural resources conservation

• Animal anatomy and structure

• Animal life functions 

Instructional Focus: Hands on experiential activities, application of learning through digital assignments, and active participation. 

Seasonal Horticulture 

Intended Audience: Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 

Credit: One trimester = 0.5 credit 

Major Outcomes: 

• Comprehensive exploration of the plant science [green] industry. Units to include: Careers in the Green Industry, Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Reproduction. 

Projects, Activities, etc.: Plant identification; soils and medias; landscape practices and measurements; seasonal floral design; vegetable and herb gardening; landscape maintenance and installation 

Instructional Focus: Hands on experiential activities, application of learning through digital assignments, and active participation. 

Floriculture 

Intended Audience: Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 

Credit: One trimester = 0.5 credit 

Major Outcomes:

• Learn the art of floral design through the construction of several arrangements and corsages 

Projects, Activities, etc.: Minimum of five floral arrangements, including holiday and special occasion 

Instructional Focus: Hands on experiential activities, application of learning through digital assignments, and active participation. 

Greenhouse Management 

Intended Audience: Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 

Credit: One trimester = 0.5 credit, elective credit, does not meet science credit requirements 

Major Outcomes:

• Learn and experience all of the components related to the propagation, growth, marketing and sale of greenhouse crops 

Projects, Activities, etc.: Spring plant sale, plant propagation, fertilizer and pesticide application, management of other growth factors as they apply to greenhouse production 

Instructional Focus: Hands on experiential activities, application of learning through digital assignments, and active participation. 

Global Food Challenge  “Can We Feed the World Without Destroying It?” 

Intended Audience:  Grades 11, 12 

Credit:   One Trimester = .5 credits   

Major Outcomes: 

• Sustainable Food Systems Organic vs Conventional

• Antibiotic and Hormone use in Meat Animals

• Animal Welfare Impact on Food Production

• Use of Pesticides to Grow Crops

• Locally Sourced Food and Food Waste

• GMO’s and other Genetic Concerns

• Impact of Population Growth and the Carrying Capacity on the Planet

• Land Usage, Urban Sprawl, and Urban Agriculture

• Hydroponics and Vertical Farming 

Projects, Activities, etc.: Field trips, guest speakers, experiential computer based simulations, group discussion and research, socratic seminar based discussions and individual research 

Instructional Focus:  Hands on experiential  activities, application of learning through digital  assignments, and active participation

Introduction to Holistic Healing

Intended Audience: Grades 10, 11, and 12 

Credit: One trimester = 0.5 credit 

Major Outcomes: 

• Future health professionals will be exposed to the world of Holistic Health with topics such as Chiropractic Care, Acupuncture, Dietary Supplements, and Mind-Body Therapies. Students will research and discuss various therapies in regards to their history, implementation, interaction with traditional medicine, and careers involved. 

Projects, Activities, etc.: Various Holistic Medicine Speakers, Research, and Projects 

Instructional Focus: This course introduces students to non-traditional medical therapies and aligning careers in the biomedical pathway

Medical Anatomy I 

[Students may earn Articulated College Credit] 

[Medical Anatomy I/II may be taken in any order; both are needed for articulated credit.] 

Intended Audience: Grades 10, 11, and 12 

Credit: One trimester = 0.5 credit 

Major Outcomes:

• Human anatomy and physiology of the integumentary, digestive, urinary, respiratory and musculoskeletal systems. 

Projects, Activities, etc.: Dissections 

Instructional Focus: Taught by a health professional 

Co-curricular Connection: HOSA 

Medical Anatomy II 

[Students may earn Articulated College Credit] 

[Medical Anatomy I/II may be taken in either order; both are needed for articulated credit.] 

Intended Audience:  Grades 10, 11, and 12 

Credit: One trimester = 0.5 credit 

Major Outcomes: 

• Human anatomy and physiology of the reproductive, sensory, cardiovascular, nervous and endocrine systems; current health issues 

Projects, Activities, etc.: Dissections 

Instructional Focus: Taught by a health professional 

Co-curricular Connection: HOSA 

Medical Terminology and Careers 

[Students may earn Articulated College Credit] 

Intended Audience: Grades 10, 11, and 12 

Credit: One trimester = 0.5 credit 

Major Outcomes:

• Medical terminology

• Career exploration 

Projects, Activities, etc.: Field trips and guest  presenters 

Instructional Focus: Taught by a health professional, guest presenters 

Co-curricular Connection: HOSA 

Honors Health Science Internship 

Prerequisite/Selection Process: Application and interview required 

Intended Audience: Grade 12 pursuing careers in health service occupations including: chiropractic, dental, dietary, nursing, therapies and veterinary 

Credit: Up to three credits available [0.5 credit per trimester for seminar, 0.5 credit per trimester for work]; students may enroll for up to three trimesters which is preferred by employers/internship sites 

Major Outcomes:

• Career exploration

• Leadership development

• Effective work skills

• Community service 

Projects, Activities, etc.: Job manual, career portfolio, leadership conferences, community and school service 

Instructional Focus: On-the-job training, career development and student organization 

Co-curricular Connection: HOSA