Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)
The Specialist High Skills Major program, or SHSM ("sha-zaam!"), is a ministry-approved specialized program that allows Grade 11 and 12 students to focus their learning on a specific sector while meeting the requirements to graduate from secondary school. It also assists in the transition after graduation to apprenticeship training, college, university, or the workplace.
Centennial has two Specialist High Skills Major programs:
Arts & Culture
The Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program in Arts and Culture gives students an opportunity to specialize, gain qualifications, and plan a career pathway in various areas of the Arts and Culture sector while still in high school. The SHSM Program has a number of required components, designed to give students a “leg-up” to pursue post-secondary opportunities in each of the identified sectors, valuing apprenticeship, college, community, university and the workplace.
The Arts and Culture sector offers students opportunities to get inspired and use their unique skills and abilities in careers in visual arts, drama and performance, technical theatre, dance, media and many other creative areas.
Health & Wellness
The Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program in Health and Wellness gives students an opportunity to specialize, gain qualifications, and plan a career pathway in various areas of the Health and Wellness sector while still in high school. The SHSM Program has a number of required components, designed to give students a “leg-up” to pursue post-secondary opportunities in each of the identified sectors, valuing apprenticeship, college, community, university and the workplace.
The demand for professionals in the Health and Wellness sector in Ontario and across Canada is increasing as the age of our population increases. As such, this sector has both a wide variety of career opportunities and employs close to 2 million people across Canada. Kinesiologist, child care worker, fitness instructor, doctor, nurse, veterinary technician, hospital porter and medical technician are just some of the numerous occupations that the SHSM Health and Wellness program prepares students to pursue.
Why enrol in an SHSM program?
Specialist High Skills Major programs offer many perks to senior high school students. They allow students to ...
• Customize their secondary school education to suit their interests and talents
• Develop specialized knowledge and skills
• Earn credits that post-secondary educational institutions and the sector recognize
• Gain sector-recognized certification and career-relevant training
• Develop essential skills and work habits
• Identify, explore and refine career goals and make informed decisions about their future
• Remain flexible, with the option to shift between pathways, should their goals and plans change
Students who successfully complete an SHSM receive a specialized Ontario Secondary School Diploma with an embossed red seal identifying them as a specialist in their chosen sector. They also receive a SHSM Record documenting his/her achievements.
Arts & Culture Requirements
Health & Wellness Requirements
I'm in! How do I sign up?
Signing up for a Specialist High Skills Major program is easy! Simply speak with your Guidance Counsellor and let them know you're interested. The best time to do this is in your grade 10 year, so you can plan your Grade 11 and 12 courses accordingly to work with your SHSM program.
Application forms can be found below. Fill these out with your Guidance Counsellor and parents/guardians and return them to Guidance. That's it, you're in!
Application Forms:
Arts & Culture Application Form
Specialist High Skills Major Application Form - Arts and Culture.pdfHealth & Wellness Application Form
Specialist High Skills Major Application Form - Health and Wellness.pdf