Specialty Programs

In addition to a wide range of regular courses to choose from, there are several speciality programs available to students at USS. Choose from the topics below or just scroll down the page to find out more about these opportunities.

Academy for Student Athlete Development

Designed to support high school aged student athletes as they strive for success at regional, provincial, national & international levels of competition, the Academy for Student Athlete Development (ASAD) provides one of the most unique and inclusive models to support student athletes on able-bodied, parasport, and Special Olympic performance pathways. For more information, check out the Durham District School Board's page on ASAD.

Co-operative Education

A Co-operative Education program allows students to gain secondary school credits while completing a work placement in the community. This program helps students prepare for apprenticeships, college, university or the workplace. For more information, check out USS's Co-operative Education page.

Dual Credits

The dual credit program allows students to participate in post-secondary courses and apprenticeship training, earning dual credits that count towards both their high school diploma and their post-secondary diploma, degree or apprenticeship certification. Speak with your guidance counsellor about which dual credit opportunities are available to you for the upcoming school year.

French Immersion

Students who complete the elementary and secondary French Immersion program should be versed and confident enough in French to allow them to study French in post-secondary or accept employment in a French-speaking environment. For more information, check out USS's Modern Languages Department website.

Night School

Night School provides students of all ages an opportunity to obtain credits towards an Ontario Secondary School Diploma, gain prerequisite courses for post-secondary destinations or employment, or to learn/perfect an international language. For more information, check out Durham Continuing Education's page about Night School.

Ontario Youth and Apprenticeship Program

The Ontario Youth and Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) allows high school students to get a jump-start on a career in the skilled trades. It consists of a hands-on practical approach to education. Students can take part in an apprenticeship placement or a Level 1 apprenticeship through OYAP. For more information, book an appointment to speak with your guidance counsellor.

Specialist High Skills Majors

Cooperative Education program allows students to gain secondary school credits while completing a work placement in the community. This program helps students prepare for apprenticeships, college, university or the workplace. For more information, check out USS's SHSM page.

Studying Abroad

Students can earn courses that count towards your high school diploma while in other countries around the world! Check out this website for more information.

Summer School

A variety of credit recovery and accelerated learning opportunities are made available each summer. Details about what the summer of 2021's opportunities will be are scheduled to be released in early April. For more information, check out Durham Continuing Education's page about Summer School.

Youth in Policing

The Youth In Policing Initiative, run in partnership with Durham Region Police Service, is an eight-week summer employment opportunity for youth ages 15-18, residing in Durham Region. For more information, check out the resources available on this page of Durham Continuing Education's website.