Career & Innovation Studies

As students proceed through department courses from introductory, intermediate, to advanced courses, students will go from learning foundational knowledge and skills to having more choice and flexibility in their learning. By the grade 12 level in these courses, students will have more choice in authentic projects relating to course areas, and will have explored career pathways that are interesting to them. Students have access to innovative equipment to create physical artifacts representing their learning or engage in authentic industry-standard equipment. This provides students with the chance to engage in hands-on and experiential learning.

Health, Education and Human Services

Students develop and apply important knowledge, skills and attitudes to the provision of care and services for themselves or individuals and groups across a variety of facilities and industries. 

Business and Information Technology

Students learn to implement efficient systems and strategies to collect, structure, manipulate, retrieve and communicate information using technology. 

Manufacturing, Modelling and Engineering

In order to manufacture a solution, a product must be engineered, modelled, prototyped, tested and assessed against the complex problem attempting to be solved.

Food Studies focuses on food preparation for personal enjoyment and nutrition and meal planning. Safe food handling techniques are learned through participation in cooking, baking and food presentations.

Culinary Arts is a two-year program for students interested in food production, food preparation, and meal planning in a commercial kitchen. Through theory and practical learning taught by a Journeyperson and based on industry standards, students have an opportunity to complete courses necessary to challenge the first year Alberta Apprenticeship Cook Trade exam.  Students will also earn SafeCheck® Advanced Food Safety Certification.

Hospitality Management explores tourism, hospitality (food and beverage) management, and event planning. The course provides authentic experiences in collaboration with different school and community groups, with the goal of putting on social events that address client needs.

Leadership explores the theory, social responsibility, and personal awareness of leadership skills. The course provides practical leadership experiences through school activities or events, community  projects, and volunteerism or service learning. These students play an important role in building and enhancing school spirit and culture.

Introduction to Medical and Health Studies 10 provides students with practical and theoretical learning about different areas of medicine and health care. In Grade 11, students choose between the specializations of Medical Studies, Rehabilitation Medicine, or Community Care.  In Grade 12, students continue learning in their self-selected specialized area and/or pursue Early Childhood Education and Care.

• Medical Studies 20-30 allows students to explore the medical sciences and various medicine career pathways through analysis of body systems, exposure to medical researching and technologies, study of chronic conditions, consideration of professional standards and ethics in medicine, and post-secondary transition planning.

• Rehabilitation Medicine 20-30 provides specialized study and practical training in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, rehabilitation services, and rehabilitation research and science. Our students benefit from our collaborative work with the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine.

• Community Care 20-30 is a health-focused, work-ready program with practical, hands-on learning experiences to earn certifications and investigate front-line healthcare positions. 

• Early Childhood Education and Care 30 is available for any student in Grades 10, 11 and 12 interested in early learning, child development, and future child care or educational work. There are no prerequisites required for this course; however, students are strongly encouraged to take Introduction to Medical and Health Studies 10 and Community Care 20 prior to enrolling in this course.  This course meets coursework requirements for the provincial Level 1 Early Childhood Educator Certification. 

Note: In Grade 11, students will complete FIRST AID/CPR WITH AED microcredential.

Business of Esports 20 and 30 provides the student a multidisciplinary look at the gaming industry where they will investigate: business partnerships, promotion, marketing, broadcasting, learnings from athletics, technical requirements, sociology, and the event management required to make esports possible. Students will take part in esports event management within their school community. These Grade 11 students will use many learnings from Grade 10 that require the prerequisites for this course of Mathematics 10C, CALM and Physical Education 10.

Computing Science cultivates understanding of problem solving through analyzing, writing, and testing code as students explore concepts in one or more languages.

Computing Science AP extends the learning of Computer Science to an introductory-level university course on coding, testing, trouble-shooting, and documenting programs. Computer Science students take a common Computer Science 10 course and can specialize in Computer Science AP Principles at the 20/30 level. 

Financial Technology (Fin Tech)  is any technology that is used to augment, streamline, digitize or disrupt traditional financial services such as digital lending, payments, blockchain and digital wealth management. Students will start with learning the basics of finances and accounting in the global context and then learn how technology is innovating how people transact business. Students will explore investing both with traditional brokers/advisors and algorithms. The courses will look to the future possibilities including machine learning/artificial intelligence (predictive analytics and data-drive marketing).

Business and Information Technology courses are part of Career and Technology Studies (CTS) and contribute to the Alberta diploma requirement for option courses.

Computer Science 30 may be used for entrance to some post-secondary programs.

Urban Design introduces students to ideas, principles, and methods of solving architectural problems and communicating solutions. Concepts such as form, structure, lines, pattern, use, and flow are explored in interior, landscape, and architectural design. Students will present solutions using CAD (computer assisted drafting) and technical drafting.

Mechatronics is an interdisciplinary branch of engineering that focuses on electronic, electrical and mechanical systems. The combination is used in robotics, augmented reality, electronics, computer, telecommunications, control systems, and product engineering. Mechatronics 10 is the prerequisite to Mechatronics 20 and/or Robotics 20.

• Mechatronics 20-30 includes a wide range of solutions for design problems

• Robotics 20-30 focuses on robotic solutions to design problems.

Urban Design, Mechatronics and/or Robotics students will receive credits in Career and Technology Studies that contribute to the Alberta diploma requirement for option courses.

Students routinely hear from professionals working in Career & Innovation Studies course pathway areas: in industry or at post-secondary schools. We continue to develop more mentorship opportunities for students. These opportunities allow students to explore and reflect on specific careers within a field. For example, students hear from specific professionals within the branches of doctor or nurse to start thinking if these specialties are right for them.

In addition, microcredentialing opportunities allow students to work towards and achieve industry-sought after certifications and skills, readying them for the world of work. All of these course-specific microcredentials are listed in our course-specific materials. 

Lastly, competitions are an engaging way for students to engage with our career pathway areas. Students have the opportunity to practice and qualify for competition at the regional, provincial, national, and international levels. Our teaching faculty have coached and brought students to the national level of competition. All of these course-specific competitions are listed in our course-specific materials. 

CTS Courses Towards Post-Secondary Applications

• MacEwan University -  heading: Group D: Optional

• NAIT CTS Pathways - heading: CTS Pathways

• Transfer Alberta - see which courses can get you advanced university credit

• University of Alberta

We welcome you to view our individual Google Slide presentations to see the unique career pathways for each area of Career and Innovation Studies!