Career Clusters
The National Career Clusters® Framework provides a vital structure for organizing and delivering quality Career and Technology Education programs through learning and comprehensive programs of study. In total, there are 16 Career Clusters in the National Career Clusters Framework, representing more than 79 Career Pathways to help students navigate their way to greater success in college and career.
As an organizing tool for curriculum design and instruction, Career Clusters provide the essential knowledge and skills for the 16 Career Clusters and their Career Pathways. It also functions as a useful guide in developing programs of study bridging secondary and post secondary curriculum and for creating individual student plans of study for a complete range of career options. As such, it helps students discover their interests and their passions, and empowers them to choose the educational pathway that can lead to success in high school, college and career. South Carolina recognizes these 16 career clusters offered at various schools across the state.
The nationally recognized career clusters are represented by the South Carolina-specific documents linked below. These guides support efforts by school guidance personnel, career specialists, students, and parents as course-taking choices and career decision making activities take place and may be found in more detail at the South Carolina Department of Education website.
SC Department of Education/Career Clusters
The 16 Career Clusters
Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources: The production, processing, marketing, distribution, financing, and development of agricultural commodities and resources including food, fiber, wood products, natural resources, horticulture, and other plant and animal products/resources.
Architecture and Construction: Careers in designing, planning, managing, building and maintaining the built environment.
Arts, A/V Technology and Communications: Designing, producing, exhibiting, performing, writing, and publishing multimedia content including visual and performing arts and design, journalism, and entertainment services.
Business, Management and Administration: Business Management and Administration careers encompass planning, organizing, directing and evaluating business functions essential to efficient and productive business operations. Business Management and Administration career opportunities are available in every sector of the economy.
Education and Training: Planning, managing and providing education and training services, and related learning support services.
Finance: Planning, services for financial and investment planning, banking, insurance, and business financial management.
Government and Public Administration: Executing governmental functions to include Governance; National Security; Foreign Service; Planning; Revenue and Taxation; Regulation; and Management and Administration at the local, state, and federal levels.
Health Sciences: Planning, managing, and providing therapeutic services, diagnostic services, health information, support services, and biotechnology research and development.
Hospitality and Tourism: Hospitality & Tourism encompasses the management, marketing and operations of restaurants and other food services, lodging, attractions, recreation events and travel related services.
Human Services: Preparing individuals for employment in career pathways that relate to families and human needs.
Information Technology: Building Linkages in IT Occupations Framework: For Entry Level, Technical, and Professional Careers Related to the Design, Development, Support and Management of Hardware, Software, Multimedia, and Systems Integration Services.Planning, managing, and providing legal, public safety, protective services and homeland security, including professional and technical support services.
Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security: Planning, managing and performing the processing of materials into intermediate or final products and related professional and technical support activities such as production planning and control, maintenance and manufacturing/process engineering.
Marketing, Sales and Service: Planning, managing, and performing marketing activities to reach organizational objectives.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics: Planning, managing, and providing scientific research and professional and technical services (e.g., physical science, social science, engineering) including laboratory and testing services, and research and development services.
Transportation, Distribution and Logistics: Planning, management, and movement of people, materials, and goods by road, pipeline, air, rail and water and related professional and technical support services such as transportation infrastructure planning and management, logistics services, mobile equipment and facility maintenance.