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The SHSM – Business enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace. Where local circumstances allow, boards may elect to offer one or more variants of the SHSM in a given sector, each with a particular area of focus. This SHSM may be designed to have a particular focus – for example, on entrepreneurship, finance, accounting, retail, marketing, international business, economics, management and administration, or event planning. This focus is achieved through the selection of the four major credits in the bundle.  

A bundle of nine Grade 11 and Grade 12 credits

These credits make up the bundle:

• four business major credits that provide sector-specific knowledge and skills.  The four courses can be any combination of Grade 11 or 12 credits (including all four credits in Grade 11 or all four credits in Grade 12).  This may include up to three cooperative education credits related to the sector to count as the major credits (in addition to the two required cooperative education credits in the bundle).

• three other required credits from the Ontario curriculum. Schools may commit to including a contextualized learning activity (CLA) for the business sector in each of the three credits. In each credit, some of the course expectations are then met through the CLA. (Schools that do not formally commit to including CLAs are still free to offer them in one or more of the credits.)
  
  For the apprenticeship training, college, and university pathways, the three credits include:

  • one in English;1

  • two in mathematics (one credit must be in Grade 12)

• For the workplace pathway, the three credits include:

  • two in English (one credit must be in Grade 12)1 and

  • one in mathematics

• two cooperative education credits that provide authentic learning experiences in a workplace setting, enabling students to refine, extend, apply, and practise knowledge and skills outlined in the cooperative education curriculum as well as sector-specific knowledge and skills.

Experiential learning and career exploration opportunities relevant to the sector might include the following:

• one-on-one observation of a cooperative education student at a placement in the business sector (an example of job twinning)

• a day-long observation of a business person (an example of job shadowing)

• a one- or two-week work experience with a member of a business association or a professional in the sector (an example of work experience)

• attendance at a retail show (e.g., a home show or craft show), conference, or workshop focusing on the business sector

• participation in a local, provincial, or national contest or competition with a focus on business (e.g., a business plan competition or stock market competition)

• working with a mentor within the business community (e.g., to provide assistance in creating a business plan)

• a tour of the local chamber of commerce

Students are provided one or more reach ahead experiences – opportunities to take the next steps along their chosen pathway – as shown in the following examples:

• Apprenticeship: visiting an approved apprenticeship delivery agent in the sector

• College: interviewing a college student enrolled in a sector-specific program

• University: observing a university class in a sector-related program

• Workplace: interviewing an employee in the sector

All students pursuing an SHSM must complete at least one sector-partnered experience (SPE). SPEs are learning experiences tied to a student's chosen SHSM sector, developed and delivered by sector partners in tandem with teachers. All SPEs focus on one of the following:

• innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship (ICE) 

• coding

• mathematical literacy

The concepts of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship (ICE) are inextricably linked. Innovation is the generation and realization of a new idea in the world; this means that innovation contains within it elements of both creativity and entrepreneurship. Creativity comes into play in the generation of ideas to meet a need in the world, based on a fundamental belief that there is more than one right answer to a given problem. Entrepreneurship is the set of activities aimed at building, scaling and sustaining the new ideas into an organization, whether extending an existing organization or creating a new one.

ICE, coding (computer programming), and mathematical literacy are all areas of knowledge that are key to a wide variety of 21st century careers. An SPE is designed to support students in cultivating the mindset that is needed for success in any of these areas of focus – a mindset that includes proposing ideas and solutions, taking smart risks in a safe environment, studying the results, and applying critical thinking.

Graduates with an SHSM in Business will not only finish with an enhanced resume of experiences but they will also be prepared for careers or post-secondary studies in the financial, retail or management industries.  A small sample of careers in this field includes: