OCS Course Descriptions
Occupational Course of Study
These courses are for students who are on the Occupational Course of Study as required by their Individualized Education Plan (IEP). If you have questions, please contact the Director of Exceptional Children’s Services.
Occupational English I:
This course emphasizes the English I course of study and is aligned with the Crosswalks Curriculum. This curriculum transitions the OCS Curriculum and the Standard Course of Study to the 2010 Common Core standards.
Occupational English II:
This course emphasizes the English II course of study and is aligned with the Crosswalks Curriculum. This curriculum transitions the OCS Curriculum and the Standard Course of Study to the 2010 Common Core standards.
Occupational English III:
The course continues to emphasize reading, writing, and orally expressing information required in a variety of daily living and employment settings. Students identify main concepts and supporting information from print and non-print material. Students examine the speaking skills expected in a variety of settings and demonstrate effective oral communication in each.
Occupational English IV:
This course integrates oral, written, and visual skills to communicate effectively in a variety of daily living and employment situations. Students use written communication for explanatory, argumentative, self-advocacy, and social purposes. Students employ visual communication skills to locate and research information.
Occupational Introduction to Mathematics I
The "Introduction to Mathematics 1" course teaches the Essential Standards for Introductory Math and prepares the students for Math 1. Students learn introductory algebra and other important life-skills in nine engaging units covering working with numbers, fractions and decimals, rates and ratios, time and measurement, working with algebraic expressions, solving equations and inequalities, working with points and lines, working with data sets, and working with basic geometric figures.
Occupational Math I
The Math 1 course teaches the Common Core Standards for Math 1 and is the second course in the Math 1 sequence. Five engaging units cover topics such as polynomials and factoring, quadratic functions, exponential functions, data analysis, and parallel and perpendicular lines. Students will also explore a variety of mathematical formulas and apply these formulas in real-life scenarios.
Occupational Math II (Common Core/Standards for Assessment)
This course follows the Algebra I Common Core Standards. This curriculum transitions the OCS Curriculum and the Standard Course of Study to the 2010 Common Core standards.
Occupational Financial Management
The Financial Management course teaches NC Essential Standards for Financial Management and equips students with the skills needed for independent living. Six engaging units and a final project help students develop an understanding of state and federal income taxes, wages compensation, the use of credit, different insurance types, budgeting, and consumer spending.
Occupational Applied Science
This course is designed to provide students with knowledge necessary to practice safety in all areas of life and to maintain a healthy life style as well as objectives in the physical science area. Students will learn to apply skills in healthy living and safety to various situations within the home, community, and workplace.
Occupational Biology
This course emphasizes the Biology course of study and is aligned with the Crosswalks Curriculum. This curriculum transitions the OCS Curriculum and the Standard Course of Study to the 2010 Common Core standards.
Occupational American History I
The American History 1 course is intended to be taught prior to the American History 2 course. The American History I course is strategically aligned with the North Carolina Essential Standards for American History 1. The course follows the Founding Principles Act and begins with the European Exploration and Colonization of the New World and follows chronologically through Post-Civil War Reconstruction. Students will learn about the important political, social, and economic factors that contributed to the development of colonial America, the onset of the American Revolution, and the results of the Revolution including the founding of the United States government and the drafting of founding documents including the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Students will also learn about early domestic and foreign policy, westward expansion, reform, immigration, and the cultural variances that have both united and divided America.
Occupational American History II
The American History 2 course is a sequel course to American History 1. The course is strategically aligned with the North Carolina Essential Standards for American History 2. The course follows the Founding Principles Act and begins with late 19th century American History to the 21st century. Students will learn about the important political, social, and economic factors that transformed the ethnic composition of America and America’s dependence on evolving technologies. Students will also learn about 19th – 21st century domestic and foreign policy, westward expansion, reform movements, immigration, and the cultural variances that have both united and divided America.
Occupational Preparation I
This course introduces students to the fundamental attitudes, behaviors, and habits needed to obtain and maintain employment. Students participate in activities to help them develop work ethic, job-seeking skills, decision-making skills, and self-management. Formal career planning and development of knowledge from transition planning begins in this course. Students will participate in school-based vocational training earning 300 school-based training hours required to graduate.
Occupational Preparation II (2 credits)
This course fosters the development skills generic to all major careers: resource management, communication, interpersonal relationships, technology, stamina, endurance, safety, teamwork, sensory skills, problem solving, cultural diversity, information acquisition/management, and self-management. Job seeking skills will be refined. School-based learning activities, including on-campus jobs and work-based activities, are continued in this course. Students earn hours towards the 240 community-based training hours required for graduation. The course can be yearlong when taken as 1 credit each semester or as a block class for a semester yielding 2 credits.
Occupational Preparation III (2 credits)
This course is designed to allow students to continue the development, and begin the application, of skills learned in Occupational Preparation I and II. Work-based activities are provided. These work-based activities allow students to apply employability skills to competitive employment settings and demonstrate the effectiveness of their work personality. Multiple opportunities for leadership development and self-determination are provided. Students continue to earn hours toward the 240 community-based training hours that are required to graduate. The course can be yearlong when taken as 1 credit each semester or as a block class for a semester yielding 2 credits
Occupational Preparation IV
This course will synthesize all the skills acquired in previous Occupational Preparation courses and apply them to personal career choices. It allows students to solve work-related problems experienced in competitive employment, practice self-advocacy skills, and master the theoretical and practical aspects of their career choice. Students will also complete and present their job placement portfolios and finish all 900-work training hours required to graduate.
Career Training
This course is designed to allow students to continue earning the hours necessary to complete the 300 school-based, 240 community0based, and 360 competitive-based skill hours of employment needed for graduation. It may be repeated up to 8 times for credit. Enrollment in this course is based on a recommendation from the IEP Team.