Career Pathways provide a way for students, parents, and staff to look at course sequences and instructional programs in relation to students’ career interests. Career Pathways are multi-year programs of academic and technical study that prepare students for continuing education and work. Programs of Study are the sequences of courses that align with preparation for a career area and post-secondary education. Illinois’ Career Cluster Model provides a framework to assist schools in increasing students’ awareness of career options and the education, training, and related experiences that will support pursuit of their career interests. The States’ Career Cluster web site provides a valuable framework in the development Programs of Study for your school in each of the Career Pathways.
We know that today’s students will have multiple jobs and several different careers over their lifetime. Some will be working in careers that have yet to be created due to rapidly changing technologies. Equipping students with the knowledge and skills to develop a career plan as well as acquiring the academic and technical preparation to be successful is critically important. Having a one-page summary of course sequences at the secondary and post-secondary levels that are related to a career interest can help students see an overall view of school and the relationship to attaining their personal goals.
Programs of Study can help students:
identify high school courses that align with their career interests
articulate high school courses to post-secondary education
make informed choices about course selection and extra-curricular activities related to career interests as a part of their educational plan
save time and money as they pursue their career interests
Programs of Study also help ensure the curriculum is up-to-date and addressing 21st century employability. Xello and Illinois workNet provides an online career planning tool aligned with the Programs of Study initiative.
Conversation is the best way to engage people in understanding the importance of career and continuing education planning. Developing written Programs of Study for each career cluster can provide a basis for conversation with students, parents, and staff about career planning and the academic and technical education needed to pursue a career interest.
Creating opportunities for all staff to be involved in developing Programs of Study will enhance both academic and Career and Technical Education teachers understanding of the relationship between schooling and the world of work. Connecting curricula, instruction, and 21st century employability skills will result in a more cohesive educational program that connects with students.
Sharing your message in a variety of forms and venues about the importance of career awareness, educational planning, and mastery of academic and technical knowledge with students and parents is key. Create opportunities to communicate about Career Pathways and how planned Programs of Study can connect with real-world careers.
Programs of Study Templates are intended to provide an online tool that is customized for your school and connect students, parents, and educators with valuable information as they consider career pathways.
Business advisors and partners provide valuable information about technical and employability skills in addition to academic preparation needed to be successful in today’s workplace. TRCES partners with many businesses and agencies to assist member schools with Career and Technical Education program development.
Resources/Links
One of the keys to improving student achievement is providing students with relevant contexts for studying and learning. Career Clusters® do exactly this by linking school-based learning with the knowledge and skills required for success in the workplace. The National Career Clusters® Framework is comprised of 16 Career Clusters™ and related Career Pathways to help students of all ages explore different career options and better prepare for college and career.
Big Future by the College Board
What do you like to do? What makes you curious and excited to learn more? Choose an interest get some ideas about possible college majors.
CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, is your pathway to career success. Find tools to help job seekers, students, businesses, and career professionals.
CareerPath.com is a career resource center that will assist you in making the right career decisions. Assistance is provided with career tests, advice and resources.
The Career Cornerstone Center is an ever-expanding resource for anyone interested in exploring career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, computing, and healthcare. Explore over 185 degree fields and find out about education requirements, salaries, networking, precollege ideas, and career planning resources.
Search part-time, internship and entry level jobs.
Choosing the right college major can make a big difference in students’ career prospects, in terms of employment and pay. Here’s a look at how various college majors fare in the job market, based on 2010 Census data. Some popular majors, such as nursing and finance, do particularly well, with unemployment under 5% and high salaries during the course of their careers.
Illinois Association for Career and Technical Education
The Illinois Association of Career and Technical Education provides unified, visionary leadership to advance career and technical education.
Illinois Career and Labor Market Information
The latest information on occupations, wages, education and training requirements, employment outlook and much more.
Illinois Career Information System
Part of the Illinois Department of Employment Security, the Illinois Career Information System (CIS) is part of the intoCareers consortium and partners with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Employment & Training Administration to develop local, state and national labor market information. Illinois CIS is home to the Illinois Career Resource Network which provides career development tools for everyone.
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Assess whether short, medium and long-term financial plans continue to meet your needs.
Illinois State Board of Education
The Illinois State Board of Education will provide leadership, assistance, resources and advocacy so that every student is prepared to succeed in careers and postsecondary education, and share accountability for doing so with districts and schools.
The Illinois workNet® Portal and Program utilizes partnerships and technology to expand seamless and real-time access to workforce development resources aimed at individuals, businesses, and workforce professionals.
The Interest Assessment will help you identify your strongest work-related interests. Knowing your work interests we can help you decide what kinds of careers you want to explore.
My Next Move is an interactive tool for job seekers and students to learn more about their career options. My Next Move has tasks, skills, salary information, and more for over 900 different careers. Users can find careers through keyword search; by browsing industries that employ different types of workers; or through the O*NET Interest Profiler, a tool that offers personalized career suggestions based on a person’s interests and level of work experience.