College and Career Awareness

College and Career Awareness

Goals

Students will assess their interests and aptitudes and explore related career options based on current Career and Technical Education (CTE) Career Clusters and Pathways. Students will learn about careers and know how to access current information about market demand, average earnings, and training and education requirements. Students’ increased understanding of their personal work-related characteristics and knowledge of careers and related education requirements, will support the development of well-defined Plan for College and Career Readiness (PCCR).

The College and Career Awareness course is organized by:

  • Workplace Skills
    • Identify the impacts of strong workplace skills in academic and career success
    • Develop and practice the following workplace skills:
      • Collaboration
      • Communication
      • Critical thinking
      • Dependability
      • High-quality work
      • Problem-solving
      • Productivity
      • Responsibility
      • Self-initiative
  • Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs)
    • Identifying benefits of participating in CTSOs
    • Participating in mock CTSO events
  • College and Career Planning
    • Stress management techniques
    • Individual Plan for College and Career Readiness (PCCR)
    • Variety of financial opportunities for future academic and career goals

Program Delivery Components

College and Career Awareness provides students with the direction, decision making, and planning needed to select their personal academic and career paths. College and Career Awareness is an important part of a student's preparation in becoming college and career ready.

  • The program is a required middle school course for Grades 7 or 8 taught by a team of Career and Technical Education teachers, school counselors, and Work-Based Learning coordinators.
  • School counselors are involved in teaching important concepts to students and aligning the Plan for College and Career Readiness (PCCR).
  • Students are provided with instruction in career development.
  • The student learning activities provide hands-on, real-world application.
  • Concepts come from project-based learning, simulations, and Work-Based Learning (career fairs, guest speakers, field studies, and job shadows) experiences.