The Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program in Business gives students an opportunity to specialize, gain qualifications, and plan a career pathway in various areas of the Business sector while still in high school. The SHSM Program has a number of required components, designed to give students a "leg-up" to pursue post-secondary opportunities in each of the identified sectors, valuing all 4 destinations.

The Required Components are as follows:

• Bundled Credits: Each SHSM program offers students a bundle of 8 - 10 credits, including:
  • 4 "major" credits in Business (2 in Grade 11 and 2 in Grade 12)
  • Supporting credits: 1 - 2 English credits, 1-2 math credits, 2 cooperative education credits, and other complimenting credits depending on the program, that will be delivered in the context of that sector

• Contextualized Learning Activities: Supporting credits, such as English, and math include units and other opportunities for SHSM students to learn in the context of the sector they have chosen
  • i.e. Students complete a math project related to finance

• Certifications and Awareness Training: Sector-recognized certifications related to the major and selected from a list, including Standard First Aid, CPR Training, Customer Service, WHMIS and three electives specific to the Business sector

• Experiential Learning Opportunities:
  • Job-shadowing, job-twinning, work experience
  • Minimum of 2 Cooperative Education credits linked to the major
  • Field trips, other workplace experiences for students to explore careers related to that sector

• Documentation of Essential Skills and Work Habits through the Ontario Skills Passport

• Reach Ahead Experiences: In the field and sectors considered as a post-secondary destination, ranging from a few hours to full courses (dual credit programs)

• Students can complete the SHSM program to prepare them for their pathway to any of the four post-secondary destinations, apprenticeship, college, university and work

You may also pick up a complete package from the School to Career Guidance contact at your present school to book a visit or interview.

For the name of the School to Career Contact at your school go to our Contact Us page.