About the Program

The Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program in Hospitality and Tourism gives students an opportunity to specialize, gain qualifications, and plan a career pathway in various areas of the Health and Wellness 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 Hospitality and Tourism (2 in Grade 11 and 2 in Grade 12)

• Supporting credits: 1 Grade 11 English credit, 1 Grade 12 math credit,  1 science or business studies credit, 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, math, science or business studies include units and other opportunities for SHSM students to learn in the context of the sector they have chosen

• i.e. Students complete a finance project in their business studies course to determine start-up costs for a catering business

• 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 Hospitality and Tourism sector, such as Smart Serve

• 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

More Information

For more information on the Specialist High Skills Major Hospitality and Tourism program, contact your school guidance counsellor, log onto OnSorts.ca or contact the program teacher.

Programs & Locations

Process:

To learn more about the process or to start the process you can download the following document. This document is designed to help you through the process of being accepted into a SHSM program.

Downloads:

• SHSM Application Package All forms required to apply for a SHSM