Career & Technical Education

Are you curious about artificial intelligence? In this introductory course you will be guided through the concepts, tools, and building blocks of artificial intelligence. In a broad overview, you will explore how AI is used in decision-making and problem-solving worldwide. You will also learn how ethics impacts AI and will also have the opportunity to explore the various parts of AI with hands-on activities through the use of chatbots and other exciting interactives.

Your future career is likely something you’ve dreamed about since you were a child. Now it’s time to turn that dream into a reality! In this course, you will explore your own strengths, interests, and preferences and use that information to uncover the best career for you! You will explore 17 career clusters, learn about the skills needed to work in different industries, and choose a path to pursue.

Students evaluate their interests, skills, and preferences; this can include personality type, innate talents, training, values, hobbies, and topics of interest. They research and compare a variety of career options, and analyze for each the job description, salary expectations, job outlook, and the training and skills required. They build a career portfolio of a resume, references, sample letters that can be adjusted for future use, and other items that one might want to showcase.

Have you ever wondered what steps take place as people as they move through the court system? The criminal justice system is a very complex field that requires dedicated people willing to pursue equal justice for all. Explore different career choices and how the juvenile justice system, the correctional system, and the trial process all work together to maintain social order.

If you’re considering a career in education, medicine, or psychology, or areas that involve toddlers to teens, you’ll need to know how they grow and develop. In this course, you will learn about the ages from womb through adolescence and the teen years. You’ll explore essential topics like nature vs. nurture, developmental theories and stages, nutrition, safety precautions, family planning, and more!

In this course, you will learn about the building blocks of coding. You’ll explore how real-world problems can be broken into algorithms described through coding and then use the approachable and versatile coding language of Python to generate the output you’re looking for. You’ll cover both procedural and object-oriented programming and even create two text-based adventure games along the way.

Not only are computer fundamentals crucial for modern learning environments, but they also build critical foundations for skills students will use in higher education and future careers. This course provides students with a foundational understanding of computer concepts and practical technology skills. Students begin with computer basics, including computer components, keyboarding, and operating systems and browsing.

Computers are soldered into all aspects of our daily life, and when they stop working, it can seem like our network has collapsed. If you are fascinated by the inner workings of computers and how to keep them running, then a career in computer maintenance may be for you! In this course, you’ll learn how computers are set up, starting with the software and operating systems and what to do when hardware and software issues are encountered.

We all want to look our best, but did you know there is actually a science behind cutting your hair and painting your nails? Just like all careers, cosmetology requires certain skills and characteristics. You will learn about various beauty regimes related to hair, nails, skin, and spa treatments, and discover how to create your own business model quickly and efficiently while still looking fabulous, of course!

This vibrant industry needs skilled and personable professionals well-versed in the latest trends and technological advances. Explore what the day-to-day life of a cosmetologist is like, and discover that cosmetology is much more than knowing and applying techniques. Learn skin care and facials, how to give manicures and pedicures, how to apply artificial nails, and gain an understanding of different hair removal techniques.

Cosmetology is a specialized field with a high skill set. Examine the complexities of cosmetology by learning to perform a hair, scalp, and skin analysis. You’ll learn about hair types, face shapes, and color theory. And, to effectively prepare you for a career in cosmetology, color techniques with an emphasis on salon and chemical safety is examined.

Let’s delve into the realm of hairstyling and cutting techniques! Explore a variety of wigs, extensions, and hairpieces, while also developing knowledge about shampooing and conditioning. Discover manual curling and the use of chemicals to curl and straighten hair, as well as safety when working with chemicals. Expect to be well versed with a plethora of hair skills upon completion.

Do you ever wonder about the people who commit crimes? Why do they do it and how are these cases investigated, solved, prosecuted and punished? From the theories behind criminal activity to the various types of crime, law enforcement, the criminal justice system, and the corrections process, you’ll take a deep dive into the study of crime. You’ll discover the intriguing aspects of this fascinating field and explore the many related career options.

Thinking of a career in the foodservice industry or looking to develop your culinary skills? Explore basic cooking and knife skills while preparing for entry into the culinary world. Discover the history of food culture, food service, and global cuisines while learning about food science principles and preservation. Prepare for your future by building the professional, communication, leadership, and teamwork skills that are crucial to a career in the culinary arts.

Whether you aspire to be a world-class chef or just want to learn the skills needed to create your own dishes, you’ll build a strong foundation and grow your knowledge of this exciting industry. Explore baking and desserts, learn how to prepare proteins, and study nutrition and safety in the kitchen.

Are you curious to see what it takes to educate and nurture early learners? Use your curiosity to explore the fundamentals of childcare, like nutrition and safety, but also the complex relationships caregivers have with parents and their children. Examine the various life stages of child development and the best educational practices to enrich their minds while thinking about a possible future as a childcare provider!

Learn how the momentum of science is continually propelling engineers in new directions towards a future full of insight and opportunity. Explore the different branches of engineering and how problem-solving, sketching, collaboration, and experimentation can change the very fiber of our human lives. By examining astounding engineering feats and complex ongoing issues, you’ll begin to question whether the word impossible really exists.

Starting a business is more than just having a good idea. Successful entrepreneurs know how to use and apply fundamental business concepts to turn their ideas into thriving businesses. Explore topics such as identifying the best business structure, business functions and operations, finance, business laws, regulations, and more!

Are you a fashion trend follower? Are you drawn to how designers have pulled together fabrics and colors to create memorable pieces? Do you dream of designing your own line of clothing or accessories? Learn what it takes to get started in the fashion industry, from the careers available to new technology and trends reshaping the industry every day. Start creating!

Does your love of video games motivate you to pursue a career in this field? Pursue your passion by learning about the principles of game design through the stages of development, iterative process, critiques, and game development tools. Put these new skills to work by designing your own game!

Are you ready to enter this multi-billion-dollar industry and start applying your technical skills into a compelling package that will catch the eye of an employer? Beginning with conceptualization and the design process, you’ll develop your game’s story elements, narrative, plot, characters, and assets. Using game design software, you’ll bring your game to life by applying lighting, audio, visual effects, player choice options, AI, and consider the type of controls to use for your game.

Step into the Health Science Foundations course and learn what it takes to be a healthcare professional. This course is designed to provide the student with in-depth knowledge of the health care system and introduce them to various occupations in the field. Students will explore the educational requirements, licenses, and certifications for careers at multiple levels within the health care system.

In this course, students will be introduced to the various disciplines within the health sciences, including toxicology, clinical medicine, and biotechnology. They will explore the importance of diagnostics and research in the identification and treatment of diseases. The course presents information and terminology for the health sciences and examines the contributions of different health science areas.

Health Science II will show you how to become part of this meaningful vocation. Promoting wellness, communicating with patients, and understanding safety in the workplace are just a few of the essential skills you will learn, all the while becoming familiar with some of the more prominent areas in the field, such as emergency care, nursing, infection control, and pediatrics.

The demand for nurses has never been higher! Learn what it takes to become a nurse, pursue a career, and understand the practice of nursing and the healthcare system. With a strong focus on patient care, you’ll explore safety, communication and ethics, relationship building, and how to develop wellness strategies for your patients.

What is public health? Who decides which diseases get funding and which do not? What are the reasons for health inequality? Study both infectious and non-communicable diseases as well as learn how we conquer these on a community and global level through various methods, including proper hygiene, sanitation, and nutrition.

From the moment you're born, you're a learner. Your learning environment might not be a classroom quite yet, but you are growing and developing all the same. Your parents will likely keep track of milestones like your first smile and first steps, but growth and development isn't just a focus for mom and dad; teachers must also understand the connection between students' development and how to work best for their success.

Principles of IT helps you understand computing and information technology concepts from the inside out. You will start off looking at the hardware and software options for a computer, including common troubleshooting methodologies. Then you move into networks, and how computers work together, including how the internet works.

Do you have a flair for designing and decorating? If so, then let’s learn how to turn your interests and skills into a career. Explore color, texture, trends, and styles over time, how homes are built, and “green” options for homes and businesses. Interior designers do it all—from planning the color scheme to choosing furniture and light fixtures—with the end goal of creating a space where people can live or work comfortably, safely, and happily.

International business has transformed in recent decades, with companies like Google, Uber, Nike, and Amazon expanding globally. Increased interconnectivity, advanced technology, and support for international trade have opened the doors —or borders—for businesses, big and small, to join the world economy. Going global involves more than just setting up “shop” abroad.

Explore the fast-paced and exciting world of marketing! Learn about the role of marketing in business in addition to the basics of business management, customer service, and economics. Examine how to identify target markets, perform market research, and develop successful marketing strategies. Discover the legal and ethical considerations of business and marketing, along with the impact of government on business.

Can you think of a brand that first launched in the U.S. and then became popular in other countries? Facebook™ did this very thing! Without a solid understanding of business and international marketing strategy, it becomes nearly impossible to be successful and stand out from the crowd. Discover how business and marketing works around the world. You’ll learn about topics such as regulations, market research, marketing plans, global trends, buying and selling internationally, and more.

Discover the real-world uses of Microsoft Excel and its impact on business, academic, and personal applications. Move from inserting and manipulating data, to working with tables, charts, graphs, and calculations. Content of this course will also be applicable to the Microsoft Office Suite certification exam.

Learn to create clean and professional presentations while also building your skills as a speaker, leader, and marketer! Create and format presentations while inserting multimedia, images, transitions, and animations to make a dynamic final product! Content of this course will also be applicable to the Microsoft Office Suite certification exam.

Learn to effectively and efficiently use one of the most common tools of business, school, and personal correspondence! Discover how to format and style documents using fonts, colors and editing tools, create tables, use bullets and numbering, and insert images. Skills you learn in this course can be applied immediately and prepares you to take the MOS Word certification exam, and content is applicable to the Microsoft Office Suite certification exam.

Are you a great listener and love to help people achieve their goals? The role of a peer counselor is a rewarding one. Learn the skills of observation, listening, and empathic communication that counselors need, while also discovering basic training in conflict resolution and group leadership. You’ll learn how to be a great peer counselor, but also how to communicate effectively in personal and work relationships.

This course leads students through the basic concepts and practices associated with day to day financial living. Students learn sound financial practices for making, saving, and spending money. Students will become familiar with record keeping, banking and investing, and planning for their financial future. Completion of this course provides a solid foundation in basic handling of finances and an understanding of building and implementing a personal budget.

Have you ever wondered how your favorite software is created? Explore the software development life cycle from start to finish while developing your own programming skills with Python. Explore the power of data and algorithms along with their influence on the world. Launch yourself into the endless possibilities a career as a programmer can bring you!

Congratulations; you’re speaking a different language! A programming language that is. But do you want to learn more? Discover the most popular programming languages and what they have to offer the software world. Explore data, algorithms, and objectives and how they are essential to language ‘speak’. Learn the software development life cycle and how it can be implemented so you can create projects, such as a prototype for an app you’ll code and a working to-do list website.

Are you fascinated with how machines work? Robots are machines, and they are all around us, from helping doctors in surgeries to helping to keep our homes clean. Explore the physics, mechanics, motion, and the engineering design and construction aspects used to develop robots. Learn how models are created through both sketches and software. Discover STEM careers and the education needed to enter this high-demand field.

From outer space to the oceans and everywhere in between, robots are doing everything from solving complex problems to simply making daily life easier. But, there has to be a beautiful mind behind the machine, and this is where you come in! In this course, you will identify a problem and using the skills you’ve learned, you will apply the principles of engineering and robotics to design an innovative robot to solve the problem.

What do you think of when you hear the phrase “sports medicine professional”? Believe it or not, the term encompasses a much larger range of career options than jobs typically associated with this field. Explore some of the most popular career pathways, day-to-day responsibilities, emergency care for athletes, and legal obligations. Discover what nutrition, healthy lifestyle, and fitness truly mean, and dive into anatomy, human biomechanics, and exercise modalities.

You’ve learned the basics about how the body works and how to attend to athletes’ injuries, but now, it’s time to get personal! Time to personalize and plan for clients, that is! In this course, you will learn to develop dietary and exercise regimes for clients based on their needs and goals. You’ll even have an opportunity to turn plans into action by designing workouts for your own example gym. Let’s hit the ground running and continue building towards a career as a trainer!

How many times per day do you access the internet, including social media? The web is an important part of our daily lives, so it’s no surprise that web development is one of the hottest career fields. Start to explore professional web development, including how to create content for the web. You’ll learn about topics such as servers, file organization, HTML, CSS, Javascript, and the development stack that will let you build any website you can dream up.

You’ve already experienced web development on a smaller scale, but now, it’s time to kick it up a notch! In Web Development 2a: Sketching and Scripting, you’ll hit the ground running with the Agile methodology of software development and how it plays into leadership and teamwork amongst developers. You’ll also approach web development from a different perspective- your users!- and you’ll learn to speak the language of JavaScript to enhance your web development efforts.