South Central Service, Work & Learning Center/Tech Prep

Career Pathways

Course-to-Career Resource Guide

Make the Career Connection...from Learning to Earning

School to Work

MESSAGE TO STUDENTS & PARENTS

The world of work is rapidly changing, as existing jobs become more complex and new jobs demand increased levels of education. Students must acquire increased academic competencies, advanced technical skills and greater problem-solving abilities to become successful citizens and employees of the future.

The selection of a career pathway is a cooperative effort involving students, parents, teachers and counselors. Students should explore a career pathway that blends with their interests and abilities and leads to the achievement of personal, educational and career goals. Students should be encouraged to explore all available opportunities without being "locked into" a specific program of study.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by the year 2006, 15% of jobs will require a 4-year degree; 75%, a 2-year post-secondary.

Which Pathway Matches Your Interests and Abilities?

CAREER PATHWAY DESCRIPTIONS:	Arts, Humanities, and Communications: People attracted to careers in this pathway like to sketch, draw, paint, play musical instruments, write stories, poetry and/or music, sing, dance, act, take photos, etc. This career path includes programs related to the humanities and to the performing, visual, literary, and media arts. These include architecture, creative writing, film and cinema studies, fine arts, graphic design and production, journalism, foreign languages, radio and television broadcasting, advertising, and public relations.
Business, Management and Administration: People attracted to careers in this pathway like to influence, persuade, perform, lead, or manage to meet organizational goals for economic gain. They like to make decisions, meet people, initiate projects, give talks or speeches, organize activities or lead a group. Other people attracted to careers in this pathway like to work with data. They have clerical or numerical ability and like to carry out tasks in detail and follow through on others' instructions. Programs may include entrepreneurship, sales, marketing, hospitality and tourism, computer/information systems, finance, accounting, personnel, economics, and management.
Health Services: People attracted to careers in this pathway like to help people. This career path includes programs related to the promotion of health in people and animals, as well as the treatment of injuries, conditions, and diseases. These may include medicine, dentistry, mental and physical health, nursing, therapy and rehabilitation, nutrition, fitness, and hygiene.
Human Services: People attracted to careers in this pathway like to work with people. They like to work in groups, help others with problems, work with children, serve, teach, inform, and train others. This career path includes programs related to economic, political, and social systems. These programs may include education, law and legal studies, law enforcement, public administration, child and family services, religion, and social services.
Engineering, Manufacturing and Technologies: People attracted to careers in this pathway like to work with things. They like to work with their hands with objects, machines, and tools. This career path includes programs related to the technologies necessary to design, develop, install, or maintain physical systems. These may include engineering and related technologies, mechanics, and repair, manufacturing technology, precision production, electronics, and construction.
Agriculture and Natural Resources: People attracted to careers in this pathway like to observe, learn, analyze, investigate, evaluate or solve problems. They like to work independently, analyze data, do research, deal with abstractions, explore a variety of ideas, perform lab experiments, do complex calculations, and/or understand scientific methods and theories. This career path includes programs related to the environment and natural resources. These may include agriculture, earth sciences, environmental sciences, fisheries management, forestry, horticulture and wildlife management.

THESE ARE THE SKILLS YOU NEED!
FOUNDATION SKILLS

BASIC SKILLS:
Reading
Writing
Arithmetic
Mathematics
Listening
Speaking

THINKING SKILLS:
Decision Making
Problem Solving
Creative Thinking
Knowing how to learn and reason

PERSONAL QUALITIES:
Positive Self Esteem
Integrity
Individual Initiative
Responsibility
Honesty

TASK MANAGEMENT SKILLS:
Resource Management
Time Management
Perseverance
Teamwork

WORKPLACE SKILLS

MANAGING RESOURCES:
Goal Setting
Allocating time, money, materials, space, and staff

MANAGING INFORMATION:
Interpreting and communicating
Using computers to process information
Organizing information

WORKING WITH SYSTEMS:
Monitoring and correcting performance
Designing or improving systems
Understanding social, organizational, and technological systems

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:
Negotiating
Teaching others
Working well with others with diverse cultural backgrounds
Working on a team
Listening skills
Providing customer service

WORKING WITH TECHNOLOGY:
Selecting equipment and tools
Applying technology to specific tasks
Maintaining and troubleshooting technologies

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Minnesota State Universities Admission Requirements:
English - 4 years (Composition, Literature, Speech)
Math - 3 years (including Algebra and Geometry
Science - 3 Lab Sciences (including Biology and Physical Science)
Social Science - 3 years (1 year Geography, 1 year U.S. History)
World Language - 2 years
Electives (1 year World Culture, Cultural/Ethnic Studies or the Arts)

Minnesota Community Colleges Admission Requirements
Students must possess a High School Diploma, GED, or demonstrate the potential for being a successful college student.

The MN State University admissions requirements are strongly recommended. World Language is not a community college requirement.

Minnesota Technical Colleges Admission Requirements
Students must possess a High School Diploma, GED, or pass an Ability to Benefit Test.

The following high school classes are strongly recommended:
English - 4 years (Including oral and written communication)
Math - 2-3 years (Algebra, Applied Math and/or Geometry)
Science - 2 years (Applied Biology, Biology, Principles of Technology, Physics, Applied Chemistry, or Chemistry)
Social Science - 4 years
Electives (Specific to career plans)

This pattern of courses is similar to requirements of the U of MN, U of WI, NDSU, and most other 4-yr. colleges and universities. Students should carefully examine the entrance requirements for their specific college.

*See your school's course registration book.