A diverse array of career opportunities can be found within theEnvironment sector. Locally, job prospects exist in fields ranging from environmental science and ecological preservation, to eco-tourism and environmental management. Graduates of the Specialist High Skills Major Program in Environment possess the knowledge and skills to pursue any number of these opportunities.
The Environment Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) Program provides students with the opportunity to specialize their academic studies, earn certifications and qualifications, and plan their career pathway while they are still in high school. The SHSM Program involves a number of components that provide students with a better understanding of the Environment industry, the opportunities that it offers, and the skills needed for success within the sector.
The Environment SHSM Program consists of five required components:
1. Bundled Credits
Students will complete nine Grade 11 and Grade 12 credits related to their sector of interest, some of which are supplemented with contextualized learning activities (CLA) that frame the subject of study within the context of the Environment sector.
| Major Credits Including at least one Grade 11 and one Grade 12 credit
| 4 One credit may be substituted with an additional co-operative education credit | 4 One credit may be substituted with an additional co-operative education credit | 4 One credit may be substituted with an additional co-operative education credit | 4 One credit may be substituted with an additional co-operative education credit |
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| English (Including a CLA) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
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| Mathematics (Including a CLA) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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| Co-Operative Education | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
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2. Certification and TrainingStudents will earn both compulsory and elective sector-recognized certifications through cost-free workshops and training courses/programs.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Level C – Includes AED | Compass / Map / GPS | Standard First Aid | Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System – Generic |
Three Elective Certifications |
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Animal and Plant Management | Below Zero | Chainsaw Safety | Customer Service |
GIS | Habitat Restoration | Hike Ontario | Introduction to Stream Assessment Protocol |
Knot Techniques | Leadership Skills | Leave No Trace | Life-Saving (Bronze Cross) |
Ontario Hunter Education | Paddling Techniques | Pleasure Craft Operator | Project Wild |
Radio Operator | Search and Rescue | Species Identification | Water / Ice Safety |
Watershed Management | Wilderness First Aid | Wilderness Survival | Working at Heights |
3. Career ExplorationStudents will explore opportunities in their chosen sector through experiential learning and career exploration activities (field trips, guest speaking engagements, job shadowing).
4. Reach Ahead Experiences
Students will participate in experiences aligned with the student’s post-secondary plans.
5. Sector-Partnered Experience
Students will complete a sector-partnered contextualized learning experience.
SHSM Program Recognition
Students who successfully complete a SHSM program receive:
- An OSSD designated with an embossed red seal;
- A SHSM record documenting their certification/training achievements;
- Formal recognition on their Ontario School Transcript.
Career PathwaysThe Environment SHSM Program may be right for you if you are interested in careers similar to the following:
Arborist Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism Guide Landscaper | Aquaculture Operator Biological Technologist Conservation Officer Fish and Wildlife Technologist Forestry Technologist Habitat Management Technician Soil Testing Technologist Pollution Control Technician |
University | Workplace |
| Chemical Engineer Climatologist Environmental Engineer Environmental Planner Forestry Management Professional Geologist and Geochemist Landscape Architect Meteorologist Urban and Land Use Planner Waste Diversion Consultant | Canoeing Guide Fishing Guide Hunting Guide Landscaping Worker Outdoor Sport and Recreation Guide Recycled Materials Handler Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator |
For more information, contact your high school Guidance Counsellor.
