A diverse array of career opportunities can be found within the Business sector. Locally, job prospects exist in fields ranging from entrepreneurship and economics, to accounting and finance, to marketing and retail management. Graduates of the Specialist High Skills Major Program inBusiness possess the knowledge and skills to pursue any number of these opportunities.
The Business 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 Business industry, the opportunities that it offers, and the skills needed for success within the sector.
The Business 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 Business 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) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 One credit must be in Grade 12 |
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Mathematics (Including a CLA) | 2 One credit must be in Grade 12 | 2 One credit must be in Grade 12 | 2 One credit must be in Grade 12 | 1 |
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Co-Operative Education | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
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2. Certification and Training
Students will earn both compulsory and elective sector-recognized certifications through cost-free workshops and training courses/programs.
Four Compulsory Certifications |
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Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Level C – Includes AED | Customer Service | Standard First Aid | Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System – Generic |
Business Etiquette | Cash Handling and Register Training | Counterfeit Detection | Effective Networking |
Equity and Inclusion | Ergonomics | Ethical Considerations | Fraud Prevention |
Health and Safety – Basic | Leadership Skills | Negotiation Training | Personality Inventory |
Public Speaking | Retail Representative | Software | Specialized Business Program / Competition |
Successful Exhibiting | | | |
3. Career Exploration
Students 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 Pathways
The Business SHSM Program may be right for you if you are interested in careers similar to the following:
Materials Retailer Parts Technician Special Events Coordinator | Administrative Officer Assessor, Valuator, and Appraiser Bookkeeper Conference and Event Planner Desktop Publishing Operator Insurance Adjuster and Claims Examiner Legal Secretary Personnel and Recruitment Officer Purchasing Agent |
University | Workplace |
Auditor Business Development Officer Consultant Economist or Economic Analyst Executive Assistant Financial and Investment Analyst Human Resources Specialist Investment Banker Marketing Manager | Administrative Clerk Customer Service Representative General Office Clerk Personnel Clerk Purchasing and Inventory Clerk Receptionist Records Management and Filing Clerk Retail Salesperson Shippers and Receivers |
For more information, contact your high school Guidance Counsellor.