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Business

​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. ​

​Credits

​Apprenticeship (Grades 11-12)

​College (Grades 11-12)

​University (Grades 11-12)

​Workplace (Grades 11-12)​

​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

​English (Including a CLA)

​1

​1

​1

​2

One credit must be in 

Grade 12

​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

​Co-Operative Education

​2

​2

​2

​2


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​​

​Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Level C – Includes AED 

​Customer Service

​Standard First Aid 

​Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System – Generic 


​Three Elective Certifications

​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:​

​Apprenticeship

​College

​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.