A diverse array of career opportunities can be found within the Agriculture sector. Locally, job prospects exist in fields ranging from animal science and livestock management, to cash crop production and agri-business management, to agricultural equipment sales and service. Graduates of the Specialist High Skills Major Program in Agriculture possess the knowledge and skills to pursue any number of these opportunities.
The Agriculture 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 Agriculture industry, the opportunities that it offers, and the skills needed for success within the sector.
The Agriculture 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 Agriculture 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 | 1 |
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Mathematics (Including a CLA) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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Business or Science (Including a CLA) | 1 One credit may be substituted with an additional co-operative education credit | 1 One credit may be substituted with an additional co-operative education credit | 1 One credit may be substituted with an additional co-operative education credit | 1 One credit may be substituted with an additional co-operative education credit |
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Co-Operative Education | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
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2. Certification and Training
Three Compulsory Certifications |
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Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Level C – Includes AED | Standard First Aid | Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System – Generic |
Three Elective Certifications |
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Animal First Aid | Basic Electrical Safety | Chainsaw Safety | Compass/Map/GPS |
Customer Service | Equipment Operation Safety | Fundamentals of the Combine – Level One | GPS in Farming |
Grain Grading | Hazardous Atmospheres and Confined Spaces | Herbicide and Pesticide | Hydraulics – Basic |
Infection Control | Large Animal Handling | Leadership Skills | Lift Truck Safety |
Livestock Medicine | Livestock Production | Lockout / Tagout | Nutrient Management |
Personal Protective Equipment – Agriculture | Principles of Drainage | Safe Lifting | Sector-Specific Vehicle Operation and Safety |
Seed Saving | Small Engines Maintenance | Soil Testing Techniques | Theory of Combine Settings and Adjustments – Level Two |
Tractors and Other Self-Propelled Equipment | Transgenic Plant Identification | Vehicle Lift Safety | Weed and Pest Identification |
Working at Heights | | |
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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 Agriculture SHSM Program may be right for you if you are interested in careers similar to the following:
Arborist Blacksmith Farm Equipment Technician Fruit Grower Horse Groom Livestock Herdsperson Parts Person | Agriculture Equipment Salesperson Customer Support Representative Farmer and Farm Manager Greenhouse Technician Technical Sales Specialist Veterinary Assistant Winery and Viticulture Technician |
University | Workplace |
Agricultural Business Consultant Agricultural Inspector Agronomist Animal Scientist Bio-Resource Management Specialist Soil Scientist Veterinarian | General Farm Worker Greenhouse Worker Harvesting Labourer Mechanic Assistant Pet Groomer and Animal Care Worker Specialized Livestock Worker |
For more information about the Agriculture SHSM program, contact your high school Guidance Counsellor.