Specialist High Skills Major Program - Information & Communications Technology
The Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program offers students the opportunity to explore a specific community, economic and/or industry sector of interest and to acquire skills and experiences within that sector, preparing them for post-secondary destinations in one of four pathways; Apprenticeship, College, University or the Workplace.
Students graduating with a SHSM earn a special designation on their diploma, and may receive special consideration when applying to post-secondary schools or to a workplace career. There are also scholarships available to some schools for students who complete a SHSM program.
GCI offers a SHSM program in Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
To complete this program, the student must earn 4 Grade 11 or 12 Major Credits from the following list:
TEJ3MI, TGJ3MI, TDJ3MI, ICS3CI, ICS3UI, AWQ3OI, AWQ3MI, ASM3MI, ASM3OI, TEJ4MI, TGJ4MI, TDJ4MI, ICS4CI, ICS4UI, AWQ4MI, BTA3OI, SPH3UI, TCJ3CI, TCJ3EI, TMJ3CI, ASM4MI, AWQ4MI, IDC4OI, IDC4UI, SPH4CI, SPH4UI, TCJ4CI, TDA4MI, TMJ4CI
As well, they will complete Grade 11 or 12 English (at any level) and Grade 11 or 12 Math (at any level).
They will also choose one Business, Art or Science credit from the following list:
AVI3MI, BAF3MI, BDI3CI, BMI3CI, BTA3OI, SBI3CI, SBI3UI, SPH3UI, SCH3UI, BBB4MI, BOH4MI, SCH4CI, SES4UI, SPH4CI, ADA3OI, AMI3MI, AMR3MI, AMV3MI, AWQ3MI, CLU3MI, ADA4MI, AMI4MI, AMV4MI, AVI4MI, AWQ4MI, BAT4MI, CLN4UI, OLC4OI, SBI4UI, SCH4UI, SPH4UI
Students will have the opportunity to go on experiential and reach-ahead field trips related to Information & Communications Technology. Past trips have included:
- Tours of the local Google offices
- Zoom ICT Career Days offered by the Business-Education Partnership of Waterloo Region
- Learning about quantum cryptography at the Institute for Quantum Computing
As well, students work towards earning certifications in the SHSM sector while completing their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) requirements.
Finally, they must complete 2 Co-op credits in a job placement relevant to the ICT sector. Such jobs might include:
- Working in a retail computer store, repairing hardware, installing software, etc.
- Developing materials for children's robotics classes
- Assisting professionals in a graphics or engineering firm
See your guidance counsellor or Mrs. Vidberg for more information and to sign up for this exciting program!
