Specialist High Skills Major offers you an opportunity to complete your Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) while focusing on a specific economic sector and supporting transitions to college, apprenticeship, university and the workplace. Sixteen economic sectors are represented and all boards must have Ministry approval in order to offer a SHSM.
Every SHSM must include the following five components, which are outlined in detail in ministry-approved frameworks developed for each area of specialization:
- Bundle of credits
A defined bundle of credits consisting of eight to ten Grade 11 and Grade 12 credits, including cooperative education credits
- Certification and training experiences
Sector-recognized certifications and/or training courses
- Experiential learning and career exploration activities
Experiential learning and career exploration activities within the sector
- Reach aheadexperiences
Learning experiences connected with the student's postsecondary plans
- Sector-partnered experiences
Experiences in which students engage with a sector partner to explore sector-related content, skills, and knowledge involving either ICE (innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship), coding, or mathematical literacy.
Learn more about the Facilitated Access to Skilled Trades (F.A.S.T.) application