Specialist High Skills Major Program
A Specialist High Skills Major program (SHSM) is a ministry-approved specialized program that allows students to focus their learning on a specific economic sector while meeting the requirements to graduate from secondary school. It also assists in their transition after graduation to apprenticeship training, college, university or the workplace. Pursuing an SHSM enables students to:
• Customize their secondary school education to suit their interests and talents
• Develop specialized knowledge and skills
• Earn credits that postsecondary educational institutions and the sector recognize
• Gain sector-recognized certification and career-relevant training
• Develop Essential Skills and work habits documented through the Ontario Skills Passport
• Identify, explore and refine career goals and make informed decisions about their future
• Remain flexible, with the option to shift between pathways, should their goals and plans change
• SHSMs are available in the following 18 sectors:
Agriculture
Arts and Culture
Aviation and Aerospace
Business
Construction
Energy
Environment
Forestry
Health and Wellness
Horticulture and Landscaping
Hospitality and Tourism
Information and Communications Technology
Justice, Community Safety, and Emergency Services
Manufacturing
Mining
Non-profit
Sports
Transportation
The following URL provides a variety of electronic SHSM resources and additional information about each SHSM program identified above. http://www.ontario.ca/SHSM
For more information on Specialist HighSkills Major programs please contact:
Aldo Cianfrini
Education Officer
Student Success/Learning to 18
Strategic Policy Branch