Specialist High Skills Major

Student Success Grades 7-12 logo      Specialist High Skills Major logo

What are Specialist High Skills Majors?

Specialist High Skills Majors let students focus on a career path that matches their skills and interests while meeting the requirements of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Students receive the SHSM seal on their diploma when they:

  • complete a specific bundle of 8-10 courses in the student's selected field
  • earn valuable industry certifications including First Aid and CPR qualifications
  • gain important skills on the job through cooperative education placements.

Who are they for?

sample of a OSSDGrade 11 and 12 students who are:

  • heading for apprenticeship training, college, university or the workplace
  • wanting to identify, explore and refine their career goals and make informed choices about their next steps after secondary school.

SHSMs at our School

Construction
  1.  FOUR (4) - Majors in Grade 11 or 12
    • Construction: TCJ3C1 and/or TCJ4C1
    • Woodworking: TWJ3E1 and/or TWJ4E1
    • Robotics: TDR3M1 and/or TDR4M1
    • Design: TDJ3M1 and/or TDJ4M1
    • Transportation: TTJ3C1 and/or TTJ4C1
    • Physics: SPH3U1, SPH4U1 and/or SPH4C1
    • Visual Arts: AVI3M1
    • Visual Arts Drawing: AWL3M1
    • Visual Art Design: AWD4O1
  2. TWO (2) Credits of Cooperative Education
    • Can be one 2 credit co-op placement or two 1 credit co-ops placements
  3. ONE (1) Credit in Business or Science
    • Any grade 11 or 12 Business or Science Credit, an additional credit of Cooperative Education or an additional Major Credit
  4. Seven (7) Certifications
    • Determined by SHSM leads

NOTE: OYAP/4 Credit COOP counts for 4 credits in any required section

Health and Wellness 
  1. FOUR (4) - Majors in Grade 11 or 12
    • SHSM: PAI3O and/or PLF4M
    • Physical Education: PPL3O and/or PPL4O
    • Fitness: PAF3O and/or PAF4O
    • Yoga: PAR3O and/or PAR4O
    • Kinesiology: PSK4U
    • Dance: ATC3M, ATC4M, ATP3M and/or ATP4M
    • Any grade 11 or 12 Social Science and Humanity Course
    • Any grade 11 or 12 Science Course
  1. TWO (2) Credits of Cooperative Education
    • Can be one 2 credit co-op placement or two 1 credit co-ops placements
  2. ONE (1) Credit in Social Science or Science
    • Any grade 11 or 12 Social Science or Science Credit or an additional credit of cooperative education
  3. Seven (7) Certifications
    • Determined by SHSM leads
Information & Communication Technology
  1. FOUR (4) - Majors in Grade 11 or 12
    • Computer Science: ICS3U or ICS3C and ICS4U or ICS4C
    • Business Technology: BTA3O (required) and/or BTX4O (Recommended)
    • Note: The following will be accepted if the courses above are not possible due to academic plan
      • Robotics: TDR3M1 and/or TDR4M1
      • Design: TDJ3M1 and/or TDJ4M1
  1. TWO (2) Credits of Cooperative Education
    • Can be one 2 credit co-op placement or two 1 credit co-ops placements
  2. ONE (1) Credit in Art, Business or Science
    • Any grade 11 or 12 Art, Business or Science Credit or an additional credit of cooperative education
  3. Seven (7) Certifications
    • Determined by SHSM leads