Career Clusters and Pathways
Career Clusters identify pathways from secondary school to two- and four-year colleges, graduate school, and the workplace, so students can link what they learn in school and what they can do in the future. Career Clusters allow students to access a nationwide framework to help them better analyze their long- and short-term career goals, plan what to take in high school to begin to move toward those goals, and implement strategies for further education and work experience that will prepare them for high-skill, high-wage, high-demand careers in the 21st Century.
The States' Career Clusters Framework for Lifelong Learning updates the Career Pathways used previously in North Carolina and provides links to related academic instruction and electives. The States' Career Clusters initiative further developed pathways to provide a national structure for this effort. The Career Clusters initiative includes 14 clusters and related pathways.
To view the current year career pathways, course information, course standards, and course credentials please visit the CTE Course Management System.
NC CTE Cluster Groupings
| Advanced Manufacturing | Construction | Supply Chain and Transportation |
|---|---|---|
Aerospace Engineering Automated Materials Joining Drafting Engineering Integrated Production Technologies Metals Manufacturing Technology Engineering and Design | Carpentry Drafting Architectural Electrical Trades HVACR Masonry Plumbing Welding Woodworking
| Automotive Body Repair Automotive Service Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management |
| Contact Information | CTE Pathway Management |
|---|---|
| Dr. Nolan Fahrer |
|
| Michael Renne | Technology Engineering and Design |
| Jim Pressly |
|
| Education | Healthcare and Human Services | Public Service and Safety |
|---|---|---|
Early Childhood Development and Services Teaching/Training | Biomedical Technology Biotechnology Research and Development Counseling and Mental Health Food and Nutrition Health Informatics Healthcare Professional | Emergency Management Emergency Medical Technology Firefighter Technology Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps Law and Justice Public Safety |
| Contact Information | CTE Pathway Management |
|---|---|
| Valerie Williams |
|
| Gwen Turner | Food and Nutrition |
| Dr. Alisha Gillie |
|
| Melissa Leeds |
|
| Felisha Davis | Health Informatics - SREB |
| Digital Technology and Computer Science | Management and Entrepreneurship | Marketing and Sales |
|---|---|---|
AP Computer Science Cisco Networking Computer Engineering Data Science Network Administration Network Security Python Programming Robotics Unmanned Aircraft Systems | Business Ethics and Law Entrepreneurship General Management Office Administration Project Management | Marketing Management Sales Sport and Event Marketing |
| Contact Information | CTE Pathway Management |
|---|---|
| Michelle Pierce |
|
| Brent Curran |
|
| Michael Renne | Data Science |
| Felisha Davis |
|
| Elizabeth Matthews |
|
| Jim Pressly | Unmanned Aircraft Systems |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Design | Hospitality, Events, and Tourism |
|---|---|
3D Modeling and Animation Adobe Graphic Design Adobe Video Design Fashion Merchandising Fashion and Textile Design Game Art Design Interior Design | Culinary Arts Applications Culinary Arts Internship Hospitality and Tourism Management |
| Contact Information | CTE Pathway Management |
|---|---|
| Brent Curran |
|
| Michael Renne |
|
| Valerie Willimas |
|
| Gwen Turner |
|
| Agriculture | Energy and Natural Resources |
|---|---|
Animal Science Equine Science Food Products and Processing Systems Plant Systems Power, Structural, and Technical Systems Sustainable Agriculture | Clean Energy Technology Energy and Power Innovations in Science and Technology Natural Resources Solar Photovoltaics |
| Contact Information | CTE Pathway Management |
|---|---|
| Sherilee Deal |
|
| Felisha Davis | Innovations in Science and Technology |
| Gwen Turner | Food Products and Processing Systems |
| Dr. Nolan Fahrer | Solar Photovoltaics |
| Supplemental Employability | Supplemental Technical |
|---|---|
IB Personal and Professional Skills Artificial Intelligence I Career Management | IB Computer Science SL IB Computer Science HL IB Digital Society SL IB Digital Society HL CIE Computer Science AS IB Design Technology SL IB Design Technology HL Foundations of Agriculture PLTW Cybersecurity Introduction to Computer Science Principles of Family and Human Services Foundations of Health Science |
| Contact Information | CTE Supplemental Courses Management |
|---|---|
| Jim Pressly | Career Management |
| Brent Curran |
|
| Michelle Pierce |
|
| Dr. Alisha Gillie | Foundations of Health Science |
| Gwen Turner | Principles of Family and Human Services |
| Sherilee Deal | Foundations of Agriculture |
| Advanced Manufacturing | Agriculture | Arts, Entertainment and Design | Career Exploration |
|---|---|---|---|
Engineering: Exploring Technology I and II Engineering: Invention and Innovation I and II Engineering: Technological Systems I and II PLTW Gateway: Design and Modeling PLTW Gateway: Automation and Robotics PLTW Gateway: App Creators PLTW Gateway: Computer Science for Innovators PLTW Gateway: Energy and Environment PLTW Gateway: Flight and Space PLTW Gateway: Science of Technology PLTW Gateway: Magic of Electrons PLTW Gateway: Green Architecture PLTW Gateway: Medical Detectives | Fundamentals of Biotechnology Introduction to Biotechnology Agricultural and Environmental Biotechnology Exploring Environmental and Natural Resources Exploring Animal and Plant Science Exploring Food and Agricultural Issues Fundamentals of Agricultural Science Program | Exploring Apparel and Interior Design | Career Exploration |
| Digital Technology and Computer Science | Education | Financial Services | Healthcare and Human Services | Management and Entrepreneurship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Digital Literacy Apple: Everyone Can Code I - Puzzles Apple: Everyone Can Code II- Adventures Computer Science Discoveries I, II, and III Coding in Minecraft -Introductory, Coding in Minecraft- Intermediate Coding in Minecraft- Advanced Exploring Computer Science Exploring Robotics Exploring Digital Arts
| Exploring Childcare | Exploring Economic Systems Exploring Financial Literacy | Exploring Social and Emotional Skills Exploring Nutrition and Wellness | Exploring Business and Entrepreneurship Exploring Business Activities Exploring Business Procedures and Leadership Keyboarding and Basic Word Processing Introduction to Office Productivity Office Productivity Applications |
| Contact Information | Middle Grades Courses Management |
|---|---|
| Ashley Matthews-Smith |
|
| Natalie Hulbert |
|
| Sherilee Deal |
|
| Valerie Williams |
|
| Felisha Davis |
|
| Elizabeth Matthews |
|