Career and technology education (CATE) is found in every state and most school districts across the US. At the national level, CATE is made up of16 career clusters.
Every state uses these career clusters as a foundation for their own programs while adjusting it to the needs of their state.
In South Carolina, CATE includes 15 career clusters:
- Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources
- Architecture & Construction
- Arts, AV Technology, & Communications
- Business Management & Administration
- Education & Training
- Finance
- Health Science
- Hospitality & Tourism
- Human Services
- Information Technology
- Law, Public Safety, Corrections, & Security
- Manufacturing
- Marketing
- Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics
- Transportation, Distribution, & Logistics
On this page, we’ll dive into the details of each cluster to see how South Carolina approaches CATE compared to the rest of the US.
We’ll also discuss the next big thing for CATE in South Carolina.
But first, it’s important to take a look athow CATE works in South Carolina.
South Carolina Career and Technology Education
TheSouth Carolina Department of Education(SC DOE) is focused on using CATE to develop “an integrated learning system that enables students to be successful in a global economy.”
In order to accomplish this vision, the SC DOE has developed very detailedcourse standardsfor each career cluster. These standards act as a framework to ensure students across the state learn the same skills needed for a specific career pathway.
For some career clusters, the SC DOE also shares information on certifications needed for certain careers.
Along with the course standards and certification options, students interested in pursuing a career in one of the clusters can join acareer and technology student organization(CTSO).
In addition, South Carolina has state-sanctioned opportunities for students to explorework-based learning.
Overall, CATE in South Carolina prepares students to become highly skilled workers, no matter which career path they choose.
Now that you have an idea of how CATE works in South Carolina, let’s get into the 15 career clusters.
1. Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources
TheAgriculture, Food, & Natural Resources(AFNR) cluster in South Carolina is closely aligned to the national AFNR cluster.
The only difference is that South Carolina only has five pathway options while the national version has seven:
- Horticulture
- Environmental and Natural Resource Systems Management
- Plant and Animal Systems
- Agricultural Mechanics and Technology
- Bio-Systems Engineering Technology
Agricultural programs in South Carolina are unique compared to many other states. Rather than being supervised by the state DOE, AFNR programs and courses are run by anextension of Clemson University!
There are more than 30 courses in this cluster, includingthree for middle school students. The availability of courses offered in each school district varies, depending on the needs of the local community.
At the national level, the CTSO connected with this career cluster is the National FFA Organization. South Carolina has a state-specific version called theSouth Carolina FFA Association. In addition, students can also join theSouth Carolina Young Farmer and Agribusiness Association(SCYFAA).
2. Architecture & Construction
TheArchitecture & Constructioncareer cluster introduces students to careers in architectural planning, architectural design, building construction, construction management, and building maintenance.
In South Carolina, this cluster is made up of 10 main courses. In addition, students can choose to incorporate other courses from the Arts, AV Technology, & Communications cluster for careers in architectural design or mechanical design.
Unlike the AFNR cluster, there isn’t a specific CTSO for students in Architecture & Construction. However, the SC DOE recommends students joinSkillsUSA South Carolina.
3. Arts, AV Technology, & Communications
In South Carolina theArts, AV Technology, & Communications(AATC) cluster is similar to the national one, but is more heavily focused on telecommunications and visual arts than any other area.
There are 20 courses in the AATC cluster, including four that can be included in an architecture or construction program of study.
The CTSO most applicable to students in this career cluster is theFamily, Career, & Community Leaders of America(FCCLA). In addition, the SC DOE suggests students join SkillsUSA South Carolina.
4. Business Management & Administration
TheBusiness Management & Administrationcareer cluster is similar to the national cluster, with one major difference. Along with the business courses, South Carolina includes a number of computer applications courses within this cluster.
Overall, the Business Management & Administration cluster includes nearly 30 courses for teaching these skills.
In addition to the courses, the SC DOE lists seven certification options for students in the cluster
- Adobe Certified Associate
- Adobe Certified Expert
- IC3 Internet & Computing
- Microsoft Digital Literacy
- Microsoft Office Specialist
- Microsoft Certified Application Specialist
- TestOut Certification
There are two CTSOs specific to the business cluster:South Carolina Future Business Leaders of America(SC FBLA) andBusiness Professionals of America(BPA).
5. Education & Training
TheEducation & Trainingcluster provides opportunities for students to grow their skills related to teaching.
At the national level, this cluster has three pathways, but South Carolina focuses specifically on teaching and training as one pathway.
In total, there are seven courses related to education and training.
It’s important to note that this CATE cluster will only set someone on the path to becoming a teacher. In addition to the CATE courses, students need to pursue a Bachelor’s degree and certification in order to start their career
While there are only a few courses available, the SC DOE lists two great CTSOs for students interested in becoming teachers:Educators Risingand the FCCLA.
6. Finance
South Carolina’sFinancecareer cluster is very similar to the national one. It includes courses in all five nationally-endorsed finance pathways:
- Accounting
- Banking Services
- Business Finance
- Insurance
- Securities & Investments
However, the number of courses available is pretty slim compared to the federal pathways. In total, South Carolina has eight courses related to finance.
Along with only a few courses to choose, there are not currently any CTSOs for students to join in the Finance cluster.
7. Health Science
This cluster is most closely aligned to the national one than any other career cluster in South Carolina.
TheHealth Sciencecareer cluster is made up of five pathways:
- Biotechnology Research & Development
- Diagnostic Services
- Health Informatics
- Support Services
- Therapeutic Services
There are 25 courses in the cluster and the DOE lists six specific certifications students can pursue:
- Billing and Coding Specialist(CBCS)
- Certified Medical Administrative Assistant(CMAA)
- Certified Nursing Assistant or Nurse Aide(CNA)
- EKG Technician(CET)
- Electronic Health Record Specialist(CEHRS)
- Patient Care Technician(CPCT)
Overall, students interested in health care careers have plenty of options to choose from in South Carolina.
In addition, the health science cluster has a CTSO specifically for students interested in health science –South Carolina HOSA.
8. Hospitality & Tourism
TheHospitality & Tourismcluster in South Carolina includes courses that align with the four national pathways:
- Lodging
- Recreation, Amusement, & Attractions
- Restaurants & Food/Beverage Services
- Travel & Tourism
However, there are only eight courses currently available for Hospitality & Tourism, most of which relate to culinary arts.
There are no CTSOs specific to this cluster, but the most relevant one for students to join is the FCCLA.
9. Human Services
Human Services, also called Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS), is vastly different in South Carolina compared to the national cluster.
The programs of study and courses related to human services and FACS are categorized across five of the other career clusters on this page:
- Arts, AV Technology, & Communications
- Education & Training
- Hospitality & Tourism
- Human Services
- Science, Technology, Mathematics, & Engineering
This crossover makes the Human Services cluster the most unique option for CATE students in South Carolina.
In total, there are 25 courses categorized under Human Services, including three in middle school.
Even with such a wide range of course offerings, the SC DOE lists the FCCLA as the most relevant CTSO for Human Services.
10. Information Technology
The South CarolinaInformation Technology(IT) career cluster is closely aligned to the national one.
Students who enter the IT cluster learn about careers related to designing, developing, managing, and operating hardware and software.
This cluster has the most course offerings in South Carolina, with more than 30 to choose. In addition, students have opportunities to sit for nine different certifications related to IT careers:
- Academy of Information Technology
- Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician
- Cisco Certified Network Associate
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA Security+
- IC3 Internet & Computing
- Microsoft Technology Associate
- Oracle Programming
Although this is the largest career cluster, the SC DOE does not list any relevant CTSOs for students to join.
11. Law, Public Safety, Corrections, & Security
In South Carolina, theLaw, Public Safety, Corrections, & Securityis a more focused version of the national cluster. Rather than five pathways, students can choose courses related to two main areas:
- Emergency & Fire Management Services
- Law Enforcement Services
Overall, there are five courses in South Carolina related to careers in law, public safety, and security.
Similar to the IT cluster, there are not currently any CTSOs for students in Law, Public Safety, Corrections, & Security.
12. Manufacturing
The South CarolinaManufacturingcareer cluster differs from the national version. Rather than five pathways, the courses in South Carolina relate specifically to two pathways:
- Production
- Maintenance, Installation, & Repair
The Manufacturing cluster is made up of nearly 20 courses, including welding, metal fabrication, and machine technology.
The most relevant CTSO for students interested in manufacturing is SkillsUSA South Carolina.
13. Marketing
In South Carolina, theMarketingcareer clusters lines up directly with the national cluster and includes five pathways:
- Marketing Communications
- Marketing Management
- Marketing Research
- Merchandising
- Professional Sales
Across those pathways, there are 10 course options for students interested in careers related to marketing.
For students interested in joining a CTSO, the SC DOE listsDECAas the most relevant option.
14. Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics
TheScience, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics(STEM) cluster is very similar to the national version. It’s courses align with the two national pathways:
- Engineering & Technology
- Science & Mathematics
However, in South Carolina, many of the courses categorized under the STEM cluster closely relate to other CATE programs, such as health science and human services.
There are more than 20 courses available in the STEM cluster, though the options vary by school district.
There isn’t a CTSO specific to STEM in South Carolina, so SC DOE lists the FCCLA as the most relevant option.
15. Transportation, Distribution, & Logistics
In South Carolina, theTransportation, Distribution, & Logisticscluster is heavily focused on auto collision repair and diesel technology.
Overall there are 10 courses available for students and the most relevant CTSO is SkillsUSA South Carolina.
Now that we’ve gone over the 15 South Carolina career clusters, it’s time to discuss the next big thing in South Carolina CATE -- digital curriculum.
How Digital Curriculum Works for South Carolina CATE Programs
Is the surging popularity of CATE straining your resources?
Is grading all of your new students starting to cut into your personal time?
To combat these challenges, many South Carolina teachers have turned to digital curriculum.
Adigital curriculumis online software built with your CATE programs in mind. It’s made to empower teachers with ready-to-use resources, classroom management tools, and automatic grading.
Because it’s online, digital curriculum is constantly up to date as industry requirements and course standards change.
That means your students are getting the most relevant education and will be better prepared for the workforce -- all without you needing to reinvent the wheel!
Hundreds of CATE instructors across South Carolina are already taking advantage of digital curriculum.
Don’t miss out on setting your program, classroom, and students apart. Learn more about digital curriculum today!
FAQs
How many career clusters are there in SC? ›
You are encouraged to use the 16 editions of Pathways to Success that have been created for South Carolina students - each of which focuses on one of our state's 16 career clusters - as part of your local career program.
What are the 13 career clusters? ›- Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources.
- Architecture & Construction.
- Arts, A/V Technology & Communications.
- Business Management & Administration.
- Education & Training.
- Finance.
- Government & Public Administration.
- Health Science.
The 16 career clusters. The National Career Clusters Framework, a common organizing tool used by many universities and state agencies, includes sixteen clusters covering a wide range of industries and fields [1,2]. Those sixteen career clusters are as follows: Agriculture, food, and natural resources.
What is a career cluster group of answer choices? ›CAREER CLUSTER DEFINITION
A career cluster is a group of occupations with similar features. Jobs in the same cluster require similar knowledge or skill sets. If someone enjoys a job in a particular cluster, they are more likely to enjoy related occupations in the group.
Career Clusters contain occupations in the same field of work that require similar skills. Students, parents, and educators can use Career Clusters to help focus education plans towards obtaining the necessary knowledge, competencies, and training for success in a particular career pathway.
What is Pathways program SC? ›The Pathways Scholarship Program (PSP) is an SCDSS program that provides mini-grants that will pay for tuition and books for SNAP clients. Students must meet the following criteria to qualify for the Pathways Scholarship. Willingness to commit to finishing the program.
How many career clusters are there? ›CTE classes fall into one of 16 "career clusters." A career cluster is a group of jobs and industries that are related by skills or products. Within each cluster, there are career pathways that correspond to a collection of courses and training opportunities to prepare students for a chosen career.
What are 16 NC career clusters? ›- Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources.
- Architecture & Construction.
- Arts, Audio/Video Technology, & Communications.
- Business Management & Administration.
- Education & Training.
- Finance.
- Government & Public Administration.
- Health Science.
The 16 career clusters are broad groups of careers and industries created by the U.S. Department of Education to organize career and technical education programs.
What is a career cluster quizlet? ›Career Clusters. groups of similar occupations and industries used to expose students to a variety of career paths and explain the knowledge and skills are necessary to succeed in each; there are 16 clusters.
What are three different career clusters? ›
- Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources.
- Architecture and Construction.
- Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications.
- Business, Management, and Administration.
- Education and Training.
- Energy.
- Finance.
- Government and Public Administration.
Among high school students two of the most popular CTE clusters are Health Science and Manufacturing, according to the ELS:2002.
What are the 6 career paths? ›...
All jobs are divided into six different Career Paths:
- Arts & Communication.
- Business Management & Technology.
- Industrial & Engineering Technology.
- Health Services.
- Human Services.
- Natural Resources Agriculture.
Basketball Players and other athletes are under the career cluster Marketing, Sales and Services.
What career cluster is a nurse in? ›| Career Pathway | Code | Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Therapeutic Services | 29-1141.00 | Registered Nurses |
| Therapeutic Services | 29-1126.00 | Respiratory Therapists |
| Therapeutic Services | 29-1127.00 | Speech-Language Pathologists |
| Therapeutic Services | 29-1229.06 | Sports Medicine Physicians |
- Employability.
- Ethics.
- Systems.
- Teamwork.
- Career development.
- Problem solving.
- Critical thinking.
- Information technology application.
There are four types of career paths—knowledge-based, skill-based, entrepreneur-based, and freelance. Every kind of career path caters to a specific set of qualifications that help you perform your job.
What is the Palmetto pathway? ›Palmetto Pathway is a freshmen bridge program, providing more South Carolinians access to a high quality USC degree. With an average success rate of 78%, Palmetto Pathway is just one way Palmetto College helps all students in their path to earning their degree!
What is Uofsc bridge program? ›The USC Summer Bridge Program allows incoming USC freshmen students to take one college course and adjust to campus life during the summer following their high school graduation. Up to 43 students participate in the each Summer.
How do you use career clusters? ›A career cluster is a set of occupations that share common features. If a person enjoys working in a particular job, they will likely enjoy other jobs in that same cluster. The National Career Clusters® Framework provides 16 such occupation groupings based on similar skill sets, interests, abilities, and activities.
How many career are there in the world? ›
Actually we have more than one List of Careers: Click here for our list of 12,000 Careers. Here is a list of careers grouped by similar occupations.
What are career clusters How can learning about career clusters help high school students? ›Career Clusters identify the knowledge and skills learners need as they follow a pathway toward their career goals. The knowledge and skills identified form a strong basis for learner success whether the learners are in high school, college, technical training or in the workplace.
What is the main purpose for learning about the 16 career clusters? ›| A | B |
|---|---|
| What is the main purpose of studying the sixteen career clusters? | You can explore the wide range of jobs within a career area. |
| A TV announcer is a job in which career cluster? | Arts, audivisual technology and communications |
Trade, Technology, Engineering, and Industrial Education.
What career cluster is military in? ›Government & Public Administration Career Cluster.
What Career Cluster is a farmer? ›Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Career Cluster.
Why is it important to do career planning? ›It is important to come up with your career planning as it gives you the much needed direction and makes it clear there where you see yourself in future. It makes you aware of your strength and weaknesses and the skills and knowledge that are required to achieve your goals in future.
What developed the sixteen career clusters that group careers by similarities? ›The U.S. Department of Education developed the sixteen career clusters that group careers by similarities.
Which career pathways are a part of the manufacturing career cluster quizlet? ›Career Cluster consisting of six pathways: Production; Manufacturing Production Process Development; Maintenance; Installation and Repair; Quality Assurance; Logistics and Inventory Control; Health, Safety and Environmental Assurance.
Is a career cluster a group of related careers? ›Career clusters are groups of related types of work. They give you an easy way to explore different kinds of jobs within one broad category. Start with one of the clusters—like health care or construction—to learn what it involves, current trends, and the different careers it offers.
Which pathways are part of the human services career cluster select all that apply? ›
There are five career pathways within the human services cluster: consumer services, counseling and mental health services, early childhood development and services, family and community services, and personal care services.
What is the career clusters interest survey? ›The Student Interest Survey for Career Clusters® is a career guidance tool that allows students to respond to questions and identify the top three Career Clusters of interest based on their responses.
Which career clusters is included in the business & industry endorsement area? ›Those of you who might be best suited for the Business and Industry Endorsement would be students with a career cluster in the following areas: Agriculture Food, & Natural Resources, Architecture and Construction, Arts AV Technology & Communication, Business Management, Finance, Hospitality &Tourism, Information ...
Is stem a career cluster? ›If you're eager to be at the vanguard of 21st century technology innovation and problem solving, you will find plenty to keep you captivated in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Career Cluster. This career cluster is organized into two career pathways: Engineering and technology.
What is an example of a CTE subject? ›Sales. Finance. Information technology. Science, technology, engineering, and math.
What is the best CTE program? ›- Tulare Join Union High School District Farm. Agriculture Education, California.
- Advanced Technologies Academy. ...
- Vista PEAK Preparatory. ...
- Peoria Unified School District. ...
- Hamburg High School. ...
- Waubonsee Community College. ...
- Des Moines Independent School District. ...
- Southwest High School.
Career and technical education (CTE) provides an important pathway to success for high school students and offers each student opportunities to personalize his or her education based on their career interests and unique learning needs.
Are there 16 or 17 career clusters? ›There are 16 Career Clusters in the National Career Clusters Framework, representing 79 Career Pathways to help learners navigate their way to greater success in college and career.
What are 3 goals for your career development? ›- Increase professional knowledge and training. ...
- Increase earnings. ...
- Improve low-functioning work processes or relationships. ...
- Have new experiences. ...
- Attain a leadership role.
- Define your career objectives.
- Create long-term plans.
- Learn about your type of personality.
- Review your work experience.
- Compare your education to job requirements.
- Evaluate your skillset.
- Note your interests.
- Be aware of your main values.
What career cluster is psychology in? ›
The Human Services career cluster includes not only psychologists, social workers and child advocacy professionals but also paths like hairdresser, manicurist and cosmetologist. The career pathways that relate to counseling and mental health require a minimum of a bachelor's degree and a license.
What is an example of a career cluster? ›One example of a career cluster is Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources. Another is Architecture & Construction. Within each career cluster are job, industry, and occupation types known as path- ways.
What is the marketing career cluster? ›The marketing career cluster includes sales and advertising, and focuses on influencing consumers' buying behavior and generating sales for products and services.
What are the 5 career cluster in healthcare? ›- Support Services.
- Therapeutic Services.
- Biotechnology Research and Development.
- Diagnostic Services.
- Health Informatics.
CTE classes fall into one of 16 "career clusters." A career cluster is a group of jobs and industries that are related by skills or products. Within each cluster, there are career pathways that correspond to a collection of courses and training opportunities to prepare students for a chosen career.
What is health science cluster? ›What is the health science career cluster, then? The health science career cluster is used to describe a group of occupations that require similar skills within the health science field. It also refers to an educational area focused on teaching students how to be healthcare professionals.
How many career clusters are there? ›CTE classes fall into one of 16 "career clusters." A career cluster is a group of jobs and industries that are related by skills or products. Within each cluster, there are career pathways that correspond to a collection of courses and training opportunities to prepare students for a chosen career.
Who created the 16 career clusters? ›The 16 career clusters are broad groups of careers and industries created by the U.S. Department of Education to organize career and technical education programs.
How many career options are there? ›All careers fall into one of six career fields. If you are just starting to explore careers, career fields are a good place to start. Once you've explored the six career fields, you can find more details in the 16 Career Clusters.
How many career clusters are there in Texas? ›The 16 Federal Career Clusters provide an organizing framework for Programs of Study, a recommended sequence of coursework for college and career preparation based on a students interest or career goal. Texas CTE courses are organized by 16 federally defined career clusters.
How do you use career clusters? ›
A career cluster is a set of occupations that share common features. If a person enjoys working in a particular job, they will likely enjoy other jobs in that same cluster. The National Career Clusters® Framework provides 16 such occupation groupings based on similar skill sets, interests, abilities, and activities.
What are 16 NC career clusters? ›- Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources.
- Architecture & Construction.
- Arts, Audio/Video Technology, & Communications.
- Business Management & Administration.
- Education & Training.
- Finance.
- Government & Public Administration.
- Health Science.
- Employability.
- Ethics.
- Systems.
- Teamwork.
- Career development.
- Problem solving.
- Critical thinking.
- Information technology application.
Career Clusters. groups of similar occupations and industries used to expose students to a variety of career paths and explain the knowledge and skills are necessary to succeed in each; there are 16 clusters.
What Career Cluster is military in? ›Government & Public Administration Career Cluster.
What are three different career clusters? ›- Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources.
- Architecture and Construction.
- Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications.
- Business, Management, and Administration.
- Education and Training.
- Energy.
- Finance.
- Government and Public Administration.
- Information Security Analyst.
- Nurse Practitioner.
- Physician Assistant.
- Medical and Health Services Manager.
- Software Developer.
- Data Scientist.
- Financial Manager.
| OCCUPATION | 2021 MEDIAN PAY |
|---|---|
| Dermatologists | This wage is equal to or greater than $208,000 per year |
| Cardiologists | This wage is equal to or greater than $208,000 per year |
| Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers | $202,180 per year |
| Nurse anesthetists | $195,610 per year |
The highest-paying job in the world, in a traditional sense, holds the number one spot in this article: anesthesiologist. They are also the only job listed above $300,000 a year. The list, however, does not take into account mega-CEOs like Warren Buffett and Jeff Bezos, who make considerably more than that.
What career cluster is a baker in? ›Hospitality & Tourism Career Cluster.
What career cluster is a nurse in? ›
| Career Pathway | Code | Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Therapeutic Services | 29-1141.00 | Registered Nurses |
| Therapeutic Services | 29-1126.00 | Respiratory Therapists |
| Therapeutic Services | 29-1127.00 | Speech-Language Pathologists |
| Therapeutic Services | 29-1229.06 | Sports Medicine Physicians |
...
All jobs are divided into six different Career Paths:
- Arts & Communication.
- Business Management & Technology.
- Industrial & Engineering Technology.
- Health Services.
- Human Services.
- Natural Resources Agriculture.