The document describes the key components of a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM), which allows students to specialize in a specific economic sector while meeting secondary school graduation requirements. The major components are: 1) A bundle of credits focused on the sector, 2) Certifications and training specific to the sector, 3) Experiential learning opportunities in the sector, 4) "Reach ahead" experiences in the sector, and 5) Development of essential skills and documentation using the Ontario Skills Passport. Completing all requirements provides recognition on transcripts and diplomas.

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2. WHAT IS A SPECIALIST HIGH SKILLS MAJOR?
•It 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.

3. KEY BENEFITS OF SHSM
• Customize their
secondary school
education to suit their
interests
• Gain sector-
recognized certification
and career-relevant
training

4. KEY BENEFITS OF AN SHSM
• Develop Essential
Skills and work habits
• Remain flexible, with
the option to shift
between pathways
• Network with
potential employers

5. 18 SPECIALIST HIGH SKILLS MAJOR SECTORS
Agriculture Arts & Culture Aviation & Aerospace
Business Construction Energy
Environment Forestry Health & Wellness
Horticulture & Hospitality & Tourism Information &
Landscaping Communication Technology
Justice, Community Manufacturing Mining
Safety & Emergency
Services
Non-profit (new) Sports (new) Transportation

6. HOW IS SHSM RECOGNIZED?
Students who successfully
complete the SHSM program
receive:
• an Ontario Secondary
School Diploma with an
embossed red seal
• a SHSM Record
documenting his/her
achievement
• formal recognition on
his/her Ontario Student
Transcript

7. WHAT ARE THE REQUIRED COMPONENTS?
1. A bundle of nine Grade 11 and Grade 12 credits…
• Four health and wellness “major” credits (two from grade 11 and two
from grade 12)
• Three other supporting credits in English, Math, and Science,
Religion, or Social Sciences & Humanities  need to complete a
CLA (contextualized learning activity) component for each of
these credits (one unit/6 hours of work)
• **Two cooperative education credits tied to the health sector**
• Can be completed during summer school (after grade 10 or 11)
or during the grade 11 or 12 school year

8. SHSM PATHWAYS CHART (MAJOR SUBJECTS)
Apprenticeship College University Workplace
Grade 11 Grade 12 Grade 11 Grade 12 Grade 11 Grade 12 Grade 11 Grade 12
HIP3E SNC4E HIR3C TPJ4M TPJ3M TPJ4M HIP3E PPL4O
HIR3C SCH4C HPW3C HFA4M SBI3U HFA4M HPC3O PAF4O
HPW3C SPH4C SBI3C HHS4M SCH3U HHS4M PPL3O PAD4O
TPJ3C TOJ4C SVN 3M SCH4C SVN3M PSE4U PAF3O SNC4E
TPJ4E TPJ3C SPH4C SBI4U SVN3E TPJ4E
TPJ3M TOJ4C SCH4U
HHG4M

9. SHSM PATHWAYS (SUPPORTING CREDITS)
Apprenticeship College University Workplace
Grade 11 Grade 12 Grade 11 Grade 12 Grade 11 Grade 12 Grade 11 Grade 12
ENG4C ENG4C ENG4U ENG4E
ENG4E
MBF3C MBF3C MCV4U MEL3E
MEL3E MCF3M MDM4U
MHF4U
SBI3C SCH4C SBI3C SCH4C SBI3U SCH4U HRF3O SNC4E
SVN3E HRE4O HSP3M HHS4M SCH3U HHS4M HRE4O
HRF3O HRT3M HRE4M SPH3U HRE4M
HRT3M

10. WHAT ARE THE REQUIRED COMPONENTS?
2. Seven sector recognized certifications and/or training
Four compulsory and three electives required!!
Four Compulsory Certifications
1. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Level C
2. Standard First Aid
3. Infection Control
4. WHMIS

11. Three Elective Certifications/Training
1. Ambulation, lifting, and transfers
2. Automated external defibrillation (AED)
3. Babysitting
4. Behaviour Management
5. Coach/personal trainer
6. Communication Skills
7. Conflict Resolution
8. Customer Service
9. Ethical Considerations
10. Feeding assistance
11. Fitness
12. Group Dynamics
13. Lab practices
14. Leadership – group activities
15. Marine & Wilderness First Aid
16. Medical Terminology
17. Non-violent crisis intervention
18. Personality inventory
19. Safe body mechanics
20. Safe food handling – basic
21. Sign Language
22. Specialized care (e.g., diabetes, dementia)
23. Sterile techniques
24. Suicide prevention
25. Waste management

12. WHAT ARE THE REQUIRED COMPONENTS?
3. Experiential learning and
career exploration
• One-on-one observation
of a co-op student at a
placement in a health and
wellness sector ( “job
twinning”)
• A day-long observation of
a health and wellness
sector employer or
employee (“job
shadowing”)

13. WHAT ARE THE REQUIRED COMPONENTS?
•A one- or two- week work
experience with a member
of an industry association or
a professional in the sector
(“work experience”)
•A volunteer experience in a
long-term care facility

14. WHAT ARE THE REQUIRED COMPONENTS?
4. Reach ahead experiences
• Interview an employee in
the field of work the SHSM
student is considering
• Interviewing a college or
university student enrolled
in a health-related
program of interest

15. WHAT ARE THE REQUIRED COMPONENTS?
• Attending a number of
college or university classes
in the student’s area of
interest
• Attending a conference or
workshop held by the
sector

16. WHAT ARE THE REQUIRED COMPONENTS?
5. Development of Essential Skills and work habits required in the sector,
and documentation of them using the OSP
• Students will develop Essential Skills and work habits required in the sector
and document them using the Ontario Skills Passport (OSP)

17. THE ONTARIO SKILLS PASSPORT
Essential Skills Work Habits
Reading Text Working safely
Writing Teamwork
Document Use Reliability
Computer Use Organization
Oral Communication Working Independently
Numeracy* Initiative
Thinking skills* Self-advocacy
Customer service
Entrepreneurship

18. TRACKING STUDENT PROGRESS
• This will be the combined efforts of the SHSM students and the SHSM
team.
• Students will need to sign up at www.myblueprint.ca/tcdsb to help track
their progress. It will also allow the SHSM team to access their information
and update it accordingly.