Career Exploration & Programs of Study
16 Career Clusters to discover where you belong.
The National Career Clusters® Framework presents a complete range of related career options — helping students, parents and counselors discover interests and choose the educational pathway that leads to success in high school, college and a chosen career.
Career Clusters & Pathways
The Career Clusters® and related Career Pathways provide an important organizing tool that enables students, parents and school counselors to develop programs of study for a student’s career and education goals. The clusters also provide an entry point for business and industry to engage with Career and Technical Education through internships, work-based learning, apprenticeships, and cooperative education.
01
Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
The production, processing, marketing, distribution, financing and development of agricultural commodities including food, fiber, wood products, natural resources, horticulture and other plant and animal products.
02
Architecture & Construction
Careers in designing, planning, managing, building and maintaining the built environment.
03
Arts, A/V Technology & Communications
Designing, producing, exhibiting, performing, writing and publishing multimedia content including visual and performing arts, design, journalism and entertainment services.
04
Business Management & Administration
Careers in planning, organizing, directing and evaluating the business functions essential to efficient and productive business operations.
05
Education & Training
Planning, managing and providing education and training services, plus related learning support services such as administration, teaching and professional support.
06
Finance
Planning and related services for financial and investment planning, banking, insurance and business financial management.
07
Government & Public Administration
Planning and executing government functions at the local, state and federal levels — governance, national security, foreign service, planning, revenue and taxation, and regulations.
08
Health Science
Planning, managing and providing therapeutic services, diagnostic services, health informatics, support services, and biotechnology research and development.
09
Hospitality & Tourism
Restaurant and food/beverage services, lodging, travel and tourism, recreation, amusement and attractions.
10
Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security
Planning, managing and providing legal, public safety, protective services and homeland security, including professional and technical support.
11
Information Technology
Building linkages in IT occupations for entry-level, technical and professional careers in design, development, support and management of hardware, software, multimedia and systems integration.
12
Human Services
Preparing individuals for careers that relate to families and human needs such as counseling and mental health, family and community services, personal care and consumer services.
13
Manufacturing
Planning, managing and performing the processing of materials into intermediate or final products, plus production planning and control, maintenance and process engineering.
14
Marketing
Planning, managing and performing marketing activities — brand management, professional sales, merchandising, marketing communications and market research.
15
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
Planning, managing and providing scientific research and professional and technical services including laboratory, testing, and research and development services.
16
Transportation, Distribution & Logistics
Planning, management and movement of people, materials and goods by road, pipeline, air, rail and water, plus related infrastructure planning, logistics and maintenance.
Programs of Study
Build a custom plan from goal to graduation.
The Program of Study (POS) tool allows students, parents, counselors and teachers to develop custom education and employment plans based on student career goals — selecting secondary and postsecondary coursework in both academic and career and technical education.
Each POS is built on a curriculum addressing cluster and pathway knowledge and skills as well as national and state academic standards. Where appropriate, high school students can select courses that earn early college credit and/or industry-recognized certificates.
A POS connects
1
A student’s career goal
2
Secondary coursework
3
Postsecondary coursework
4
Early college credit & certificates