A Specialist High Skills Major allows you to focus on a career area that interests you while you earn your high school diploma. No matter what education you plan to pursue after high school—apprenticeship, college, university or workplace training—an arts and culture major can help you focus on a future career.

A Specialist High Skills Major in arts and culture offers:

  • high school courses in grade 11 and 12 tailored to the career you want to pursue
  • the chance to work with industry leaders and experience cutting-edge training in arts and culture
  • experience working in the sector you’re interested in, while you’re still in high school
  • the opportunity to use the Ontario Skills Passport to develop skills and work habits that are required in the arts and culture sector
  • recognition on your high school diploma

The arts and culture major includes the following components:

  1. In the arts and culture major, you will take 8 credits in grade 11 and 12:
    • four arts and culture major credits
    • two other required credits from the Ontario curriculum, in English and a choice of business studies or Canadian and world studies
    • two co-operative education credits to gain workplace experience that helps you refine, extend and practice your arts and culture knowledge and skills
  2. Sector-recognized certifications and/or training courses/programs
  3. Experiential learning and career exploration activities within the sector
  4. Reach ahead experiences connected with the student’s postsecondary plans
  5. Completion of a Sector-Partnered Contextualized Experience

Sector-recognized certification and training

As part of the arts and culture major, you will earn seven certifications, including the following three that are compulsory:

  • standard first aid
  • CPR, Level A
  • hazardous materials – Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems (WHMIS)

Future career paths for arts and culture majors

For arts and culture majors, possible careers include:

  • ​apprenticeship – entertainment industry power technician, gem setter/goldsmith, clothing and crafts artisan, painter and decorator, patternmaker
  • college – actor, comedian, animator—graphic design and illustration, announcer, apparel production supervisor, artisan or craftsperson, broadcast technician, film or video camera operator, graphic arts technician, interior designer, photographer, fashion designer, video recording technician
  • university – author, writer, conductor, composer, conservator, curator, dancer, painter, sculptor, producer, director, choreographer, public relations, communications
  • entry level workplace – camera operations, plate making, desktop publishing operator, graphic artist or illustrator, musician, singer, photographic film processor, sign maker, textile colourist, weaver, knitter

Get more information

Call the guidance department at the following schools that offer the program: