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 information and communications technology major can help you focus on a future career.

A Specialist High Skills Major in information and communications technology offers:

  • high school courses in Grade 11 and 12 tailored to the career you want to pursue
  • the chance to gain “hands-on” experience in information and communications technology
  • experience working in the sector you’re interested in, while you’re still in high school
  • recognition on your high school diploma

The information and communications technology major includes the following components:

  1. In the information and communications technology major, you will take nine credits in Grade 11 and 12:
    • four information and communications technology major credits
    • three other required credits including English, mathematics and a choice of business studies, science or the arts in Grade 11 or 12
    • two co-operative education credits to gain workplace experience that helps you to refine, extend and practice your information and communications technology knowledge and skills
  2. Sector-recognized certifications and/or training courses/programs (three compulsory and a choice of three electives)
  3. Experiential learning and career exploration activities within the sector
  4. Reach ahead experiences connected with the student’s post-secondary plans
  5. Completion of a Sector-Partner Experience (SPE)

Sector-recognized certification and training:

As part of the information and communications technology major you will earn six 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 information and communications technology majors:

For information and communications technology majors, possible careers include:

  • apprenticeship – computer network technician, help desk technology support analyst, telecommunications line and cable worker
  • college – film and video camera operator, web designer and developer, systems testing technician, audio and video recording technician
  • university – software or computer engineer, information systems analyst, software designer
  • entry level workplace – desktop publishing operator, satellite dish installer, retail salesperson

Get more information:

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