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Professional Pathways

Choosing A Pathway

Jobs in the Twenty-First Century will require both academic and technical skills.  Primarily, because of ever-changing technology, our society will see many new job titles and work areas added each year.  It is especially important for students to begin thinking early about what occupations they may want to pursue and then to plan a rigorous academic program that will give them more opportunities for success.

"Professional Pathways" is intended to help students develop their plans for life and then implement those plans.  "Career" implies more than just a job; it includes education, work, and lifestyle.  Achieving a successful career requires years of planning, studying, training, and hard work.

The Professional Pathways are broad areas of study that are flexible enough to allow students to change as they acquire new knowledge and experience.  Using students' interests and aptitudes, parents, counselors, teachers, or other career professional can help students develop a plan of study in an appropriate pathway.

The Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD has identified seven professional pathways, which are organized around broad career fields.  They are as follows:

Agricultural Science and Technology
This pathway develops competence needed by students preparing to enter agricultural science and technology occupations.  Agricultural employment includes all jobs that require agricultural competence, knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to produce, manage, process, market, distribute, regulate, or protect any of the natural resources.

Art, Communication and Media Technology
The Art, Communications and Media Technology career pathway prepares students for communications-related careers in industry and the trade occupations through planned course sequences.  Students learn layout, design, production, processing assembly, testing, diagnosis, maintenance, and servicing of industrial, commercial, and residential goods and products, as well as public service.

Business and Marketing Technology
This comprehensive pathway provides students with meaningful instruction both for and about business.  The business and marketing technology careers pathway allows the student the flexibility to pursue instruction adapted to the needs of industry and society.  Instruction includes subject matter and learning experiences related to the performance of activities that direct the flow of goods and services from the producer to the consumer.

Health Science Technology
This comprehensive pathway provides knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for entry-level positions or further education and training in various aspects of the health care industry. Curriculum and instruction integrate the natural and social sciences with a core of concepts that combine investigative, analytical, and critical-thinking skills.

Human Development Management, & Science Technology
This pathway, which includes home economics, prepares young people to live in an increasingly diverse global society.  It consists of sequential courses that allows students the knowledge and skills to successfully combine and manage individual, family, work, and community roles.

Industrial & Engineering Technology
Industrial technology education careers focus on the role and importance of technology in the community and its influences of everyday life.  This pathway examines the evolution, application, and significance of modern technology and its relationship to American industry, including organization, personnel, systems, techniques, resources and products.

Personal & Protective Services Technology
This cluster is among the fastest-growing occupational areas in our economy.  Courses in this pathway provide a strong background in interpersonal skills for use in such areas as law enforcement and social services.