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Career and Technical Education
Each of our nine high schools offers a variety of courses that are categorized as Career and Technical
Education. By offering students numerous and varied opportunities,
in addition to traditional academics, Career and Technical
Education helps ensure that ALL students can be successful
in high school and leave "empowered for the choices and
challenges of the 21st century."
Career and Technical Education classes
Note: Not all courses listed are available at all
high schools - check with your school to see what is offered
on your campus.
Healthy living depends on choosing the right kinds of foods
and using the proper preparation techniques. Introduction to Culinary Arts 1
students, in addition to learning to plan and prepare
foods, will learn the importance of basic nutrition for
good health. Introduction to Culinary Arts 2 students will learn advanced
cooking techniques, as well as creative food presentation.
Culinary Arts 1-2 is offered at some schools. This
class is designed to introduce and prepare students with
the academic and workplace industry standard skills needed
for hospitality and food production. The focus is on preparation
for careers in industries such as hotels, meeting centers,
educational facilities, and cruise lines. If the school
also offers a second year of Culinary Arts, students who
have passed the first year will learn advanced academic
and workplace industry skills for hospitality and food production.
Students will have the opportunity to complete industry
internship hours and then may take the National Restaurant
Association Industry Certification Test.
It's a lot of fun watching children grow! This Child
Development course focuses on the study of the physical,
social-emotional and intellectual development of children
from conception through pre-school age. Students will develop
skills in working with young children that can be applied
to parenting and/or future careers involving children. During
a play-school unit, students will practice the basic principles
of guidance and caring for children.
FAMILY LIVING
Positive relationships are the foundation of a healthy
and happy lifestyle. This course develops skills in inter-personal
relationships. Family
Living is a study of basic concepts of personality
development, goal setting, stress management, communication
skills, mate selection, successful marriage strategies and
personal economics.
Marketing involves determining customer needs and
deciding how best to satisfy those needs. This is a challenging
class for those students interested in selling, pricing,
distribution, advertising, computer technology, owning a
business, business management, employability skills, and
market research. Marketing prepares the students for retail
careers. Students in Advanced
Marketing (DECA) must qualify for part-time employment
and work a minimum of 15 hours a week in a marketing or
distributing business.
KEYBOARDING
One-semester and full-year Keyboarding
classes give students the opportunity to learn basic keyboarding
skills using the touch-typing method. This class provides
basic preparation for other business/computer courses, personal
use and college.
BUSINESS LAW
Business Law
provides students with a working knowledge and understanding
of legal principles. Students analyze case studies, participate
as an attorney, witness, and juror in mock trials, study
law for the minor, explore legal careers, gain a knowledge
of the American court system and learn to research and present
legal concepts using technology.
Accounting
is an excellent opportunity for students to gain real-world
experience learning accounting principles by analyzing and
recording business transactions. In addition to managing
the records of a business using automated accounting software,
students will learn skills to prepare them for employment.
At schools offering Advanced Accounting students
increase their employability and accounting background.
COMPUTER APPLICATIONS
Business Computer
Applications students learn advanced word processing
and desktop publishing skills, how to set up a database
and develop spreadsheets and graphs to analyze data, and
how to use the Internet for research. In Multimedia
Computer Applications students learn to design illustrations
and presentations (PowerPoint), learn how to use a digital
camera, scanner and video camera, and learn how to use Internet
applications including email and web page development and
design.
INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS
Students in Introduction
to Business experience handling a checking account,
applying for credit, buying insurance, finding and applying
for a job, computer technology, understanding investments,
communication skills, and understanding the variety of ways
businesses are organized.
METALS
This course introduces, explores, and develops the basic
skills used in metalworking,
manufacturing and industrial production. Students will learn
safety and proper use of hand tools, as well as have the
opportunity to do sheet metal work, acetylene welding and
cutting, electric welding, lathe work, hand forge, heat
treating, foundry, wrought iron, soldering, plasma cutting
and mig and tig welding.
AUTOS
Students at Cortez High School have the opportunity to
take this basic course in automotives.
It emphasizes the development of an understanding of the
basic mechanics and working vocabulary of automotive terms.
The course will consist of care and maintenance of various
automotive systems and components. Students at the other
eight high schools may choose to take the autos classes
offered through GCC (see below).
The automotives program at Glendale Community College
provides interested students at any of the district's nine
high schools with exposure to the world of automotive repair.
This program is intended to provide the student with a knowledge
background, in addition to hands-on training. Students wishing
to enter this program begin taking classes at GCC during
the summer prior to their senior year of high school. During
the student's senior year, the student is encouraged to
apply for a position in one of the three factory-sponsored
automotive technician training programs.
INTROTECH
IntroTech is
a year-long class offered to students in 9th through 12th
grade. This course is designed to provide students with
a broad exploratory experience in the world of technology.
The course provides students the opportunity to study technological
systems including nergy/power, transportation, manufacturing/construction,
and communications.
IntroTech uses a unique approach that involves a
series of modules which allow a student to work in selected
areas of interest. Each activity emphasizes the importance
of applied academic skills in reading, mathematics and oral
communication.
All drafting classes in the district are considered Computer
Aided Drafting (CAD), which means drawings are done
on the computer at the student's own workstation. The curriculum
uses state-of-the-art technology and all CAD labs use recent
versions of CAD software. Students successfully
completing CAD Drafting 1-2 may possess adequate
skills to be employed by architectural firms, engineering
firms or other companies that utilize drafting skills.
This CISCO
course is designed to teach and certify students to design,
build, and maintain computer networks. The course focuses
on network equipment, design and operation through hands-on
activities such as wiring and cabling and CISCO-prepared
computer-assisted instruction. Final assessment entails
setting up an operable LAN. At the completion of this course,
students may take the two-day CISCO-sponsored certification
test. Success on this test assures employers that a certified
student knows how to build and maintain a network.
Cabinetmaking classes are available for students in 9th
through 12th grades. The Cabinetmaking 1-2 class is an excellent
beginning class which teaches enough skills to make woodworking
a life-long hobby. Students who wish to advance their skills
have the opportunity to do so in Cabinetmaking 3-4 (not offered
at all
schools). Students completing this class have substantial
skills and may be qualified to be employed in the cabinetmaking
business.
COOPERATIVE EDUCATION
Students wishing to take a Cooperative Education
class (COE, DCE, DECA, or FACS Internship) must have taken
a minimum of one Career and Technical Education courses
in their chosen department. The process also requires an
application and coordinator approval before a student can
sign up for this class. Senior students attend classes part
of the day and are employed part time working a minimum
of 15 hours per week (this is referred to as Career Internship
Field). Through classroom instruction and on-the-job training,
students develop work skills and work ethic, learn how to
work with people, develop self-confidence, and earn money
while gaining experience and exploring careers.
HEALTH CAREEERS EDUCATION (HCE)
HCE is a satellite program in the Glendale Union
High School District that presents and teaches basic medical
science and exposes students to a realistic hospital environment.
HCE is open to any junior or senior who is mature,
has a good work ethic and can accept direction from both
teachers and clinical supervisors.
HCE is a two-credit, two-semester class for those
serious about exploring the ever changing and expanding
health care environment.
HCE students will explore many different health
care occupations while enrolled in the program, as well
as gain CPR certification and well over 100 hours of hospital
volunteer credit.
Consider these facts:
- In Arizona there is a growing shortage of health technicians
and nurses, and few are qualified for new jobs, like ultrasound
technicians or home health care aides.
- The health care industr y employs one out of every six
Arizonans today and will employ one out of every four
in a few years.
Certified Nursing Assistant programs are designed
in conjunction with a local hospital. This course focuses
on understanding skills and concepts such as:
- Disease Prevention
- Patient Care
Hands-on activities ensure that students are able to perform
basic nursing assistant tasks. Students are provided with
real-world experience by working side-by-side with hospital
staff in a variety of health care related jobs. The course
culminates in all students being prepared to take the State
of Arizona Certified Nursing Assistant examination. Entry
into the program involves a tour of the hospital, an information
session, and an interview process.
Fire Science...explore the career opportunities
available! This class, which consists mainly of seniors,
offers students a chance to have hands-on experience not
only with fire fighting, but also with nursing (CPR), dispatch
and other related fields. Students have the unique opportunity
to learn about fire services, fire prevention, technical
rescue, and hazardous materials. Students also earn their
first aid certification. A unique aspect of this class is
the organization of the class into two “station houses"
and the students roleplay the many positions. A favorite
activity is the “turnout” when students get their
gear on in the least amount of time possible.They say it's
tough to do!
Thinking about teaching? Give this class a try!
Aspire to Teach, where students gain first-hand
classroom experience that will help them be informed about
occupational choices.They will learn from a Master Teacher
and have the opportunity to plan and utilize lesson plans
in a real classroom setting.
CHILD ORIENTED OCCUPATIONAL PROGRAM (COOP)
COOP gives hands-on experience and exposes students
to the possibility of working with children in challenging
careers such as education, health, art, business and nutrition.
Students develop and prepare lesson plans that they then
use to teach in the on-site preschool. This lab setting
also allows students to observe the sequence of how children
learn.
The curriculum for all these courses is aligned with the
Arizona Career and Technical Education Curriculum Framework.
It is our goal to prepare individuals for further education
and/or for careers in current or emerging employment sectors
by offering courses which provide students with academic and
technical knowledge and skills.
NOTE: In order to be in compliance with Arizona State Graduation
Requirements, a student must complete one credit of fine arts
OR one credit of Career and Technical Education. There are numerous Career and Technical Education
classes available at each high school to meet this graduation
requirement.
Joint Technical Education
GUHSD became a member of West-MEC on July 1, 2005. West-MEC is a public
school district. In 1990, the Arizona legislature approved by statute
that public school districts could join together through a public vote
to combine efforts to offer Career and Technical Education programs. In
November 2002, eight west-side district governing boards placed the
formation of West-MEC on the ballots of their constituents. All eight
west-side communities voted to form the Western Maricopa Education
Center.
What can West-MEC do better than the districts themselves?
By combining efforts and expenditures, West-MEC can offer the students
of the districts more than any one district alone can offer those
students. More programs and better funded programs will be offered to
the students of the West-MEC through economies of scale. Together, we
can do more. Some career and technical education programs are equipment
intense and very expensive. Individual districts may not have the space,
money, or expertise to offer such programs. By combining some of the
enrollment numbers, more opportunities are available to students.
Does that mean students may have to travel?
Not in all cases, but, yes in some situations, it may be necessary for
a student who wants a particular program to attend a class off of their
home campus. In most cases, the expertise of West-MEC will go where the
students are. Additional funds are available for districts who are
members of West-MEC. Sometimes, those funds will be enough to place the
extra courses on the student s home campus. In other instances, it may
be that West-MEC can hire the highly specialized teacher and move that
teacher to different campuses each semester in order to give students in
multiple schools and multiple districts the opportunity to take the
course.
Will West-MEC work with businesses?
Working with local businesses is one of the main efforts of West-MEC.
Creating an educational link to employment and continuing educational
opportunities in Maricopa County is one of the reasons West-MEC was
formed. Our business community is an important link that must exist in
order to move students from the school into the workforce in a seamless
transition to continuing education and quality employment.
Will West-MEC work with facilities of higher education?
Definitely. Most West-MEC students will need some higher education to
achieve all they can in their chosen profession. Universities, community
colleges, trade schools, and continuing education offered through
employers will all be impacted by the students who participate in
West-MEC sponsored courses. West-MEC courses will give students the
foundation needed to pursue their dreams for the career they choose. In
some cases, West-MEC will be the guiding light showing students the
different career choices they have and opening their eyes to what may
lie ahead for them.
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