Career Academies

Horticulture is an intensive subset of agriculture that deals with flowers, landscape plants, vegetables, and fruits. Today, horticulture is focused on finding new and environmentally-responsible ways of managing plants and pests to help increase crop and ornamental plant viability. Sam Houston State University sums it up as a science, "dealing with production and management of plants for food, comfort, feed, recreation, and beauty."

Plants are also very important in environmental protection. They are used to revegetate and restore land disturbed by human or natural activities, they control erosion, and they help to clean the air and water. Plants also have an important role in the beautification of urban and rural landscapes and recreation areas. Horticulture is socially important because it improves how we use plants, for food and other human purposes, as well as repairing the environment and personal aesthetics.

Industry Credentials
Students enrolled in the Horticulture Program may earn the following industry credentials:

• Forestry Worker
• Landscape Design & Plant Materials
• Turfgrass Management
• Specialty Crops
• Landscape Management

Career Technical Student Organizations are a critical component of all career technical education programs. Horticulture students will be afforded the opportunity to join local, state, and national FFA. FFA was established in 1928 and currently has 653,359 members throughout the U.S.

Students who join FFA will have the opportunity to participate in various competitive events at local, state, and national levels, as well as, participate in leadership development conferences, and service learning projects.

The FFA mission is to: make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

The FFA motto: Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.

• National FFA
• Alabama FFA

Commercial Photography provides students with the opportunity to experience practical training in current and emerging photographic technology. The curriculum is based on industry standards designed to provide specialized skills and technical knowledge relevant to photography.

Curriculum

• Introduction to Commercial Photography 
• Medium Format Photography 
• Large Format Photography 
• CTE Lab in Arts. A/V, TV, and Communication

Credentials

• Students enrolled in this program will have the opportunity to earn an Industry Certification in one or more of the following areas:

  • Adobe - Photoshop Certified Associate
  • Professional Photographers of America

Career Technical Student Organizations are a critical component of all career technical education programs. Commercial Photography  students will be afforded the opportunity to join local, state, and national SkillsUSA.SkillsUSA empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. SkillsUSA improves the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce through the development of Framework skills that include personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics.Students who join SkillsUSA will have the opportunity to participate in various competitive events at local, state, and national levels, as well as, participate in leadership development conferences, and service learning projects.

The Business Management and Administration Career Cluster focuses on careers in planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating business functions essential to efficient and productive business operations.

Program Courses

• Business Essentials
• Law in Society
• Management Principles
• CTE Lab in Business Management

Industry Recognized Credentials
Students enrolled in the Business Management  program may earn one or more of the following industry credentials:

• A*S*K Institute Fundamentals of Business Concepts
• A*S*K Institute Concepts of Entrepreneurship and Management
• Adobe Certified Associate - Photoshop
• Microsoft Office - Excel Expert
• Microsoft Office - Word Expert
• Microsoft Office - Specialist

Career Technical Student Organizations are a critical component of all career technical education programs. Horticulture students will be afforded the opportunity to join local, state, and national FBLA. FBLA inspires and prepares students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences.

FBLA-PBL’s programs focus on:

• Leadership Development—members develop essential soft skills by holding chapter officer positions at the local, state, and national levels; by networking with accomplished business professionals; and by participating in business-focused workshops, seminars, and academic competitions.
• Academic Competitions—members demonstrate their business expertise at high-profile regional, state, and national competitive events. The top students are recognized with trophies and cash awards. Learn more about FBLA competitive events.
• Educational Programs—members create career portfolios, enhance their knowledge with world-recognized skills certifications, and have access to select college scholarships. 
• Membership Benefits—members receive exclusive discounts and enhanced benefits for travel, education, and more.
• Community Service—members work with the March of Dimes to help end premature births by participating in awareness campaigns and the March for Babies fundraiser. 

Awards & Recognition—members build a portfolio of accomplishments with a wide range of awards programs.

The U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) is one of the largest character development and citizenship programs for youth in the world. The National Defense Act of 1916 established organized JROTC programs at public and private educational institutions. In 1964, Congress expanded the program to all military services and changed from active duty to shared support from the services and schools. As congressionally mandated by Title 10 United States Code, Section 2031, each military service must have a JROTC program to "instill in students in United States secondary educational institutions the values of citizenship, service to the United States, and personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment." JROTC’s mission, "To Motivate Young People to be Better Citizens", is the guide post for the program’s success.

Curriculum
The JROTC curriculum, which fully or partially addresses a number of national academic standards - to include Common Core State Standards (CCSS) - includes coursework on leadership, civics, geography and global awareness, health, and wellness, language arts, life skills, and U.S. history. The curriculum is based on the principles of performance-based, learner-centered education and promotes the development of core abilities: capacity for life-long learning, communication, responsibility for actions and choices, good citizenship, respectful treatment of others, and critical thinking techniques.

More important than "what" is learned in JROTC is "how" it is learned. Every classroom is equipped with leading edge technologies to teach, assess, and report student progress. Teachers are trained to utilize a range of technologies and develop social/emotional skills, support academic content through gaming and simulations, and promote the role of social media. Thus, students engage in meaningful, purposeful activities that lead them to demonstrate success through a portfolio of accomplishments.

Credentials

• Students have the opportunity to earn an Army Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps Leadership Certificate.
• Cadets accepted for enlistment, who provide evidence of successful completion of at least 3 years of Army JROTC are entitled to advanced promotion to pay grade E-2 upon initial enlistment in an active or reserve component of the United States Army.

This program is for students who are interested in pursuing careers in nutrition, wellness, and health and disease prevention. Courses provide students with knowledge in event planning; photographic styling applications; social media and digital design techniques; developing and adapting food products for marketing and specific nutrition needs; meal planning; food safety; and the scientific investigation of production, processing, preparation, evaluation, and utilization of food. 

Program Courses

• Family & Consumer Sciences 
• Event Planning 
• Food and Nutrition 
• Sports Nutrition
• Chemistry of Foods
• CTE Lab in Human Services

Industry Recognized Credentials
Students enrolled in the Food, Wellness, & Dietetics  program may earn the following industry credentials:
ServSafe - Manager

Career Technical Student Organizations are a critical component of all career technical education programs. Human Services students will be afforded the opportunity to join local, state, and national FCCLA.

The mission of FCCLA is to promote personal growth and leadership development through Family and Consumer Sciences education. Focusing on the multiple roles of family member, wage earner and community leader, members develop skills for life through: character development, creative and critical thinking, interpersonal communication, practical knowledge, and career preparation.

Students who join FCCLA will have the opportunity to participate in various competitive events at local, state, and national levels, as well as, participate in leadership development conferences, and service learning projects.

• Alabama FCCLA
• National FCCLA

The thriving healthcare field offers some of the nation’s best career opportunities. If you’re seeking a personally and financially rewarding career consider the healthcare industry. Well-paid healthcare professionals work with caring co-workers to improve peoples’ lives. Due to the increasing elderly population, the demand for healthcare and medical professionals continues to increase. The healthcare and medical sectors encompass an array of rewarding careers. Many healthcare careers only require a two-year degree or a certificate. Many of the health careers and medical careers require people to complete a licensure program or course training. Many of the careers in health and medical technology require specific certifications.

Curriculum

• Foundations of Health Science
• Human Body Structures and Functions
• Sports Medicine Fundamentals
• Introduction to Pharmacy
• Health Promotion and Wellness
• Family Wellness
• Emergency Services
• Therapeutic Services
• Patient Care Technician
• Health Sciences Internship

Career Technical Student Organizations are a critical component of all career technical education programs. Medical Academy students will be afforded the opportunity to join local, state, and national HOSA.

Mission
The mission of HOSA is to empower HOSA-Future Health Professionals to become leaders in the global health community through education, collaboration, and experience.

Purpose
The purpose of HOSA-Future Health Professionals is to develop leadership and technical HOSA skill competencies through a program of motivation, awareness and recognition, which is an integral part of the Health Science Education instructional program.

• HOSA

What is Engineering/Robotics?
Engineering is the branch of science and technology concerned with the design, building, and use of engines, machines, and structures.

Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots.

Curriculum     

• Foundations of Engineering
• Engineering Application
• Introduction to Robotics
• Robotics Applications
• Basic Programming for Engineers
• CTE Lab in Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics

Industry Credentials
Students enrolled in this program will have the opportunity to earn an Industry Certification in one or more of the following areas:

• Autodesk Inventor Certified User
• Solid Works Associate
• Solid Edge Certified Associate

Career Technical Student Organizations are a critical component of all career technical education programs. STEM Academy students will be afforded the opportunity to join local, state, and national TSA. The Technology Student Association (TSA) is a national organization for students engaged in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). 

Mission Statement:
The Technology Student Association enhances personal development, leadership, and career opportunities in STEM, whereby members apply and integrate these concepts through intracurricular activities, competitions, and related programs.

• Technology Student Association

Work-Based Learning (WBL)is a major component of career and technical education. Students are afforded an opportunity to earn high school credit while participating in a work-based learning experience. Students may participate in WBL in the 11th and 12th grades and may earn up to eight high school credits.

Types of Work Based Learning

• Cooperative Education – Paid Work Experience
• Internships – Unpaid Work Experience

Benefits
Students benefit from work-based learning through:

• application of classroom learning (both academic and technical) in real-world setting
• establishment of a clear connection between school and work
• assessment of their interests, aptitudes, and abilities while learning about the career possibilities available to them
• improvement of their post graduation employment opportunities
• development and practice of positive work-related habits and attitudes including the ability to think critically, solve problems, work in teams, and resolve issues
• assessment and understanding of the expectations of the workplace
• establishment of professional contacts for future employment
• expansion and refinement of their technical skills
• participation in authentic, job-related tasks
• observation of the demeanor and procedures of workplace professionals
• awareness of postsecondary education opportunities