Agriculture is an industry full of possibilities powered by the latest technologies. Students can explore the variety of career pathways at their disposal. Whether they're interested in the environment, agribusiness, food production, or another path—Stride Career Prep* has an option for them.

Career pathways include:

Agribusiness is, quite simply, the business of agriculture and its products. Farmers and ranchers are the entrepreneurs of rural America—taking huge financial risks, managing big budgets, and investing in the latest agricultural technology. This pathway starts with the foundations of agriculture and then propels students into learning business and entrepreneurship.

Students will:

• Discover the components of agriculture from a foundational level
• See how science and tech help produce and maintain better plants
• Learn the business side of agricultural commodities

LEARN MORE ABOUT AGRIBUSINESS

Has your child ever wanted to be a butcher, chef, or food scientist? This pathway might be for them. They'll start with a foundation in agriculture basics and move through to nutrition and chemistry to processing and safety. They'll learn what it takes to have a career in food processing and production.

Students will:

• Discover foundations of food production and chemistry
• Build a foundation of culinary skills and knowledge
• Learn trends and standards for genetically engineered foods

LEARN MORE ABOUT FOOD PROCESSING & PRODUCTION

The truth is—agriculture has gone high-tech. If a career in agriculture or natural sciences piques your child's interest, this pathway can give them a head start. Starting with a foundation in agriculture, students come to understand how agricultural structures, as well as machinery and equipment, work together in an agricultural supply chain.

Students will:

• Learn to use common agricultural tools and materials
• Gain a fundamental understanding of mechanical engineering
• Discover technology for an efficient supply chain

LEARN MORE ABOUT TECHNICAL SYSTEMS

Whether your child is looking at a career in accounting, sharpening design skills for marketing, or embarking on their own journey as an entrepreneur—our career and college prep program has a path to suit them. Students learn the core foundations of business operations and functions while building a variety of leadership and management skills in this pathway as they go.

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Career pathways include:

All organizations, not just businesses, require administrative support, making this a versatile career. In this pathway, students learn how to manage tasks and communications efficiently so organizations can thrive.

Students will:

• Explore career opportunities through administrative skills
• Develop the computer skills needed for administrative tasks
• Learn basic accounting to support businesses

LEARN MORE ABOUT ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT

Your child could help a business reach new heights with a career in business finance. This pathway guides students through the fundamentals of finance, accounting, and useful computer programs. They discover what it means to manage finances for businesses and how to play an important part in their financial success. This pathway is a great way to get a head start on becoming a certified public accountant (CPA) or start a career in basic accounting.

Students will:

• Explore financial best practices for successful businesses
• Learn accounting skills and see how they relate to running a business
• Develop the computer skills needed to complete finance projects

LEARN MORE ABOUT BUSINESS FINANCE

As entrepreneurs, high school students are dreaming big and doing side-jobs to earn income and gain experience. They're using skills and passions to help other businesses and learning how to launch new organizations to solve problems. The Entrepreneurships Pathway supports students no matter where they're at in their journey. 

Students will:

• Explore what makes a business successful
• Learn how to promote a business and get noticed
• Discover what it takes to launch and grow a business
• Develop communication, networking, negotiation, and technology skills

LEARN MORE ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Students in this pathway discover how to manage a team and how to help a business become more profitable and efficient. Courses include project-based learning to give a hands-on experience in developing skills for the 21st century—leadership, communication, teamwork, creative problem solving, and critical thinking skills.

Students will:

• Discover how teamwork contributes to the success of businesses
• Develop leadership skills to build and manage productive teams
• Learn the computer skills necessary to complete business goals

LEARN MORE ABOUT GENERAL MANAGEMENT

Just about every company needs a human resources department, even if they're relatively small. Students in this pathway learn about the strategic role HR plays as a liaison between the administration and the employees. Courses prepare students for staffing activities that involve planning, recruitment, selection, orientation, training, performance appraisal, compensation, and safety of employees.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ABOUT HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

From crime scene investigators and FBI special agents to judges and 911 dispatchers, give your students the tools they need to advance in a career serving and protecting their community. Developed as part of Stride's We Stand Together initiative and with an advisory board of criminal justice and community experts, authentic, project-based learning in a variety of career pathways incorporates important concepts that promote building a more diverse, socially-conscious, supportive workforce. Students in our career and college prep program can choose from many options in legal, law enforcement, and security work—learning how to serve and protect others while gaining skills to launch their careers.

Career pathways include:**

Is your child calm in stressful situations? Are they able to notice things that are out of the ordinary? Do they enjoy working with other people in your community? If so, a police patrol officer or detective career may be a good fit. Or, if your child is a good listener, they could be a police, fire, or emergency dispatcher. These careers and more can start in the law enforcement pathway.

Students will:

• Learn the fundamentals of criminal justice
• Gain experience in criminology and forensics
• Develop law enforcement skills to serve their community

LEARN MORE ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT

Is your child a debate champion or curious about different views on ethical topics? Do they have a passion for justice and fairness? If so, the legal services pathway could be the one for them. This pathway can lead to a career as a paralegal, lawyer, judge, and more.

Students will:

• Learn the fundamentals of criminal justice
• Gain experience in criminology and communication
• Get an introduction to law and the justice system and related careers

LEARN MORE ABOUT LEGAL SERVICES

Is your child someone who listens and observes well? Can they tell when something seems wrong or out of place? Do they enjoy puzzles and logic? If so, the security and protective services pathway could be a great choice. This pathway can lead to a career in intelligence, cybersecurity, or private protection.

Students will:

• Learn the fundamentals of criminal justice
• Gain experience in criminology and forensics
• Get an introduction to cybersecurity, intelligence, and other security-related careers

LEARN MORE ABOUT SECURITY & PROTECTION

Careers in education can be among the most rewarding ways to make a difference in the lives of others. Students in our career and college prep program discover how teachers and trainers inspire trust and confidence and motivate learners.*

Career pathway:

Is your child interested in teaching? The teaching and training pathway prepares students for multiple teaching career possibilities, including specialties like special education, speech-language, and early childhood learning.

Students will:

• Discover the fundamentals of teaching, including lesson planning
• Explore childhood development and education
• • Develop the teaching and speaking skills to lead a classroom

LEARN MORE ABOUT TEACHING & TRAINING

Is your child interested in robotics, engineering, or science? With the career and college prep program,* your child can get started in a reliable career in manufacturing. The industry is projected to have 2.4 million available jobs up to 2028, according to a 2018 Deloitte study1. And as the industry continues to become more tech-savvy—applying a digital edge to manufacturing, construction, and STEM jobs has never been more critical. Modern manufacturing leans heavily on robotics and mechatronics for automation, making it an ideal career field for those who want to pursue math and science without being confined to a traditional lab.

Career pathways include:

This pathway prepares students to work with customers to ensure the manufacturing process produces a product that meets or exceeds customer expectations. They also monitor the manufacturing process and the materials used to make the product.

Students will:

• Explore manufacturing careers and prepare to apply for and succeed in their first job
• Learn how manufacturing companies operate, including the use of computers and automation in manufacturing
• Complete hands-on projects designed to provide insight into the world of manufacturing
• Explore the principles and techniques involved in lean manufacturing, such as minimizing waste and improving workflow.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

Knowing how to operate machinery that helps create essential structures is a sought-after skill. This pathway prepares students for a career in equipment operations for industries like construction and machining. They’ll begin with a general exploration of construction and move into the specifics of machinery.

Students will:

• Explore the many facets of the construction world to find their interest
• Develop the mathematics skills necessary for the construction field
• Learn about construction equipment and its various functions
• Learn what it takes to maintain heavy machinery for construction

LEARN MORE ABOUT HEAVY MACHINES OPERATION

Engineers make the world work. This pathway starts with the fundamentals of engineering and progresses into more targeted learning. Students gain the knowledge and skills for jobs such as surveying and mapping technician and engineer.

Students will:

• Discover areas of specialization and what it takes to succeed as an engineer
• Learn product design from concept to manufacturing
• Study the physical and chemical principles applied in engineering
• See how engineers create work that improves societies around the world

LEARN MORE ABOUT ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Give your student the tools they need to move forward in a career helping others. Students in this career field are exposed to a breadth of different options in healthcare, learning how to serve others and gaining skills to enter the workforce.

Career pathways include:

Is your child interested in the behind-the-scenes side of healthcare? Students learn how to help patients by managing health records and data. This pathway can lead to multiple careers, including health services manager, medical records technician, medical transcriptionist, and more.

Students will:

• Gain a broad understanding of healthcare and hospital operations
• Learn medical terminology and how it relates to medical billing and coding
• Develop the teaching and speaking skills to lead a classroom

Is a career in public health in your child's future? This pathway helps students prepare for a full range of career opportunities from entry-level to management, including technical and professional careers.

Students will:

• Explore careers in public health and social services
• Gain an understanding of medical office procedures and administration
• Learn medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology

If your child is interested in technology and healthcare, the Medical Diagnostics and Testing pathway may be a good fit. Students prepare for careers that use tests to detect, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, or other physical conditions such as EKG technician, phlebotomist, and radiology technician.

Students will:

• Gain an understanding of medical office procedures and administration
• Learn medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology
• Explore all aspects of workplace safety

If your child dreams of serving and caring for people, this pathway will prepare them for a career helping patients in need. This pathway can lead to a career in sports medicine or as a certified nursing assistant, registered nurse, pharmacy technician, dental assistant, and more.

Students will:

• Gain experience in patient care and nursing basics
• Understand medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology
• Develop the skills required to prepare for nursing assistant, dental assistant, or sports medicine certifications

If food and travel are your child's passions, a career in hospitality and tourism could be right for them. In this career field, students are introduced to the management, marketing, and operation of restaurants and other food services, lodging, attractions, and travel services.

Career pathways include:

Does your child binge-watch cooking shows like Top Chef and Restaurant Impossible? Then they might be a good candidate for the Restaurants & Food/Beverage Services Pathway.

Students will:

• Explore food culture, history, and trends
• Build their knowledge of the responsibilities of running a restaurant
• Learn relevant computer skills needed to thrive in hospitality
  

LEARN MORE ABOUT FOOD & BEVERAGE SERVICES

Does your child dream of opening a B&B or boutique hotel? In this pathway, students explore how lodging facilities operate and how to enhance the guest experience.

Students will:

• Learn about the management and maintenance of hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, hostels, and other lodging services
• Discover how to make the guest experience enjoyable
• Learn relevant computer skills needed to thrive in hospitality

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOTEL & LODGING

Is your child an intrepid traveler at heart? Students in this pathway prepare for a variety of travel and tourism careers, including cultural advisers, travel agents, event planners, and tour guides.

Students will:

• Explore careers in travel and tourism
• Discover how to help people make the most of their travel experience
• Learn relevant computer skills needed to thrive in travel and tourism

Computers are everywhere in our daily lives—and studying information technology (IT) has never been more lucrative. It's an industry that can be applied to others: point of sale systems in retail, data tracking in healthcare, account management in banking, and so on. For teens looking to apply their interest in technology to a career path, the IT field might have just what they're looking for.

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Does your child love to play video games? Nothing can beat building and playing their own. This pathway can help them level up for a career in video game design. A career in video game design can help them take the creative lead as a computer programmer, computer and information systems manager, or software developer.

Students will:

• Learn the skills to develop video games through coding and design
• Explore the building blocks of game design and programming
• Understand computer programming languages and their relation to design

LEARN MORE ABOUT GAME DESIGN

Students in this pathway learn to implement computer systems and software, provide technical assistance, and manage information systems. People with expertise in these areas are in high demand in organizations of all sizes and types.

LEARN MORE ABOUT INFORMATION SUPPORT & SERVICES

Is your child a natural problem solver with a knack for technology? A career in cybersecurity or computer networking would allow them to put those skills to use by making sure data can transfer securely, maintaining software and hardware, analyzing problems, and developing solutions. They may also learn how to handle future cyber threats and enhance security for corporations and governments. The courses in this pathway can put students on track to careers in computer network architecture, computer network engineering, programming, system administration, cybersecurity, and more.

Students will:

• Learn the basic elements of computer networks and their function
• Explore how computers communicate and work together in a system
• Gain experience in diagnosing and analyzing computer issues
• Learn to protect privacy and prevent security incidents and data breaches

LEARN MORE ABOUT NETWORKING AND SYSTEMS

Does your child dream of designing their own websites or software? Combine that creative flair with a mind for technology as they learn to code in this pathway. With computer programming skills, students can be on track for a career in software development, web development, and more.

Students will:

• Learn the fundamental coding languages such as JAVA, HTML3, and CSS3
• Understand algorithms and theories behind computer systems
• Gain experience in developing programs and applications

LEARN MORE ABOUT PROGRAMMING

Businesses are always looking for ways to make their digital presence stand out and employees who can bring their vision to life. This pathway prepares students to design and produce interactive multimedia products and services. A web and digital communication path can set them up for positions such as a web developer or graphic designer.

Students will:

• Explore the fundamentals of web design
• Understand the building blocks of website design and software

Is your child a creative thinker with a plan for everything? Then a career in marketing might be right for them. In this career field, students are introduced to the art and science of advertising and brand building.

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From social media to billboards, marketing is all around us. Students learn how to apply and grow their creativity in this pathway.

Students will:

• Explore the inner workings of successful ad campaigns
• Expand their knowledge with introductory marketing courses
• Learn relevant computer skills needed for marketing communications

LEARN MORE ABOUT MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS

Does your child have a competitive drive, good interpersonal skills, and a healthy dose of self-confidence? Then a career in sales might be a good career choice.

Students will:

• Explore the different types of sales jobs
• Build their oral, written, and nonverbal communication skills
• Learn relevant computer skills needed to thrive in sales

LEARN MORE ABOUT PROFESSIONAL SALES

Does your child have an eye for details and is up on fashions, fads, and trends? Then they might want to consider a career in merchandising.

Students will:

• Explore how to get products into the hands of consumers
• Learn about forecasting, planning, buying, and displaying
• Learn relevant computer skills needed for merchandising and marketing

Your child can explore their passion and put their creativity to work designing, producing, exhibiting, performing, writing, and publishing multimedia content. Our career and college prep program* can help them take their talent anywhere from visual and performing arts to design, journalism, entertainment services, and beyond!

Career pathways include:

Would your child like to spend their day creating websites, computer-game graphics, animations, or special effects for movies? If they're interested in any of these things, they might be a good candidate for the Visual Arts Pathway where students put both their creative spirit and technical mind to work to create visual assets for the digital world. And a career in digital design will allow them to work in a variety of industries, including education, entertainment, and advertising.

Students will:

• Discover the fundamentals and best practices of digital arts
• Learn the industry-standard software used in digital design
• Gain experience presenting their digital design work to others

LEARN MORE ABOUT VISUAL ARTS

If your child has a natural curiosity, a desire to communicate truth, and an interest in researching, interviewing, and storytelling, then Digital Journalism might be the pathway for them. Students learn to gather information and prepare stories that inform us about local, state, national, and international events.

Students will:

• Develop strong writing, critical thinking, and research skills
• Learn about the evolution of journalism and its ethics and bias
• Discover how journalism can lead to exciting careers

You don’t need to have it all figured out today to be successful tomorrow.  By learning about your strengths, you can start discovering the best areas to look at more closely. Who knows? You might find that several things spark your interest, or you could uncover the one path that fits for you.

Lead With Your Strengths

Teamwork or solo work? Fast-paced or slow and steady? Knowing how you work best can help you venture confidently into the ultimate uncharted territory—your future.

Define Your Direction

Avoid dead ends and U-turns. Using your strengths as compass, you can get a jump start on your future while still in high school and stick to your true North.

Discover New Paths

What’s an adventure without something unexpected? Your personality type can reveal career options you never knew existed. Try a new path and see where it could lead.