Career Pathways Program Description
 
Career Pathways, formerly known as Tech Prep, is a sequential program of study that combines at least two years of secondary, and two years of post-secondary education, or placement in an entry level job in an emerging career area. The program is designed to help students gain academic and technical skills, and students may earn college credit for some of their high school course work. Career Pathways programs are designed to lead to high-skill, high-wage and high-demand employment or to admission in an Associate's (2-year) degree or certificate program in a specific career field, and, possibly to a four-year degree program and/or post-graduate training.

Nationally and statewide, Career Pathways sequences vary greatly, from aviation to computer aided drafting, from welding to photography, and everything in between. In most of our high schools, the curricula are in the Health area. The sequences begin with a one-year Health Occupation Core course, continue with a prescribed series of classes in the chosen field, and culminate in a work site or internship experience in an appropriate setting. Our schools offer many health career options, such as nurse assistant, licensed practical nurse training, medical assistant, exercise science and medical billing and coding, as well as culinary arts, and biotechnology. A complete listing and description of each school's program is available using the "Participating High Schools" link on the Career Pathways page. In addition, as of this year (2007) we are talking with three new schools that would expand our program by offering sequences in computer science, water and environment, and tourism/marine technology.

Each high school has a dedicated Career Pathways staff and a liaison who coordinates the program's activities. Students receive additional services such as opportunities to visit college campuses, attend lectures given by college professors and participate in Career Pathways-sponsored activities, including on-campus programs that lead to earned college credit while still in high school and summer internships both on and off-campus.

Many students also enroll in the College Now program at their schools. These courses enable them to improve their basic skills and/or earn college credit in introductory-level college courses. Career Pathways and College Now students who do earn credit have official college transcripts on file at Kingsborough. Students who take these courses can forward the transcript to the college of their choice. Instructions for transferring College Now credits can be found on the College Now website www.collegenowlive.com or by clicking on this link.