Division of Career Education

Career Clusters
Welcome!

Missouri Career Education prepares Missourians for the 21st century to better serve the needs of students, parents, educators, and employers through challenging, relevant, and accountable programs.
Career Clusters provide a way for schools to organize instruction and student experiences around 16 broad categories that encompass virtually all occupations from entry through professional levels. These groupings of occupations are used as an organizing tool for curriculum design, a model for guidance and instruction, and a mechanism for seamless transition from secondary education to postsecondary and/or career.

Student Pathways to Success
A presentation about Missouri Career Clusters and Programs of Study
Career Clusters Booklet
"What's The Plan? Helping Students Explore Their Futures," an introduction to Career Clusters in Missouri
Submit Feedback to "What's The Plan" booklet

Career Clusters Poster (view)
Career Clusters Poster (print quality, 17"x22")
Missouri's new Career Clusters poster
White Paper: Student Pathways to Success
Four recommendations to promote a practical focus on improving student achievement in every Missour public school

Quick Link to Industry Survey and Advisor Meeting Results

Career Clusters can give all students the academic preparation, guidance, career-related knowledge and flexibility to help them plan studies that are in line with their interests, abilities, and career goals. The Career Clusters framework offers a practical way for educators in all disciplines to create relevant contexts for their students' learning. At the same time, it reinforces the schools' fundamental objectives of academic accountability and improved achievement for all students.

Sample Missouri Educational Career Plans

Information Resources:
States' Career Clusters Initiative
NCCTE Webcast: Career Pathways - The New Career Technical Education
ACTE Fact Sheet: Career and Technical Programs of Study

"What's A Career Path?" Video
An 18-minute video introducing Career Paths to young students is now available in streaming video. Development of this timeless piece was sponsored by DESE in 1999 and originally distributed in VHS tape format. Similar to a Saturday morning fun show, this video is targeted to students in the 4-8 grade levels, yet is enjoyable for all ages.
Watch Video

Partnering with Business and Industry

A number of provisions of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 directs states to connect their career education programs and uses of funds with labor market needs. It also provides a welcomed stimulus for the education system to create stronger partnerships with industry, economic and workforce development, and local employer leaders.

To better prepare students for the workforce of tomorrow, the Division of Career Education conducted an online survey among a broad spectrum of Missouri business and industry representatives. The survey was conducted from November 20, 2006 through January 8, 2007. In this way, Missouri Career Education asked employers and industry across the state to:

Rank in importance the foundation knowledge and skills for their career cluster, as well as identify any gaps or emerging areas.

Rank in importance the knowledge and skills needed for the various career pathways in which they employ, supervise, or work;

Identify any gaps or emerging areas that are essential to the pathway and need to be addressed by career education;

Indicate whether they work in business/industry, for a state or federal agency, in education, an association, or other;

Provide any additional comments or information they may like to share to help improve the quality of workers they receive; and

Possibly volunteer to participate in future surveys and/or to serve on a statewide or local industry advisory council.

On January 25, 2007, Missouri Career Education convened 16 advisory councils for each career cluster comprised of representatives from Missouri industry and education. (See Summary Report.) The purpose of each council was to review the knowledge and skill statements for the programs of study for the 16 broad clusters of occupations and the 81 career pathways. Educators will then work to achieve alignment of courses for each program of study and seek review and feedback from their respective industry advisory council.

Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
The production, processing, marketing, distribution, financing, and development of agricultural commodities and resources including food, fiber, wood products, natural resources, horticulture, and other plant and animal products/resources.

Architecture and Construction
Careers in designing, planning, managing, building and maintaining the built environment.

Arts, A/V Technology and Communications
Designing, producing, exhibiting, performing, writing, and publishing multimedia content including visual and performing arts and design, journalism, and entertainment services.

Business, Management and Administration
Careers encompass planning, organizing, directing and evaluating business functions essential to efficient and productive business operations.

Education and Training
Planning, managing and providing education and training services and related learning support services.

Finance
Planning, services for financial and investment planning, banking, insurance, and business financial management.

Government and Public Administration
Executing governmental functions to include Governance; National Security; Foreign Service; Planning; Revenue and Taxation; Regulation; and Management and Administration at the local, state, and federal levels.

Health Science
Planning, managing, and providing therapeutic services, diagnostic services, health informatics, support services, and biotechnology research and development.

Hospitality and Tourism
Encompassing the management, marketing and operations of restaurants and other foodservices, lodging, attractions, recreation events and travel related services.

Human Services
Preparing individuals for employment in career pathways that relate to families and human needs.

Information Technology
Careers relating to the design, development, support and management of hardware, software, multimedia, and systems integration services.

Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security
Planning, mnanaging and providing legal public safety, protective services and homeland security, including professional and technical support services.

Manufacturing
Planning, managing, and performing the processing of materials into intermediate or final products and related professional and technical support activities such as production plannin and control, maintenance and manufacturing/process engineering.

Marketing, Sales and Service
Planning, managing, and performing marketing activities to reach organizational activities.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Planning, managing, and providig scientific research and professional and technical services (e.g., physical science, social science, engineering), including laboratory and testing services, and research and development services.

Transportation, Distribution & Logistics
Planning, management, and movement of people, materials, and goods by road, pipeline air, rail and water and related professional and technical support services, such as transportation infrastructure planning and management, logistics services, mobile equipment and facility maintenance.