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Linked Learning Health Care Pathway
Health care is one of the biggest job creators in California. Currently, the health care sector employs nearly 1.1
million Californiansi with health care jobs comprising half of the state’s top 20 fastest-growing occupations.ii
National health care reform, population growth, and an aging population are driving the need for expanding
California’s health care services. Skilled health care professionals are the foundation of any high-quality health
care system and it is critical our state’s workforce is prepared to fill these meaningful, high wage, in-demand jobs.
About Linked Learning
Linked Learning is a proven approach to education that combines college-focused academics, work-based learning,
and intensive student supports. By centering high school around industry themes, it makes learning relevant.
Students in Linked Learning have higher graduation and college-going rates compared with those in traditional
high schools. One reason is that Linked Learning answers the question “Why do I need to learn this?” and inspires
students to work harder, dream bigger and learn more by exposing them to previously unimagined career
opportunities.
Four Core Components of Linked Learning
Rigorous academics: Core subjects that prepare all students for college, including A-G coursework
required by California’s public universities and aligned to the common core state standards.
Career-based learning in the classroom: Professional skills and industry-related knowledge woven into
lessons and assignments to give students context for what they’re learning.
Work-based learning in real-world work places: A range of real-world experiences, from mentoring and
job shadowing to internships that expose students to possible career paths.
Intensive student supports: Dedicated support services tailored to the needs of students, such as
counseling and supplemental instruction, that help ensure students are successful in school and life.
Health Care Pathway
Health care is one of the fifteen industry-themed pathways available to Linked Learning students. Currently, nine
of the state’s 40 certified Linked Learning pathways have a health care focus, providing nearly 3,000 California
students with the skills and experience they need to grow a successful career in the health care industry before
they graduate high school.
In a health care pathway, students master math, science, and verbal academic skills through the lens of the health
care industry. Group projects that span across different subjects and tackle real-world problems — often for real
clients solving real problems — help build students’ leadership, critical thinking, and teamwork skills. Health care
professionals frequent classrooms to talk about their jobs, career paths, and provide mentorship to students.
Regular field trips give students a direct look at different medical facilities and professional settings.
One of the most valuable components of the health care pathway is the firsthand interaction students experience
with the field. Internships, job shadows, and other workplace learning opportunities allow students to apply what
they learn in the classroom to real work projects— reinforcing the connection between classroom and career.
Students are able to develop a professional support network and gain invaluable experience working in a
professional environment.
Insert information about your Linked Learning School
Examples of Health Care
Pathway Careers
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Your pathway’s courses
Internships students have held
Business or other local partnerships
Data about your school’s graduation, college acceptance, and
employment rates
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Medical technician
Physician
Dentist
Clinical trial researcher
Nurse
Hospital administrator
Occupational therapist
Biotechnology engineer
Medical records clerk
Medical librarian
Physical therapist
Pharmacist
Emergency medical
technician
Exercise physiologist
Environmental health
specialist
Geneticists
Biotechnology scientists
Get Involved
By becoming involved with Linked Learning, your organization has the chance to work directly with local students
and help train the next generation of California’s health care workforce. Becoming a Linked Learning partner also
gives your orgnaization the opportunity to become involved in the [CITY] community and support [CITY] students
in their academic and career pursuits. To learn more, please visit www.linkedlearning.org and contact [NAME] at
[SCHOOL/ORGANIZATION] on how to get involved.
i
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ca.htm#31-0000
Cal. Employment Dev. Dep’t, California Occupations With the Most Job Openings 2010-2020 (June
2012)http://www.lasc.edu/faculty_staff/planning-research/documents/California%20%20Occupations%20with%20Most%20Job%20Openings%202010-2020.pdf
ii