COURSE PLANNING IN
A GUIDE FOR
GRADES 9-10
C A R E E R
G U I D A N C E
WA S H I N GTO N
REACH FOR YOUR GOALS
► What are your goals for life
after high school?
► What have you done to
achieve those goals?
► Use high school to reach your
goals
► Plan now for college and
career
EXPLORE YOUR INTERESTS
Choose a Career Cluster
Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Architecture and Construction
Arts, A/V Technology, and Communications
Business, Management, and Administration
Education and Training
Finance
Government and Public Administration
Health Science
Hospitality & Tourism
Human Services
Information Technology
Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security
Manufacturing
Marketing
Science, Technology, Engineering &
Mathematics
Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics
CHOOSE CAREERS TO EXPLORE
► Research different careers:
o WA Career Bridge
o Career interviews
o Job shadows, internships
► Learn about the postsecondary
education you need
► Plan the courses you need to
prepare
► Take the most advanced courses
possible
WHAT EDUCATION WILL YOU NEED?
► Learn what education you will
need after high school:
o No education after high school
(will limit what you can do)
o Apprenticeship
o 6 month-1 year certificate
o Two-year AA/AS degree
o Four-year BA/BS degree
o Postgraduate degree
(MD, JD, MBA…)
WHICH COURSES TO TAKE?
► The courses you take will help set
your future
► Research careers and
postsecondary programs
► Then update your course plan
► HS classes should meet:
o High school graduation requirements
o Postsecondary admission
requirements
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
SUBJECT
WA STATE
GRADUATION
REQUIREMENTS
(2013)
WA STATE
GRADUATION
REQUIREMENTS
(2016)*
MINIMUM
REQUIREMENTS
FOR WA PUBLIC
COLLEGES
RECOMMENDED
FOR HIGHLY
SELECTIVE
COLLEGES
ENGLISH
3 credits
4 credits
4 credits
4 credits
2 credits
(3 credits for 2013+)
3 credits
SCIENCE (1 Lab)
2 credits (1 lab)
2 credits (1 lab)
2 credits (2 labs)
3-4 credits
SOCIAL STUDIES
2.5 credits
3 credits
3 credits
3-4 credits
WORLD LANGUAGE
0 credits
0 credits
2 credits
3-4 credits
ARTS
1 credit
1 credit
1 credit
2-3 credits
HEALTH/FITNESS
2 credits
2 credits
OCCUPATIONAL
1 credit
1 credit
5.5 credits
4 credits
MATH
ELECTIVES
3 credits
(incl math senior year)
3-4 credits
Your school’s requirements may be higher than
the state minimums.
Students must have at least a 2.0 GPA to be
admitted to a public college or university in
Washington State.
*Note: Districts may seek an extension to 2018 for some parts of the 2016 requirements.
SET A COURSE PLAN
► Find classes to prepare for your
postsecondary and career goals
► Choose the most rigorous
courses you can
o Advanced courses
(honors, IB, AP)
o Career & Technical Education
courses (career prep)
o Dual credit courses
(Tech Prep, AP, Running Start)
ADVANCED COURSES
► Take as many years of math
and science as possible
► Take honors, AP, or IB
classes that cover advanced
material
► Take electives that let you
build skills (orchestra, band,
art, metalworking, etc.)
CAREER PREP (CTE) CLASSES
► Preparation for career &
postsecondary options
► High academic standards
► Emerging fields, including:
o Health Sciences
o Science, Technology,
Engineering & Math
(STEM)
o Construction
CTE SKILLS CENTERS
► Regional high schools for CTE classes
► Attend regular high school half day,
Skills Center half day
► Skills Center programs include:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Computer programming
Firefighting
Audio Production
Culinary Arts
Health Care
Construction
Marketing
CTE – STEM
► STEM = Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics
► Includes Biotechnology, Agriculture
Technology, Nanotechnology,
several areas of Engineering, and
other technologies
► STEM helps students USE science,
technology and math to solve real
world problems
DUAL CREDIT PROGRAMS
► Some courses give high school
AND college credit
► Courses may be at your high
school or community college
► Many CTE courses offer dual
credit
DUAL CREDIT: AP
► Advanced Placement (AP)
courses can help you earn
college credit in high school
► End-of-year exam determines if
you qualify
► Some AP courses pair with CTE
classes:
o Computer Programming
o Commercial Art/Studio Art
o Environmental Science
DUAL CREDIT: TECH PREP
► Tech Prep courses can help you
earn college credit in high school
► Prepare for an apprenticeship or
save college tuition
► Courses include:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Horticulture
Environmental Science
Automotive Technology
Digital Communications
Accounting/Business
Health Science
Veterinary Medicine
DUAL CREDIT: RUNNING START
► Take courses at community
college while you’re a high
school student
► Nearly any subject is available
► Prepare for college or a career
► Talk with your high school
counselor for more information
WHAT’S NEXT?
► Set a plan for the rest of high
school
► Take the courses you need for:
o Graduation requirements
o Postsecondary admission
requirements
► Ask about advanced, CTE, and
dual credit classes
► Join clubs and sports
COURSE PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR
SUBJECT AREA
ENGLISH
MATHEMATICS
SCIENCE
WORLD LANGUAGE
SOCIAL SCIENCE
CTE (Occupational)
ARTS
HEALTH/PE
Other Elective
SEMESTER 1
SEMESTER 2