PLAnning YOuR CAREER
WH

AT

A

RE
Career Clusters
& Programs of Study
?
in Texas, TaPs (Texas achievement Plans) will guide students’ high school and
college experiences (see next page). as part of this process, students focus their
studies within a chosen career cluster and program of study.
A
career cluster is a group of occupations and broad chosen career. It will allow you to follow a seamless course of
industries that share certain features. The Science, study from high school into college or other postsecondary
Technology, Engineering & Mathematics cluster, education or training. The electives you choose can
for example, includes chemists and civil engineers. Texas complement your core academic classes to prepare you for
has adopted 16 career clusters (see back cover), the same the challenges of the real world of work.
ones designated and developed by the U.S. Department of
Education. As the graphic below shows, within each cluster Review Your TAP Each Year
are programs of study, which are more specific groupings of Don’t get locked into a cluster and program of study you
similar occupations. Think of a program of study as being don’t like. You should reexamine your TAP at least once a
like a college major. In Science, Technology, Engineering & year and change programs or clusters if your interests have
Mathematics, you might choose to focus on Engineering and changed. Choosing a cluster and program of study, even if
Technology or Science and Math in high school and college. it changes later, means that you’ll have a direction in life.
The idea is to be aware of what’s going on in your life and
Related Occupations take control of your future. When you know where your
Each program of study includes a range of related education is going and why, your classes will become more
occupations; mechanical engineer is an example of an meaningful. You’ll make contact with students, teachers,
occupation that falls within Engineering and Technology. and employers who share your interest in a particular career
Choosing a career cluster and program of study will help you area. You’ll have experiences that are fun and exciting. You’ll
acquire the knowledge and skills you’ll need to enter your be on your way to success in school, in a career, and in life.
P R O G R A M S O F S T U D Y E X A M P L E O C C U P A T I O N S
C L U S T E R
Science and Math Chemist
Science, Technology,
Engineering & Mathematics
Engineering and Technology Mechanical Engineer
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