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What is an Endorsement?

An endorsement is an area of concentrated study, kind of like a major is in college.  An Endorsement signifies that a learner-graduate has a set of specialized skills in one or more of the areas, below.  Learners may select an endorsement area during Advising, or at any time during high school.  The Endorsements are shown on the final transcript. Practicums may be completed in each of the fields, and Practicums may be done as part of the Senior Project.  With adviser permission, a Practicum may be approved earlier than the senior year.  Prior to taking on a practicum, learners must seek adviser approval.

Endorsement Areas and Endorsement Elective Courses

Learners may receive endorsements on the transcript, by following a prescribed series of courses that ground learners in the knowledge of a particular discipline or disciplines.  Endorsements are available in Arts and Humanities, Business and Industry (we offer a sequence of study in six career clusters under the Business and Industry category), and in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).

Public Services Endorsements

The types of careers that learners may be pursuing through taking these endorsement areas can be in Health Sciences, Social Work, Education, Law and Public Safety, or law.  There are five endorsements in Public Services:

  • Public Service Health Science Technology Endorsement (Pharmacy Technician Concentration) - Learners who wish to earn this endorsement, must take 3 credits that come from Principals of Health Science, Anatomy & Physiology, Medical Terminology, Pharmacy Tech Practicum (as part of this course, learners must take the Pharmacy Tech preparation course prior to starting Practicum).
  • Public Service Human Services Endorsement - Learners who wish to earn this endorsement must take three credits that come from Introduction to Human Services, Touch Systems Data Entry, Child Development, Child Guidance or complete a practicum in Human Services.
  • Public Service Education Endorsement - Learners who wish to earn this endorsement must take three credits that come from Principles of Education and Training, Human Growth and Development, Child Guidance, or complete a Practicum.
  • Public Service Law and Public Safety Endorsement - Learners who wish to earn an endorsement must take three credits that come from Principles of Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security, Business Information Management, Law Enforcement I, Law Enforcement 2, Forensic Science, or complete a practicum in the field.

Arts and Humanities Endorsements

The types of careers that Arts and Humanities Endorsements concentrate in are careers like TV and Radio Broadcasting, and other mass communications fields; humanities, foreign languages specialty areas, and fine arts, (theatre, dance, music).  There are four areas of endorsement that may be earned in the Arts and Humanities:

  • Arts and Humanities Social Studies Endorsement - To earn a Social Studies endorsement, learners must earn 1 additional credit in Social Studies (in addition to the four required credits from the Graduation Plan).  The fifth credit may come from AP™ Courses in the Social Studies/Humanities (as approved by the College Board), Sociology, Psychology, Bible Humanities, Introduction to Criminal Justice, and other approved courses found in the Course Catalog.
  • Arts and Humanities English Endorsement - To earn an English endorsement, learners must earn an additional four credits in approved English Language Arts course.  The four credits may come from AP™ Courses in the English Language Arts area (as approved by the College Board), Research and Technical Writing, Creative Writing, Practical Writing, Grammar and Composition, Independent Study in Journalism, Photojournalism, Independent Study in Speech, Modern Film, Modern Fiction, and other approved courses found in the Course Catalog.
  •  Arts and Humanities World Languages Endorsement - To earn a World Languages Endorsement, learners must take three levels of the same language, plus two levels of a different language (for a total of 5 World Languages credits).  In lieu of the 3 and 2, some courses have five levels, therefore, a learner may opt for five levels (credits) in the same language.
  • Arts and Humanities Fine Arts Endorsement - To earn a Fine Arts Endorsement,m learners must take 3 credits in the Fine Arts.  The three credits may come from Arts 1 - An Introduction, Art 2 Photography, Art 3 Photography, Music Appreciation, Community Based Fine Art (Participation in the local community Theater, Symphony, or other similar organization).

Business and Industry Career Cluster Endorsements

There are six career clusters (under Business and Industry), in which learners may earn an endorsement. 

  • Career Cluster:  AV, Technology and Communications - In order to earn a Business and Industry endorsement in this career cluster, learners must take three credits that come from Graphic Design and Illustrations, Professional Communications, or Video Game Design 1, 2, or 3, and other approved courses found in the Course Catalog.
  • Career Cluster:  Business Management and Administration - In order to earn a Business and Industry endorsement in this career cluster, learners must take three credits that come from Principles of Business, Marketing, and Finance, Touch System Data Entry, Business Information Management 1, and other approved courses found in the Course Catalog.
  • Career Cluster:  Health Sciences - In order to earn a Business and Industry endorsement in this career cluster, learners must take three credits that come from Medical Terminology, Anatomy & Physiology, Pharmacy Technician 1, 2, or 3, Practicum in Health Science, and other approved courses found in the Course Catalog.
  • Career Cluster:  Human Services - In order to earn a Business and Industry endorsement in this cluster, learners must take three credits that come from Principles of Human Services, Child Development, Practicum in Human Services, and other approved courses found in the Course Catalog.
  • Career Cluster:  Information Technology - In order to earn a Business and Industry endorsement in this career cluster, learners must take three credits that come from Principles of Information Technology, Computer Maintenance,Touch Systems Data Entry,  Computer Programming, Digital and Interactive Media, Web Technologies, and other approved courses found in the Course Catalog.
  • Career Cluster:  English - In order to earn a Business and Industry endorsement in this career cluster, learners must take three credits that come from Advanced Broadcast Journalism, Advanced Journalism 1, Advanced Journalism 2, and other approved courses found in the Course Catalog.
  • Career Cluster:  Animal Systems or Veterinary Assistance - In order to earn an endorsement in this career cluster, learners must complete 3 courses that range from Introduction to Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; Small Animal Management, or Equine Science, livestock production, or complete a Practicum in Ag. Food and Natural Resources (Senior Project).
  • Career Cluster:  Hospitality and Tourism and Culinary:  In order to earn an endorsement in this career cluster, learners must take three courses that come from Principles of Hospitality and Tourism; Culinary Arts; Food Science, or do a Practicum in Culinary Arts.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Endorsements

There are four endorsements areas, under STEM, in which learners may earn an endorsement.

  • STEM Engineering Endorsement - In order to earn a STEM Engineering Endorsement, learners must take Engineering 1 2 and 3, and other approved courses found int eh Course Catalog.
  • STEM Technology Endorsement - In order to earn a STEM Technology Endorsement, learners must take three credits that come from Computer Science 1, 3-D Modeling and Animation, Digital Video and Audio Design, Web Design, Independent Study in Technology Applications, and other approved courses found int he Course Catalog.
  • STEM Mathematics Endorsement - In order to earn a STEM Mathematics Endorsement, learners must take thee additional mathematics credits that come from AP™ Mathematics Courses (when approved by the College Board), Pre Calculus, Math Models, Calculus, Statistics, and other approved courses found in the Course Catalog.
  • STEM Science Endorsement - In order to earn a STEM Science Endorsement, learners must take two additional science courses that come from AP™ Science Courses (when approved by the College Board), Astronomy, Entomology, Anatomy & Physiology, Marine Biology, and other approved courses found in the Course Catalog.

Learners may pre-determine the desired endorsement area, during the planning meeting prior to the sophomore or junior level.  Unless otherwise approved retroactively (learners who started on the 26 credit plan prior to 1/1/2017), learners may not be approved as meeting the requirements for the endorsement, if they have not declared in that meeting.  Final endorsements are determined during the final graduation planning meeting with the adviser.

Take advantage of Learner Advising  - 20th-27th of each month!