COURSE PLANNING IN

A GUIDE FOR
GRADES 11-12

C A R E E R G U I D A N C E

WA S H I N GTO N
 MAKE THE MOST OF HIGH SCHOOL
► Use the rest of your time in
high school wisely

► Make a High School & Beyond

Plan based on your goals

► Research postsecondary
programs

► Take the courses you need to

be admitted to postsecondary
 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 & Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics
Mathematics
 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

► Make the most of junior and

senior years
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?
► During junior year, plan your
courses for senior year

► Your courses should meet:

o High school graduation
requirements
o Postsecondary admission
requirements

► During senior year, apply for

postsecondary programs and
research majors and courses
 GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
WA STATE WA STATE MINIMUM RECOMMENDED
GRADUATION GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR HIGHLY
SUBJECT
REQUIREMENTS REQUIREMENTS FOR WA PUBLIC SELECTIVE
(2013) (2016)* COLLEGES COLLEGES

ENGLISH 3 credits 4 credits 4 credits 4 credits

2 credits 3 credits
MATH 3 credits 3-4 credits
(3 credits for 2013+) (incl math senior year)

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 Your school’s requirements may be higher than

the state minimums.
OCCUPATIONAL 1 credit 1 credit Students must have at least a 2.0 GPA to be
admitted to a public college or university in
ELECTIVES 5.5 credits 4 credits Washington State.

*Note: Districts may seek an extension to 2018 for some parts of the 2016 requirements.
 JUNIOR – SENIOR TIMELINE
► Find classes to prepare for your
postsecondary and career goals

► Choose the most rigorous

courses you can: AP, IB, CTE,
dual credit

► Plan courses around your goals

and interests

► Apply for postsecondary during

fall of senior year
 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 Computer programming
o Firefighting
o Audio Production
o Culinary Arts
o Health Care
o Construction
o 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 Horticulture
o Environmental Science
o Automotive Technology
o Digital Communications
o Accounting/Business
o Health Science
o 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 your final years of
high school

► Take the courses you need for:

o Graduation requirements
o Postsecondary admission
requirements

► Ask about advanced, CTE, and

dual credit classes

► Research postsecondary
opportunities
COURSE PLAN FOR SENIOR YEAR
SUBJECT AREA SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2

ENGLISH
MATHEMATICS
SCIENCE
WORLD LANGUAGE
SOCIAL SCIENCE
CTE (Occupational)
ARTS
HEALTH/PE
Other Elective

If you are going to college next year, what types of courses will you take?