Maryland's Career Clusters
Maryland’s career clusters are driven by what students need to know and do in order to graduate fully prepared for further education and careers in the 21st century global economy. Career clusters provide an important context for educational reform efforts as outlined in the Maryland State Department of Education’s (MSDE’s) Achievement Matters Most: Maryland’s Plan for Every Student and the Policies and Procedures for the Development and Continuous Improvement of Career Technology Education (CTE) Programs.
Career clusters have been embraced nationally at both secondary and postsecondary levels. Maryland is a recognized leader in successfully adapting the national framework to the state’s economy and school reform. Many local school systems, schools, and colleges are using the career cluster system to organize teaching and learning to meet the specific needs and resources of their community.
Career clusters are groupings of interrelated occupations that represent the full range of career opportunities in key economic sectors of Maryland’s economy. The career clusters provide a “road map” for students and adults in planning for and pursuing further education and careers through pathways. Maryland's career clusters are:
· Arts, Media and Communication
· Business, Management and Finance
· Consumer Services, Hospitality and Tourism
· Construction and Development
· Environmental, Agricultural and Natural Resource Systems
· Health and Biosciences
· Human Resource Services
· Information Technology
· Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology
· Transportation Technologies
Maryland’s workforce development system is already using career clusters to organize a systemic, proactive approach to meeting workforce demands within industry sectors. Career clusters also help enhance economic development. By connecting educators with business leaders, they help ensure that Maryland attracts and retains businesses and has a high-quality workforce.
Administrators, counselors, and faculty members are using the career cluster system to develop programs that extend from high school to two-and four-year colleges/universities, graduate schools, apprenticeship programs and the workplace.