Welcome to College and Career Awareness (CCA)

Program Menu

Mission

College and Career Awareness offers exploration and preparation in college and career pathways focusing on high skilled, in-demand and/or emerging jobs, as well as satisfying and financially rewarding. The College and Career Awareness course is designed to increase awareness of college and career pathways based on interests, skills, and aptitudes while students explore high school, postsecondary, and career opportunities to develop an individual Plan for College and Career Readiness (PCCR). Students will investigate high-skilled, in-demand and/or emerging jobs in the Utah labor market while developing essential workplace skills for future academic and career goals.

Through project-based learning, simulations, and Work-Based Learning experiences, College and Career Awareness allows students to utilize technology, develop workplace skills, and explore careers. The course provides information regarding additional courses and training related to each student’s career field of interest, as they begin to prepare for college and career.

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Our vision is to offer every student the opportunity to experience technology used in the workplace, develop workplace skills, and explore careers that will assist each student in eventually choosing a career, while giving each student the encouragement to achieve their future academic and career goals.

Goals

Students will assess their interests and aptitudes and explore related career options based on current Career and Technical Education (CTE) Career Clusters and Pathways. Students will learn about careers and know how to access current information about market demand, average earnings, and training and education requirements. Students’ increased understanding of their personal work-related characteristics and knowledge of careers and related education requirements, will support the development of well-defined Plan for College and Career Readiness (PCCR).

The College and Career Awareness course is organized by:

  • Workplace Skills
    • Identify the impacts of strong workplace skills in academic and career success
    • Develop and practice the following workplace skills:
      • Collaboration
      • Communication
      • Critical thinking
      • Dependability
      • High-quality work
      • Problem-solving
      • Productivity
      • Responsibility
      • Self-initiative
  • Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs)
    • Identifying benefits of participating in CTSOs
    • Participating in mock CTSO events
  • College and Career Planning
    • Stress management techniques
    • Individual Plan for College and Career Readiness (PCCR)
    • Variety of financial opportunities for future academic and career goals

Program Delivery Components

College and Career Awareness provides students with the direction, decision making, and planning needed to select their personal academic and career paths. College and Career Awareness is an important part of a student's preparation in becoming college and career ready.

  • The program is a required middle school course for Grades 7 or 8 taught by a team of Career and Technical Education teachers, school counselors, and Work-Based Learning coordinators.
  • School counselors are involved in teaching important concepts to students and aligning the Plan for College and Career Readiness (PCCR).
  • Students are provided with instruction in career development.
  • The student learning activities provide hands-on, real-world application.
  • Concepts come from project-based learning, simulations, and Work-Based Learning (career fairs, guest speakers, field studies, and job shadows) experiences.