Career Pathways

Northern Valley strives to provide all students with opportunities to explore areas of career interest. The Northern Valley Career Pathways Program provides students with an opportunity to take a series of courses that prepare them for a number of different careers. Some programs require courses to be taken sequentially while some do not. Upon completion of the program and submission of a portfolio or performance task, students will earn transcript designation and be recognized as completers within their program. All pathway programs receive input from industry professionals on curriculum development and have opportunities for extracurricular activities and Work Based Learning.

Criminology

This pathway is designed for students who have an interest in pursuing careers related to criminal justice, law enforcement, forensic science, etc. Students are required to take all courses

  • Semester Courses - all 4 of the following (10th-12th grade): Psychology

    American Studies Crimes of the Century Constitutional Law or

    Constitutional Law Honors

  • Full Year - Forensic Science with performance task requirement (12th grade)

    or Forensic Science Honors

Government and Public Administration

This pathway is designed for students who have a broad interest in government, law, and public service. Interests can include careers in state, local, or national government in varying capacities such as human resources, public service, social justice, etc. Additional interest could include pursuing a law degree such as public defender, trial attorney, prosecutor, etc. Students must take 3 of the 4 options:

  • Sociology and Constitutional Law (both semester courses required 10th-12th grade) or Constitutional Law Honors

  • AP Human Geography (11th-12th grade)

  • AP Government and Politics (11th-12th grade)

  • AP Psychology (11th-12th grade)

  • As the required performance task, students must take at least one AP exam.

Music Performance

This program is designed for students who have an interest in pursuing careers in the music industry, with a focus on performance in three separate areas. Students are required to take the following three courses in their chosen track, in order:

  • Choir 1 or 1H

  • Choir 2 or 2H

  • Choir 3 or 3H - required performance task

  • String Orchestra 1 or 1H

  • String Orchestra 2 or 2H

  • String Orchestra 3 or 3H - required performance task

  • Wind Symphony 1 or 1H

  • Wind Symphony 2 or 2H

  • Wind Symphony 3 or 3H - required performance task

Junior MBA/Circle of Excellence

This program is designed for students who have a broad interest in Business. Students must take 3 of the 4 options in any order to receive the Junior MBA designation. If students complete all four courses and receive club credit for DECA and/or FBLA for three years, they will also earn the “Circle of Excellence” distinction. At the conclusion of the program, students will complete a portfolio submission as a performance task. Students will select from:

  • Accounting Honors

  • Entrepreneurship and Management

  • International Business Honors

  • Marketing 1 or 1H

Culinary Arts

This program is designed for students who have an interest in all aspects of the culinary industry. Students will be required to take the following 3 courses:

  • Culinary Arts 1

  • Advanced Culinary Arts: Artisanal and World Cuisine or Honors -

    required performance task

  • Advanced Culinary Arts: Baking, Pastry, and World Cuisine or

    Honors - required performance task

Digital Art

This program is designed for students who have an interest in using the digital medium to create fine art, as well as careers in graphic design, animation, etc. Students are required to take the following 3 courses:

  • Digital Art and Design or Digital Art & Design Honors Advanced

  • Digital Art and Animation or Advanced Digital Art & Animation

    Honors

  • Studio Art (AP Studio Art or Honors Studio Art) - required

    performance task)

Fine Arts: Drawing and Painting

This program is designed for students who have an interest in using a variety of non-digital media to create fine art. Students are required to take the following 3 courses:

  • Drawing, Painting & Mixed Media 1 or 1H

  • Drawing, Painting & Mixed Media 2H

  • Studio Art (AP Studio Art or Honors Studio Art) - required

    performance task)

Fine Arts: Individualized Pathway

This program is designed for students who do not wish to specialize in only one medium, but rather would prefer to diversify their backgrounds. Students will choose:

  • Any two art courses

  • Studio Art (AP Studio Art and/or Honors Studio Art) - required

    performance task)

Stagecraft and Design

This program is designed for students who wish to learn the technical aspects of theatre and to broaden their perspective on all aspects of a production. Students will be required to take the following 3 courses:

  • Stagecraft and Design 1

  • Stagecraft and Design 2

  • Stagecraft and Design 3 - required performance task

Journalism

This program is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in journalism. This could include reporter, correspondent, investigative journalist, copy editor, publisher, etc. Students will be required to take the following 3 courses in order:

  • Journalism 1 or H1

  • Journalism 2H

  • Journalism 3H - required performance task

Communications and Media Studies

This program is designed for students who wish to pursue careers in the fields of communications and media. This could include film production, director, screenwriting, public relations, communications specialist, etc. Students must take the following 3 courses:

  • Film/Cinema Studies and Criticism

  • Speech and Debate or Speech & Debate Honors

  • Popular Media Studies - required performance task or Popular

    Media Studies Honors

Publishing

This program is designed as a foundation for students who wish to pursue careers in the writing and publishing industry. This could include novelist, columnist, book editor, technical writer, etc. Students must take the following 4 courses:

  • Creative Writing or Creative Writing Honors

  • Popular Media Studies - required performance task or Popular

    Media Studies Honors

  • Gender Studies in Literature (semester)

  • Wild Things: Children’s Literature (semester)