Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)

Specialist High Skills Majors are specially designed programs that allow students to customize their secondary school program based on their interests and talents. These programs provide the knowledge and skills students need to be successful in any pathway: Apprenticeship, College, University and the World of Work. Focus credits, certifications, work experiences and essential work skills of the SHSM prepare students for further education or employment in a particular sector of the economy.

Students in SHSMs will:

• focus on knowledge and skills of a particular economic sector
• earn certifications recognized by sectors
• participate in a variety of work experiences
• gain valuable employability skills
• have ‘reach ahead’ opportunities (e.g. attend conferences, job shadow, dual credit programs)

Specialist High Skills Majors in Avon Maitland

• F.E. Madill S.S. – Construction
• Listowel D.S.S. – Construction

The Construction Specialist High Skills Major program at Listowel District Secondary School focuses on the unique skills related to cabinetmaking and construction including electrical systems, roofing, concrete, design, and estimating.

In Wingham, F.E. Madill’s off-site Specialist High Skills Major Construction program is a full day experience that combines knowledge acquired in the classroom with hands on construction projects in the community.

Students study industry standards; building codes; consider health and safety issues; and explore careers, lifelong learning opportunities, and the impact of construction technology on society.


• Stratford Central S.S. – Arts & Culture

The Arts and Culture Specialist High Skills Major at South Huron District High School offers courses in Drama, Visual Art and Music, where each discipline participates in many school and community events. The addition of Digital Audio Studies, a program designed to offer experience working with professional technical applications in a recording studio environment, gives students an exceptional experience.

The Stratford ArtsCentral Specialist High Skills Major program has a distinguished history of arts education. With the largest offering of arts courses in the area, students can specialize in dance, drama, instrumental music, vocal music, visual art and technical production.


The digitalCentral Specialist High Skills Major program at Stratford Central Secondary School was chosen as a launch site, under the Information and Communications sector and promotes the creation and production of communication systems and software and digital media. Strong partnerships with local colleges and film festivals and affiliations with experts in the digital media and communications field ensures that students are continually involved in the exciting technology of today while developing the emerging media of tomorrow.



• Stratford Northwestern S.S. – Manufacturing, Hospitality and Tourism, Transportation

A key strength of the Manufacturing Specialist High Skills Major at Stratford Northwestern is that the local manufacturing industry works closely with the school so that the work they accomplish meets or exceeds that of industry standards. This program also gives students the opportunity to gain dual credits at a community college.



• Stratford Northwestern S.S. – Hospitality and Tourism
• MDHS – Hospitality

Students involved in the Culinary Specialist High Skills Major at Stratford Northwestern Secondary School and Mitchell District High School operate their school’s own trendy café, where they plan, prepare, market and serve a wide variety of meals. Through fundamental connections with local farmers, their own gardens and greenhouse, students gain invaluable seed-to-table education.



• GDCI – Environment

The Environment Specialist High Skills Major program at Goderich District Collegiate Institute enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering the workplace, apprenticeship, college or university. Energy is an emerging sector with employment growth that will provide a variety of opportunities for GDCI graduates. Strong partnerships within the community allow students valuable knowledge through experiential learning, career exploration, certifications and training programs in first aid, CPR, GPS Global Positioning Systems and hazardous materials.



• SHDHS – Transportation, Arts & Culture
• Stratford Northwestern S.S. – Transportation

At South Huron District High School the Specialist High Skills Major program also prepares students for all four pathways – Apprenticeship, Workplace, College & University. Their current facility has a designated workshop with 7 bays which include two inground hoists. They are well supported by local dealerships that hire graduates from the Transportation Specialist High Skills Major program and take on CO-OP and OYAP students.

The Transportation Specialist High Skills Major program at Stratford Northwestern Secondary School focuses on the service, repair, and modification of vehicles and vehicle systems and promotes skills related to the organization and management of transportation services. Certifications and training programs in basic health and safety, first aid, CPR and hazardous materials are also achieved.

One Response to “Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)”

1. Wendy Glover says:

   April 19, 2010 at 4:57 pm

   Can students enter into the SHSM of their choice from a different high school? Or do they have to already be attending the high school the program is offered at?