Career Pathways Overview Page

A career pathway provides a "map" or a step-by-step course of study for high school students
who intend to come to Santa Rosa Junior College to pursue further career preparation.

This may include ultimately attaining a certificate, earning an Associate degree, or transferring
to a 4-year university.

Career pathways are agreements between SRJC and individual Sonoma County high schools.

High school and SRJC instructors meet to share and discuss the skills and information being
taught in their pathway classes.

Pathways are customized for each high school and regularly updated.

Some pathways contain options for waiving or "skipping" college courses.
(seeArticulationbelow)

As an ongoing feature of pathway development, high school teachers are briefed on the
educational preparation and skills students need to succeed in various careers.

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Career pathway students are equipped with an educational plan and are career-focused
by the time they graduate from high school. Few people plan to fail, but many people
fail to plan.

Some pathways offer opportunities for advanced enrollment through course articulation;
courses taken in high school can give a student a head start in college.
(seeArticulationbelow)

Students with a career-focused educational plan will be better prepared to succeed in
high wage careers.

All career pathways prepare students for a certificate, Associate degree and/or
university transfer.

Career pathways feature career exploration and work-based learning opportunities
connected to a student's career interest areas.

Career pathways provide a smooth transition from high school to college.

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Some career pathway agreements feature course-to-course articulation.

When a high school course is comparable to a SRJC course, students may be permitted
to waive or "skip" the SRJC class in a particular certificate or transfer program. This is called
an articulated course.

In order to waive a SRJC course requirement, students must have earned a "B" or better
in the articulated high school course.

Course articulation may allow students to complete required program course work
more quickly.

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How do I choose the right pathway for me?

Each person possesses unique abilities and skills. Often, we do well and enjoy activities
that demand our strongest skills. Consider taking a career assessment test to discover your
career interests and abilities. It's fun! Get started by checking out Career Resources.

Can I change my career pathway?

Yes. You may change your career pathway at any time. Skills learned in a high school
pathway can be applied to many different careers.

I am interested in a career pathway that is not available at my high school. How can I
begin to prepare for this career?

Consult the SRJC catalog either in print or online. You may enroll in a related SRJC
course while you are still in high school. By doing so, you can earn both high school
and college credit. Look into SRJC's Concurrent Enrollment program.

While you are still in high school, you may have a part-time job that is related to your
career interests. You may earn both high school and college credit for your work experience
by enrolling in Work Experience through the SRJC.

Is getting to SRJC's Santa Rosa or Petaluma campus to take a class a problem?

We suggest you consider taking a SRJC course online.

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Most high schools maintain a Career Center on their campus. This is a valuable resource
and worth exploring.

Everybody's good at something and here you can take career assessment tests to
determine some of your skills and abilities. It's fun!

High school Career Centers typically provide computers that you can use to investigate
various careers.

If you want to know more about a career in engineering, your high school Career Center
can help you answer questions about what engineers do, what kind of jobs are available,
what do they earn, what skills and education do you need to pursue a career in engineering.

You can also check out the Career Center at SRJC or contact Eve Nighswonger.