What is a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)?
The SHSM initiative is a new Ministry of Education program that allows students to focus their learning on a specific economic sector while meeting the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), and assists in their transition from secondary school to apprenticeship training, college, university, or the workplace. Students completing a SHSM will be recognized by a red seal on their OSSD.
Students will focus their secondary school educational pathway in one of 11 major sectors:
- Arts and Culture
- Business
- Construction
- Energy
- Environment
- Forestry
- Health and Wellness
- Horticulture and Landscaping
- Hospitality and Tourism
- Information and Communication Technology
- Manufacturing
- Transportation
Every SHSM has the following 5 components:
- a sector-specific bundle of 8-10 credits in Grade 11 and 12, which includes 2 grade 11 and 2 grade 12 major credits, 2 cooperative education credits and contextualized learning activities in math, English and science or business;
- 6-8 sector-recognized certifications and/or training courses;
- experiential learning activities within the sector;
- reach ahead experiences connected with the student's chosen postsecondary pathway
- development of key Essential Skills and work habits required in the sector, and the use of the Ontario Skills Passport (OSP) for purposes of documentation
To find a Specialist High Skills Major at a school near you, just click on the Schools link from the menu on the right. To review for a particular skill or industry, try the Sector link.
A full description of the SHSM program is detailed in our brochure here:
 SHSM - A Guide for Students and Parents (PDF, 515 KB)
To view and print the Specialist High Skills Major Application Form:
SHSM Application Form (PDF, 35 KB)
Please read the Specialist High Skills Major Parent Guide for more information:
SHSM Parent Guide (PDF, 114 KB)
For more details on Special Programs in secondary schools view or print the 4 page pamphlet:
Special Programs in Kawartha Pine Ridge District Schools (PDF, 687 KB)
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