Pursuing a Specialist High Skills Major can help students:

• Customize their secondary school education to suit their interests and talents through a specialized package of credits
• Develop specialized knowledge and skills
• Explore, identify, and refine career goals - cooperative education credits allow students to practice and refine skill development, network with professionals working in the sector and gain industry sector employment experience
• Gain sector-recognized certifications
• Get career-relevant training
• Engage in STEM-related activities that develop innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship
• Make informed decisions about their future
• Network with potential employers

SHSM programs are available in 19 sectors, please refer to the SHSM Sectors tab to see which options are available to TDSB students.

Parents Love SHSM!

“My son, Daniel, has always dreamed of becoming an engineer. The Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program in grade 11 was the perfect fit to explore his passion.  Through the program, Daniel secured a co-op at an aerospace company, where he gained valuable experience in quality assurance. He took specialized courses that deepened his engineering knowledge.  These courses were not just academic; they helped him build the foundational knowledge and skills he'll need for university. Seeing him so engaged in his classes, knowing they were directly helping him build toward his future, was very rewarding for us as parents.  The combination of his co-op placement and the specialized courses helped Daniel confirm that engineering is the right path for him. We feel so much more confident knowing he's making a well-informed decision. The valuable experience and skills he gained will make his university applications stand out, giving him a huge advantage.” -Maja C., Parent