Minnesota Programs of Study (POS)

Programs of Study (POS) are sets of aligned programs and curricula that begin at the high school level and continue through college and university certificate, diploma and degree programs. A framework of Minnesota Career Fields, Clusters, and Pathways is the structural foundation from which local consortia will develop programs of study. Through programs of study, the consortium will assist learners as they move between high school, post-secondary education, and career opportunities.

The following definitions will be used:

Career Fields: the organizing structure for career clusters and pathways. The six career fields represent the broadest aggregation of careers. Students are normally exposed to career field exploration in middle school and early high school.

Career Clusters: group of occupations and broad industries into a national classisfication of 16 clusters which are based upon common knowledge and skills. Career clusters include hundreds of occupations which are grouped into pathways around which educational programs of study can be built.

Career Pathways: represent an organization of related occupational areas within a specific career cluster. Each of these 81 pathways has identified essential industry validated knowledge and skills which provide foundational information for development and revision of programs and programs of study. Once programs of study are developed, learners at various levels (high school, college, or at the workforce training level) will then be able to choose from several individual programs within a program of study in order to attain the specific knowledge, skills and abilities and pursue a career of their choice.