Departments and Offices

Career Clusters, Career Pathways, and Programs of Study

Illinois Career Clusters Definitions

Career Cluster
     At the career cluster level , students are exposed to the breadth of essential and cluster level knowledge and skills needed for multiple careers. The career cluster framework provides multiple entry and exit points for students as they progress through a program of study. For example, a K-12 student may participate and acquire cluster level knowledge and skills and dual credit while in the secondary system, and adults may acquire cluster level knowledge and skills as they progress through an adult bridge program.

Career Pathway
     At the career pathway level, students make choices about occupations in terms of their career interests, and start to acquire pathway level knowledge and skills at either the secondary or postsecondary levels of the educational system. Pathway level knowledge and skills are more specialized than those at the cluster level, preparing students to enter occupations that they have identified in their individualized plan of study. This means students become more specialized in their pursuit of occupational and career areas.

Program of Study
     Through the program of study, students are provided with the opportunity to receive stackable credentials, secure credentials aligned with segments of the curriculum, and acquire certificates and degrees at multiple completion points from secondary school through the baccalaureate degree. Career clusters and career pathways offer the knowledge and skills required to complete a program of study that leads to the community college and/or university.