Health/Science A Top 'Major' For High School Students

Health and Science and the Arts are the most popular career areas Avon Park High School freshmen chose last year under the state's new "major areas of interest" academic planning program.

"They want to be nurses; they want to be doctors; they want to be CNAs (certified nurse assistants), anything that has to do with health/science," said Avon Park High guidance counselor Rosemary Webb. Students are also interested in law, public safety, corrections and security.

Last year, the Department of Education approved a statewide list of 442 major areas of interest.

The Highlands County School District's three high schools have an identical listing of 24 majors from agricultural related courses to teacher prep.

Students chose their major in conjunction with planning their class schedule for the year and they can change their major each year.

Lake Placid High School guidance counselor Sean Dolan said arts-related majors are also popular at his school.

Choosing a major helps students get their feet wet in that subject area, he said. It also helps students decide if it's not something they want to do so they could explore other career options.

"I think it's good because it gets more students thinking about the future, but like anything it takes effort on the part of the student and on the part of the counselor," Dolen said.

Other popular "major areas of interest" at Avon Park High are: family and consumer sciences, business and international business, academic focus, industrial and technology education and ROTC/leadership training.

Choosing a major is good for students, Webb said. "They seem to be catching on; it will take them a little while."

Starting with this year's sophomores, students who complete at least four courses within their major will receive a "major" designation on their diploma.

According to the Florida Department of Education, students need to be enrolled in a major, but do not need to complete one to graduate.

A major is made up of four elective classes, which can be classes offered at school and/or through dual enrollment, online/virtual education classes and certain internships and work experience

For students who entered ninth-grade in 2007-08 and thereafter, the traditional credit requirements for graduation are: 16 credits in required courses, four credits in elective courses in the student's major and four additional elective credits for a total of 24 credits.

There are also two three-year, 18-credit graduation programs - the college prep and career prep programs.