Career Cluster : Architecture & Construction
People with careers in design/pre-construction create our future! They turn a concept into a set of plans. Their plans guide other construction professionals as they continue the building process.
Workforce Region(s): Statewide Data - All Districts
Architecture & Construction Pathways
Pathway Description: Employees in construction literally build our future! These are the people who build and remodel houses, apartments, industrial buildings, warehouses, office buildings, churches, schools and recreational facilities. This pathway also includes the builders of highways, streets, bridges, tunnels and airports as well as power plants, chemical plants, refineries and mills.
Secondary CTE Courses
Introduction to the Built Environment: This core course for the Architecture and Construction Career Cluster will build a knowledge base and technical skills in all aspects of the industry. Learners will be exposed to a broad range of architecture and construction careers and cluster foundation knowledge and skills including basic safety, plan reading, use of tools and equipment and basic rigging as well as how to employ positive work ethics in their careers. Possible student certifications to be earned include NCCER Core, RCA Series, Basic First Aid and CPR. Participation in SkillsUSA will reinforce cluster knowledge and skills. It is recommended that a construction mathematics course be offered in conjunction with this introductory skills course. This may be taught as a career exploration course in conjunction with other foundation Career Cluster courses.
The Language of Architecture and Construction: Students will build the skills necessary to understand what is being communicated through drawings and documents and, in turn, convey ideas, duties and tasks to others in a form representing the industry. Students will use and follow industry-specific verbal and visual skills to accomplish workplace/job-site communications. Students will exhibit public relations skills and enhance communication skills by listening to and speaking with a variety of individuals. Students will learn universal signs and symbols such as colors, flags, stakes and hand signals to function safely in the workplace.
Information Technology Applications: Students will use technology tools to manage personal schedules and contact information, create memos and notes, prepare simple reports and other business communications, manage computer operations and file storage, and use electronic mail, Internet applications and GIS to communicate, search for and access information. Students will develop skills related to word processing, database management and spreadsheet applications.
Safety, Health and the Workplace Environment: Students will develop in-depth skills for maintaining a safe and productive environment including following regulations to perform inspections, participate in emergency response teams to perform emergency drills, identify unsafe conditions and take corrective actions, and provide a safety orientation to train other employees in safe practices and emergency procedures. Students will ensure that equipment is being used safely in the workplace, suggest processes and procedures to support safety in the workplace, and fulfill safety and health requirements for maintenance, installation and repair. Students will monitor equipment and operator performance to assure workplace safety and compliance with both company and national regulations.
Principles of Construction: This course provides an overview of the total construction process including the safe use of tools and equipment, city and regional planning, construction management, contracting, labor and management relations, the design process, methods and materials, estimating and bidding, scheduling and purchasing, construction, and equipment. Students will develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills by identifying the relationship between available resources and requirements of a project/problem to accomplish realistic planning and reinforce quality and resource management.
Applications in Construction: Students will develop skills that relate to the construction industry. Course content will include scheduling, estimating, steps for managing project assignments in a timely manner, and development of skills for working as individuals and as team members to accomplish assignments.
Other Courses and Elective Activities: SkillsUSA
Pathway Description: People with careers in design/pre-construction create our future! They turn a concept into a set of plans. Their plans guide other construction professionals as they continue the building process.
Secondary CTE Courses
Introduction to the Built Environment: This core course for the Architecture and Construction Career Cluster will build a knowledge base and technical skills in all aspects of the industry. Learners will be exposed to a broad range of architecture and construction careers and cluster foundation knowledge and skills including basic safety, plan reading, use of tools and equipment and basic rigging as well as how to employ positive work ethics in their careers. Possible student certifications to be earned include NCCER Core, RCA Series, Basic First Aid and CPR. Participation in SkillsUSA will reinforce cluster knowledge and skills. It is recommended that a construction mathematics course be offered in conjunction with this introductory skills course. This may be taught as a career exploration course in conjunction with other foundation Career Cluster courses.
The Language of Architecture and Construction: Students will build the skills necessary to understand what is being communicated through drawings and documents and, in turn, convey ideas, duties and tasks to others in a form representing the industry. Students will use and follow industry-specific verbal and visual skills to accomplish workplace/job-site communications. Students will exhibit public relations skills and enhance communication skills by listening to and speaking with a variety of individuals. Students will learn universal signs and symbols such as colors, flags, stakes and hand signals to function safely in the workplace.
Information Technology Applications: Students will use technology tools to manage personal schedules and contact information, create memos and notes, prepare simple reports and other business communications, manage computer operations and file storage, and use electronic mail, Internet applications and GIS to communicate, search for and access information. Students will develop skills related to word processing, database management and spreadsheet applications.
Safety, Health and the Workplace Environment: Students will develop in-depth skills for maintaining a safe and productive environment including following regulations to perform inspections, participate in emergency response teams to perform emergency drills, identify unsafe conditions and take corrective actions, and provide a safety orientation to train other employees in safe practices and emergency procedures. Students will ensure that equipment is being used safely in the workplace by training others to use equipment safely, suggest processes and procedures to support safety, and fulfill safety and health requirements for maintenance, installation and repair. Students will monitor equipment and operator performance to assure workplace safety and compliance with both company and national regulations. Efforts will be made to ensure all practices teach students how to accommodate individuals with varying physical abilities. It is suggested that the requirements for OSHA-10 be completed by the end of the 11th grade.
Principles of Design and Pre-Construction: This course provides an overview of processes used in design and pre-construction. Students will develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills by identifying the relationship between available resources and requirements of a project/problem to accomplish realistic planning. Students will employ basic methods of data collection and analysis to provide potential clients with information for projects.
Applications in Design and Pre-Construction: Students will develop skills that relate to design and pre-construction. Course content will include steps for managing project assignments in a timely manner and developing skills for working as individuals and as team members to accomplish assignments. Students will complete a capstone project in their work-based learning experience that utilizes the knowledge and skills learned in the Design and Pre-Construction Pathway.
Other Courses and Elective Activities: SkillsUSA
Pathway Description: Employees with careers in maintenance/operations keep our future intact! These are the people who unload, inspect, and move new equipment into position. They determine the optimal placement of machines in a plant, assemble machinery, install machinery, repair machinery and perform preventive maintenance. They detect, diagnose and correct minor problems on machinery. They keep the structure of an establishment in good repair. They maintain the smooth operation of refineries, power plants, chemical plants and mills.
Secondary CTE Courses
Introduction to the Built Environment: This core course for the Architecture and Construction Career Cluster will build a knowledge base and technical skills in all aspects of the industry. Learners will be exposed to a broad range of architecture and construction careers and cluster foundation knowledge and skills including basic safety, plan reading, use of tools and equipment and basic rigging as well as how to employ positive work ethics in their careers. Possible student certifications to be earned include NCCER Core, RCA Series, Basic First Aid and CPR. Participation in SkillsUSA will reinforce cluster knowledge and skills. It is recommended that a construction mathematics course be offered in conjunction with this introductory skills course. This may be taught as a career exploration course in conjunction with other foundation Career Cluster courses.
The Language of Architecture and Construction: Students will build the skills necessary to understand what is being communicated through drawings and documents and, in turn, convey ideas, duties and tasks to others in a form representing the industry. Students will use and follow industry-specific verbal and visual skills to accomplish workplace/job-site communications. Students will exhibit public relations skills and enhance communication skills by listening to and speaking with a variety of individuals. Students will learn universal signs and symbols such as colors, flags, stakes and hand signals to function safely in the workplace.
Information Technology Applications: Students will use technology tools to manage personal schedules and contact information, create memos and notes, prepare simple reports and other business communications, manage computer operations and file storage, and use electronic mail, Internet applications and GIS to communicate, search for and access information. Students will develop skills related to word processing, database management and spreadsheet applications.
Safety, Health and the Workplace Environment: Students will develop in-depth skills for maintaining a safe and productive environment including following regulations to perform inspections, participate in emergency response teams to perform emergency drills, identify unsafe conditions and take corrective actions, and provide a safety orientation to train other employees in safe practices and emergency procedures. Students will ensure that equipment is being used safely in the workplace, suggest processes and procedures to support safety in the workplace, and fulfill safety and health requirements for maintenance, installation and repair. Students will monitor equipment and operator performance to assure workplace safety and compliance with both company and national regulations.
Principles of Maintenance and Operations: This course provides an overview of processes used in maintenance and operations occupations within the Architecture and Construction Career Cluster. Students will develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills by identifying the relationship between available resources and requirements of a project/problem to accomplish realistic planning. Students will employ basic methods of data collection and analysis to provide potential clients with information for projects.
Applications in Maintenance and Operations: Students will develop skills that relate to commissioning maintenance and operations. Course content will include steps for managing project assignments in a timely manner and development of skills for working as individuals and as team members to accomplish assignments. Students will complete a project that utilizes the knowledge and skills learned in the Maintenance and Operations Pathway.
Other Courses and Elective Activities: SkillsUSA
The Perkins crosswalk of educational programs of study to occupations identifies a number of programs relevant to this career cluster: