BOCES CTE

Important Note for all Students Interested in CTE Programs

In order to qualify for admission to CTE courses, a student must have passed the following core courses:

  • English 9 and 10

  • Global History 9 and 10

  • Two years of Math

  • Two years of Science

  • Two years of Physical Education

PLEASE NOTE: Due to limited slots, application to a CTE program does not guarantee placement. Students enrolled in Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs at either the Myers Center (Saratoga) or Southern Adirondack Educational Center (Hudson Falls) sites are expected to ride school transportation to and from their program on a daily basis. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action and removal from the CTE program. The only exceptions to the above rule deal with approved internships and special employment situations. The building principal must give special permission to drive a private vehicle in all cases.

The course descriptions below were taken directly out of the WSWHE BOCES Career & Technical Education Program Guide. One year of successfully completed CTE instruction earns three credits.

AUTO BODY REPAIR

Auto Body Repair is a two-year program based on Automotive Service Excellence task lists for Painting and Refinishing and Non-Structural Analysis and Damage Repair. It includes safety, use of computers/tools/technology, body alignment, dent removal, welding, painting, refinishing, trim, glass work, and shop operations. Students apply their knowledge and skills in the state-of-the-art paint booth and mixing room, and use the latest technology in our on-site shop.

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Automotive Technology is a two-year program based on the General Service Technician Program by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF). The certification track is designed to graduate entry-level technicians with a broad skill set, a solid foundation in electrical/electronics, and a general understanding of all automotive systems. The program offers live work on school owned foreign and domestic vehicles. Students work heavily with computers and high-tech equipment.

CONSTRUCTION TRADES

Construction Trades is a two-year program based on the Residential Construction Academy Series Credentialing and Certification for students by the Home Builders Institute (HBI). Students proceed through the RCA series; competency-based learning curricula including: safety, tools and equipment, blueprints, building materials, floors, walls, ceilings, stairs, roofing, windows and doors, site layout, foundations, interior and exterior finishing, and project management. Modules from advanced and specialized crafts are also presented. The program provides students with basic knowledge of tools, methods, materials, and technologies currently in use in the construction industry. Emphasis is placed on construction theory, as well as related math concepts.

COSMETOLOGY

Cosmetology is a two-year, 1,000-hour program dedicated to preparing students for current and emerging careers in the professions of natural hair styling, aesthetics, nail specialty, and cosmetology. It combines crucial elements of art, science, technical skills, interpersonal skills, and entrepreneurship. The program adheres to all ethical and professional standards of the cosmetology industry. Students are expected to participate, under supervision, in the actual operation of a full-service salon on each campus, catering to real customers, in order to gain management skills and customer service experience.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDIES

Criminal Justice Studies is a two-year program based in part on the education and training objectives set
forth by the International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO). The program promotes a philosophy of
prevention rather than apprehension. It covers topics such as VIP protection, homeland security, emergency
planning, disaster control, crowd control, law, crisis intervention, public relations and professional ethics.
Students participate in mock trials, crime scene investigations, accident investigations, forensics, crime scene
sketching, budget development, police reports, educational field trips and community-based projects.

CULINARY ARTS & HOSPITALITY

Culinary Arts implements a two-year industry-based program that prepares students for careers in the restaurant and food service industries. The curriculum provides instruction in 25 subject areas including: basic food preparation, purchasing, inventory control, culinary nutrition, culinary techniques, sanitation, workplace safety, hospitality management, front- and back-of-house operation, menu planning and development, food cost and control and marketing. An emphasis is placed on teamwork, interpersonal skills, academics and technical skills. Students are required to adhere to dress, food sanitation and safety codes.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Early Childhood Education is a two-year program based on Child Development Associate (CDA) competencies and requirements designed to prepare students for careers in Early Childhood Education and related fields. It provides students with the opportunity to work with children three and four years old, under supervision, in an on-site preschool that is free to the community. Students learn to provide guidance, promote positive and productive relationships with families and ensure a well-run childcare program. Students learn to establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment, while nurturing the physical, intellectual, social and emotional development of young
children.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION & FORESTRY

Environmental Conservation and Forestry is a two-year program that aligns with the Society of American Foresters Programs in Forest and Technology standards and procedures. The program emphasizes forest ecology and silviculture, forest management, woods safety, forest land usage, forest protection, fish and wildlife management, forest recreation, trends in urban forestry, and current and emerging environmental conservation issues. Students learn land/forest management practices, tree identification, wildlife identification, tree scaling and lumber grading, timber harvesting and reforestation techniques, orienteering, soil conservation, stream bank repair, equipment safety and operation, and wood utilization/forest products production. Students spend over 75% of their time outdoors in “land labs.” These labs enable students to participate in approved projects that put theory into practice. A variety of land labs are offered, from entrepreneurial endeavors to community service projects.

GRAPHIC & VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS

Graphic and Visual Communications is a two-year program based on current and future industry trends and practices with a concentration on Adobe Creative Suite applications. The program teaches basic layout and design for all mediums—television, print, the Internet, digital photography, illustration, audio and video editing and
animation. Students use state-of-the-art Apple computers and digital equipment to create multimedia projects and receive comprehensive instruction, with an emphasis on technical excellence. Students learn the necessary skills to build, maintain and grow client relationships.

HEALTH OCCUPATIONS

Health Occupations is a two-year program that implements two state curricula: Health Occupations (CORE) and Nurse Assisting. It is designed to prepare students to practice Skills & Theory to render care in a variety of health care facilities as a nursing assistant. The program builds on skills and theory acquired through CORE-care. For example, the course is comprised of entry-level skills related to anatomy and physiology, and frequently seen abnormal conditions. In the second year students learn skills in Medical Office Assisting, phlebotomy and EKGs, computer applications and central supply. In conjunction with supervised clinical experiences, this course prepares efficient and caring members of a health care team. Students participate both years in clinical settings (hospitals, nursing homes, etc.).

HEATING, VENTILATION, AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION

HVAC&R is a two-year program that is aligned with the most current HVAC Excellence modules relevant for this geographic area and industry needs/trends. It imparts skills required for installation, service, and repair of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration equipment and systems in residential and commercial applications. The program integrates shop operations, job planning and estimating, customer service, professionalism and ethics. Heavy emphasis is placed on safety, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements and regulations. The curriculum is enhanced by the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Program, which helps students understand how houses work as systems.

HEAVY EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE & OPERATION

Heavy Equipment Maintenance and Operation is a two-year program based on the National Center for Construction Education and Research™ Learning Series for Heavy Equipment and Repair. Modules include introduction to the trade, safety, identification of heavy equipment, basic operational techniques, tractors, grades and slopes, diesel engines and hydraulics. Students learn to operate, maintain, diagnose and repair construction-related equipment such as backhoes, bulldozers, bucket loaders, excavators, dump trucks and skid steers, and apply these skills in “hands on” exercises that include site grading/leveling, materials transportation and excavation.

HORSE CARE

Horse Care is a two-year program that includes training of Standardbred horses for racing, using all related tack and equipment. It encompasses equine systems and physiology, nutrition, health, disease, emergency medical care, and stable management. Students learn about bloodlines, breeding, purchasing, selling, the daily care of horses, the role of the caretaker, safety, professionalism, handling of horses, and breaking a yearling. Students spend a majority of their time at the Rolling Oaks Vet Clinic, where they learn and apply equine and veterinary science on Standardbred horses.

HORTICULTURE & LANDSCAPING

A two-year program aligns with the NYS Nursery & Landscape Association and incorporates contemporary
knowledge, skills, and trends found in the horticulture, floral, and landscaping industries. The curriculum includes horticulture principles, landscape design, greenhouse production, floral design, retail sales, merchandising, shop management, botany, soil science, plant production, hydroponics, aquaculture, and integrated pest management. Students design landscaping for some of the area’s finest gardens. Students also operate and manage on-site greenhouses and floral shops that are open to the public, gaining hands-on experience in retail sales, merchandising and shop management.

MACHINE TOOL TECHNOLOGY

Machine Tool Technology is a two-year program adapted from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) standards and related curriculum including computer design and programming, safety, job planning and management, blueprint reading, quality control and inspection, process adjustment and improvement, general equipment maintenance, decision making and problem solving, engineering drawings and sketches, precision measurement, metalworking theory, and word address component codes.

Core components are Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) and Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) training. Students learn to use computers for CAD/CAM, Solid works, Master CAM, CNC programming and operation, operation of conventional equipment, and G-Code programming. Students learn advanced math such as geometry and trigonometry.

Students complete competency-based modules including industrial safety and environmental protection, job planning and management, blueprint reading, quality control and inspection, process adjustment and improvement, general maintenance, decision-making and problem-solving, engineering drawings and sketches, measurement and precision measurement, metalworking theory, and word address component codes. There is a heavy emphasis on high-tech equipment and precision in the machining of component parts.

POWER SPORTS TECHNOLOGY

Power Sports Technology is a two-year program based on servicing engines such as those found in lawn and garden equipment, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, boats, snowmobiles, and jet skis. The curriculum includes diagnostics, troubleshooting and repair, overhaul of internal combustion engines, components and parts relating to the engines, fuel systems, cooling/lubrication, electronics, governor systems, safety and tools, precision measurements, engine performance, failure analysis, and customer service skills. The program is aligned with four-stroke cycle engine
theory and principles operation, as well as maintenance. The classroom is a “live” shop, in which students manage shop operations, including writing work orders, calculating parts margins and sales tax, preparing estimates, ordering parts, and completing repairs.

WELDING

Welding is a two-year program based on the American Welding Society (AWS) SENSE Program that includes industrial welding; oxygen/acetylene welding; oxy-fuel cutting; mig and tig welding; basic rod identification and use; layout and design. The program integrates safety, blueprint reading, electrode selection, joint design, rigging, metallurgy, quality, symbols, welding detail drawings and technology. Students work on steel and aluminum to fabricate or repair products.