Career Fields Overview

Career fields are groupings of occupations. The occupations have common skills, knowledge, and work settings. People who are employed in a career field have similar interests and talents. The fields include occupations that require different levels of education and training.

Career fields provide a frame for exploring career options. They help you focus on a variety of options rather than on individual occupations. In addition, they help you relate what you are learning in school to these options. You can organize your career plan around a career field.

Deciding on a career field can help you prepare for your future. The intent is not for you to decide on a specific occupation that will be the focus for the rest of your life. The intent is for you to select a field. Then you can direct your energies toward the field. Identifying a career field can help you in selecting school courses and activities, job shadowing sites, work-based learning opportunities, and part-time jobs.

There are six career fields to choose from.

• Arts, Communication, and Information Systems
• Business, Marketing, and Management
• Health Sciences
• Human Resources and Services
• Industrial Manufacturing and Engineering Systems
• Environmental and Agricultural Systems