Graduation Plans & Endorsements

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All Texas students are required to choose and Endorsement as part of their Graduation Plan. An Endorsement refers to a college and career pathway in either STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), Business and Industry, Public Service, Arts and Humanities, or Multidisciplinary Studies.

MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDIES

The Multiple Disciplinary endorsement allows for students to further study a foundation area or a wide range of curriculum sets.
CAREERS
Because of the broad nature of a multidisciplinary endorsement. students can choose from a wide variety of careers. If students are unsure of their career interests and wish to cross-study multiple subjects, they may want to consider the Multiple Disciplinary endorsement to guide course selection.
COURSE SELECTION
A student may earn a multidisciplinary studies endorsement by completing the requirements specified in the foundation plan, in addition to one of the following:

  • Pathway A: Take 4 advanced courses within 1 endorsement area or among endorsement areas that are not in a coherent sequence. The courses must prepare students to enter the workforce successfully or postsecondary
  • Pathway B: Take 4 credits in each of the 4 foundation subject areas to include English IV and chemistry and/pr physics.
  • Pathway C: Take 4 advanced placement or International Baccalaureate courses to include 1 credit in each of the 4 foundation subjects.

STEM

The Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) endorsement is a curriculum path that allows a student to focus deeply on courses directly related to science, technology, engineering and advanced math. The STEM Endorsement includes the following pathways at Austin High:

  • Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
  • Advanced Science
  • Advanced Math
  • Computer Science

CAREERS
There is a wide range of careers available in the required STEM field, including: engineering, computer programming, software developer, and research scientist. Students interested in pursuing an intentional path toward any of these careers should consider a STEM endorsement to guide course selection.
COURSE SELECTION
A student may earn a STEM endorsement by completing the requirements specified in the foundation plan, including Algebra II, chemistry and physics, in addition to one of the following:

  • a sequence of courses for four or more credits in career and technical education (CTEl that consists of at least two courses in the same career cluster and at least one advanced CTE course. The final course in the sequence must be selected from a CTE career cluster related to STEM
  • or a sequence of four approved credits in computer science
  • or three credits in mathematics by successfully completing Algebra II and two additional approved mathematics courses, for which completion of Algebra II is required
  • or four credits in science by successfully completing chemistry, physics and two additional approved science courses.

BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

The Business and Industry endorsement is a curriculum path that allows a student to focus deeply on courses directly related to the business field. The Business and Industry Endorsement includes the following pathways at Austin High:

  • Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
  • Architecture and Construction
  • Arts, Audio-visual, and Communications
  • Business Management and Administration
  • Finance
  • Hospitality and Tourism
  • Information Technology
  • Marketing
  • Transportation, Distribution and Logistics
  • Advanced Broadcast Journalism
  • Advanced Journalism: Newspaper
  • Advanced Journalism: Yearbook
  • Public Speaking
  • Debate
  • Technology Applications

CAREERS
Related business careers include: information technology specialist, communications, financial advisor, marketing specialist, architect, construction, and project management. Students interested in pursuing an intentional path in the business world may want to consider the Business and Industry endorsement to guide course selection.
COURSE SELECTION
A student may earn a business and industry endorsement by completing the requirements specified in the foundation plan in addition to one of the following:

  • A sequence of courses for four or more credits in career and technical education (CTE) that consist of at least two courses in the same career cluster, including at least one advanced CTE course. The final course in the sequence must be selected from one of the following CTE career clusters:
    • Agriculture, food, and natural resources
    • Architecture and construction
    • Arts, audio/visual technology, and communications
    • Business management and administration
    • Finance
    • Hospitality and tourism
    • Information technology
    • Manufacturing
    • Marketing 
    • Transportation, distribution and logistics.
  • or four English elective courses from one of the following areas:
    • Advanced broadcast journalism
    • Advanced journalism: newspaper
    • Public speaking
    • Debate
    • Advanced journalism: yearbook.
  • or four approved technology application credits

ARTS AND HUMANITIES

The Arts and Humanities endorsement is a curriculum path that allows for a student to focus deeply on courses directly related to fine arts, English literature, foreign languages and social studies. The Arts and Humanities Endorsement includes the following pathways at Austin High:

  • Art
  • Dance
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Languages Other than English
  • Advanced Placement Social Studies

CAREERS
Students interested in pursuing a career path in the entertainment industry or as an interpreter, or writer, for example, may want to consider the Arts and Humanities endorsement to guide course selection.
COURSE SELECTION
A student may earn an arts and humanities endorsement by completing the requirements specified in the foundation plan and one of the following:

  • five social studies credits
  • or four levels of the same language in a language other than English
  • or two levels of the same language in a language other than English and two levels of a different language in a language other than English
  • or four levels of American sign language
  • or four courses in fine arts from one or two categories
  • or four approved English elective credits

PUBLIC SERVICE

The Public Services endorsement is a curriculum path that allows a student to focus deeply on courses directly related to the public services field, including the education field and government. The Public Service Endorsement includes the following pathways at Austin High:

  • Education and Training
  • Health Science
  • Human Services
  • Law, Public Safety, and Security

CAREERS
There is a wide range of careers available in the public services sea or, including serving as a police officer, firefighter, government official, human resources administrator or teacher. Students interested in pursuing an intentional path toward any of these careers should consider a Public Services endorsement to guide course selection.
COURSE SELECTION
A student may earn a public services endorsement by completing the requirements specified in the foundation plan and one of the following:

  • a sequence of courses for four or more credits in career and technical education (CTE) that consists of at least two courses in the same career cluster, including at least one advanced CTE course. The final course in the sequence must be selected from one of the following CTE career clusters:
  • Education and training
  • Government and public administration
  • Health science
  • Human services
  • Law, public safety, corrections, and security.