A career cluster is a group of occupations with similar features or skill sets to help you explore ones that matches your skills and interests. If someone enjoys a job in a particular cluster, they are more likely to enjoy related occupations in the group. The National Career Clusters® Framework provides 16 job groupings with similar skill sets, interests, abilities, and activities. You will find these below along with what programs that Lake Superior College offers in each area.
Want to see which Career Cluster and LSC Programs best fit you?
Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Agriculture, food, and natural resources workers produce agricultural goods. This includes food, plants, animals, fabrics, wood, and crops. You might work on a farm, ranch, dairy, orchard, greenhouse, or plant nursery. You could also work in a clinic or laboratory as a scientist or engineer.
LSC Programs:
Architecture and Construction
Architecture and construction workers work on buildings and other structures. This includes highways, bridges, houses, and buildings. You might create the designs or plans for new structures. Or, you might use the plans to build it or manage the workers on the project.
LSC Programs:
Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications
Arts, audio/video technology, and communications workers use creativity and their talents on the job. You might work for an audience as a performer or artist. This includes painters, dancers, sculptors, actors, and singers. Or, you might work behind the scenes to make a performance successful. This includes set designers, editors, broadcast technicians, and camera operators.
LSC Programs:
Business Administration and Management
Business, management, and administrative workers give the support needed to make a business run. You might check employee time records or train new employees. Or, you might work as a top executive and provide the overall direction for a company or department.
LSC Programs:
Computer Science and Information Technology
Information technology workers are in a growing and always changing field. You might work with computer hardware, software, multimedia, or network systems. You might design new computer equipment or work on a new computer game.
LSC Programs:
- Business and Technology AS
- Computer and Web Programming Certificate
- Computer and Web Programming AAS
- Computer and Web Programming Diploma
- Computer Technology AS
- Cyber Defense Certificate
- Cyber Security Certificate
- Network Administration and Cybersecurity AAS
- Network Administration and Cybersecurity Diploma
- Network Administration and Security (CCNA) Certificate
- PC Support Technician Certificate
- Web Developer Certificate
Education and Training
Education and training workers guide and train people. As a teacher, you could influence young lives. You could also support the work of a classroom teacher as a counselor, librarian, or principal. You could coach sports activities or lead community classes.
LSC Programs:
Finance
Finance workers keep track of money. You might work in financial planning, banking, or insurance. For example, you might provide financial services to a business or individual. Or, you could maintain financial records or give advice to business executives on how to operate their business.
LSC Programs:
Government and Public Administration
Government and public administration workers help pass and enforce the law. You could work in national, state, or local government. You will find almost every type of occupation within the government, including some jobs that are only found within government.
LSC Programs:
Health Science
Health science workers promote health and wellness. They diagnose and treat injuries and disease. As a physician, dentist, or nurse, you could work directly with patients. You could also work in a laboratory to get information used in research or provide administrative support by keeping medical records.
LSC Programs:
- Dental Hygiene AAS
- Exercise Science Transfer Pathway AS
- Health Sciences Broad Field AS
- Limited X-Ray Machine Operator (LXMO) Diploma
- Massage Therapy Diploma
- Medical Laboratory Assistant Certificate
- Medical Laboratory Technician AAS
- Nursing Assistant (CNA) Certificate
- Personal Training Certificate
- Phlebotomy Certificate
- Physical Therapist Assistant AAS
- Physical Therapist Assistant - Military Bridge AAS
- Practical Nursing Diploma
- Professional Nursing AS
- Professional Nursing Advanced Standing LPN Track AS
- Radiologic Technology AAS
- Respiratory Therapy AAS
- Surgical Technology AAS
- Trained Medication Aide (TMA)
Hospitality and Tourism
Hospitality and tourism workers help people enjoy vacations and entertainment activities. You might work at a restaurant, resort, sports arena, theme park, museum, or hotel. For example, you might manage operations of a college cafeteria, guide high school students on a trip to Spain, or rent equipment at a recreation center.
LSC Programs:
Human Services
Human services workers help individuals and families meet their personal needs. You might work in a government office, hospital, nonprofit agency, nursing home, spa, hotel, or school. Or, you might work in your own home.
LSC Programs:
Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security
Law, public safety, corrections, and security workers are found in a variety of settings. For example, you might guard the public and enforce the law as a police officer or security guard. Or, you might provide fire protection as a firefighter.
LSC Programs:
Manufacturing
Manufacturing workers work with products and equipment. You might design a new product, decide how the product will be made, or make the product. You might work on cars, computers, appliances, airplanes, or electronic devices.
LSC Programs:
- Automated Machining (CNC) Certificate
- CNC Programmer - Machine Technology Diploma
- CNC Programmer - Machine Technology AAS
- Engineering CAD Technician Certificate
- Engineering CAD Technology AAS
- Engineering CAD Technology Diploma
- Engineering Technology AS
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Production (GTAW) Certificate
- Manual Machinist Certificate
- Production Technologies (16 credit) Certificate
- Production Technologist (8 credit) Certificate
- Rapid Prototyping and Design Certificate
- Solidworks (CAD) Certificate
- Welding AAS
- Welding Diploma
- Welding Certificate
- Welding Technologist Diploma
- Welding Technology Certificate
Marketing, Sales, and Service
Marketing, sales, and service workers help businesses sell products. You might advertise and promote products so customers want to buy them. Or, you might sell products and services to customers.
LSC Programs:
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics workers do scientific research in laboratories or the field. Others plan or design products and systems. Or, you might support scientists, mathematicians, or engineers as they do their work.
LSC Programs:
Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics
Transportation, distribution, and logistics workers move people and products by road, air, rail, and water. You might work as a driver, pilot, engineer, or captain. You might repair or maintain the vehicles, trains, planes, and ships that move people and products. Or, you might work behind the scenes to make sure the products and people get to the right place on time.
