CTE Course Catalog
- Agriculture Science
- Automotive Technologies I & II
- Aviation I & II
- Construction Technologies I & II
- Cosmetology I & II
- Criminal Justice I & II
- Culinary Arts I & II
- Electrical Trades
- EMT (1 year – seniors only)
- Fire Science (1 year – juniors or seniors)
- Gaming & Multimedia
- Heavy Equipment Operation & Maintenance
- HVAC I & II
- Nursing Assistant (1 year – seniors only)
- Welding/Metal Fabrication I/Welding/Machine Tool II
Career Tech Programs
To be successful in Career Tech programs at Questar III, students must have a strong interest in some or all course material, be eager to learn new things, have excellent attendance, have interest and some ability in the chosen technical area, and parental support of the chosen program.
Career Studies Programs
Career Studies programs provide high school students (ages 16-21) with entry-level training in a technical area or trade at an alternative learning pace. These programs are designed to provide more customized career instruction and experience in a supportive learning environment. Career Studies programs have a small student-teacher ratio and are taught by certified teachers with substantial real-world experience in their given trade. The smaller class size provides an individualized course of instruction that helps the student to become successful in the world of work.
Characteristics of a successful student
- A strong interest in some or all course material
- Open-minded, eager to learn about new things
- Excellent attendance
- Interest and some ability in technical area
- Parental support of the Career Studies program
Automotive Services
Curriculum and materials used
- Lab vehicles for hands on activities
- Automotive textbooks
- Instructional videos and online resources
- Entry Level Technician
- Lubrication Technician
- Parts Specialist
- Shop Assistant
- Automotive Detailer
- Auto Recycling Worker
Licensing
- Students who complete the two-year program meet the minimum hour requirement to sit for the New York State Inspection License Course.
Building Trades
Building Trades prepares students for entry-level positions in the construction, facilities maintenance and the custodial fields. Students in the program will complete group projects that are work-based in nature, involve problem solving, utilize hands-on skills and will benefit the school and local communities.
Curriculum and materials used
- Residential Construction Academy-Facilities Maintenance, 2nd Edition -used primarily as a guideline for the units of study
- Instructor designed unit outlines, worksheets and tests
Related career opportunities
- Carpenter’s Assistant
- Plumber’s Assistant
- Electrician’s Assistant
- Maintenance Assistant
- Custodial Engineer
- Hardware/Lumber Yard Assistant
Introduction to Employment
Introduction to Employment allows students to explore job experiences in the areas of food services, retail and business skills to help provide insight into a career path. Students observe and perform hands-on job specific activities at local worksites with job coaches who provide support. Each student completes a portfolio and has assistance in locating job opportunities after graduation.
This program is not being offered during the 2022-23 school year.
Curriculum and materials used
- Learning for Earning, textbook
Related career opportunities
- Restaurant Services
- Child/Daycare Services
- Maintenance Employee
- Retail Store Services
Introduction to Food Services
Introduction to Food Services prepares students for entry level positions within the food service industry. Students are engaged in academic and practical hands on lessons and learn a variety of preparation and food skills. Students will be provided with an opportunity to work in an approved commercial site during school hours.
Curriculum and materials used
- Food & Nutrition Textbook/Workbook
- Measuring cups, spoons, scales
- Kitchen Aid & Commercial Mixers
- Conventional and convection ovens
Related career opportunities
- Dietary Aide
- Prep Cook
- Wait Staff
- Bus Person
- Food Station Attendant
- Café Worker
New Visions Programs
New Visions students gain valuable insight into career options from a real-world perspective. A 1-year, honors-level program, New Visions turns area businesses, health care facilities and government buildings into classrooms for highly motivated, academically successful high school seniors.
For 3.5 hours each day, New Visions students learn and explore through mentoring, internships, interactions with professionals, group discussion and creative projects, as well as more traditional methods. New Visions students earn four academic credits including one credit each for English and social studies and two electives credits. They also may earn college credit, and the program is a proven asset on transcripts and college applications.
Medical
The Questar III New Visions: Medical program allows students to explore a wide variety of careers and specialty areas in the medical field through first-hand experience and related college coursework. Students will explore a variety of professions while being exposed to a multitude of clinical settings. The program will also provide valuable preparation for students interested in pursuing related careers such as dentistry or veterinary medicine.
Based at Samaritan Hospital in Troy, the New Visions: Medical program is a smart choice for highly motivated seniors who are interested in learning about careers in the medical field before heading off to college. This program, like all New Visions programs, is designed to provide students with the knowledge and experience necessary to make informed college and career decisions. The program integrates rigorous college-level academics with hands-on experiences. You will observe, interact with, and learn from medical professionals in clinical settings. View the program flyer.
Students will experience a variety of medical professions, such as
- Physician
- Rehabilitation Therapist
- Nurse
- Medical Technologist
Students will spend a large percentage of their time in clinical settings, such as
- Physical Therapy
- Oncology
- Radiology
- Respiratory Therapy
- Pediatrics
- Critical Care
Clinical rotation locations off campus include
- Samaritan Hospital
- St. Mary’s Hospital
High school credits
- Medical Physics (science elective) – 1 credit
- Anatomy & Physiology (science elective) – 1 credit
- English 12 – 1 credit
- Participation in Government – ½ credit
- Economics – ½ credit
PLEASE NOTE: Additional high school credits in Physical Education (1/2 credit) and Health (1/2 credit) may be available upon district request and approval.
College credits
- Medical Physics (with lab) – 4 credits (from The Sage Colleges)
- Human Biology (with lab) – 4 credits (from The Sage Colleges)
Scientific Research & World Health
This highly selective, college level academic experience offers hands-on laboratory research in the emerging biotechnologies, scientific literacy and global health. Learn how scientific principles are utilized to understand and cure disease. Located at the University at Albany’s Health Sciences Campus in Rensselaer, students experience health focused research efforts.
Students can earn up to fifteen college credits through the University at Albany’s University in the High School (UHS) Program by taking ‘Introduction to Public Health’ and ‘Contemporary Issues in Biological Sciences’ and through Russell Sage College by taking ‘Issues in Science through Literature’ and ‘Research Methods in Biotechnology’. Students learn the principles of current scientific research and human health in these classes. View the program flyer.
PLEASE NOTE: Additional high school credits in Physical Education (1/2 credit) and Health (1/2 credit) may be available upon district request and approval.
Students will participate in experiments with researchers from:
- Center for Functional Genomics
- Cancer Research Center
- Institute for Health and the Environment
- Albany School of Public Health
- New York Stem Cell Institute
- NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
- Pharmaceutical Research Institute
- Regeneron
- Taconic Biotechnology
Additional rotation locations off campus include:
- New York State Department of Health
- New York State Museum
- Albany Medical Center
- Albany County Department of Health
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Wadsworth Research Center
- Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission
College articulations
- University at Albany/University in the High School Program
- Russell Sage College
Pathways in Education
Pathways in Education is an exciting program focused on preparing students for a career in the field of education.
This half-day program for seniors will be located at the University at Albany’s main campus. Students will have the opportunity to complete college courses each semester. These courses are directly applicable to a variety of educational careers.
Along with the college coursework, this program will have class time to cover additional educational topics and will incorporate hands-on experiences including observations, shadowing, and internship experiences with a variety of inspiring professionals in the field of education.
Students will be supported along the way to help them successfully make the transition from high school to college level work. This program will prepare students with the content knowledge and experience to continue their coursework towards a degree in education. Student will also have mastery of the content needed to obtain a New York State Level 1 Teaching Assistant certification for immediate employment.
Students will:
- Gain an understanding of educational theory and practice
- Develop knowledge and skills needed to address diverse learning styles, backgrounds and needs in a classroom
- Learn general theories and concepts related to major aspects of human behavior
- Discover effective classroom management strategies and applications
- Investigate relevant topics in education
- Explore and identify career goals
- Complete shadowing/internship experiences with educational professionals
- Understand New York state certification requirements
College Courses
- EN 101 Composition Writing and EN 102 Composition & Literature
- EN 211 Creative Writing and EN 212 Expository Writing
- ETAP 201 Exploring Teaching as a Profession
Related Career Opportunities
- Teaching Assistant
- Preschool Teacher
- Elementary Teacher
- Middle or High School Content Area Teacher
- Special Education Teacher
- English to Speakers of Other Languages Teacher
- School Counselor
- Related Careers including Psychologist, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist
Industry-Based Certifications (attainable through program)
- Certification Workshops in Preparation for Employment in an Education Field
- American Heart Association CPR
- Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills Test Framework (eligible to take upon graduation)
STEM
STEM students are at the forefront of technology in all fields. The Questar III New Visions program in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) is an ideal choice for students who are planning to attend an undergraduate program in engineering or the physical sciences. This program, which blends practical experience with classroom instruction, exposes students to various engineering fields, research, applied mathematics, technology and the sciences. Students study how to implement state-of-the-art science as they explore the world of technology and engineering.
Located at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, students participate in laboratory experiments and interact with college faculty and scientific professionals, while engaging in rigorous college coursework and meeting NYS graduation requirements.
Students interact with over 80 professionals each year, including researchers from Rensselaer as well as technology companies such as GE, SuperPower, and Benet Labs.
An ideal choice for students who want to know what it really means to be an engineer or scientist, the STEM program integrates rigorous academics with practical experiences. View the program flyer.
Students interact in the fields of
- Biomedical Science & Engineering
- Chemical Science & Engineering
- Civil & Environmental Science & Engineering
- Electrical & Computer Engineering
- Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Physics
- Smart Lighting
High school credits
- English 12 (ELA) – 1 credit
- Participation in Government – 1/2 credit
- Economics – ½ credit
- Advanced Engineering Research and Applications (AERA) – 1 credit
PLEASE NOTE: Additional high school credit in Physical Education (1/2 credit) may be available upon district request and approval.
College credits
- Rensselaer Physics 1100 – 4 credits
- Rensselaer Physics 1200 – 4 credits
Learning opportunities for students are not limited to the technology labs. The diverse Rensselaer community exposes students to different perspectives on government, economics, and culture.
New Visions graduates have attended Bachelor’s, Master’s and/or Ph.D. programs at colleges and universities across the nation. Many students apply and gain acceptance to RPI and other notable institutions such as: Dartmouth, Cornell, Brown, Clarkson, RIT, WPI, Boston University, Northwestern University, Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, University at Buffalo, and SUNY Binghamton. Graduates have also completed two-year degrees at HVCC and then transferred into some of the top engineering schools in the country to complete their Bachelor’s degree and beyond.
Visual & Performing Arts
This unique program provides opportunities to explore a wide array of careers in the visual and performing arts. Based at The Arts Center of the Capital Region in historic downtown Troy, the program blends an integrated curriculum in college-level English, music, art, theatre and film studies with hands-on experience in a creative academic environment. Students participate in both workshops and classroom instruction. Furthermore, they gain valuable insight into career options by working directly with local visual and performing artists such as jewelry designers, photographers, dancers and actors and through visiting art galleries and attending live theater productions.
Students conceptualize and compose professional-quality work in a variety of media—from recording a CD to writing, directing and filming a movie using state-of-the-art editing equipment. In the spring, students showcase their artwork in the Student/Faculty Gallery at The Arts Center and write and perform a live theatre production. Additionally, the New Visions: Visual & Performing Arts program gives students the opportunity to develop a portfolio and/or prepare the audition materials needed to apply to a college arts program. View the program flyer.
Graduates of the New Visions: Visual & Performing Arts Program have been accepted to many competitive arts colleges, including NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Pratt Institute of Design, Emerson College, American Musical and Dramatic Academy, Syracuse University, Ithaca College, Rhode Island School of Design, SUNY Purchase, Eugene Lang College and Parsons School for Design.
Emergency Preparedness, Informatics, Cyber and Homeland Security (EPICH)
The New Visions: Emergency Preparedness, Informatics, Cyber and Homeland Security (EPICH) program introduces students to the necessary content and skills in emerging technologies and the use of data to anticipate and manage natural and man-made disasters and security.
This half-day, seniors-only program is located on the University at Albany’s main campus in the University’s brand new, state-of-the-art ETEC building. Students will have the opportunity to complete college courses each semester. These courses are directly applicable to a variety of career pathways in cybersecurity, homeland security and emergency preparedness.
In addition to college coursework, students will learn beyond the classroom through experiential components including visiting intelligence hubs throughout the Capital Region, being introduced to professionals in the field and threat simulations where students will problem-solve and position resources in real time to protect and save lives.
Students will be supported along the way to help them successfully make the transition from high school to college-level work, providing experience to continue coursework toward a degree in either cybersecurity, homeland security or emergency preparedness. Students will exit the program with a strong understanding of modern-day technology and the relationship data has with societal hazards and disasters. View the program flyer.
Students will focus on:
- Leadership
- Public administration
- Management and problem-solving skills
- Risk analysis
- Ethics and cultural literacy
- Policy making
- Planning and innovation
- Strategic oral and written communication
- Systemic and critical thinking
College Courses:
- Information in the 21st Century
- Cybersecurity Basics
- Introduction to Data Analytics
- Introduction to Emergency Prep., Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
Related Career Opportunities:
- Cybersecurity Engineer
- Ethical Hackers
- Computer Forensics Analyst
- Secret Service Agent
- Counterterrorism Analyst
- Emergency Management Specialist
- Civil Engineer
- Program Manager for Response and Recovery
- Federal Air Marshal
- Cybercrimes Agent
- And more
Business, Finance, and Marketing
The New Visions: Business, Finance, and Marketing program, located at Columbia-Greene Community College, focuses on preparing students for future careers in Business Management and Administration, Finance, and Marketing. This high school senior honors-level program seeks to introduce students to the content and skills needed in several in-demand business fields. Students will use critical thinking, oral and written communication, creativity, innovation, collaboration, problem-solving, cultural literacy, and interpersonal skills throughout the year. Students become engaged with business leaders through guest presentations and site visits, allowing more opportunities to explore emerging fields within the business world.
Students will finish the program with 18 college credits from C-GCC, who has transfer agreements with over 50 colleges and universities and has developed a degree program specifically designed to prepare students for transfer to a bachelor’s degree program in Business Administration.
Business, Finance, and Marketing fields are emerging. Based on the New York State Department of Labor 2021 report, the fields of business and accounting have a forecasted job growth of 13.8% between 2021 and 2031. View the program flyer.
Students Will:
- Receive a comprehensive overview of the fields of Business (including management, human resources, international business, and entrepreneurship), Finance (including accounting, securities, and banking), and Marketing (including sales, advertising, and branding).
- Gain exposure to the various career options available with Business both in the private and public sectors
- Learn from practitioners in the field through guest presentations and site visits
- Explore emerging fields and growth opportunities within the business world
College Credits:
- AC 101: Financial Accounting – 3 Credits
- BU 103: Foundations of Business – 3 Credits
- BU 105: Business Communication – 3 Credits
- EN 101: English Composition – 3 Credits
- EC 101: Macroeconomics – 3 Credits
- MK101: Principles of Marketing – 3 Credits
High School Credits:
- Accounting – ½ Credit
- Business Communications – English ½ Credit
- Business Foundations – ½ Credit
- Economics – ½ Credit
- English 12 – ½ Credit
- Marketing – ½ Credit
- Participating in Government – ½ Credit
Related Career Opportunities:
- Accounting
- Banking
- Business Administration
- Entrepreneuership
- Finance
- Marketing
- Sales