Career and Technical Education (BOCES)

Course Offerings

Auto Body Repair

This is a two-year program based on automotive service excellence task lists for painting and refinishing and non-structural analysis and damage repair. Includes safety, use of computers, tools and technology, body alignment, dent removal, welding, painting, refinishing, trim, glass work and shop operations. Students use a state-of-the-art paint booth and work on vehicles owned by real customers.

Automotive Technology

This two-year program is based on automotive service excellence task lists for brakes; electrical and electronic systems; engine performance; steering and suspension. It includes the latest technology to build diagnostic and repair skills. Students work with computers and high-tech equipment and repair vehicles owned by real customers.

Conservation

This is a two-year program that teaches management of natural resources. It emphasizes safety and the operation, maintenance and repair of equipment used to manage natural resources. Students learn surveying, tree and lumber grading, leaf and tree identification, soil sampling and orienteering. Participants spend more than 50 percent of their time outdoors and in “land labs,” which are projects that put theory into practice.

Construction Trades

This is a two-year program based on the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) ContrenTM Learning Series. It includes standardized construction, maintenance and pipeline curricula for more than 40 crafts. Students learn all aspects of residential construction, from safety and materials to blueprints and project management.

Cosmetology

This two-year, 1,000-hour program prepares students for current and emerging careers in natural hair styling, esthetics, nail specialty and cosmetology. The program combines crucial elements of art, science, technical skills, interpersonal skills and entrepreneurship. Students participate in actual operation of a full-service salon, catering to real customers to gain management and customer service skills.

Criminal Justice Studies

This two-year program is based on the education and training objectives set forth by the International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO). The program promotes philosophy of prevention rather than apprehension. It covers: terrorism, 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, forensics, budget development and writing police reports.

Culinary Arts and Hospitality

This program implements the ProStart® Program, a two-year industry-based program that prepares students for careers in restaurant and food service careers. Curriculum includes: kitchen basics, preparing and serving safe food, nutrition, breakfast foods, sandwiches, salads, fruits and vegetables, potatoes and grains, desserts, meat, poultry, seafood, stocks, soups and sauces. This program incorporates skills in business math; standardized accounting practices; purchasing/inventory; customer relations and food service, lodging, tourism and retail industries. Students participate in front and back of the house operations, menu planning, food and cost control and hospitality marketing.

Early Childhood Education

This program focuses on developing skills in early childcare and education professionals. It provides the opportunity to work with three and four year olds in a preschool. Students learn to establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment while nurturing the physical, intellectual, social and emotional development of the young child. Participants also learn to provide guidance and promote positive and productive relationships with families. This two-year program is based on Child Development Associate (CDA) competencies and requirements.

Graphic and Visual Communications

Students use state-of-the-art computer and digital equipment to create websites, brochures and videos. Instruction includes the basics of layout and design for all mediums (television, print, Internet), digital photography and illustration, audio and video editing and animation. This two-year program provides comprehensive instruction in such applications as QuarkXpress, Photoshop and Illustrator. Students also gain the necessary skills for building, maintaining and growing client relationships.

Heating, Ventilation, AC and Refrigeration

This two-year program is aligned with current HVAC excellence modules relevant for this geographic area and industry needs and trends. Students learn skills necessary for installation, service and repair of heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems in residential and commercial applications. It integrates shop operations, job planning and estimating, customer service and ethics, while emphasizing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.

Heavy Equipment Maintenance & Operation

Students learn to operate, maintain, diagnose and repair construction-related equipment, such as backhoes, bulldozers, bucket loaders, excavators, dump trucks and hydraulic systems. Curriculum includes safety, diesel engine theory, diesel engine overhaul and hydraulic systems. This two-year program is based on the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) ContrenTM Learning Series for Heavy Equipment Operations.

Horse Care

This program 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, daily care of horses, safety, handling of horses and breaking yearlings. Participants spend a majority of their time at the Saratoga Equine Sports Center. This two-year program is aligned with the U.S. Trotting Association (USTA) requirements for basic licensing as a trainer/driver.

Horticulture and Landscaping

This is a two-year program that integrates contemporary knowledge, skills and trends in horticulture, landscape design, greenhouse production, floral design, retail sales, merchandising and shop management. Curriculum covers botany, soil science, plant propagation and integrated pest management. Students design landscaping for some of the area’s finest gardens and see their vision grow from start to finish. Education centers operate student-run greenhouses and on-site floral shops.

Health Occupations

This two-year program offers the nurse assisting curriculum in year one and health
occupations (including medical assisting) in year two. Nurse Assisting covers skills in basic nurse assisting, medical terminology, safety, body mechanics, symptoms of health and disease, infection and control, patient care, holistic health, consumer rights, ethical and legal issues and communications. Health Occupations covers medical office management, office communication, organization, records management, patient database management and performance of some patient care. Students are in clinical settings at hospitals, nursing homes, physicians’ offices, clinics, insurance companies and community agencies.

Information Technologies/CISCO

This two-year program teaches the skills necessary to design, install and maintain computer networks. It covers a broad range of topics, from understanding network topologies to writing scripts for router configurations (the devices that route information flow through the World Wide Web). Curriculum includes basic electricity and electronics, network and telecom installation, computer operation and repair, operating systems, Local Area Network (LAN) management, hardware, wiring and computer security. A variety of internships are available.

New Visions Engineering

This program is an academically rigorous one-year program for college-bound high school seniors who plan to major in an engineering discipline. New Visions engineering students receive instruction in AP Calculus, AP Physics and various engineering principles. Students explore the world of engineering through hands-on projects that integrate academics and engineering concepts. Job shadowing opportunities and site visits are coordinated throughout the school year enabling the students to see first hand the activities and responsibilities related to various engineering disciplines.

New Visions Health Careers & Exploration

This is a one-year program in which students learn and work in a hospital setting with a wide range of healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses and physical therapists. Students receive classroom instruction two days per week and attend clinical rotations in different health professions three days per week. The program is located in Wesley Health Care Center and Glens Falls Hospital; rotations occur at these facilities and at private practices and clinics throughout the Saratoga and Glens Falls areas.

See the WSWHE BOCES Career and Technical Education program guide for details on requirements and credit.