Model 8: Occupational Clusters, Career Paths, and Occupational Majors
The eighth model proposed by Grubb, Davis, Lum, Phihal, and Morgaine (1991) calls for the development of occupational clusters, career paths, and occupational majors in the high school. This can be accomplished by organizing school departments along occupational lines (such as agriculture, business, and health science) instead of traditional academic and vocational departments, or by combining academic departments and vocational departments in a matrix structure so that occupational clusters cut across departments. Emphasis on an occupational path provides groups of related courses from which the students may choose and encourages students to have a focus to their studies.
This model encourages cooperation among academic and vocational teachers and provides an opportunity for all teachers to meet and work together on curriculum issues. It also allows for the interaction of students from diverse backgrounds who have similar career interests and goals.
