Seattle Public Schools

Programs and Career Pathways

Education and Human Services Pathway

Education and Human Services Career Pathway

Video with example of Education and Human Services Pathway

Is this the right pathway for me?

  • Do you enjoy working closely with others and have an appreciation for diverse perspectives? 
  • Are you passionate about social justice, empathetic, and a life-long learner? 
  • Are you a strong, honest communicator? 

What is Education and Human Services?

Education and Human Services is a pathway built for the future teachers, social workers, non-profit and other administrative leaders among Seattle Public School students. Students in this pathway learn and practice skills that prepare them for training and/or college after high school for careers in government, education, and human services.  

What sort of work would I do?

Two high school students wearing masks presenting to a group of elementary school students

Teachers, social workers, and principals educate students, providing guidance, safety and structure through reading and writing basics as well as technical training required for the future. Human and social service workers help connect clients with community resources and may provide key mental health support. This is a versatile pathway that leads to a wide variety of careers in providing support and resources for others.   

Leads to these Careers

In-Demand Occupations

Typical Education RequiredCareer TitleAverage Annual SalaryJob Outlook in WA State (2020-2030)
High School Child care Worker $40,142 22% increase 
Associate’s Degree (or Certificate) Teaching Assistant $45,445 19% increase 
Bachelor’s Degree Interpreter and Translator $59,082 34% increase 
Doctoral Degree Psychiatrist $208,000 18% increase 
Check Career One Stop, Bureau of Labor Statistics for updated career trends

What Courses can I take now?

This course sequence ranges from beginning to advanced sign language. Students are introduces students to American Sign Language and the Deaf community. Students are introduced and gain mastery over the remarkable, complex and beautiful language used by Deaf people in North America and Canada. It is the third most widely used language in the United States. Students learn expressive signing skills and receptive skills to meet the communication needs of real-life encounters in the Deaf community. Close attention will be paid to developing communication skills which focus on receptive comprehension and expressive signing skills.

Course numbers: HCT4354 & HCT4355; HCT4356 & HCT4357; HCT4368 & HCT4369; HCT4370 & HCT4371 

Schools Offering: Nova HS, Roosevelt HS

This course introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. While considering the psychologists and studies that have shaped the field, students explore and apply psychological theories, key concepts, and phenomena associated with such topics as the biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, learning and cognition, motivation and emotion.   

Course numbers: HCT2513, HCT2514 

College Credit: AP Exam Offered

Schools Offering: Lincoln HS, Franklin HS, Roosevelt HS, Nathan Hale HS

Apparel & Textiles 1 is a 0.5-credit CTE course for grades 9–12 that uses hands-on projects to teach design, construction, technology, and the use of fabrics, machines, and notions, with applications in areas such as costume design, recycling and redesign, mass-market production, adaptive clothing, and personal or home textile products, supported by 21st-century skills and FCCLA activities. As part of a thriving U.S. fashion industry employing more than 1.8 million people, students are drawn to related careers, and the year-long Fashion Design and Merchandising course introduces them to industry pathways while building essential skills in budgeting, forecasting, marketing, and negotiation for developing and pitching design ideas.

Course Numbers: HCT6076 & HCT6077 or CFA6076 & CFA6077

Careers in Education 1 is a .5 CTE course that introduces students to a career in teaching and the field of Education. Open to students grade 9-12. The course provides an opportunity to follow one’s aptitude and interest in teaching through hands-on learning. This course will provide opportunities to gain experience working in various educational settings and preparation for success in post-secondary teaching programs that may lead to a future career within this high demand career pathway. Can lead to career opportunities including child care, instructional assistant, teacher, principal, and school counselor. Students observe basic techniques of teaching, including classroom and time management skills, learn various teaching styles and strategies, plan curriculum and grade level activities, and interact with multi-age students in classroom and school settings. 

Course numbers: HCT6070 & HCT6071

Teaching Academy is a specialized, preparatory course designed to prepare students to enter the exciting field of education. This class is for students who are interested in teaching diverse populations of children and youth in elementary, secondary, or post-secondary classrooms, or in educational administration, or in professional or classified support, this may be the career experience to determine aptitude and interest. This specialized occupational course will provide students with valuable training and hands-on experience necessary to enter the expanding field of Careers in Education. This course provides classroom experience and observation of basic teaching techniques. 

Course numbers: WCT5987, WCT5988, WCT5989, WCT5999

Credentials: CTE Dual Credit at Highline College

Schools Offering: Seattle Skills Center

The Child Development course is designed to assist students in developing appropriate skills and attitudes in working and living with children. Areas of study include intellectual, social, emotional, and biological development of children; parent-child relationships; parenting practices; special needs of children; parental and environmental influences on child development; and external support systems. 

Course numbers: HCT2430  

Credentials: CTE Dual Credit at North Seattle College

Schools Offering: Rainier Beach HS, Chief Sealth HS

Description: Family Health is designed to prepare students for lifelong problem solving, critical thinking, and management skills related to health and wellness issues impacting families. The primary goal is to enable students to develop healthy lifestyles for themselves and others by focusing on healthy choices and living a productive, satisfying life.  

Course numbers: HCT7004, CHE7004 

Certifications: First Aid/AED, Stop the Bleed 

Schools Offering: Lincoln HS, Middle College, Rainier Beach HS, Lincoln HS, Roosevelt HS, West Seattle HS, Garfield HS, Franklin HS, Nathan Hale HS, West Seattle HS, Chief Sealth HS, Ingraham HS

GRADS (Graduation Reality and Dual Skills) Teen Parenting is a part of a program to support pregnant and parenting students grade 9 -12. The program focuses on work and family foundations, parenting, child development, health and wellness, economic independence, career guidance, and support leading to high school graduation. The program requires district support including a certified Family Consumer Science instructor, child care , student learning activities, health and wellness screening for infants and toddlers, counselor support, and home and community outreach. 

Course number: HCT7037

Schools Offering: Alan T. Sugiyama HS

This course studies the principles of lifespan development from birth to death. This course draws from multiple fields of study including psychology, sociology, human relations, human development, and family studies. Included in the class are opportunities to explore careers.  

Course numbers: HCT5484 

Credentials: WA STARS Child Care Basics Certification

Schools Offering: Ballard HS, Chief Sealth HS

This course brings together the study of three major perspectives, one optional area and Statistics, including: The Biological Perspective, The Cognitive Perspective, and the Learning Perspective, in addition to the Psychology of Dysfunctional Behavior, Introduction to Research methodology and Statistics. The aim of the course is to provide the student with a learning experience that contributes to the IB Diploma.   

During the second year of this course, students will conduct psychological research; interpret diverse methods to support the study, including interviews, observations, and case studies; examine the systematic and critical study of human experience and behavior; collect, describe, and analyze data, and methodologies and develop an awareness of how psychological research can be applied to benefit human beings.

Course numbers: HCT8065 & HCT8066, HCT2515 & HCT2516 

Schools Offering: Chief Sealth HS, Ingraham HS

This course prepares students for responsibilities, life skills, and independence including topic related to finances, foods, wellness, relationships, housing, transportation, and career planning.  

Course numbers: HCT2429 

Schools Offering: Ballard HS, Rainier Beach HS, West Seattle HS, Roosevelt HS

Description: Students study human behavior through the approaches of various schools of psychological thought. Topics of investigations include such areas as sensation, perception, states of consciousness, memory, thinking and intelligence, personality theory, learning, meta-cognition, brain theory, mental disorders, and social psychology.  

Course numbers: HCT2514, HCT2515

Schools Offering: Nathan Hale HS, West Seattle HS