Center for Advanced Professional Studies-CAPS
St. Charles County CAPS provides high school students in St. Charles County with a pre-professional, innovative and entrepreneurial education through career-oriented experiences that are both hands-on and real world. St. Charles County CAPS students are immersed in professional environments engaging in curriculum developed by industry professionals and program instructors - ensuring that what is taught in the classroom is relevant to the workforce. Learning is enhanced by project work direct from industry partners who engage to mentor students and ensure timely, accurate and real project results.
Learning at St. Charles County CAPS is real-time, real-world and hands-on. Emphasis is placed on developing professional skills, such as communication and collaboration, which employers deem highly important to individual success.
Students would attend the CAPS program for half of their school day and the other half would be at their home school. The typical morning CAPS session is from 7:30 AM to 10 AM and the afternoon session is typically from 12 PM - 2:30 PM. Students who participate in St. Charles County CAPS must provide their own transportation to and from their home school and the business site.
A complete application is required to apply. CAPS interviews may occur as well for strand placement purposes. Applications will be available in the School Counseling office.
0960 Semester 1 TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS
0961 Semester 2
Prerequisite: None, but completion of the CAPS application is required
(PLTW Computer Science or related business courses preferred)
Grade: 11-12
Credit: 1.5 practical arts credits per semester
Course Location(s): Charter Spectrum (Riverport Towers)
This course is ideal for students who are interested in developing the professional and technical skills required to forge forward in exploring all areas of technology. Discover a vast array of specialty areas available in technology careers where professionals utilize technology to solve business problems and design products. Immerse yourself in a professional environment while you tackle and solve real-world problems. Explore the following areas as they relate to PCs and mobile devices: software engineering, web development, operating systems, hardware technologies, network design/technologies, management information systems and emerging technologies. Students will perform real world projects for clients utilizing the expertise of diverse guest instructors, mentors and business partners. Students interested in design will create a wide array of digital assets in a profession-based learning environment, which provides opportunities to collaborate with mentors and business clients. Students will network with mentors and business partners delivering real products to their clients as well as creating a professional portfolio that illustrates their creative talent. Students must provide their own transportation to and from the business site. 95% attendance is expected to remain in the course. (Senior level course)
0970 Semester 1 HEALTHCARE ACADEMY
0971 Semester 2
Prerequisite: None, but completion of the CAPS application is required
Grade: 11-12
Credit: 1.0 - 1.5 science credits per semester depending on hours of location
Course Location(s): Local area hospitals and/or healthcare facilities
This course is ideal for students who intend to go into a medical field. Students will engage in the team approach of healthcare at hospitals and/or healthcare facilities. The PLTW Biomedical Innovations course can be combined with experiences at hospitals and/or healthcare facilities. Prior PLTW Biomedical coursework is not required. This collaborative effort between local area hospitals and SCC CAPS gives students actual experience with health practitioners. As they work side-by-side with professionals, students will have the opportunity to learn about a variety of careers in the medical field from medical practitioner to hospital administrator. Students will participate in medical training and clinical presentations prior to participating in clinical rotation assignments. In addition, students will have a capstone project. Students will learn about Safety, HIPAA, CPR and Basic First Aid competencies. This course culminates in an instructor-student agreed upon capstone project with an internship showcasing their work in this exciting field of study. Students must provide their own transportation to and from the business site. 95% attendance is expected to remain in the course. (Senior level course)
0980 Semester 1 GLOBAL BUSINESS/ENTREPRENEURSHIP
0981 Semester 2
Prerequisite: None, but completion of the CAPS application is required
Grade: 11-12
Credit: 1.5 practical arts credits per semester
Course Location(s): TBD
This course is about students creating real startup ventures and/or solving real business needs. They will be mentored by real employers and gain marketable professional skills in an off-campus location. This course will provide students a challenging, innovative, authentic, experiential learning environment that allows them to discover personal passions. Students will develop professional skills that are necessary to thrive in collaborative, innovative and fast-paced environments. Their growth mindset and confidence will increase. Students engaging in entrepreneurship will learn startup principles and develop an entrepreneurial mindset. They will turn their ideas into action by validating their ideas, perfecting a pitch, and seeking resources and opportunities for a product or service. Students engaging in global business will work with organizations to work on projects that solve the organization’s real needs. Students will have the opportunity to work in an internship setting side by side with peers and business leaders, to create a variety of industry and community solutions. This course culminates in an instructor-student agreed upon capstone project showcasing their work in this exciting field of study. Students must provide their own transportation to and from the business site. 95% attendance is expected to remain in the course. (Senior level course)
For more information, please click on the links below. St. Charles County CAPS