The course descriptions are also available in French.

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Guidance and Career Education

  • As announced in May 2023, mandatory learning on mental health literacy for students will be added to the Grade 10 Career Studies course for implementation in Fall 2024. The course title (Career Studies, Grade 10), code (GLC2O), and description remain the same.
  • As of September 2019, the Grade 10 Career Studies course (GLC2O) implemented in all Ontario secondary schools is based on the revised expectations. The revised course supersedes the course outlined in The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 and 10: Guidance and Career Education, 2006. Educators should be aware that, with the exception of this course, the 2006 Guidance and Career Education documents for Grades 9 and 10, and Grades 11 and 12 will remain in effect. 
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Grade Course Name Course Type Course Code Prerequisites
9 Learning Strategies 1: Skills for Success in Secondary School* Open GLS1O None
GLE1O
(modified for Grade 9 students who have an IEP)
Recommendation of principal
GLE2O
(modified for Grade 10 students who have an IEP)
Recommendation of principal
10 Career Studies** Open
(compulsory)
GLC2O None
10 Discovering the Workplace Open GLD2O None
11 Designing  Your Future Open GWL3O None
11 Leadership and Peer Support Open GPP3O None
12 Navigating the Workplace Open GLN4O None
12 Advanced Learning Strategies: Skills for Success After Secondary School*** Open GLS4O None
GLE4O
(modified for Grade 12 students who have an IEP)
Recommendation of principal
GLE3O
(modified for Grade 11 students who have an IEP)
Recommendation of principal

Note: The GLC2O course is worth half a credit. All other courses listed above are worth one credit.

* Students may receive only one credit for Grade 9 Learning Strategies 1, either for GLS1O or for GLE1O. Students who have an IEP may also receive a credit in Grade 10 for GLE2O.

** Career Studies is a compulsory course. In addition, any other guidance and career education course may be used to fulfil the Group 1 additional compulsory credit requirement or may serve as a substitution for another course fulfilling a compulsory credit requirement (see PPM No. 139).

*** Students may receive only one credit for Grade 12 Advanced Learning Strategies, either for GLS4O or for GLE4O. Students who have an IEP may also receive one credit for GLE3O. (In summary, a student with an IEP can earn a total of four credits for the GLE courses [GLE1O/2O/3O/4O].)

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A visual depiction of the courses in the secondary Guidance and Career Education program, set out by grade. The visual illustrates that none of the courses has a prerequisite.
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  • Learning Strategies 1: Skills for Success in Secondary School, Grade 9, Open (GLS1O)
    This course focuses on learning strategies to help students become better, more independent learners. Students will learn how to develop and apply literacy and numeracy skills, personal management skills, and interpersonal and teamwork skills to improve their learning and achievement in school, the workplace, and the community. The course helps students build confidence and motivation to pursue opportunities for success in secondary school and beyond.
    • Prerequisite: None
  • Learning Strategies 1: Skills for Success in Secondary School, Grade 9, Open (GLE1O)
    This course focuses on learning strategies to help students become better, more independent learners. Students will learn how to develop and apply literacy and numeracy skills, personal management skills, and interpersonal and teamwork skills to improve their learning and achievement in school, the workplace, and the community. The course helps students build confidence and motivation to pursue opportunities for success in secondary school and beyond.
    • Prerequisite: Recommendation of principal
  • Career Studies, Grade 10, Open (GLC2O) (revised in 2019)
    This course gives students the opportunity to develop the skills, knowledge, and habits that will support them in their education and career/life planning. Students will learn about global work trends, and seek opportunities within the school and community to expand and strengthen their transferable skills and their ability to adapt to the changing world of work. On the basis of exploration, reflective practice, and decision-making processes, students will make connections between their skills, interests, and values and their postsecondary options, whether in apprenticeship training, college, community living, university, or the workplace. They will set goals and create a plan for their first postsecondary year. As part of their preparation for the future, they will learn about personal financial management – including the variety of saving and borrowing tools available to them and how to use them to their advantage – and develop a budget for their first year after secondary school.
    • Prerequisite: None
  • Learning Strategies 1: Skills for Success in Secondary School, Grade 10, Open (GLE2O)
    This course focuses on learning strategies to help students become better, more independent learners. Students will learn how to develop and apply literacy and numeracy skills, personal management skills, and interpersonal and teamwork skills to improve their learning and achievement in school, the workplace, and the community. The course helps students build confidence and motivation to pursue opportunities for success in secondary school and beyond.
    • Prerequisite: Recommendation of principal
  • Discovering the Workplace, Grade 10, Open (GLD2O)
    This course provides students with opportunities to discover and develop the workplace essential skills and work habits required to be successfully employed. Students will develop an understanding of work through practical hands-on experiences in the school and in the community, using real workplace materials. They investigate occupations of interest through experiential learning opportunities (such as worksite visits, job shadowing, work experience, simulations and entrepreneurial projects).This course helps students make plans for continued learning and work.
    • Prerequisite: None
  • Designing Your Future, Grade 11, Open (GWL3O)
    This course prepares students to make successful transitions to postsecondary destinations as they investigate specific postsecondary options based on their skills, interests, and personal characteristics. Students will explore the realities and opportunities of the workplace and examine factors that affect success, while refining their job-search and employability skills. Students will develop their portfolios with a focus on their targeted destination and develop an action plan for future success.
    • Prerequisite: None
  • Leadership and Peer Support, Grade 11, Open (GPP3O)
    This course prepares students to act in leadership and peer support roles. They will design and implement a plan for contributing to their school and/or community; develop skills in communication, interpersonal relations, teamwork, and conflict management; and apply those skills in leadership and/or peer support roles – for example, as a student council member or a peer tutor. Students will examine group dynamics and learn the value of diversity within groups and communities.
    • Prerequisite: None
  • Advanced Learning Strategies: Skills for Success After Secondary School, Grade 11, Open (GLE3O)
    This course improves students’ learning and personal-management skills, preparing them to make successful transitions to work, training, and/or postsecondary education destinations. Students will assess their learning abilities and use literacy, numeracy, and research skills and personal-management techniques to maximize their learning. Students will investigate trends and resources to support their postsecondary employment, training, and/or education choices and develop a plan to help them meet their learning and career goals.
    • Prerequisite: Recommendation of principal
  • Advanced Learning Strategies: Skills for Success After Secondary School, Grade 12, Open (GLS4O)
    This course improves students’ learning and personal-management skills, preparing them to make successful transitions to work, training, and/or postsecondary education destinations. Students will assess their learning abilities and use literacy, numeracy, and research skills and personal-management techniques to maximize their learning. Students will investigate trends and resources to support their postsecondary employment, training, and/or education choices and develop a plan to help them meet their learning and career goals.
    • Prerequisite: None
  • Advanced Learning Strategies: Skills for Success After Secondary School, Grade 12, Open (GLE4O)
    This course improves students’ learning and personal-management skills, preparing them to make successful transitions to work, training, and/or postsecondary education destinations. Students will assess their learning abilities and use literacy, numeracy, and research skills and personal-management techniques to maximize their learning. Students will investigate trends and resources to support their postsecondary employment, training, and/or education choices and develop a plan to help them meet their learning and career goals.
    • Prerequisite: Recommendation of principal
  • Navigating the Workplace, Grade 12, Open (GLN4O)
    This course provides students with opportunities to develop the workplace essential skills and work habits required for success in all types of workplaces. Students will explore occupations and careers of interest through participation in real workplace experiences. They will make plans for continued learning and work, work with others to design learning experiences, and investigate the resources and support required to make a smooth transition to their post- secondary destination.
    • Prerequisite: None