Agribusiness is the coordination of all activities that contribute to the production, processing, marketing, distribution, financing and development of agricultural commodities and resources. This includes food, fiber, wood products, natural resources, horticulture, and other plant and animal products and services. Agribusiness is a high-tech industry that uses satellite systems, computer databases and spreadsheets, biotechnology and many other innovations to increase efficiency and profitability.

People who work in the Animal Systems pathway work to develop better, more efficient ways of producing and processing meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products. They study genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth and development of domesticated farm animals. Some individuals inspect and grade livestock food products, purchase livestock or work in technical sales or marketing. Others advise agricultural producers on how to upgrade animal housing facilities properly, lower mortality rates, handle waste matter or increase production of animal products, such as milk or eggs. Animal care workers train, feed, water, groom, bathe and exercise animals. They also clean, disinfect and repair their cages.

People who work in the Environmental Service Systems pathway are involved in water and air pollution control, recycling, waste disposal and public health issues. Environmental engineers and technicians conduct hazardous-waste management studies, evaluate the significance of the hazard, offer analysis on treatment and containment, and develop regulations to prevent mishaps. They design municipal sewage and industrial wastewater systems. They analyze scientific data, research environmental projects and perform quality control checks.

People who work in the Food Products and Processing Systems pathway discover new food sources, analyze food content and develop ways to process, preserve, package or store food according to industry and government regulations. They create new food products to meet consumer needs and inspect food-processing areas to ensure that sanitation, safety, quality and waste management standards are met.

People who work in the Natural Resources Systems pathway perform a variety of tasks from helping to develop, maintain, and manage the forest and natural environment to catching and trapping various types of marine life for human consumption, animal feed, bait and other uses. Forest and rangelands supply wood products, livestock forage, minerals and water; serve as sites for recreational activities; and provide habitats for wildlife. Conservation scientists and foresters manage, develop, use and help protect these and other natural resources.

People who work in the Plant Systems pathway study plants and their growth. This helps producers of food, feed and fiber crops continue to feed a growing population while conserving natural resources and maintaining the environment. Individuals in this pathway also develop ways to improve the nutritional value of crops and the quality of seeds. They use genetic engineering to develop crops resistant to pests and drought.

People who work in the Power, Structural and Technical Systems pathway apply knowledge of engineering, hydraulics, pneumatics, electronics, power, structures, and controls to the field of agriculture. They design agricultural structures as well as machinery and equipment. They develop ways to conserve soil and water and to improve the processing of agricultural products.

Employees in construction literally build our future! These are the people who build and remodel houses, apartments, industrial buildings, warehouses, office buildings, churches, schools and recreational facilities. This pathway also includes the builders of highways, streets, bridges, tunnels and airports as well as power plants, chemical plants, refineries and mills.

People with careers in design and pre-construction create our future! They turn a concept into a set of plans. Their plans guide other construction professionals as they continue the building process.

Employees in maintenance and operations keep our future intact! These are the people who unload, inspect, and move new equipment into position. They determine the optimal placement of machines in a plant, assemble machinery, install machinery, repair machinery and perform preventive maintenance. They detect, diagnose and correct minor problems on machinery. They keep the structure of an establishment in good repair. They maintain the smooth operation of refineries, power plants, chemical plants and mills.

News analysts, reporters and correspondents gather information, prepare stories and make broadcasts that inform us about local, state, national and international events; present points of view on current issues; and report on the actions of public officials, corporate executives, special interest groups and others who exercise power.

A variety of businesses and groups involved in theatrical and musical performances are included in this pathway. Theatrical production companies, for example, coordinate all aspects of producing a play or theater event. Agents represent actors and assist them in finding jobs. Costume design management companies design costumes. Lighting and stage crews handle the technical aspects of productions.

The printing process has three stages-prepress, press and binding or post-press. Prepress workers prepare material for printing presses. They perform a variety of post tasks involved with transforming text and pictures into finished pages and making printing plates of the pages. The printing industry is rapidly moving toward complete "digital imaging," by which customers' material received digitally is converted directly into printing plates. Other innovations in prepress work are digital color page makeup systems, electronic page layout systems and off-press color proofing systems. Printing press operators prepare, operate and maintain the printing presses in a pressroom.

Telecommunications specialists focus on the interaction between computer and communications equipment. Telecommunications equipment is computerized and can communicate a variety of information, including data, graphics and video. The workers who set up and maintain this sophisticated equipment are telecommunications equipment technicians, installers and repairers.

Visual artists create art to communicate ideas, thoughts or feelings. They use a variety of methods—painting, sculpting, illustrating—and an assortment of materials, including oils, watercolors, acrylics, pastels, pencils, pen and ink, photography, plaster, clay and computers. Their works may be realistic, stylized or abstract and may depict objects, people, nature or events.

Administrative Support facilitates business operations through a variety of administrative and clerical duties including information and communication management, data processing and collection, and project tracking.

Business Information Management is an umbrella term covering those careers that provide a bridge between business processes/initiatives and IT. Employees in this area help to align business and IT goals.

General Management focuses on careers that plan, organize, direct, and evaluate all or part of a business organization through the allocation and use of financial, human, and material resources.

Operations Management focuses on planning, organizing, coordinating, and controlling the resources needed to produce/provide a business's goods and/or services. Examples of activities in Operations Management are quality control, scheduling, procurement, and warehousing.

Human Resources Management focuses on the staffing activities that involve planning, recruitment, selection, orientation, training, performance appraisal, compensation, and safety of employees.

Smooth operation of any education or training institution requires competent administration. Administrators provide direction, leadership and day- to-day management of educational activities in schools, preschools, daycare centers, colleges, universities, businesses and industries, correctional institutions, museums, and job training and community service organizations.

This pathway represents a variety of high specialized occupations that are critical to our education and training systems. Counselors, psychologists, social workers, speech-language pathologists and audiologists assist people with personal and family needs, mental health assistance, educational goals and career decision making.

In addition to be knowledgeable in their subject, teachers and trainers must have the ability to communicate, inspire trust and confidence, and motivate learners, as well as understand their educational and emotional needs. Teachers must be able to recognize and respond to individual differences in diverse learners, and employ different teaching/training methods that will result in higher learner achievement.

Accounting encompasses careers that record, classify, summarize, analyze, and communicate a business's financial information/business transactions for use in management decision-making. Accounting includes such activities as bookkeeping, systems design, analysis, and interpretation of accounting information.

Primarily concerned with accepting deposits, lending funds, and extending credit, banking services include cash management, short-term investments, mortgages and other loans, credit cards, and bill payment. Banking services are delivered via a number of different institutions, from commercial banks (the largest group) and other traditional means (savings and loans associations, credit unions, and local banks) to newer ventures through insurance companies, brokerage houses, and the internet.

The business finance function in a company is to manage policy and strategy for (and the implementation of) capital structure, budgeting, acquisition and investment, financial modeling and planning, funding, dividends, and taxation.

The insurance industry, which exists to protect individuals and businesses from financial losses, delivers services that transfer risk from an individual or business to an insurance company.

The securities and investments industry consists of brokerage firms, investment banks, and stock exchanges, all of which support the flow of funds from investors to companies and institutions. Related services include financial planning, asset management, hedge fund management, and custody services.

Maintaining a strong national security encompasses such diverse activities as running a hospital, commanding a tank, programming computers, operating a nuclear reactor, or repairing and maintaining a helicopter. The military provides training and work experience in these fields and many others for more than 2.5 million people who serve in the active Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, their Reserve components, and the Air and Army National Guard.

People  who work in the Planning pathway develop long- and short-term land  use plans to provide for growth and revitalization of urban, suburban, and rural communities, while helping local officials make decisions concerning social, economic, and environmental issues.

Government agencies and public corporations and trusts have specific and rigorous standards for the stewardship of public resources. Public management careers will require technical skills related to budgeting, personnel management, procurement or other activities, and specific knowledge of the regulations and other policies that govern public management.

People who work in the Regulation pathway will typically possess a body of technical knowledge about an industry, the environment, or technology. This –coupled with a knowledge of related laws, rules, and regulatory systems –permit regulators to protect our health, safety, and environment as well as ensure the integrity of our financial, transportation, and public utility industries.

People who work in the Revenue and Taxation pathway ensure that governments obtain revenue from businesses and citizens by collecting audits, monitoring taxes payable and collecting overdue tax dollars.

Officials involved in the governance pathway uphold the structure of our government. They typically work with constituents, or voters represented by elected officials; while others resolve conflicts among interest groups with opposing goals.

Careers in this pathway use tests and evaluations that aid in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, injuries or other physical conditions.

Careers in the Health Informatics pathway include includes health care administrators who manage health care agencies as well as those individuals who are responsible for managing all of the patient data and information, financial information, and computer applications related to health care processes and procedures.

Careers in the Support Services pathway provide a therapeutic environment for the delivery of health care. Support Services offers a full range of career opportunities from entry level to management, including technical and professional careers.

Careers in this pathway are focused primarily on changing the health status of the patient over time. Health professionals in this pathway work directly with patients. They may provide care, treatment, counseling and health education information.

Careers in the Biotechnology Research and Development pathway involve bioscience research and development as it applies to human health. These scientists may study diseases to discover new treatments or invent medical devices used to directly assist patients or to improve the accuracy of diagnostic tests.

Employees working in the Lodging pathway perform tasks related to the operation of lodging facilities and the care of guests who use these facilities, either through direct guest contact or the provision of background services that enhance the guest experience.

Employees looking for exciting and diverse work situations are best suited for the Recreation, Amusements and Attractions pathway. The work is often demanding but never boring. Good customer service skills are essential for success. Employees must also understand what makes each operation unique. Technical skills are location-specific, and training is handled on the job.

Employees working in the Restaurants and Food/Beverage Services pathway perform a variety of tasks to maintain operations and promote guest services in eating and drinking establishments.

Employees in the Travel and Tourism pathway focus on the development, research, packaging, promotion, and delivery of a traveler’s experiences. There is a broad range of jobs in this pathway. Employees may be involved in developing a heritage area for the enjoyment and education of visitors, creating guide books, planning trips and events, managing a customer’s travel plans or overseeing a huge urban convention center.

People with careers in consumer services assist individuals with decisions and problems relating to finance, real estate, insurance and consumer goods.

People working in counseling and mental health services assist people with personal, family, educational, mental health, and career decisions and problems. Mental health care may be provided in hospitals, clinics, schools, or private settings.

People with careers in early childhood development and services nurture and teach children. They provide services in childcare centers, nursery schools, preschools, public schools, private households, family childcare homes, and before- and after-school programs.

Employees with careers in family and community services help the homeless, housebound, and infirm cope with circumstances of daily living; counsel troubled and emotionally disturbed individuals; train or retrain the unemployed or underemployed; care for the elderly and the physically and mentally disabled; help the needy obtain financial assistance; and solicit contributions for various social services organizations.

People with careers in personal care services assist individuals with their personal appearance, including shampooing, cutting, coloring, and styling hair, giving manicures, pedicures, and scalp and facial treatments; providing makeup analysis; cleaning and styling wigs and hairpieces .

Careers in Information Support and Services involve IT deployment, including implementing computer systems and software, providing technical assistance and managing information systems. Successful IT deployment—implementation of computer systems and software, provision of technical assistance, creation of technical documentation and management of information systems—is critical to the success of most 21st century organizations.

Careers in Programming and Software Development involve the design, development, implementation and maintenance of computer systems and software, requiring knowledge of computer operating systems, programming languages and software development. People with expertise in programming and software development work with cutting-edge technologies to develop tomorrow’s products for use by businesses and consumers.

Careers in Web and Digital Communications involve creating, designing and producing interactive multimedia products and services, including development of digitally-generated or computer-enhanced media used in business, training, entertainment, communications and marketing.

Careers in Network Systems involve network analysis, planning and implementation, including design, installation, maintenance and management of network systems. Successful establishment and maintenance of information technology infrastructure is critical to the success of almost every 21st century organization.

Workers in the Correction Services pathway are responsible for overseeing individuals who have been arrested and are awaiting trial or who have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to serve time in a jail, reformatory, or penitentiary. While the primary mission of corrections is protection of the public, many in this field are involved with the treatment, education and reintegration of offenders.

Every year, fires and other emergencies take thousands of lives and destroy property worth billions of dollars. Firefighters and emergency services workers help protect the public against these dangers by rapidly responding to a variety of emergencies. They are frequently the first emergency personnel at the scene of a traffic accident or medical emergency and may be called upon to put out a fire, treat injuries or perform other vital functions.

People depend on police officers and detectives to protect their lives and property. Law enforcement officers have duties that range from controlling traffic to preventing and investigating crimes. They maintain order, enforce laws and ordinances, issue traffic summonses, investigate accidents, present evidence in court, serve legal documents for the court system, as well as apprehend, arrest and process prisoners.

The legal system affects nearly every aspect of our society, from buying a home to crossing the street. Workers in the Legal Services pathway form the backbone of this vital system, linking it to society in many ways. For this reason, they hold positions of great responsibility and are obligated to adhere to a strict code of ethics.

Security personnel often work in public buildings such as museums or art galleries to protect paintings and exhibits by inspecting people and packages entering and leaving the building. In factories, laboratories, government buildings, data processing centers, and military bases, security officers protect information, products, computer codes, and defense secrets and check the credentials of people and vehicles entering and leaving the premises.

Process Development is responsible for product design and design of the manufacturing process. They work with customers to ensure the manufacturing process produces a product that meets or exceeds customer expectations. They also monitor the manufacturing process and the materials used to manufacture the product.

People with careers in production work on the shop floor making parts or assembling them. They work with machines, making or assembling electronic parts, constructing or assembling modular housing, performing welding jobs, or printing various materials.

People with careers in this pathway perform preventive maintenance procedures on machines, tools and equipment. These are performed routinely and on a regular basis. They also troubleshoot and repair electrical, electronic and mechanical systems. This will include mechanical repair as well as using computer-based inventory control systems, retrieving information histories on each machines from computer records, and recording repair activities on the system to keep accurate records of repairs performed on each machine.

Quality Assurance employees assure that standards and procedures are adhered to and that delivered products or services meet performance requirements. They may have responsibility for monitoring and maintaining the quality of parts and manufacturing processes. This could include identifying the raw product to ensure it meets specifications, as well as measuring or otherwise testing products and parts to ensure they meet required customer specifications.

Employees in professional sales are involved in the transfer of goods and services in the economy, both to businesses and to individual consumers.

Marketing communications employees plan, coordinate and implement marketing strategies advertising promotion and public relations activities. Because of the importance and high visibility of their jobs, these individuals often are prime candidates for advancement.

People with careers in marketing management formulate policies and direct the operations of businesses and corporations, nonprofit institutions and other organizations. In small firms, the owner or chief executive officer may assume all advertising, promotions, marketing, sales and public relations responsibilities. In large firms, which may offer numerous products and services nationally or even worldwide, an executive vice president directs overall advertising, promotions, marketing, sales and public relations policies.

Employees in marketing research are concerned with understanding people and organizations. They collect and analyze many different types of information to design new products, to predict future sales and to position their own company's strategies against those of its competitors.

Employees in buying and merchandising positions get the product into the hands of the customer. This process includes forecasting, planning, buying, displaying, selling and providing customer service.

Those who choose careers in this pathway apply essential math and science content and skills in a real world context. Science and math occupations include those in physical, environmental and human endeavors. Career possibilities range from teachers of science and math to lab technicians to NASA astronauts.

For a future in this pathway, students should study and apply principles from advanced mathematics, life sciences, physical science, earth and space science, and technology. In addition, future engineers and technologists should learn certain processes in mathematics, science and technology, as well as important science concepts and processes with an understanding of physics, chemistry and biology as a minimal set.

Careers in the Transportation Operations pathway are really on the move! These are the people that drive or pilot the vehicles that transport people and freight. Equally important to this pathway are the support people who ensure that any cargo transport is safe, secure, and on time.

Careers in the Facility and Mobile Equipment Maintenance pathway include the maintenance, repair, and servicing of vehicles and transportation facilities, as well as the refueling of mobile equipment. All transportation relies on equipment which must function as designed, whenever needed. The people in this pathway keep the equipment and machinery running while looking for more efficient, safe, and cost-effective ways to do so.

Careers in the Logistics Planning and Management Services pathway involve the planning, management and control of the physical distribution of materials, products, and people. Often, more than one mode of transportation is used as distribution efforts can be complex, even national or global. These people are responsible for the plans which will ensure that cargo arrives at the right location, on time, and in the safest, most economical manner.

Careers in the Sales and Service pathway involve the marketing and selling of transportation services to new customers as well as the management of existing customer relationships and customer service.

Careers in the Transportation Systems/Infrastructure Planning, Management and Regulation pathway deal with all aspects of the design and operation of our public transportation systems - road, air, sea and rail. These functions are primarily the responsibility of people who are employed by federal, state and local transportation agencies. Many businesses work to assist these agencies in their efforts.