Career Pathways for High School Science Students
The purpose of education is to prepare young people to be productive in their adult lives. This includes readying them for college or a career after they leave high school. Many high school textbooks have focus features highlighting career pathways. When educators introduce students to careers and the road map to get there, it creates a bridge between academic learning and the working world. Career programs help students see the practical relevance of education, which significantly boosts engagement and graduation rates, while building technical competencies and skills like collaboration, problem-solving, organization, and accountability. Over 90% of high school students report that career planning is important to them while they are still in school.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were close to 8.6 million jobs in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in 2015 and 45% of those were in computer occupations. Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives of technical and scientific products was the largest STEM occupation not related to computers. This demonstrates the growth in the types of careers now available that encompass a background or a degree in the sciences, and even more reason educators need to introduce and build awareness in the varied career options that incorporate science.
When educators select a high-quality up-to-date textbook that includes career features, it makes introducing career pathways an integral part of classroom instruction. For example, Environmental Science: Sustaining Your World, written by Tyler Miller and Scott Spoolman for National Geographic Learning (NGL), was designed with career exposure in mind. This book and many other NGL textbooks incorporate National Geographic Explorers and the innovative research they’re doing around the world.
Using the Explorers as models, teachers can assign students to role-play a real scientist, researching that scientist’s work and presenting a “day in the life” scenario, including challenges and discoveries. Introductions to scientists and their work tie directly to standards and lesson objectives which provide clarity and understanding for students, resulting in deeper engagement in the classroom and in the world around them. By linking required standards-based content to an actual person and the work they do, teachers can use science to answer questions about the natural world, making learning real and something students can see themselves doing.
Once students understand scientific theories and how concepts are applied to advance research, teachers can have them play real-world roles, as a natural extension of instruction. For instance, teams can act as “consulting firms,” bidding for a lab project. Each team would present their strategy to solving a scientific problem, mimicking how real-world labs or research groups operate. This approach can be tied to a specific lab activity or project. Students can simulate a public hearing, playing as scientists, business leaders, government officials, and community members, debating an environmental issue such as building a dam or pollution control. This encourages research, critical thinking, and communication.
Another option is to group students into “research and design” teams tasked with developing a new product or process (e.g., a water filtration system or a renewable energy solution). Each team would present their design, explain the science behind it, and defend their choices. Teachers can use textbook features like “Chemistry in Your World” to have students role-play as chemists explaining how chemistry impacts everyday life, such as food science, medicine, or environmental protection. During lab activities, teachers can assign roles such as lab technicians, quality control managers, or safety officers, where students are responsible for specific tasks that mirror real laboratory environments. Students can also play as scientific journalists interviewing “scientists” (other classmates) about their research projects, experiments, or findings. Students who are artistically and musically inclined can add their talents as well by creating marketing campaigns with graphic design or by composing a jingle to sell a newly designed product. All of this helps reinforce understanding, collaboration, and communication skills.
By exposing students to a wide range of careers—including the many new fields in STEM and beyond—educators help students make informed decisions about their futures, develop relevant skills, and understand the pathways available to them after graduation. This comprehensive approach prepares students not just for college, but for meaningful careers in a rapidly changing world.
About the Author
Amy Strong’s passion for sharing lifelong learning has made her a dynamic, highly requested Science Engagement Specialist. Amy collaborates with clients and partners to develop customized, innovative training programs focused on the needs of the learning group. Amy began her career in stream ecology research, working for the National Biological Survey in Auburn, AL. She then earned a master’s degree in biological sciences from Wichita State University, where she realized her passion for teaching and training others. In 2001, Amy became the Assistant Director of the Fairmount Center for Science and Mathematics Education at Wichita State University, and in 2008, she was asked to join the team of national Engagement Specialists for National Geographic Learning/Cengage.
