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Mesquite ISD

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  1. Departments
  2. Teaching and Learning
  3. Career and Technical Education
  4. Programs of Study

Programs of Study

Find Your Passion in One of Our Programs of Study

Mesquite ISD offers 35 different Programs of Study designed to allow students to pursue their passions while preparing for continuing education or beginning a career after high school. Below you will find a brief summary from each of our Programs with a button that links to a more in depth look. Please note that most of our Programs are available to students attending any of our five comprehensive high schools (see the blue boxes) however, there are several Programs exclusively at Vanguard High School. 

A person wearing glasses sits at a desk, working on a computer with a spreadsheet displayed on the screen.

Accounting and Finance

Learn the skills necessary to perform financial services, prepare financial statements, interpret accounting records, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. 

Available at all five comprehensive high schools

A healthcare professional wearing a face mask examines a dental x-ray.

Dental Assistant

Learn about the dental assisting profession, ethics, communication skills, infection control and hazard management, clinical procedures, clerical functions, concepts in radiological and digital imaging.

Available exclusively at Vanguard High School

A man with a beard smiles warmly at the camera.

Law Enforcement

Learn about the development of, adherence to, and protection of various branches of law. Students will learn how to appropriately and legally respond to breaches in the law according to statutory rules and regulation,s as well as investigate how and why the breaches occurred.

Available at all five comprehensive high schools

A person wearing headphones sits in front of a computer screen, focused on a 3D animation.

Animation

Explore the occupations and educational opportunities associated with designing or creating graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos.

Available at all five comprehensive high schools

A group of young students sit on the floor in a classroom, listening attentively.

Early Learning

Learn early childhood education, which consists of instructing and supporting preschool students in activities that promote social, physical, and intellectual growth as well as in basic elements of science, art, music, and literature.

Available at all five comprehensive high schools

A hand points to a pie chart on a sheet of paper, surrounded by other documents.

Marketing & Sales

Learn how to collect information to determine potential sales of a product or service and/or create a marketing campaign to market or distribute goods and services.

Available at all five comprehensive high schools

Three students examine a model house in a classroom setting, with architectural drawings displayed on the wall.

Architectural Design

Explore the occupations and educational opportunities associated with developing, engineering, and designing building structures and facilities. This program of study may also include exploration into collecting and interpreting geographic information, researching and preparing maps, and interior design.

Available exclusively at Vanguard

Two students practice first aid techniques on a training dummy.

Emergency Medical Technician

Focused on extensive training for the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification and training to administer electrocardiograms. Students attend classroom instruction as well as complete clinical hours in an emergency room setting and on ambulance ride-outs.

Available exclusively at Vanguard

A healthcare worker checks on a patient in a hospital room.

Medical Assistant

Learn how to assist physicians with exams, take vital signs, practice aseptic technique, interview patients for medical history, provide documentation, perform clinical procedures, use laboratory techniques, understand medical terminology and understand office procedures.

Available exclusively at Vanguard

A cameraman operates a professional camera, capturing footage in a studio setting.

Audio/Video Production

Explore the occupations and educational opportunities associated with the production of audio and visual media formats for various purposes, such as TV broadcasts, advertising, video production, or motion pictures.

Available at all five comprehensive high schools

A person works on a computer, focusing on a 3D model displayed on the screen.

Engineering

Learn about the design, development, and use of engines, machines, and structures. Apply science, mathematical methods, and empirical evidence to the innovation, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of different manufacturing systems.

Available exclusively at Vanguard

Two pharmacy professionals work together in a well-stocked pharmacy.

Pharmacy Technician

Learn how to read a prescription, how to fill it, and how to work in a pharmacy. This program prepares the student to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification.

Available exclusively at Vanguard

Three young men work on a car project, wearing safety glasses and focusing on their task.

Automotive Collision

Learn what it takes to restore damaged vehicles to pre-accident condition and prepare for a career repairing and refinishing automobiles.

Available exclusively at Vanguard

A woman works on a laptop computer in an office setting, with a whiteboard behind her showing business-related diagrams.

Entrepreneurship

Learn how to plan, direct, and coordinate the management and operations of public

or private sector organizations. Through this program of study, students will learn the skills necessary to formulate policies, manage daily operations, analyze management structures, and plan for the use of materials and human resources.

Available at all five comprehensive high schools

A close-up of a medical monitor displaying a heart rate reading, with a finger pointing at the screen.

Phlebotomy Technician

Learn all aspects of blood collection, terminology, anatomy, physiology, blood collection procedures, specimen hands-on practice, and clinical training in skills and techniques to perform puncture methods.

Available exclusively at Vanguard

A female mechanic works on a car engine, using tools and wearing safety glasses.

Automotive Technology

Learn the skills required to begin a successful career in the automotive repair industry and how to use the alignment computer, alignment racks and many other industry tools.

Available exclusively at Vanguard

A woman wearing glasses focuses intently on sewing fabric with a sewing machine.

Fashion Design

Explore the occupations and educational opportunities associated with designing clothing and/or creating products to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as displays, accessories, or designs. 

Available at all five comprehensive high schools

A black and white photo of a house with a 'For Sale' sign in the foreground.

Real Estate

Would you like the opportunity to obtain your Texas Real Estate Salesperson license upon graduation and launch a career in real estate?

Available at all five comprehensive high schools

A young man in a white lab coat focuses intently on a test paper in a classroom setting.

Business Management

Learn how to plan, direct, and coordinate the administrative services and operations of an organization.

Available at all five comprehensive high schools

Two firefighters in uniform stand in a fire station, ready to serve their community.

Firefighter

Learn how to respond to emergency situations, such as medical emergencies and fire-based emergencies. Prepare for a career in emergency prevention and response. 

Available exclusively at Vanguard

A young person wearing glasses operates a robotic arm in a workshop setting.

Robotics

Ideal for students who wish to explore how industries use robots and automated systems. Basic programming skills
will be used to complete projects, and students will gain an understanding of programmable circuits. 

Available exclusively at Vanguard

Two people work together in front of computer monitors displaying technical data.

Computer Science

Interested in researching, designing, developing, and testing operating systems-level software, compilers, and network distribution software?

Available exclusively at Vanguard

 

A group of people collaborate around a table covered in design concepts and typography layouts.

Graphic Design

Explore the occupations and educational opportunities associated with designing or creating graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. 

Available exclusively at Vanguard

 

 

A teacher helps a student with their schoolwork in a classroom setting.

Teaching & Training

Prepare for a career related to teaching, instruction and the creation of instructional and enrichment materials.

Available at all five comprehensive high schools

 

A person wearing safety glasses operates a large circular saw in a workshop.

Construction Technology

Explore the occupations and educational opportunities related to constructing, installing, or repairing structures and fixtures made of wood, such as concrete forms, frameworks, partitions, joists, studding, rafters, and stairways.

Available exclusively at Vanguard

Two hands, one on top of the other, showing a gesture of care and support.

Health & Family Services

Focuses on occupational and educational opportunities associated with promoting physical, emotional, and mental health and wellness.

Available at all five comprehensive high schools

Two healthcare professionals assist a patient with a leg exercise.

Therapy Occupations

Prepare for therapeutic careers like physical therapy, occupational therapy and sports injury rehabilitation. Learn about injury prevention, evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation and emergency injury management.

Available exclusively at Vanguard

A stylist uses a hairdryer to style a client's hair.

Cosmetology

Are you passionate about providing personal beauty services, including hairstyling, bleaching, tinting, permanent waving, scalp and hair conditioning, hair cutting, facials, and manicures?

Available at all five comprehensive high schools

A classroom with anatomical models, desks, and a whiteboard.

Healthcare General

Learn about occupations and educational opportunities related to diagnosing and treating acute, episodic, or chronic illness independently or as part of a healthcare team.

Available at all five comprehensive high schools

A white airplane flies overhead, framed by palm tree branches.

Travel & Lodging

Explore occupations and educational opportunities related to the marketing and sales of travel and tourism services.

Available at all five comprehensive high schools

A chef in a white uniform smiles as they serve food to a group of people.

Culinary Arts

This program will prepare you for a career planning, directing or coordinating activities of a food and beverage organization or department.

Available at all five comprehensive high schools

A woman sits at a desk, focused on drawing on a large sheet of paper.

Interior Design

Explore occupational and educational opportunities associated with developing, engineering and designing structures and facilities for the built environment. Develop skills in measurement, reading technical drawings and drafting through project-based activities.

Available at all five comprehensive high schools

A veterinarian pets a corgi dog during a checkup.

Veterinary Science

The Veterinary Science program of study focuses on the science, research, and business of animals and other living organisms. It teaches CTE learners how to apply biology and life science to real‐world life processes of animals and wildlife, either in laboratories or in the field, which could include a veterinary office, a farm or ranch, or any outdoor area harboring animal life.

Available at all five comprehensive high schools

A smartphone with a lock icon on the screen sits on a laptop keyboard.

Cybersecurity

This program provides training for careers related to planning, implementing, upgrading, or monitoring security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. 

Available at all five comprehensive high schools

A welder works on a metal structure, sparks flying from the welding torch.

Welding

This program of study focuses on the development and use of automatic and computer-controlled machines, tools, and robots that perform work on metal or plastic.

Available at all five comprehensive high schools

CTE Connections