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What are Pathways?


Structured Plan
Each pathway consists of a specific set of courses focused on a particular career field or area of study, along with general education courses.

Explore Careers and/or Majors of Interest
Pathways are designed to align to majors, careers, and general areas of study that students may be interested in, allowing them to explore those interests with purpose and intentionality through Early College.
 
Opportunity for Self-Reflection, Learning, and Personal Growth
Pathways create opportunities for students to test their interests, reflect on their experiences, and develop a stronger sense of their goals after high school.  

Important Notes:
‒Students do not need to enroll in a pathway to take early college courses.
‒Completing a pathway does not result in a credential or degree.
‒There is no penalty if a student does not complete, or chooses not to complete, a pathway; all credit will still be earned for completing individual courses

Why Start a Pathway?


Credits with Purpose
Students can earn meaningful, transferable credits that are more likely to fit into their future degree programs. This may allow for flexibility in course loads, study time, and additional opportunities, such as pursuing a double major, adding minors, studying abroad, or even completing a degree in a shorter time frame, which can save students money. Learn more about why this is important on our Credits with a Purpose Page.

Clear Educational Roadmap
Pathways offer a structured plan that simplifies course selection, connects career interests with potential academic programs of relevance, and outlines a clear path from high school to college. This clarity enables students to make well-informed choices throughout their Early College experience. 
 
Strategic Skill Development: Planning & Goal Setting
By participating in a pathway, students cultivate essential skills like self-reflection, strategic scheduling, and goal setting. These skills not only reflect their dedication to higher education and thoughtful planning but also can provide an advantage when applying for scholarships, internships, jobs, and colleges.  

Important Notes:
‒If you plan to attend a specific University of Maine System (UMS) campus, then we recommend exploring the pathways offered by that campus.
‒For more information about how courses transfer from one campus to another, you can find more information on the Course Information Page under Transfer Equivalency Information.

Abbreviations:

UMAUniversity of Maine at Augusta
UMFUniversity of Maine at Farmington
UMFKUniversity of Maine at Fort Kent
UMUniversity of Maine
USMUniversity of Southern Maine
UMPIUniversity of Maine at Presque Isle
UMA Pathway Information (External Site)
UMF Pathway Information (External Site)
Logo for University of Maine at Fort Kent
Coming Soon!
UMaine Pathway Information (External Site)
USM Pathway Information (External Site)
UMPI Pathway Information (External Site)

For specific questions and information on the pathways above, contact the Early College Administrator at that campus.

Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources (External Site)

Workers in the agriculture, food, and natural resources cluster produce products and processes—from raising food and textile crops to breeding livestock and hunting wild game; from mining ore below the earth’s surface, to hazardous waste removal and wildlife conservation. Historic trends are giving way to new developments in this cluster.

Architecture & Construction (External Site)

The purpose of the construction industry is to build and maintain all kinds of structures, including homes, manufacturing plants, office buildings, streets and highways, sewers, irrigation projects, and more. The industry also includes related activities such as painting, electrical work, and plumbing.

Arts, Audio/Video, & Communications (External Site)

Careers in the Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications cluster focus on designing, producing, exhibiting, performing, writing, and publishing multimedia content including visual and performing arts and design, journalism, and entertainment services.

Business, Management, & Administration (External Site)

Careers in the Business Management and Administration cluster relate to planning, organizing, directing and evaluating business functions essential to efficient and productive business operations. Careers in leadership, management, and support roles are needed by all types of organizations to operate successfully.

Education & Training (External Site)

The education and training career cluster focuses on the activities, resources, and locations that provide all kinds of learning services. It includes careers at public and private schools at every level—pre-K through high school—as well as colleges and universities. Occupations at libraries, museums and corporate training services are also part of this cluster.

Energy (External Site)

Careers in the energy industry relate to extracting or harnessing power from a variety of sources, refining it and distributing it, and ensuring its safe use by consumers. With vast supplies of natural resources and ever-improving technologies, the United States is a global leader in the production of energy.

Finance (External Site)

Finance relates to the services involved in financial and investment planning, banking, insurance, and business financial management. The finance and insurance industry is all about managing money and making financial transactions—from a child’s first savings account to multimillion-dollar corporate loans.

General Studies/Undecided

Government & Public Administration (External Site)

Careers in Government and Public Administration relate to planning and performing government functions at the local, state and federal levels, including governance, national security, foreign service, planning, revenue and taxation, and regulations.

A primary goal of virtually all careers in public service is to help improve the quality of life and livelihood for the citizens represented, while supporting the betterment of the overall community.

Health Science (External Site)

The primary work of careers in the health science cluster is to treat patients facing illness or injury—whether to cure or rehabilitate from a condition, to maintain wellness, or to provide comfort or palliative care to persons dealing with incurable conditions.

Hospitality & Tourism (External Site)

Careers in the hospitality and tourism cluster relate to the management, marketing, and operations of restaurants and other food services, lodging, attractions, recreation events, and travel related services.

Human Services (External Site)

The Human Services career cluster relates to meeting human needs through activities such as counseling and mental health services, family and community services, personal care and consumer services.

Information Technology (External Site)

Information Technology relates to the design, development, support and management of hardware, software, multimedia and systems integration services. The United States is the world’s largest technology market, and the IT industry is a major contributor to our overall economy.

Law, Public Safety, & Corrections (External Site)

The law, public safety, corrections, and security career cluster is all about protecting and serving the public. People working in this sector deal with protecting life and property, enforcing laws, providing legal counsel, sentencing defendants, and rehabilitating offenders.

Manufacturing (External Site)

Workers in the manufacturing career cluster produce nearly all the products and equipment used in daily life. Manufacturing is the transformation of raw materials or parts into a new product.

Marketing (External Site)

The marketing career cluster includes sales and advertising, and focuses on influencing consumers’ buying behavior and generating sales for products and services. Just about every type of organization, from your corner grocer to regional banks, public universities to multinational corporations, participates in marketing in some way.

Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics (STEM) (External Site)

Careers in the Science Technology Engineering and Math cluster relate to planning, managing and providing scientific research and professional and technical services such as laboratory and testing services, and research and development services.

Transportation, Distribution, & Logistics (External Site)

The Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics cluster is all about moving people and things from one location to another quickly, safely, and at a low cost.

Workers in this industry design transportation systems, operate or repair equipment, plan how to move materials, and take care of storing products. Transportation systems included in this cluster include aircraft, railroad, waterways, over the road, and pipelines.

Downloadable Early College Career Exploration Pathways Brochures

Full-color, 8.5″ x 14″ – PDF Greyscale, 8.5″ x 14″ – PDF