GNST Group 3 Career Cluster

Welcome to our Team! Our names are Hailey Welch who has a minor in music with hopes of having a career path as a Production manager, Kylee Lombardo with a minor in psychology with hopes of a career becoming a BCBA, and Katelyn Moreno who has a minor in Psychology with hopes of having a career in business/corporate law . The career clusters we will be focusing on are the Arts, audio/video technology, human services/psychology, and Law! We can’t wait for you to explore our website and learn more about each of our career paths.

Overview:

Careers within the Human services involve a variety of jobs that apply with helping people. My chosen career will be within Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) which is a therapy focused on improving socially significant behaviors through learning principles, and Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) play a key role in designing and overseeing these interventions. ABA aligns with the Human Services career cluster. BCBA’s responsibilities include conducting assessments, developing treatment plans, monitoring progress, and working closely with families to promote positive behavioral changes.

The career cluster that matches my career goal of practicing corporate/business law falls under human services. Careers in this cluster range from community and social service occupations to personal care and service occupations.

Within the Arts, A/V technology, and communications cluster there is a focus on designing, production, publishing of multimedia content, and writing. A few examples of occupations that fall under this career cluster are jobs within the entertainment industry, journalism jobs, and visual arts.

History of Career Cluster

Arts, A/V technology, and communications cluster history:

With the emergence of technology becoming more prevalent in the 1970s and 1980s through the advancements of video production, cable television, and the capabilities of computers improving, more jobs were created that fit into the Arts, A/V Technology, and Communications cluster. In addition to this, throughout the 90s the internet began to become something that more people could now easily access through the use of personal computers and public computers. Web publishing, graphic design, and multimedia production began to create a bigger need for skilled workers in these areas which lead to a growth in created jobs. This has continued on into the 21^st century with the use of social media and digital marketing becoming a cornerstone for many businesses and companies in how they communicate with the public. An additional benefit of this use of technology is that it has helped further the reach of services such as human services, rehabilitation, and medical services due to being able to provide higher levels of service.

Law, Public safety, corrections, and security:

The Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security career cluster has essentially been around since the birth of our country as law enforcement and legal systems have been in place in some capacity though they have gone through many changes since the 19^th century and continue to today. As cities and populations began to grow in the 19^th century the rise of public safety jobs such as police officers, fire departments, criminal investigators, and legal prosecutors employment levels have risen in this career cluster. In the 21^st century, the occupation of independent contracting for the government has continued to rise in the public safety sector with jobs in city upkeep and required maintenance. In conclusion, the Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security cluster is an important sector that can be found globally and the demand for jobs is consistent as these are occupations that will be continued well into the future and will change and evolve with society over time.

Similarities

Strong Communication Skills: All three career clusters require excellent communication abilities, whether it’s conveying ideas visually or verbally in the arts, counseling and understanding clients in human services, or advocating and presenting cases in law.

Interpersonal Skills: Many roles within these fields require strong people skills to connect with clients, audiences, or collaborators. Human Services and Psychology involve direct interaction and counseling, while careers in Arts and Communications focus on engaging audiences. Law careers also require the ability to connect with clients and work collaboratively with peers in legal settings.

Problem-Solving and Analytical Skills: Careers in Psychology, Law, and Human Services involve analyzing situations to find solutions, a trait shared with some roles in Arts and Communications, where media professionals interpret and represent real-life issues through creative work

Creativity and Critical Thinking: Creativity is key in arts and communications, but human services and law also require it when approaching complex human behavior or unique legal challenges. Critical thinking aids in decision-making, whether for a media project, a client treatment plan, or a legal case.

Ethics and Confidentiality: Working with clients or sensitive information requires a strong ethical framework. In human services, psychology, and law, confidentiality and ethics are paramount due to sensitive information. Similarly, arts and communications professionals often deal with ethical considerations in media, privacy, and representation.

Communication and Storytelling: Communicating complex concepts is a common thread, whether through legal arguments, psychological assessments, or media content creation. Careers in Arts and A/V Technology often involve storytelling, a skill also crucial in Law for constructing persuasive cases and in Psychology for conveying diagnoses and treatment options.

Differences

Primary Focus and Objectives:

The Arts, A/V Technology, and Communications cluster focuses on creating, producing, and presenting artistic or multimedia content, such as acting, graphic design, and broadcasting. Careers here are often centered on creativity and innovation in media and arts.
Human Services and Psychology careers are centered on assisting individuals with emotional, social, and physical needs, including roles like social workers and therapists. This cluster focuses heavily on empathy, support, and guidance.
The Law cluster revolves around protecting society, upholding justice, and enforcing laws. This cluster includes professions like lawyers and judges emphasizing analytical skills, critical thinking, and ethics.

2. Work Environments and Structure:

Jobs in Arts and Communications are often found in creative environments like studios, theaters, and production companies. They may offer flexible schedules, emphasizing project-based work.
Human Services jobs are typically based in structured settings, such as social service agencies, counseling centers, and schools, where they follow systematic protocols and ethical guidelines for client support.
Law professionals often work in government buildings, law offices, and courtrooms with more rigid schedules and formal environments. The structure here is focused on adherence to legal processes and regulations.

3. Required Skills and Education:

Arts and Communications careers prioritize creativity, technical skills in media, and often a portfolio or creative track record; degrees in arts or media are common but may not always be required.
Human Services roles generally require strong interpersonal and empathetic skills, with a background in psychology or social work, and often require certification or licensing for clinical roles.
Law professions typically demand extensive education (often a law degree or specialized training) and a high level of critical thinking, with professional licensing required for many roles.

Current and Projected Trends:

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA):

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth is promising for Behavior Analysts. Growth for this career is expected to grow 22% from 2016 to 2026. (Are aba therapists in high demand? BCBA job growth rate) This is due to the positive impact that applied behavior analysts have on the community. Along with promising job growth, the career offers competitive salaries and benefits. Due to the demand for applied behavior analysis, many companies offer competitive incentives for those with experience.

According to Yellow Bus, The average median salary for an ABA is 82,000 a year. (The rate of job growth for bcbas 2024)
The states with the highest demand for behavior analysts are California, Massachusetts, Texas, Florida, and Georgia. (US employment demand for behavior analysts: 2010-2023)

Arts, A/V & technology:

According to Zippia, production director jobs are in high demand

In the next 10 years, there is a projection of 12,800 new jobs for Production Directors in the United States. (Production Director Trends)
Currently, there are 59,417 Production Director job openings in the US.(Production Director Trends)
The salary of the average Production Director salary is 118,207(Production Director Trends)

Corporate Business Law:

According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, corporate/business law has a job growth rate of 5%. In addition, they are in high demand. There are 35,600 job openings for lawyers in a year.

The median salary for a business lawyer is 145,000
According to Zippia, 80,200 new jobs are projected over the next decade.
Currently, there are 12,747 openings in the US for corporate lawyers.

Collective minor(s)/past courses contribute to your future occupational opportunities:

Kylee: My minor is Psychology with past courses in Education which helped lead me to my future career path within the field of Applied Behavior Analysis(ABA). My courses in the education field gave me the basic knowledge of how to learn and determine the functions of children’s behavior. Additionally my minor in psychology has helped broaden my knowledge with understanding the behavior side of people’s minds.

Katelyn: My minor is psychology with courses in business. The courses in psychology are valuable for my future career as a business/corporate lawyer. They will help me with client relations. My previous coursework in business gives me a basic understanding of what to expect in law school.

Hailey: My minor is in Music and I have taken many courses in Music Education prior to switching majors. My minor and these previous courses will be valuable going forward for myself since they have provided me with opportunities to practice my interpersonal relationships and having to articulate ideas and concepts in multiple different ways.

Sources:

(N.d.-b). Retrieved from https://www.air.org/sites/default/files/CTEClusters.pdf
Agency. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ksde.org/Agency/Division-of-Learning-Services/Career-Standards-and-Assessment-Services/Content-Area-A-E/Arts-A-V-Technology-and-Communications-CTE-Career-Cluster
(N.d.-a). Retrieved from https://www.careeronestop.org/ExploreCareers/Learn/CareerClusters/arts-audio-video-and-communications-career-cluster.aspx
Prepory. (2024). The 16 career clusters explained: Guide, definitions & benefits. Retrieved from https://prepory.com/blog/career-clusters/
(N.d.-a). Retrieved from https://www.careeronestop.org/ExploreCareers/Learn/CareerClusters/law-public-safety-corrections-security-career-cluster.aspx
(N.d.-a). Retrieved from https://www.careeronestop.org/ExploreCareers/Learn/CareerClusters/arts-audio-video-and-communications-career-cluster.aspx
Are aba therapists in high demand? BCBA job growth rate. The Treetop ABA Therapy. (n.d.). https://www.thetreetop.com/aba-therapy/job-growth-rate
Production Director Trends. Zippia. (n.d.). https://www.zippia.com/production-director-jobs/trends/
The rate of job growth for bcbas. Yellow Bus ABA Therapy In New York. (2024, February 19). https://www.yellowbusaba.com/post/the-rate-of-job-growth-for-bcbas
US employment demand for behavior analysts: 2010-2023. (n.d.). https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/us_employmentdemand_ba/
Corporate lawyer trends. Zippia. (n.d.-a). https://www.zippia.com/corporate-lawyer-jobs/trends/