Explore. Connect. Build.
Prosper Career Independent Study gives students the opportunity to explore their interests, connect with professionals, and turn career curiosity into real-world experience.
One path, five stages, endless directions.
Discover
Identify interests, strengths, and possible career pathways.
Research
Investigate a chosen career field in depth.
Connect
Interview working professionals and build a network.
Create
Design a solution to a real problem or opportunity.
Showcase
Present findings, growth, and work publicly.
Skills students build by doing, not by studying for a test.
Career research
Independent investigation into a chosen field, its people, and its problems.
Professional interviews
Direct conversations with working professionals about their day-to-day reality.
Mentorship
An ongoing relationship with a professional mentor throughout the year.
Portfolio development
A documented body of research, interviews, and reflection.
Problem solving
Identifying a real opportunity in an industry and proposing a solution.
Networking
Building genuine professional relationships that extend beyond the classroom.
Professional communication
Writing, speaking, and presenting the way working professionals do.
Showcase presentation
Publicly presenting a year of work to an audience of peers and professionals.
Work worth paying attention to.
Learn from people already doing the work.
The latest issue.
See where PCIS can take you.
A year of research, relationships, and real work — built around the career you're curious about.
A career exploration program built on real relationships and real work.
PCIS is designed for Prosper ISD juniors and seniors who want to spend a year going deep on a career field — not reading about it, but living a version of it.
Independent study, professionally applied.
Students begin by focusing their study on a career topic of their choosing and conducting interviews with professionals in their chosen field. Students then select a mentor to work with throughout the year.
Along the way, PCIS students develop research portfolios, document professional interviews and observations, build professional communication skills, and participate in an end-of-year showcase — presenting a year of growth and work to an audience of peers, mentors, and professionals.
PCIS I
The foundation year. Students learn how to explore a field, talk to the people already in it, and think like a problem-solver inside a real industry.
PCIS II
The advancement year. Students take everything built in PCIS I and turn it outward — leading, mentoring, and working across disciplines to create impact beyond their own project.
What a year in PCIS actually looks like.
Six stages, one continuous arc — from first curiosity to a public showcase of real work.
Discover
Students identify interests, strengths, and potential career pathways.
Research
Students conduct in-depth research into their selected career field.
Connect
Students interview professionals and practice professional communication.
Mentor
Students work with a professional mentor to gain real-world perspective.
Create
Students identify a problem or opportunity within their industry and develop a proposed solution.
Showcase
Students present their work, findings, growth, and solutions.
A portfolio of PCIS project work.
The projects below are sample placeholders illustrating the range and quality of PCIS work — built to be replaced with real student projects.
PCIS supports exploration across every industry.
Whatever a student is curious about, there's a field here to build a year of study around.
Learn from people already doing the work.
Professional mentors help students gain practical insight into their chosen career field while developing professional and soft skills — through a relationship that runs the length of the program.
Build relationships. Ask better questions. Learn from experience.
A mentor gives you a direct line into a field — someone to ask the questions no textbook can answer.
- Work with one mentor throughout the year
- Get honest feedback on your project and ideas
- Practice professional communication in a real relationship
- Build a connection that can outlast the program itself
Share your experience. Help shape the next generation.
Mentors don't need a curriculum — just a willingness to talk honestly about their field and their path into it.
- Meet with a student periodically throughout the year
- Share real perspective on your industry
- Give feedback on a student-led project
- Support the next generation entering your field
Interested in becoming a PCIS mentor?
Tell us a little about yourself and your field — we'll follow up about next steps.
Stories, projects, people, and ideas from the PCIS community.
A quarterly publication documenting the people and work of PCIS — built so each new issue simply replaces the last.
Where the PCIS community shows up.
Dates and details below are placeholder / sample data for this prototype.
Questions about PCIS?
Reach out about the program, mentorship, or anything else — we'll point you in the right direction.
Questions about PCIS?
General questions about the program, eligibility, or how to enroll.
Interested in becoming a mentor?
Professionals interested in mentoring a PCIS student.
Want to learn more about the program?
Parents, counselors, and community members exploring PCIS.
Program office
Prosper ISD Career & Technical Education
Prosper, Texas
Office hours
Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Contact information shown here is placeholder text for this prototype and should be replaced with real Prosper ISD contact details.