Business & Entrepreneurship Pathway
From major corporations to independent businesses, every operation needs skilled managers and leaders in order to succeed.
The Business Pathway is perfect for students who want to own a business, or like working with and managing money, or who want to learn how to run a business and make a profit.
The High School of BusinessTM curriculum is designed much like a college-level business administration course sequence. Students may choose a speech/leadership or business accounting course in grade 9. In grade 10, students take courses related to Business Economics and in grade 11, the courses focus on Marketing and Finance. The courses in grade 12 cover Business Entrepreneurship. Team projects give students the opportunity to collaborate with fellow students, as well as interact with local businesses. The Pathway ends with a capstone course that challenges students to apply the knowledge and skills learned throughout the program to complete a fun, but challenging, project.
Business Curriculum
Benefits:
Rigorous & challenging
College connected
Embedded English Language Arts and math
Project based
Development and application of research, critical thinking and collaboration skills
Students choosing the Business Pathway opt in as freshmen, taking a speech/leadership or business accounting year-long course in grade 9, and two semester-long courses per year for grades 10-12. Pathway certification requirements include: completion of four years of pathway classes with a grade of B or better; completion of a business plan; an electronic portfolio; a life after high school plan; and a minimum number of hours of hands-on business experience.
GRADE 10 - Yearlong Course called BUSINESS ECONOMICS [introductory course]
Principles of Business - semester one
This project-based business course develops students’ understanding and skills in the areas of business law, economics, financial analysis, human resources management, information management, marketing, operations, and strategic management. Through immersion and completion of three projects, students acquire an understanding and appreciation of the business world. Students will develop a business analysis report, conduct an environmental scan of the local business community, and investigate business activities.
Business Economics - semester two
This project-based business course helps students expand their understanding that businesses are influenced by external factors that are often beyond their control. Consumer spending, government policies, economic conditions, legal issues, and global competition are addressed through practical, current applications to everyday societal and business life. Decision matrices are introduced, and the importance and costs of quality are stressed. Students develop their knowledge and skills in such areas as economics, entrepreneurship, operations, and professional development.
GRADE 11 - Yearlong Course called MARKETING and FINANCE - [concentrator course]
Principles of Marketing - semester one
This project-based business course helps students develop understanding and skills in the functional areas of marketing: channel management, marketing-information management, market planning, pricing, product/service management, promotion, and selling. Students acquire an understanding and appreciation of each marketing function and the related ethical and legal issues. Decision matrices are employed to aid in market planning.
Principles of Finance - semester two
This course furthers the students’ understanding of two specific business activities—managerial accounting and finance—both introduced in the Principles of Business. Through team activities and a semester-long corporate investment project, students make connections between accounting and finance. Students acquire an understanding of financial statements, calculate financial ratios, cost/benefit analysis, and make corporate financial management decisions based on their analysis of financial data. Students will apply the concepts of operating and overhead costs, internal accounting controls, and budgets to their class business.
GRADE 12 - Yearlong Course called BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURSHIP [capstone course]
Principles of Management
In this course, students get a better understanding of management skills introduced in the Principles of Business course. Through individual and team activities and a semester-long project, students make connections between management and business success. Students acquire an understanding of legal and ethical issues associated with management; initiate, plan, implement and control, and close a project; motivate team members; delegate work; develop a chain of command; coordinate work efforts; and interpret statistical findings.
Business Strategies
Decision-making and problem-solving skills are applied in this project-based course where students further develop understanding and skills in the areas of business law, entrepreneurship, financial analysis, human resources management, and strategic management. By planning, organizing, staffing, directing, leading, and controlling business activities, students acquire a realistic understanding of what is required to open and successfully run a business. They conduct situational, market, and competitive analyses; select a target market; develop a business plan; recruit, interview, select, and hire staff; supervise staff; control use of resources; and evaluate the results of the business effort.
Partners
The High School of BusinessTM curriculum prepares students to excel in college-level business administration programs.
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