Business
Business Education courses serve to prepare students for employment and offer life skills useful in high school, college and future work. If interested in completing the Business Administration Pathway and receive a CTE endorsement on your diploma, students must successfully complete the following requirements: Computer Essentials, Career Management & Personal Finance Management, and an approved Work-Based Learning course. Students must also complete two of the following courses: Marketing & Management, Accounting, or Business Law. Senior year, students must pass a NOCTI Technical Assessment.
PERSONAL FINANCE MANAGEMENT (CFM I)
Grades 9- 12 ½ year ½ credit
This course is designed to promote financial literacy and provide students with financial fitness skills for life. Throughout this course, students will explore everything from how the economy works to personal finance topics including, money management and budgeting, building credit, and risk management. If you want to ensure a successful financial future, this is a course you won’t want to miss out on!
CAREER MANAGEMENT
Grades 9-12 ½ year ½ credit
Do you think about life after high school or ever asked yourself what is my next step in life: college, a trade school, military, the workforce? This decision is easier when you take the time to reflect on what interests, skills, and abilities you possess and what careers might be a good match for you. In this course, students will explore the endless career opportunities available to them as well as emerging workplace trends. In addition, students will develop essential employment skills, including resume and cover letter writing, interviewing, communication, leadership and teamwork, as well as create a professional portfolio.Take the first step towards building your future!
COMPUTER ESSENTIALS
Grades 9-12 ½ year ½ credit
The most useful class you will ever take! Students will learn how to use computer programs such as Google Programs to enhance their ability to complete assignments during their high school career and beyond. Touch typing will be emphasized. In addition, students will learn cyber-safety skills, social networking, email, and professional documentation. BH-BL graduates have rated this course as one of the most important and useful courses they took in high school. This course is comprised of 20 percent keyboarding and 80 percent software applications.
ACCOUNTING
Grades 10-12 1 year 1 credit
4 CHS Credits through SCCC
Planning to major in business or run your own business? You will need to take Accounting. This course is an introduction to accounting terminology, and the analysis and application of financial knowledge. The students will learn about the application of financial systems. Topics will include: nature of assets, liabilities and equity; the recording and reporting cycle, financial reporting, and financial reporting standards. Students will be exposed to computer applications, cooperative learning, ethical issues, accounting careers, and will develop transferable skills. Students who successfully complete this course and pay a fee will receive four college credits.
BUSINESS LAW
Grades 10-12 ½ year | ½ credit
3 CHS credits offered through SUNY Albany
This college-level business law course provides students with an in-depth introduction to the fundamental principles of law as they apply to the business world. Through a combination of field trips, guest speakers, case studies, and real-world application, students will explore the intersection of law and business. Topics covered include: introduction to law, civil vs. criminal law, contract law, consumer law, employment and labor law, property law, and bankruptcy law. This course is designed for students interested in pursuing careers in business, law, or related fields, and provides the foundational knowledge needed to understand legal concepts critical to the success of businesses.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Grades 9-12 ½ year ½ credit
Interested in owning your own business? Entrepreneurship is the course for you! Learn how to structure a business, obtain financing, advertise, select a location and more. Students will identify and research a problem and develop an entrepreneurial business venture to solve the problem. Students will present their semester-long business venture projects at the conclusion of the semester in a Shark Tank style competition.
ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING
Grades 11, 12 ½ year ½ credit
Motion pictures, music, art, video games, theme parks and television marketing is one of the most exciting, unpredictable and rewarding careers a marketer can choose. From understanding and developing audiences to creating eye-catching promotional artwork, it’s all about putting customers into theater seats and buying eyes in front of televisions and computer screens. Course projects include, but are not limited to, restaurant theming, amusement ride development, music/movie legend exploration, and “create the next Best New Artist Grammy winner.” Students will have the opportunity for hands-on experience in the video production studio. This is an in-depth, practical class for those interested in marketing and the entertainment industry.
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
Grades 10- 12 ½ year ½ credit
The Capital Region continues to attract businesses from all over the world. International Business includes all business activities needed to create, ship and sell goods and services across national borders. This course will focus on theories that can be applied to doing business with any country outside the U.S. and the specific culture, etiquette, protocol and behavior styles of countries around the world. Students will have the opportunity to pitch a business that would be successful in each country studied.
INVESTING 101
Grades 10-12 ½ year ½ credit
This is a chance to cash in by acquiring the knowledge to help make money! Students will learn about the Stock Market, Investing Sectors, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Compound Interest, Futures Options, Crypto Currency and the regulatory environment. Start now on the road to financial literacy. Students will participate in the regional Stock Market Game and compete against other schools.
MARKETING & MANAGEMENT
Grades 10-12 1 year 1 credit
6 CHS credits offered through SCCC
Are you thinking of pursuing a business/management career or maybe owning your own business someday? This college credit-bearing course focuses on different types of businesses, management and leadership theories, marketing, advertising, and small business operations. Students will create commercials, design products, understand promotion and publicity, and develop pricing strategies. Course highlights include creating an advertising campaign for a community business and having hands-on experience in our video production studio. Students are encouraged to take this course to strengthen their management and leadership skills.
SPORTS MARKETING
Grades 10-12 ½ year ½ credit
This course introduces students to the exciting world of sports marketing, focusing on the functions and strategies that drive the sports industry. Students will explore key topics such as the fundamentals of sports marketing, current industry trends, and the various career opportunities in the field. The course covers essential aspects, including event planning, scheduling, budgeting, promotion, and the economic factors that shape the industry. Students will also delve into important issues like the NCAA, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), and the Event Triangle. Through field trips, guest speakers, and interactive projects, students will gain hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of how sports operate as a business.
MULTIMEDIA FOR BUSINESS
Grades 9-12 ½ year ½ credit
Students in business, students will act as multimedia specialists to create campaigns using strategies that mirror industry standards in the field of business. The production studio in the business education department will be the backdrop for real-life simulations. WeVideo and Adobe Express will be used to create marketing campaigns. Students will work both individually and in teams as they learn how to apply the technology and software for media creation, distribution and evaluation within the world of business. Topics include, but are not limited to, marketing through social media, TV commercial production, infomercial production, fundamentals of multimedia production, business communication techniques and marketing/business fundamentals.
YEARBOOK
Grades 11-12 ½ or 1 year ½ or 1 credit
Do you want to have a hand in making your school’s yearbook? This course provides students with a real-world application of business and marketing principles while giving them the opportunity to create a memorable yearbook that represents the spirit of the school year. This hands-on course combines elements of entrepreneurship, project management, design, and team collaboration, offering students valuable skills they can apply in future careers. Students will learn how to manage a budget, market the yearbook to potential buyers, handle advertising sales, and organize production timelines. They will also be responsible for overseeing the yearbook by keeping track of deadlines and ensuring every aspect of the project reflects the hard work and creativity of BH-BL students.