Business Department
The Business Education department provides a comprehensive program of challenging courses in career preparation and technological literacy, enriched with a variety of extracurricular activities. Our half and full-year courses compliment academic study and provide opportunities for students to satisfy many of the commencement level NYS Learning Standards. Courses are designed to prepare students for post-secondary study and/or entry into the workforce.
Middle School Course Offerings:
Computers 1 (Comp1): 0.5 Unit Computer literacy is essential for success is today’s common core classroom, college and the workplace. Learning computer applications and touch typing will provide students with skills they need to complete technology integrated tasks. This half credit course is offered to 7th and 8 grade students. In this course, students will use Microsoft Office/Google Applications to gain an understanding of word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation and desktop publication applications. Students will also learn touch typing skills to improve overall keyboarding speed and proficiency. Successfully completing this course helps prepare students for high school, college and careers. Students will also be prepared to take Computer Applications 2 as well as advanced courses at the High School.
Computers 2 (Comp2): 0.5 Unit This half credit course is offered to 8 grade students. Computer Applications 1 is recommended but not required. In this course, students will review and build upon the foundation skills learned in Computers 1. They will use Microsoft Office/Google Applications to gain an understanding of advanced word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation applications and application integration. The course infuses Career Readiness and Personal Finance skills through computer projects. Students will also be introduced to coding and Web Design in the course.
Successfully completing this course helps prepare students for high school, college and careers. Students will also be prepared to take advanced courses at the High School.
Career and Financial Management (CFM): 0.5 Unit A course designed to develop basic skills needed to prepare students for the workforce and independent living. Students will focus on career exploration, how to get a job and write a resume and succeed on an interview as well as managing personal finances. In addition, student will learn how to open and use a bank account, get a credit card and apply for a loan.
Please note, this course is a high school level course. This course's final grade will be posted to the student's permanent high school transcript. The final course grade earned for this course will be calculated into a student's overall high school cumulative grade point average and credits earned may be used towards graduation requirements.
High School Business Course Offerings:
CAREER AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Semester, ½ credit (F623S) *CTE Pathway Course (required for both pathways; including culinary and business ownership) A course designed to develop basic skills needed to prepare students for the workforce and independent living. Students will focus on career exploration, how to get a job and write a resume and succeed on an interview as well as managing personal finances. In addition, student will learn how to open and use a bank account, get a credit card and apply for a loan. This course is recommended for all students, especially those interested in career and technical education. Students in this class will be given the option to take the 21st Century Skills exam which can be used towards the CDOS Option #1 credential for the 4 + 1 pathway.
HUMAN RELATIONS/DECISION MAKING Semester, ½ credit (F601S) *CTE Pathway Course (required for both pathways; including culinary and business ownership) Human Relations/Decision Making will help students understand the important fundamental elements of human relations, both personally and on the job. Students will develop the ability to solve problems and make decisions necessary in the world of work. Each student will be the manager of a business in a “model” community and will experience the action and excitement of a business career.
PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING Full Year, 1 credit (F611Y) *CTE Pathway Course This course is designed to develop the basic competencies necessary for a career in marketing, advertising, sales, visual merchandising, and a variety of business job clusters. Content of this course consists of the basic marketing functions, with emphasis on the retailing industry. Discover how the internet and social marketing, including Facebook and Instagram, are used in the business world. Many students will have an opportunity to visit businesses and experience the world of work first hand.
ACCOUNTING I Full Year, 1 credit (F609) *CTE Pathway Course This course provides the student with a foundation for an entry-level position as an accounting clerk or a bookkeeper and will also provide insight for the student who is considering a college major in accounting or business. Basic accounting concepts, principles, and procedures up to and including the financial statements are covered for both a service business and a merchandising business. Many students will have an opportunity to visit businesses and experience the world of work first hand. Accounting I will be of value to all students who are interested in pursuing a sequence in business. Peachtree Accounting software, which is used in industry today, is taught in this course. Students are also taught how to use Microsoft Excel in basic accounting systems.
VIRTUAL ENTERPRISE/BUSINESS OWNERSHIP Full Year, 1 credit (F614) *CTE Pathway Course This new and exciting course is part of the Virtual Enterprise International program which contains 5,000 student run businesses around the world. Students learn and apply skills in management, marketing, accounting, technology and more as they create and operate an internet based business. The hands-on approach is applied through the creation of an office setting in the classroom. Students come to work each day on the computer, independently and in small groups to run the daily operations of the business. As part of the Virtual Enterprise (VE), the class creates a Business Plan and attends a competition against other VE firms on Long Island. The class also attends a field trip to the VE International Trade Show in Manhattan where we set up a booth to “sell” our virtual product. Students from around the world attend the trade show, which is part of the Youth Business Summit. To get more information on this course, please visit www.veinternational.org Prerequisite: All 11th grade students are required to take at least one of the following classes prior to entrance: Microsoft Office, Accounting, and/or Principles of Marketing. For all students in grade 12, to prepare for success in Virtual Enterprise, it is strongly recommended that students take at least one of the following classes prior to entrance: Microsoft Office, Accounting, and/or Principles of Marketing Students will be charged tuition for this course if they choose to earn college credit from Farmingdale State College. College credit in this course is predicated upon payment of tuition. Students are responsible for requesting official transcripts from Farmingdale State College to be sent to post-secondary institutions for admission and/or credit.
WORK BASED LEARNING 216-hour requirement (S628) Work Based Learning (WBL) is the “umbrella” term used to identify activities which collaboratively engage employers and schools in providing structured learning experiences for students. These experiences focus on assisting students develop broad, transferable skills for postsecondary education and the workplace. A quality WBL program can make school-based learning more relevant by providing students with the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to real world situations. Work-based learning is supported in the school and at the work site. While school-based learning focuses on academic and career and technical preparation as part of the classroom curriculum, work site learning occurs, away from school, in a business or community organization. Successful completion of the 216-hour requirement, which may be earned through various work based experiences, may provide a New York State approved pathway for graduation.