Career and Financial Management (10, 11, 12)

One Semester, 1/2 credit

The purpose of this course is to have students become financially literate. The course curriculum was created by the University of Chicago STEM Education Department. Topics include; credit, banking, insurance, money management, and investing. The curriculum is research-based from one of the top universities in the country. Though not mandated by the state, most students who take the course say it should be! This course will also meet the requirement of career and technical education (CTE) program including five-unit CTE programs used as a substitution for the additional two units of foreign language needed for a Regents diploma with Advanced Designation.

Accounting (10, 11, 12)

Full Year, 1 credit

Accounting will play an important role in the lives of students who will become consumers, business owners, employees, or entrepreneurs. Therefore, lessons learned from accounting will enable students to manage “personal” and “economic” finances. This course is designed to provide students with a thorough understanding and mastery of the fundamental elements of double-entry accounting. Students will be able to: understand and use business accounting terminology with ease; identify how accounting serves as a basis for careers; understand how individuals make ethical business decisions; understand the structures of business proprietorships, partnerships and corporations; analyze business transactions; understand the accounting cycle; develop and use balance sheets, journals, ledgers and worksheets; develop and use an income statement; handle a checking account; understand the method of developing payroll, and complete a personal tax return. The course is fully digital. Students will work with a digital textbook and all assignments completed on a Chromebook. This course can replace one credit of Math.

Entertainment and Sports Marketing (9, 10, 11, 12)

Full Year, 1 credit

This course introduces students to the important role that marketing plays in the sports and entertainment fields. All major marketing principles, such as the marketing mix, marketing functions, consumer behavior, market research, market segmentation, selling, advertising/promotion, financing and management will be studied and applied to the rapidly growing and dynamic sports and entertainment industries. Students will investigate the resources necessary to establish and operate a sports/entertainment business through individual and group projects. Guest speakers, field trip to a major sports arena, analysis of sports merchandising, movies, commercials, advertisements, magazines and network/cable programming will broaden the classroom experience.

Entrepreneurship (11, 12)

Full Year, 1 credit, Students need Business Teacher Approval to take course

Students will use their knowledge and experience to oversee the day-to-day operations of Z Mart. Students will rotate through various “jobs” during the year including management, advertising, promotion and others. Individual and group projects will be completed in and out of class. Students are expected to become active DECA members.

The following semester courses are also available through Virtual High School (VHS):

Business and Personal Law

International Business: An Exploration

Investing in the Stock Market

Personal Finance

Public Speaking (10, 11, 12)

One Semester, 1/2 credit

The goal of Public Speaking is to make the student an effective speaker anytime, anywhere. It will teach the student how to deliver speeches that inform and persuade, and how to deliver speeches of introduction and welcome. Stage fright and nervousness will be addressed. Other areas that will be emphasized are: understanding the audience, using the voice effectively, studying non-verbal communication, and using visual aids. Students will be expected to use presentation tools.

Journalism (9, 10, 11, 12)

Full Year, cycled 1/2 credit

This elective is designed for students who have an interest in journalism. Each aspect of putting a newspaper together will be covered from coming up with ideas for articles to layout and publication. The course will involve writing a variety of articles and assisting in the publication of Tapress on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. Students will learn how to write editorials, features, news stories, sports articles, reviews, and conduct interviews. Other topics will include advertising, the ethical duties and responsibilities of a journalist, the difference between a high school newspaper and a privately owned commercial newspaper or magazine, and whether a journalist actually has the right to keep his/her sources confidential. Class participation will be worth a minimum of 20% of the student’s grade. This course can be taken multiple times.

Television Production (9, 10, 11, 12)

Full Year, 1 credit

Prerequisite: None

This course introduces students to various features of film and television production. Students will learn the basics of working with video, while exploring the entire production process to create original films and other video projects. The class will give students hands-on experience in the fields of television production and broadcast journalism. Students will have the opportunity to actively engage in producing, directing, scriptwriting, camera work and editing. Working individually or in groups, students will create a range of creative videos over the course of the year. They will explore and demonstrate various genres and techniques while learning about the history of film. Working in production teams, the class will develop a variety of skills used to create an original announcement segment each week. Students will cover important events in the community, conduct interviews, manage a shooting studio, utilize technical equipment, and work with digital editing software. Students may take this course more than one time, delving more deeply in the content each year. This course can be taken multiple times.

Television Production and Broadcasting (9, 10, 11, 12)

Cycled, 1/2 credit

Prerequisite: None

This course introduces students to various features of film and television production. Students will learn the basics of working with video, while exploring the entire production process to create original films and other video projects. The class will give students hands-on experience in the fields of television production and broadcast journalism. Students will have the opportunity to actively engage in producing, directing, scriptwriting, camera work and editing. Working individually or in groups, students will create a range of creative videos over the course of the year. They will explore and demonstrate various genres and techniques while learning about the history of film. Working in production teams, the class will develop a variety of skills used to create an original announcement segment each week. Students will cover important events in the community, conduct interviews, manage a shooting studio, utilize technical equipment, and work with digital editing software. Students may take this course more than one time, delving more deeply in the content each year. This course can be taken multiple times.

DECA

Robotics Team (SO BOTZ)