Business Education
Course Offerings

Business Education 

High School Course Offerings and 

Work-Based Learning Programs

• Accounting I

• Accounting II

• Employability Skills

• Introduction to Business

• Microsoft Office 

• Marketing I 

• Marketing II School Store

• Online Content Creation 

• Personal Finance

• Website Design

• Work Release Credit / Non-Credit

• Youth Apprenticeship

** JUNIORS AND SENIORS ONLY

COURSES OFFERED EVERY YEAR

EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS (1 semester - .5 credit) Through this course students are able to explore career options, develop career goals, demonstrate job seeking skills, and identify entrepreneurial skills needed to balance work and family. This class not only helps students prepare for life after high school, but the skills and topics covered within this class can be helpful to students who are currently employed. Students will learn to create resumes, fill out job applications, prepare for an interview and learn how to apply soft and transferable skills to the workplace. This course is a prerequisite for Work Release and Youth Apprenticeship, in which a student can receive credits for working outside of school. Students who earn at least an A may also be eligible to receive an Employability Skills Certificate issued by the Department of Public Instruction.  

PERSONAL FINANCE (1 semester - .5 credit) (Advanced Standing - Northwood Technical College) REQUIRED for graduation. Available to juniors and seniors only.  Financial Literacy is essential when navigating the complicated world of personal finance.  In this course, students will be exposed to topics such as taxes, checking, savings, types and managing credit, investing, insurance, budgeting, and more.  This is a must take class for all students as they approach the “real-world” after high school. Students who take this course may also be eligible to receive a Financial Literacy Certificate issued by W!se Financial Literacy.  

YEAR 1 ROTATION COURSES

ACCOUNTING I (2 semesters - 1 credit) (Advanced Standing - Northwood Technical College) Accounting provides an understanding of the basic elements and concepts of double-entry accounting systems for service businesses. Activities include the accounting equation, the accounting cycle, entering transactions in journals, posting to ledgers, cash control systems, and end-of-period statements and reports.  In addition, for merchandising businesses organized as corporations, students will journalize purchases, cash payments, sales, and cash receipts using special journals.  Students will also post to general and subsidiary ledgers, prepare payroll recording, and complete accounting, taxes, and reports.  Students will have hands-on projects including a business simulation. If students are interested in owning their own business, this would be an essential class to add to their schedule.  

ACCOUNTING II (1 semester - .5 credit) REQUIRED PREREQUISITE - Accounting I with a grade of B or above. This course picks up where Accounting I left off.  For a merchandising business organized as a corporation, students will focus on  distributing dividends and preparing a worksheet, creating financial statements, recording adjusting and closing entries, and complete accounting procedures for adjustments and valuation.  This course provides learning needed for entry-level employment or the basis for further accounting study at technical school or college. This is an independent study course. 

MARKETING I (1 semester - .5 credit) This introductory course is a fun, relatable course that will help students understand why we buy the things we do.  Through this course students will learn the fundamentals of marketing through creative group projects and hands-on learning experiences.  Students are introduced to the 5 P’s of marketing: product, place, price, promotion, and people.  This class will dive a little deeper into concepts such as marketing research, selling, promotional strategies, advertising and branding. This class is beneficial for all students, no matter what educational or career path they are interested in.  Students who take this course may also be eligible to earn a Fundamentals of Marketing certificate issued by the A*S*K Business Institute.

MARKETING II - SCHOOL STORE  (Up to 2 semesters - .5 credit per semester) Students should consider taking Marketing I prior to Marketing II.  This work-based learning experience will be focused around the planning and execution of a school store.  Students will dive into the 5P’s of marketing: product, price, place, promotion, and people while employing management, merchandising, and sales strategies.  Students will assist in researching and developing policies and procedures for a school store, assist in planning, execute operational functions, and more. 

   YEAR 2 ROTATION COURSES

WEBSITE DESIGN (1 semester - .5 credit) This course consists of learning beginning web development skills using HTML and CSS, along with other online web design apps.  Students will create a variety of websites while participating in simulations and many project-based experiences.  This class will also explore careers related to the information technology career cluster. This course is excellent for students who are interested in owning their own business in addition to students wishing to pursue a career in marketing, business management, information technology, hospitality and tourism, and more! 

ONLINE CONTENT CREATION (1 semester - .5 credit) Interested in creating content for YouTube, Instagram, and other social media platforms?  In this course students will use a variety of online tools to create printable and postable marketing content to engage your audience.  Plan to explore topics such as graphic design, publication design, video and audio production, digital communication, website design, and other communications methods.  This would be an outstanding class to take if students are interested in taking Marketing I or pursuing a business related education or career.  This course is project-based and will offer a variety of digital media experiences.

INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS (1 semester - .5 credit) (Dual Credit - Northwood Technical College) This fast paced course is designed to help students develop an understanding of the role of business in a free enterprise economic system.  Students will be introduced to the U.S. economic environment, business and government in a global economy, technology in business, and various aspects of consumer issues. This class will also cover areas involved with entrepreneurship. These areas will include: types of ownership, business plans, marketing your business, managing, and protecting your business.  

MICROSOFT OFFICE  (1 semester - .5 credit) Microsoft Office is the preferred software in business and industry when it comes to document creation and formatting, data analysis, and presentation tools.  This software course will introduce students to Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneDrive.  Students will explore software features and create a variety of business related documents.  Students who take this course may also be eligible to take a Microsoft Office Specialist certification test issued by Microsoft.  Learning new software is an essential part of technical employability skills in any career pathway.

WORK RELEASE AND YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP OPTIONS

WORK RELEASE CREDIT / NON-CREDIT  (.5 credit per semester) The work release program gives students in their senior or junior year a chance to get hands-on career training during school hours.  Seniors (or approved juniors) who meet the program criteria, with parent permission and administrative approval, and who can complete the program activities may be released from school early to gain on-the-job training and work experience.  This program is a great opportunity for students to develop essential employability skills, explore career pathways, and establish themselves in a work setting.  Students can choose the credit or non-credit work release program.  Each has their own set of criteria and activities. Review the table below or speak with Ms. Anderson for more information.

YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP  (.5 credit per semester) Youth Apprenticeship (YA) is a school-based and work-based learning opportunity designed to equip students with the technical and essential skills needed to thrive in a 21st century workplace.  Students will develop skills in employability and occupational skills while taking courses at Bruce High School or in the technical college system and working in their field of choice.  Opportunities for YA placements currently are offered in the pathways of: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; Architecture and Construction; Art, A/V Technology and Communications; Finance; Health Science; Hospitality, Lodging and Tourism; Information Technology; Manufacturing; Marketing; Science, Technology, Engineering and Math; and Transportation, Distribution and Logistics.  Level One Apprenticeships require the student to work a minimum of 450 hours within a year in addition to 1 high school credit of related coursework. Level Two Apprenticeships require the student to work a minimum of 900 hours within that two-year period in addition to 2 high school credits of related coursework. There are prerequisites for all students wishing to apply for apprenticeship programs. These prerequisites vary depending on the type of apprenticeship. Review the table below or speak with Ms. Anderson for more information.