New CTE Business Career Program

Business Marketing and Finance Career Cluster

The Business, Marketing, and Finance Career Cluster within Career and Technical Education focuses on careers in planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating business functions essential to efficient and productive business operations.

Courses are subject to change depending upon student demand and staffing.

View the Full Course Guide Here

BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ENDORSEMENT SEQUENCED COURSES

Principles of Business Management and Entrepreneurship

1 credit, Level 2
Prerequisite: None

In Principles of Business Management and Entrepreneurship, students gain knowledge and skills needed to become an entrepreneur; the marketing of goods and services, advertising and product pricing, and the global impact of business models. Students analyze a business opportunity, prepare a business plan by determining feasibility using research and development best practices. In addition, students gain knowledge in understanding the capital required, the return on investment desired, and the potential for profit along with learning the sales process and financial management principles.

This course allows students to reinforce, apply and transfer academic knowledge and skills in project management and innovation to a variety of interesting and relevant activities, problems and settings in business, marketing and finance. This course prepares students towards a path in entrepreneurship, business ownership or management.

Financial Math

Mandatory for 10th graders

1 credit, Level 2
Prerequisite: Algebra I

Financial Mathematics is a course about personal money management. Students will apply critical-thinking skills to analyze personal financial decisions based on current and projected economic factors. Students will investigate and employ professional skills, explore and solve problems involving employment, income, taxes, financial institutions and accounts, various types of credit, loans, home renting compared to ownership, and vehicle leasing compared to ownership. This course satisfies a high school math graduation requirement. Mandatory for 10th graders.

Practicum of Entrepreneurship

No Prereqs

11th-12th grade
2 credit, Level 3

Practicum in Entrepreneurship provides students the opportunity to apply classroom learnings and experiences to real-world business problems and opportunities, while expanding their skill sets and professional relationships as a real or simulated business owner versus the experience one would have as an employee. Students will prepare for an entrepreneurial career in the area of interest and build on and apply the knowledge and skills gained from courses taken in an array of career areas. Practicum experiences occur in a paid or unpaid arrangement and a variety of locations appropriate to the nature and level of the student’s need for work-based learning experience. Students implement personal and interpersonal skills to strengthen individual performance in the workplace and in society and to make a successful transition to the workforce or post-secondary education.

Statistics and Business Decision Making

1 credit, Level 2

Prerequisite: Algebra II

Statistics and Business Decision Making is an introduction to statistics and the application of statistics to business decision making. Students will use statistics to make business decisions. Students will determine the appropriateness of methods used to collect data to ensure conclusions are valid. This course satisfies a high school math graduation requirement.

Endorsement graduation requirements (expand to read)

A student may earn a business and industry endorsement by completing the requirements specified in subsection (e) of this section and:

(A) a coherent sequence of courses for four or more credits in CTE that consists of at least two courses in the same career cluster and at least one advanced CTE course. The courses may be selected from Chapter 130 of this title, Chapter 127 of this title, or CTE innovative courses approved by the commissioner. The final course in the sequence must be selected from one of the following:

(i) Chapter 130, Subchapter A, of this title (relating to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources); or

(ii) Chapter 130, Subchapter B, of this title (relating to Architecture and Construction); or

(iii) Chapter 130, Subchapter C, of this title (relating to Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications); or

(iv) Chapter 130, Subchapter D, of this title (relating to Business Management and Administration); or

(v) Chapter 130, Subchapter F, of this title (relating to Finance); or

(vi) Chapter 130, Subchapter I, of this title (relating to Hospitality and Tourism); or

(vii) Chapter 130, Subchapter K, of this title (relating to Information Technology); or

(viii) Chapter 130, Subchapter M, of this title (relating to Manufacturing); or

(ix) Chapter 130, Subchapter N, of this title (relating to Marketing); or

(x) Chapter 130, Subchapter P, of this title (relating to Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics); or

(xi) Chapter 130, Subchapter Q, of this title (relating to Energy); or

(xii) Career Preparation I or II and Project-Based Research in Chapter 127, Subchapter B, of this title if the course addresses a career from a field listed in clauses (i)-(xi) of this subparagraph; or

(B) courses required to complete a TEA-designated program of study related to business and industry; or

(C) four English credits by selecting courses from Chapter 110 of this title to include three levels in one of the following areas:

(i) public speaking; or

(ii) debate; or

(iii) advanced broadcast journalism; or

(iv) advanced journalism: newspaper; or

(v) advanced journalism: yearbook; or

(vi) advanced journalism: literary magazine; or

(D) a coherent sequence of four credits from subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of this paragraph.

Extended Learning Opportunities

Business Leaders of America

Business Professionals of America is the leading CTSO (Career and Technical Student Organization) for students pursuing careers in business management, office administration, information technology and other related career fields. Students in grades 9-12 can join BPA without being enrolled in a CTE course.

Career Exploration

Leadership Prep School's Business Professionals of America chapter is now in its second year. The mission of BPA is to develop and empower student leaders to discover their passion and change the world by creating unmatched opportunities in learning, professional growth and service.

BPA allows students to:

Explore careers in business and technical industries.
Compete and be recognized at the regional, state and national levels.
Gain real-world business experience.
Participate in and organize community service projects while working towards awards.

Workplace Skills Certifications

The Workplace Skills Assessment Program (WSAP) prepares students to succeed and assesses real-world business skills and problem solving abilities in finance, management, IT and computer applications including Python coding. It is BPA’s showcase program and facilitates students demonstrating their career skills at regional, state and national conferences in 72 competitive events.