Business Education

Weight: 3

Course Length: Year

Pre-requisites: none                                                                                                           

Criteria for admissions: none                                                                                          

Accounting 1 is a comprehensive course designed to bring the real world of accounting into the classroom.  Students will have the opportunity to use real-world accounting software (QuickBooks), source documents, financial statements and multimedia.  The prime objective of this course is to introduce students to the double-entry system of accounting for sole proprietorship, corporate, and partnership forms of business enterprises by using real-world applications and connections.  Students will focus on manual and computerized accounting utilizing spreadsheet software to prepare related financial statements. Additionally, students will develop personal and professional skills for school and work.   

Weight: 10

Course Length: Year

Pre-requisites: none                                                                                                               

Criteria for admissions: See Social Studies Honors Criteria.                                                    

This course is designed to challenge students with high academic potential, ability and interests, allowing them to gain possible college credit for an introductory college requirement in the area of economics.  At the core of economics is maximizing satisfaction by balancing needs and wants.  This course has been arranged to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of these principles of economics.  Classroom activities engage students in games, simulations, creation of videos, group activities and lectures.  The class is designed to walk students from learning about the functions of individual decision makers to the economy as a whole.  Students will gain knowledge in the factors of production, the role of government, economic indicators, money, economic growth, and international economics.

Weight: 3

Course Length: Semester

Pre-requisites: none                                                                                                         

Criteria for admissions: none                                                                       

An understanding of law is critical to business as well as daily life. In this course students will develop an appreciation for how laws affect them as minors and as citizens. Origins and implementation of law, crimes, torts, and the court system are discussed and analyzed. Students will learn how to solve problems relating to common experiences, analyze and judge real world cases, and orally present law-related current events. The material covered in this course is enhanced and reinforced through the use of technology, guest speakers, videos, and hands on project-based activities whenever possible. 

Weight: 3

Course Length: Semester

Pre-requisites: none                                                                                                  

Criteria for admissions:                                                                                             

This course exposes students to the power of decision-making and the benefits and consequences of choices.  Students will use economic concepts in a collaborative setting to explore personal, community, national, and global economic issues.  Students will learn core economic concepts through simulations, role play, videos, games and other student-centered activities.  This course provides a solid foundation for a student who may want to further explore the social science of economics. 

Weight: 3

Course Length: Semester

Pre-requisites:  none                                                                                                        

Criteria for admissions:  none      

Dual enrollment: 3 college credits available from St. Thomas Aquinas College (grades 11, 12) 

Independent Study available to Diamond Challenge participants                                                                                 

Entrepreneurship is a project-based course that will provide students with an understanding of the core concepts of business ownership. Students will develop a strong foundation for decision making through the exploration, discussion, and analysis of successful entrepreneurs. This study of the characteristics, philosophies and actions will provide students with a lasting framework for recognizing and creating business opportunities.  Students will also examine product development, analyze economic trends, create a market plan, and finally consider ethical dilemmas created by their plan.   It is within this collaborative setting that students will develop the tools to negotiate and analyze future business opportunities.

Weight: 3

Course Length: Semester

Pre-requisites: none                                                                                                      

Criteria for admissions: none                                                                                       

This is a course that focuses on the student’s role as a citizen, student, family member, consumer, and active participant in the business world.  The course will help students develop strategies for managing their financial resources now and in the future.  Students will better understand their own wants, needs and values, and how these affect personal financial decisions.  By understanding the concepts presented in the course, students will be able to make wise decisions that will help their financial future and help to make them a better educated consumer. Students will explore career choices and match them to their interests, skills, and future goals. 

This course is a project-oriented approach to learning.  Students will work independently, cooperatively with partners, and participate in group projects.  The Internet will be used as a resource tool and a method to keep up-to-date on the current financial world. Guest speakers will be invited to bring the “real world” of money management into the classroom. This curriculum is aligned with the financial literacy standards as required for graduation by the State of New Jersey.

Weight: 3

Course Length: Semester

Pre-requisites: none                                                                                                      

Criteria for admissions: none                                                                                       

The fundamentals of investing course is designed to provide students effective ways to manage money and potentially build wealth. This course will teach students how to make informed investment decisions, not only when buying stocks but also when investing in bonds, mutual funds, or any type of earning potential. Investing is not easy, and this course is designed to help students understand the risks inherent in investing and to provide the tools necessary to answer the fundamental questions that help create a sound investment strategy.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, “While the 401k is one of the best available retirement saving options for many people, just 41% of workers contribute to one.” The goal of this course is to provide students the foundational understanding of earning and investing to increase this percentage when gainfully employed. This class will set students up with a strong foundational understanding of investing and how to navigate the challenging financial markets. 

Weight: 8

Course Length: Year

Pre-requisites: Accounting 1                                                                                       

Criteria for admissions: Mid year average of 90% in Accounting I AND recommendation of Accounting I teacher.

Dual enrollment: 3 college credits available from Fairleigh Dickinson Middle College Program (grades 9, 10, 11, 12)

This course addresses the needs of students who want to continue to develop a strong foundation in basic accounting theories and associated applications.  Students will achieve a mastery level of basic and advanced accounting concepts.  The course will build upon the basics presented in Accounting 1.  Students will be challenged to go beyond just the recording of transactions and financial statements.  In this accelerated course, students will interpret and analyze the financial information and make business recommendations based up on their analysis.  Students will learn how to use current financial information to forecast into the future.  

The real world of Accounting will be brought into the classroom through the use of real world case studies.  Financial information from real world companies and organizations will be studied and analyzed.  Computer applications will be integrated throughout the course to strengthen students understanding of how to perform various accounting activities using a variety of different kinds of software.

Activities and assessments will challenge students to incorporate and integrate critical thinking skills into their Accounting procedures and analysis.  Open-ended problems will be used to help foster greater growth in developing creative problem solving skills.  A teamwork approach to many tasks will simulate the “real world” of business.  

Ethics in Accounting and the business world will be explored.  Students will be able to identify how knowledge of Accounting will help them in their personal financial life and in their future career paths.  

Weight: 8

Course Length: Year

Pre-requisites: Marketing and Advertising OR Entrepreneurship                                                                                    

Criteria for admissions: A final grade of 90 or above; teacher recommendation

Advanced marketing is a full-year course designed to elevate students' understanding of marketing strategies and principles. Students will engage in collaborative project-based learning, research, and traditional instruction. Mathematics, research, and social skills are honed and reinforced in the course.  Topics covered include, but are not limited, to product-service management, promotion, packaging, pricing, legal/ethical issues, personal selling, market research, distribution/logistics, and financing.  Embedded within the course are opportunities to hone critical thinking, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills by connecting with outside professionals for interviews, guest speakers, and conducting social media/marketing audits, and more. Moreover, students will be challenged to craft a presentation/paper to mimic a marketing plan.

Weight: 3

Course Length: Semester

Pre-requisites: none                                                                                                         

Criteria for admissions: none                                                                               

Students who intend to participate in the global marketplace must develop the skills and understanding that will allow them to be competitive.  Five out of ten workers in our economy are working for a foreign owned business or international corporation.  Whether planning to study for an MBA or working as a mechanic for the Toyota Corporation, students need to have a working knowledge of business practices and cultural patterns in other nations.  The recognition of the need to prepare the American work force with these skills is the foundation for this one semester course.

Students will investigate the business principles in a global economy. They will understand how role and gender differences in other cultures challenge Americans trying to conduct business in foreign nations.  Students will also study the economic concepts central to the operation of an international business and identify business operations in various regions and cultures of the globe.  This course is discussion-based on readings, special projects, simulations, independent study, oral and written reports, interviews, guest speakers, field trips and interaction on the Internet.

Weight: 3

Course Length: Semester

Pre-requisites:  none                                                                                                      

Criteria for admissions:  none                                                                                   

The competitive business arena requires organizations to cultivate new methods and techniques to reach their target market. By understanding the needs and wants of customers, marketers are able to increase the customer base, communicate brand proposition, and gain market shares. This course explores the valuable tools and insights marketing plays within the competitive landscape. As a pivotal department within organizations, students will be exposed to core concepts and fundamental business practices that develop stronger brands and strengthen customer relationships. Students will also learn how to leverage public relations through rhetoric, tap into digital marketing, form selling tactics and use analytics to form solid decisions. Marketing is a project-based course that engages students in a multitude of real-world scenarios related to today’s business world.

Weight: 3

Course Length: Semester

Pre-requisites: none                                                                                                          

Criteria for admissions: none                                                                                        

In this course students will explore the realm of social media and how it is revolutionizing the business landscape. Through case studies, discussions, and interactive exercises, students will learn how to drive meaningful revenue from social media, through writing process and structure, as well as user engagement. Students will evaluate how businesses effectively engage consumers through social media and create and devise a meaningful social media presence. Analyzing the development and implementation of a goal-based social media strategy through the use of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Pinterest and YouTube is a major focus of the course.  After completion of this class, students will have the necessary knowledge and skill set required to launch an effective social media campaign across multiple Internet-based platforms, as well as the ability to stay up-to-date on the latest social media best practices. 

Weight: 3

Course Length: Semester

Pre-requisites: none                                                                                                             

Criteria for admissions: none                                                                                          

This semester course introduces the student to the principles, practices, and careers of possibilities within the sport and entertainment management industries. Students will investigate the scope of these industries, which is a growing major business enterprise in the United States and throughout the world. Students will be introduced to amateur and professional sports as well as entertainment venues and special events with a focus on how the managerial process relates to sport organizations and the products they provide. Through interactive learning activities, case studies, and professional profiles, the student is engaged in exploring and analyzing the dynamics of sport and entertainment management.