Business Education

Grade 9, 10, 11 (0.5 Credits)

Level: ES-15E110

This course develops an overview of the business world while introducing students to economics, technology, consumerism, owning and operating a business. Throughout the course, students will also explore various business careers. Recommended for all students in their personal and business lives, this course also provides a background for the study of other business subjects.

Grade 9, 10, 11, 12 (0.5 Credits)

Level: ES – 15E225

This course focuses on one’s personal finances and ability to manage money wisely in today’s world. Students will learn about money management, banking and credit, consumer strategies and investing fundamentals, as well as about taxes and insurance. These topics will help students learn to make good financial decisions.

Grade 10, 11, 12 (0.5 Credits)

Level: ES -15E226

In this course, students have the opportunity to take a deeper look at personal investing concepts. Students will participate in a Stock Market simulation in addition to learning about stock investing and analysis, mutual funds and exchange traded funds, diversification and other investment strategies. Prerequisite: Personal Finance 1.

Grade 9, 10, 11, 12 (0.5 Credits)

Level: ES- 15E206

Students will be introduced to one of the fastest-growing professions in the United States, which includes a formal system of financial record management for proprietorships. Students will also study the relationship between accounting and business, and the accounting cycle for a service business organized as a proprietorship.

Grade 10, 11, 12 (1.0 Credits)

Level: 1-151235

This course will focus on a study of the basic principles and procedures of the accounting process as they relate to the recording, measurement and communication of the business entity’s financial data. Emphasis is placed on the recording process, income determination and the development of financial statements. HCC Accounting provides a basis for students wishing to further their education in accounting, management, marketing, finance, government, computer-related fields, and business administration. Students enrolled in this class have the opportunity to earn 3 Housatonic Community College credits within its College Career Pathways (CCP) program, ACC 113.

Grade 9, 10, 11, 12 (0.5 Credits)

Level: ES -15E216

Students will enter the exciting world of Marketing and discover how products are created and how consumers are persuaded to purchase those products. The course introduces students to the four P’s: Product, Place, Price, and Promotion, that together form a framework for successful product introduction and brand development. In Marketing I, students study product development, follow the channels that move products from manufacturer to consumer, learn about pricing techniques that convince consumers to buy, and recognize promotion techniques that grab the attention of the target market. Field trips are used to study advertising and sales techniques and meet with executives in this creative profession.

Grade 10, 11, 12 (0.5 Credits)

Level: ES -15E217

Marketing II provides a more in-depth study of target markets and the consumer habits that are associated with a specific market. Students will study successful advertising layouts, create displays that attract attention, develop successful promotion techniques, and create a full Marketing plan for a new product line or venture. Students will also learn the art of selling, how to overcome objections, and how to close a sale. In addition, students will focus on market research, and the development of a website that properly provides all the information necessary to move the consumer closer to a purchase. Students in Marketing II are also given an option to participate in the state DECA Convention and test their business skills against other Marketing students from around the state. Prerequisite: Marketing I

Grade 10, 11, 12 (0.5 Credits)

Level: ES-15E220

Business Law provides students with an opportunity to study the legal rights and responsibilities with which they will be concerned in their personal and professional business dealings in the future. Specific topics include the nature and purpose of law, rights and duties of minors, law of contracts, marriage/divorce, and employment.

Grade 10, 11, 12 (0.5 Credits)

Level: ES-15E236

Managers are needed in a wide cross-section of businesses, from large industrial companies, government and non-profit organizations to small service-oriented franchises and the self-employed. In this course, students will learn and experience the business management functions, various leadership styles and the basic organization of a business. Students learn how business managers problem solve and increase efficiency through the process of using the resources of a business to effectively achieve goals.

Grade 11, 12 (0.5 Credits)

Level: 1- 151231

E-Commerce and Entrepreneurship I introduces students to the exciting field of entrepreneurship which focuses on preparing students to develop a plan for starting a business. This course is designed to help students evaluate the business skills and commitment necessary to successfully operate an entrepreneurial venture, and review the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship. Students will learn about themselves and develop new skills as they explore the creative and innovative practices relevant to developing a business. This leads directly to the valuable experience in E-Commerce and Entrepreneurship II.

Grade 11, 12 (0.5 Credits)

Level: 1- 151232

E-Commerce and Entrepreneurship II is not just an academic course, it is an experience. During the course, students utilize lessons learned in E-Commerce and Entrepreneurship I to form a team and turn an authentic business idea into an actual business. Students focus on thoroughly planning and developing all aspects of the new business. The course culminates at a competition at the end of the semester against other schools in Connecticut that participate in the program. Students will leave this course with real-world skills and an experience worth sharing. Prerequisite: E-Commerce and Entrepreneurship I

Grade 11, 12 (0.5 Credits)

Level: ES-15E300

Billions of dollars are spent each year on sports and other forms of entertainment. This service area is a growing area which employs athletes, musicians, stage crew, advertising agents, promotion agents, personal attendants, sports agents, event planners, and numerous other related professionals. The purpose of this course is to provide students with fundamental principles and concepts identified with sports and entertainment marketing while developing their critical thinking skills and decision making skills through the application of marketing principles in these industries.

Grade 11, 12 (1.0 or 0.5 Credits)

Level: ES-15E400 (1.0 credits) 2-152405 (0.5 Credits)

The Retail Marketing: School Store experience gives students the opportunity to receive hands-on training in an actual retail setting. Merchandise display, accounting, advertising and sales promotion are only a few of the topics that will be covered. All students who take this class are automatically members of DECA and participate in the state DECA convention. Students must also work in the school store during a free period to get the full retail experience. Prerequisite: Marketing or Sports Marketing.

Grade 12 (0.5 Credits)

155410

The capstone provides the opportunity for students to extend their skills and knowledge by completing an independent culminating project for the Entrepreneurship & Business Management Pathway. Capstone may take a wide variety of forms that culminate in a final product, presentation, or performance. Students will select a topic, profession, or problem that interests them, conduct research on the subject, develop an action plan, maintain a portfolio, create a final product demonstrating their learning acquisition and/or conclusions, and give an oral presentation on the project to a panel who will collectively evaluate its quality. Students enrolled in this course will have to submit a project proposal by December 1. In order to enroll in Capstone, students must have completed or are working towards 2.5 additional credits in the Entrepreneurship & Business Management Pathway.