Business Electives

ACCOUNTING I

Grade: 9-12

Credits: 5

Prerequisite: None

Accounting is a discipline of theories, principles, and standards that promote fair and equitable reporting regardless of the chosen business or industry.  In this full-year course, students will not only be introduced to the various facets of generally accepted accounting practices, they will be asked to be able to implement them through a variety of hands-on, real world based exercises that will assess their grasp on the subject.  The course serves as a primer, a foundation builder, for Accounting II and Accounting III.  In order to grasp the advanced concepts in the course, Accounting I serves as an arena to become acquainted with the accounting cycle and to be able to complete the most fundamental tasks as part of an organization’s accounting function.  The knowledge in this course will directly serve any students who plan on continuing their business and/or accounting education at the post-secondary level. 

ACCOUNTING II

Grade: 10-12

Credits: 5

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Accounting I

Accounting II will serve as a continuation of Accounting I, building on the theoretical concepts of accounting and the ability to apply them in real-world situations. Accounting I focuses on learning the accounting cycle applied to a service business legally set up as a sole proprietorship. Accounting II will move beyond that, expanding into the accounting cycle for merchandising businesses and dealing with issues involving other forms of business organization such as corporations. In addition to exploring sales, purchases, accounts receivable, and accounts payable in merchandising businesses, the course will delve into preparing and processing payroll, dealing with employee payroll taxes, accounting for capital from investors (i.e. stock), depreciation and amortization of assets, inventory valuation, and horizontal/vertical analysis of financial statements. Accounting II is an excellent choice for any student who will be majoring in any business discipline in college, as it will serve as an excellent foundation for the multiple accounting courses that will be required.  

CONTEMPORARY BUSINESS and INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Grade: 9

Credits: 2.5

Prerequisite: None

This semester course focuses on developing 21st century, college and career readiness skills. In this course, students will learn the importance of time management strategies and organization using the Google Tools and other strategies.  In a global economy driven by information and innovation, students must know both leading and emerging technology tools, as well as workplace readiness skills to excel and compete effectively, such as presenting oneself through email and verbal communication. The course focuses on all aspects of information literacy, including data sourcing, analysis, evaluation, presentation and public speaking skills. Students will utilize the Google Applications for Education. The course is designed to provide students with the information and technology readiness skills and critical information analysis and evaluative skills to succeed in the 21st century. 

ENTREPRENEURSHIP & LEADERSHIP 

Grade: 9-12

Credits: 5

Prerequisite: None

This course will study starting and managing one’s own business.  Students will explore what skills are necessary for someone to become a successful business owner or operator.  Students will examine fiscal decisions that directly impact one’s financial health. Teaching students about financial planning, banking, investments, and business ownership will empower them to make good decisions and assume personal responsibility for their economic well-being.  Finally, students will explore leadership attributes required to be successful in life and business through numerous group activities, individual and group research, class discussion, and community service.

FINANCIAL LITERACY

Grade: 9

Credits: 2.5

Prerequisite: None  (This course is linked with Contemporary Business and Information Technology)

Financial Literacy is a semester course that meets the state-mandated graduation requirement for all students. This course is designed to develop a thorough understanding of the economy and the necessary skills to effectively manage personal finances. Activities, projects, and simulations will focus on the necessary elements of personal finance which include income and careers, money management, credit and debt management, planning, saving and investing, becoming a critical consumer, citizen financial responsibility, and risk management and insurance. Personal finance topics include budgets, savings, checking accounts, investments and credit, insurance, student loans and debt, and income tax returns.  This is a mandated requirement according to the NJ Department of Education. 

MARKETING I 

Grade: 9-12

Credits: 5

Prerequisite: None

Marketing I is designed to expose students to the fundamentals of business from a marketing perspective.  The course starts with the foundation of economics and American business and progresses with marketing and advertising concepts.  Students will be utilizing computers and various types of software applications such as Glogster, PowerPoint, Publisher, Google Slides and Excel to prepare advertising and marketing projects and to analyze typical “business” problems.  The Internet will be utilized as an advertising medium.  In addition, current events and trends pertaining to business will be discussed.  The course provides a basic background in the field of marketing, as well as the knowledge and skills necessary for students furthering their education and/or obtaining employment in business. 

MARKETING II

Grade: 10-12

Credits: 5

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Marketing I

The Marketing II course is designed to teach you how to integrate the marketing and management principles you have learned into real world practice. This introduces students to advanced marketing functions and their application and impact on business operations. Marketing II builds off of the principles and concepts taught in Marketing I. Students assume a managerial perspective in applying economic principles in marketing, analyzing operation’s needs, examining distribution and financial alternatives, managing marketing information, pricing products and services, developing product/service planning strategies, promoting products and services, purchasing, and professional sales. Computer projects, presentations, and simulations will be an important part of this class.  

MARKETING CAPSTONE

Grade: 11-12

Credits: 5

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Marketing II

The Marketing Capstone course is an integration of all marketing elements in a strategic marketing framework. Using a "big picture" perspective, the student addresses strategy formulation and implementation in a business environment. The course will provide practical knowledge regarding marketing strategy from planning, formulating, and executing strategic marketing campaign. The topics covered in this course include strategic marketing planning, marketing ethics, marketing research, competitive advantage, segmentation, branding, positioning, marketing mix (4 Ps), marketing implementation, and customer loyalty. Students (in teams) are expected to make marketing decisions that will apply to real world scenarios. 

WALL STREET 

Grade: 9-12

Credits: 5

Prerequisite: None

The goal of the Wall Street course is to educate and extend student knowledge of personal financial responsibility and the practice of sound investing. The course focuses on advanced concepts of financial planning and money management, which are the principles of good economic health and decision making.  The course will require that students explore topics of financial planning, banking, investments, and business ownership will empower them to make good decisions and assume personal responsibility for their economic well-being. Personal financial planning and money management are important components.  Through a comprehensive exploration of banking, investments, and personal finance, students will understand how to solve financial problems and to maintain financial stability. 

YEARBOOK AND BUSINESS PUBLICATIONS 

Grade: 9 -12

Credits: 5

Prerequisite: None

The Business Publications/Yearbook Production course gives students marketable experience in print media publishing. It is run as a real business maintaining an account that must balance-out at the end of year. Students work on business operations, make announcements, maintain signs, conduct student polls, take photos, and write articles.   In class, students will compose, construct, and edit all elements of layout, graphics and digital photography. Students develop skills for life including collaboration within time and budget limitations, communication, teamwork, leadership, time management, problem-solving, critical thinking, decision-making, organization skills, adaptability, creativity, resourcefulness and persuasion.  Students will attend events and be part of the larger school community to shoot digital photos, design advertising, and work on sales & distribution. A special emphasis will be on developing hands-on skills including project management, social media management, critiquing, editing, interviewing techniques, evaluating work and meeting authentic deadlines in a real-life job setting with measurable outcomes.  Students have the opportunity to take a leadership role (editor or manager). Other methods of business publications will also be produced throughout the course including bulletins, booklets, flyers, leaflets, newsletters, reports, letters, notes, proposals, letters and magazines.  

HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT

Grade: 10-12

Credits: 5

Prerequisite: None

This course is designed to give students an overview of careers in the hospitality and tourism industry. Areas of study include but are not limited to food service, lodging, travel and tourism, recreation , amusements and attractions.,  This course gives the student a strong foundation for hospitality and tourism pathways.    Students learn knowledge and skills focusing on communication, time  management and customer service that meet industry standards.

VISUAL AND FASHION MERCHANDISING - Grades 10-12   (Not offered in 2025-2026)

This course will cover the fundamental principles of visual merchandising, including store planning, display conceptualization and implementation, company branding and customer communication.  Students will be introduced to store design and space planning to maximize sales in a retailing environment.  The purpose of this course is for the student to examine ways that retail businesses support brand image and promote sales through visual techniques. 

Visual & Fashion Merchandising is offered in alternating years with Hospitality Management.