Business & Marketing

The Ridgewood Public Schools Business and Marketing program prepares students to manage personal finances while understanding the intricacies of the business world. Each course contributes to the intellectual growth of all individuals by providing the essential background required in today’s complex and rapidly changing world.

The Business Department’s courses are designed to meet a wide range of needs; Pre-college courses which help those students who are interested in majoring in business administration, accounting, marketing or management; Pre-employment courses, which provide for the acquisition of skills and the development of personal competencies and qualities desirable for successful job attainment; and Personal courses, which make a valuable contribution to each individual’s personal, civic, and economic well-being. The use of chromebooks is incorporated into daily class activities to prepare students to meet the technology challenge in today’s business community.

Accounting I Honors (6704BU)

Elective Full-Year Course; Level - Honors; Grades 10-12

Credit Value: 5.0

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Geometry or Geometry H

This course is designed to provide both the college-bound and/or the business student with the understanding of skills and concepts associated with basic accounting principles. The student will see the development of each accounting step and how this sequence of steps fits into the total accounting system. This course will fulfill the dual purpose of preparing students to handle daily systematic recordings of an actual business so as to achieve entry-level job skills, while at the same time provide necessary background for future study in accounting and business. Students will be able to prepare and interpret financial statements and will also be able to keep accounting records for both a service and a merchandising business. In addition to the theory of accounting, students will explore the area of electronic spreadsheets for the preparation of financial statements and interpretive business condition reports. Students will use excel templates to record transactions and create financial statements. Students have the opportunity to join DECA, the co-curricular business club, and participate in regional, state, and national competitions.

Accounting II Honors (6714BU)

Elective Full-Year Course; Level - Honors; Grades 11-12

Credit Value 5.0

Prequisite: Accounting I H; Teacher Recommendation

This course builds upon the basic principles learned in Accounting I Honors. This course investigates concepts covered at the collegiate level where students will apply Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) to the recording and reporting of business transactions. Students will learn the differences between cash basis and accrual basis accounting. They will dive deeper in the theories of accounting and the different methods used to record inventory and accounts receivable. Students will learn about internal controls for cash and processes implemented to mitigate fraud. This course also covers the accounting for intangible and plant assets, liabilities and stockholder's equity. It will discuss the issuance of a company's stock and its impact. Throughout the year, students will prepare financial statements in accordance with GAAP and use real world company financial information to perform managerial decision making. Students will present ideas in writing and orally in an effective manner for a professional audience. Students have the opportunity to join DECA, the co-curricular business club, and participate in regional, state, and national competitions.

Sports & Entertainment Marketing (6749BU)

Elective Semester Course; Level - College Prep; Grades 10-12

Credit Value: 2.5

Prerequisite: Introduction to Marketing or Introduction to Business

This course provides students with the opportunity to learn marketing principles in the field of Sports, Entertainment and Recreation. The course is designed to teach sports/entertainment management skills, such as contract negotiation and collective bargaining, and the economics of sports/entertainment marketing. Fans and companies spend billions of dollars each year on sports. Entertainment is one of the largest exports from the US to the rest of the world. Areas covered will include advertising, apparel licensing, broadcast negotiations and programming, economics of the sport/entertainment industry, endorsements, event/stadium/arena management, facilities management, finance, global sport/entertainment marketing, labor relations, professional/intercollegiate/high school sports management, public relations, sponsorships, sports/entertainment law and sports/entertainment marketing. Instructional strategies include daily computer/technology applications, real and/or simulated sports/ entertainment experiences, and projects in the marketing functions such as those available through the DECA program of activities. Students have the opportunity to join DECA, the co-curricular marketing club and participate in district, state, and national competitions.

Managerial Accounting (6724BU)

Elective Full-Year Course; Level - Honors; Grade 12

Credit Value: 5.0

Prerequisite: Accounting I H; Accounting II H

This course will provide students with an introduction to fundamental managerial accounting concepts, such as: managerial accounting, job order costing, process costing, activity-based costing, cost-volume-profit, cost-volume profit analysis, incremental analysis, pricing, budgetary planning, budgetary control, responsibility accounting, standard costs and balanced scorecard, planning for capital investments, statement on cash flows, financial statement analysis, time value of money, and standards of ethical conduct for management accountants. Students have the opportunity to join DECA, the co-curricular business club, and participate in regional, state, and national competitions.

Advanced Marketing & Merchandising I Honors (6739BU)

Elective Full-Year Course; Level - Honors; Grades 11-12

Credit Value: 5.0

Prerequisite: Introduction to Marketing or Sports & Entertainment Marketing or Merchandising

This course reinforces the foundations of marketing and prepares students in the field of marketing, merchandising and management. The curriculum alternates each year so level 1 and level 2 students will both focus on the areas of packaging, promotion, advertising, and legal/ethical issues. Students will be utilizing unit portfolios and additional resources, including Competition University and "Buy-ology." Instructional strategies include a school-based enterprise (the student run store), daily computer/technology applications, real and/or simulated occupational experiences, and projects. Students in this course will participate and attend the District level of DECA competition as it is a co-curricular component of this course. States and ICDC are optional for students in this course should they qualify.

This course meets the requirements of the “School to Careers” initiative.

Advanced Marketing & Merchandising II Honors (6769BU)

Elective Full-Year Course; Level - Honors; Grade 12

Credit Value: 5.0

Prerequisite: Advanced Marketing & Merchandising I H

This is a full year course that reinforces the foundations of marketing and prepares students in the field of marketing, merchandising and management. The curriculum alternates each year so level 1 and level 2 students will both focus on the areas of packaging, promotion, advertising, and legal/ethical issues. Students will be utilizing unit portfolios and additional resources, including Competition University and "Buy-ology." Instructional strategies include a school-based enterprise (the student run store), daily computer/technology applications, real and/or simulated occupational experiences, and projects. Students in this course will participate and attend the District level of DECA competition as it is a co-curricular component of this course. States and ICDC are optional for students in this course should they qualify.

This course meets the requirements of the “School to Careers” initiative.

Finance (6702BU)

Elective Semester Course; Level - College Prep; Grades 9-12

Credit Value: 2.5

Prerequisite: None

This course provides a financial education for a new generation. With personal bankruptcies and credit card debt increasing while retirement savings are decreasing amongst Americans, the need to learn about financial literacy is critical. This course will provide students with an opportunity to manage their money in an effective manner so that they are not only “just getting by,” but can become “people who get it.” “People who get it,” are able to plan and save for upcoming events, such as paying for college, or purchasing a car and the latest technology. Instructional strategies include daily computer/technology applications, real and/or simulated occupational experiences, and projects/activities surrounding understanding and setting attainable financial success. This course represents the primary avenue to satisfy the State's financial literacy requirement for high school graduation. First time Business students who take Finance are not eligible to be DECA members, but students who are already RHS DECA members may continue to participate and compete in regional, state, and national competitions.

Introduction to Marketing (6719BU)

Elective Fall Semester Course; Level - College Prep; Grades 10-12

Credit Value: 2.5

Prerequisite: None

This course provides a basic introduction to the scope and importance of marketing in the global economy. It is based on the marketing framework, including market segmentation, pricing, selling, and distribution of goods and services. These principles will shed light on how advertisers sell to consumers in the real world through marking tools and psychological techniques. These tools are taught through the creation of a portfolio. This procedure sets a foundation of marking knowledge necessary for competition in marketing and business related DECA competitions. Instructional strategies include computer based applications, simulated occupational experiences, projects with marketing functions, as well as writing a short advertising paper using key points from the different units. Students have the opportunity to join DECA, the co-curricular business club, and participate in regional, state, and national competitions.

Merchandising (6729BU)

Elective Spring Semester Course; Level - College Prep; Grades 10-12

Credit Value: 2.5

Prerequisite: Introduction to Marketing or Introduction to Business

This course deals with the buying, selling, and promotion of goods and services, especially through their presentation in retail outlets and online. The portfolio encompasses the use of marketing and advertising for apparel and accessories, restaurant/food marketing and hospitality and tourism. Students will write a short fashion merchandising paper. Students will complete original work along with real world and simulated scenarios. These projects will be similar to those found in the DECA program and associated activities. Students have the opportunity to join DECA, the co-curricular business club, and participate in regional, state, and national competitions. Students will be introduced to key merchandising concepts in the introductory unit and then apply it to the different industries mentioned previously.

Entrepreneurship (6789BU)

Elective Semester Course; Level - College Prep; Grades 9-12

Credit Value: 2.5

Prerequisite: None

In this course, students will study the concepts and principles associated with starting one’s own business. The course is designed to teach entrepreneurial skills, such as recognizing opportunity, feasibility analysis, market analysis, developing a business plan, and financial management. As the majority of companies within the United States are launched by entrepreneurs, this course will provide you with the groundwork necessary to begin implementing your business idea. Areas covered will include definition of entrepreneurship, analyzing your potential as an entrepreneur, analyzing the marketplace, determining ownership structure, understanding the legal environment, creating a marketing plan, determining your marketing mix (product, price, place, and promotion), managing sales and inventory, managing operations and staff, and financing your business. The course examines case studies and articles that provide a broader view on how businesses currently operate or trends on how they will likely operate in the future. Students will work on their critical thinking and presentation skills. Students enrolled in the Entrepreneurship course will have the opportunity to join DECA, the co-curricular business club, and participate in district, state, and national competitions. The culmination of this course will include a written entrepreneurship business plan that is eligible to be presented at the state level DECA competition held in February for the opportunity to qualify to attend national level competition.

Business Management (6794BU)

Elective Semester Course; Level - Honors; Grades 10-12

Credit Value 2.5

Prerequisite: Entrepreneurship; Teacher Recommendation; Application Process

Students will build on foundation materials for becoming a manager in a general business setting that could be applied and added to personal and professional skills in different fields. Expanding on the knowledge coming from the Entrepreneurship class, which is the prerequisite to business management, students will be able to understand their roles as a leader and manager beyond just the focus of running a business. The new applications of how to develop strategy, brainstorm, and develop a positive working culture are all key components to being a successful manager.

Introduction to Business (6800BU)

Elective Semester Course; Level - College Prep; Grades 9-10

Credit Value 2.5

Prerequisite: None

This course will expose students to business terminology, concepts, and current business issues. The intent is to help students build their business vocabulary, develop their critical thinking skills, and work on enhancing their business decision making skills. Students will explore trends in the world of business, basic economic concepts, business ethics and social responsibility, entrepreneurial concepts, basic marketing, and accounting, finance, and banking. A core purpose of the course is for students to experience a broad overview of business-related concepts in order to determine future course selection within the Business department. Students have the opportunity to join DECA, the co-curricular business club, and participate in district, state, and national competitions.