overview

Welcome to Northern’s Business Studies Department!

We aim to make academic learning fun and approachable for students of all learning backgrounds and levels. Our interactive classrooms are led by personable teachers who bring in real-world experience from the business industry.

We are proud of our diverse offering of courses—from marketing to finance—and also our various extracurricular clubs, many of which have been awarded at the provincial and national levels. At Northern Secondary School, every student belongs, and we’re sure you’ll find something you love, no matter your interests or prior experience.

course listings

Grade 9:

• Building the Entrepreneurial Mindset, Grade 9, Open (BEM1O)

Course Description:

In this course, students will learn what makes an entrepreneur thrive and the skills required to succeed in today’s business environment. Students will begin to develop their own entrepreneurial mindset, and learn why it’s important to take initiative, adapt to change, find creative solutions, and understand the financial considerations of entrepreneurship. This hands-on course will use business software and applications to help students plan and develop their entrepreneurial ideas and learn how to present them to a target audience. Throughout the course, students will enhance their communications skills as well as develop and refine their project management skills, including goal setting, time management, and networking.  

Grade 10:

• Launching and Leading a Business, Grade 10, Open (BEP2O)

Course Description:

This course introduces students to the world of business and what is required to be successful, ethical, and responsible in today’s economy. Students will develop the knowledge and skills needed to be an entrepreneur who knows how to respond to local and global market opportunities. Throughout the course, students will explore and understand the responsibility of managing different functions of a business. This includes accounting, marketing, information and communication technology, financial management, human resources, and production. 

Grade 11:

• Financial Accounting Fundamentals (BAF3M): An introduction to organizing, tracking, and reporting (also referred to as “bookkeeping”) the spending and earning of money in a business.

• Introduction to Marketing (BMI3C): Students explore the strategies (eg., advertising, social media, market research, and branding) used by businesses to promote sales, including several independent and group projects.

• Introduction to Computer Science (ICS3U, University Level and Enriched): An introduction to computer operating systems, coding, and algorithms.

Grade 12:

• Business Leadership (BOH4M): An exploration of the characteristics, skills and strategies used by leaders and managers when running successful businesses.

• Financial Securities (IDC4U): An interdisciplinary course where students obtain financial literacy skills on important topics including investments (i.e., stocks and bonds), mortgages, credit cards, RRSPs, RESPs, and insurance, including hands-on experience in a stock market competition.

• International Business (BBB4M): An exploration of the strategies used to build successful businesses on a global scale, including knowledge of trade associations and globalization trends.

• Sports & Entertainment Marketing (IDC4U): A presentation and project-based course that explores the strategies used by businesses when promoting sports, fashion, and entertainment (film, television, etc.) to customers.

• Principles of Financial Accounting (BAT4M): Building on BAF3M, this course prepares students for post-secondary study in Accounting or Business, involving constructing and interpreting records of business finances to make effective business decisions.

• Computer Science (ICS4U, Academic and Advanced Placement): An exploration of high-level computer algorithms and software design.

co-curricular connections

DECA: DECA is an organization that coordinates real-world case study competitions for 3700 high schools internationally. Our student-led team coordinates regular training and guidance in preparing students to deliver organized, thoughtful business presentations. Thanks to their efforts, the NSS DECA team is highly celebrated for their astounding success in provincial and national competitions. 

Junior Achievement (JA): JA is an organization that develops financial and entrepreneurial skills through their Company Program, which mentors students as they develop and run a real-life start-up company.

Investment Club: Our NSS Investment Club is a gathering of students interested in the financial sector. Each year, our Investment Club coordinates stock exchange competitions through virtual simulators.