Academy of Business & Finance

The Academy of Business & Finance connects high school students with the world of financial services and personal finance, offering a curriculum that covers banking and credit, financial planning, global finance, securities, insurance, accounting, and economics. The Academy of Business & Finance curriculum and certification is validated by the Council for Economic Education.

Academy of  Business and Finance Course Descriptions

NAF AOF Finance Foundation Courses- Grade 9

Principles of Finance Honors

This is the first part of the course and introduces students to the financial world. Students develop financial literacy as they learn about the function of finance in society. They study income and wealth; examine financial institutions; learn how businesses raise capital; and study key investment-related terms and concepts. They also research how innovations have changed the financial services field. Students explore careers that exist in finance today.

Entrepreneurship Honors

This part of the course introduces students to the critical role entrepreneurs play in the national and global economy. Students learn the skills, attitudes, characteristics, and techniques necessary to become successful entrepreneurs. They explore starting a business and learn about the operational issues and financial risks that new businesses face. Students examine ethical issues and develop a framework for managing them. Students identify the risks, returns, and other aspects of entrepreneurship as a potential career.

CREDIT: 1          TYPE: Honors

NAF AOF Finance Prerequisite- Grade 10

Financial Services Honors

This course gives students an overview of banks and other financial services companies. It introduces students to the origins of money and banking and examines the early history of banking in the United States. Students study the financial services industry and the types of companies it includes in depth. They learn about the services offered by such companies and analyze the ways these companies earn profits. Students examine careers in financial services.

Financial Planning Honors

This course provides students with an overview of the job of a financial planner. Students learn to consider how all aspects of financial planning might affect a potential client, and learn about the importance of financial planning in helping people reach their life goals. This course includes lessons on saving, borrowing, credit, and all types of insurance, and covers various types of investments. Students also examine careers in financial planning.

CREDIT: 1         TYPE: Honors

NAF AOF Finance Concentration- Grade 11

Professional Ethics Honors

This course introduces the importance of ethics in business. Students focus on the significance of ethics to stakeholders; examine who bears responsibility for monitoring ethics, and explore ethical situations common in organizations. Students examine how ethics affects various business disciplines and consider the impact of organizational culture. Students also explore ethics as social responsibility, the evolution of ethics in international business, and how the free market and ethics can coexist.

Insurance Honors

This course introduces students to the insurance industry and to its critical role in the financial services sector and in society. It covers common types of insurance, including life, health and disability, property, liability, and forms of commercial insurance. Students examine the business model underlying the industry and how underwriting, actuarial science, and investment practices affect an insurance company's financial success. Finally, they explore career opportunities, including broker, underwriter, actuary, and claims adjuster.

CREDIT: 1      TYPE: Honors

NAF AOF Finance Major- Grade 12

Business in a Global Economy Honors

This course provides students with an understanding of how and why businesses choose to expand their operations into other countries. This course exposes students to the unique challenges facing firms doing business internationally, and to the potential opportunities available to those businesses. Building on concepts introduced in Principles of Finance, Business in a Global Economy broadens students' understanding of how businesses operate, grow, and thrive in our ever changing world.

Applied Finance Honors

This course delves into the financial concepts introduced in Principles of Finance. Students learn to identify the legal forms of business organization and continue to develop an understanding of profit.  They learn about various financial analysis strategies and the methods by which businesses raise capital. Students also have the chance to explore, in depth, topics of high interest in the field of finance, and explore the types of careers that exist in finance today.

CREDIT: 1 TYPE: Honors