Business, Computers & Information Technology

RECOMMENDED COMPUTER, BUSINESS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COURSE SEQUENCE

COMPUTER, BUSINESS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Business continues to be the most popular major for college-bound students. According to USA Today College, Business Administration is the top choice, with about 20% of all college graduates earning degrees in this field (USA Today College, 2023). Likewise, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that approximately 19.4% of bachelor’s degrees awarded in the U.S. are in business-related fields (NCES, 2021). Business education offers critical life skills, including personal finance management, consumer rights and responsibilities, particularly when making major purchases, and proficiency in technology and basic legal concepts. Whether students pursue further education in business, enter the workforce directly, or apply these skills to other fields, a solid foundation in business sets them up for success. As students gain a deeper understanding of business, they can leverage this knowledge for both personal and professional growth. 

60606W  CAREER AND FINANCIAL LITERACY

(Grade 10) (0.5 Elective Course)

(Prerequisite: None)

Note: Career and Financial Literacy is a required elective for all Grade 10 students.

Students will analyze career options based on individual interests, abilities, aptitude, goals and achievements. Using internet based systems and career-focused activities; students will gain insight to career possibilities.  In addition, time management skills will be emphasized and personal learning styles will be identified using self-assessments.  An electronic portfolio will be created which includes Career Awareness and Preparation (self-assessments, research careers educational paths and options); Career Acquisition (resumes, cover letters, job search techniques); Career Retention and Advancement (team building, problem solving, workplace scenarios); Entrepreneurship (qualities necessary for success and simple business plans).  The documentation created in this course can be used to obtain employment, prepare for a career, and apply to colleges.  Students will be required to complete a job shadowing experience or alternative career related activity during this course. This course will also provide opportunities for students to explore and develop personal financial literacy and decision making skills related to income and careers, financial responsibility and decision making, planning and money management, and saving and investing.  

60601W  INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS

(Grade 9,10) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

Everyone interacts with business on a daily basis as a consumer, citizen, and worker.  Students will learn many of the basic business practices prevalent in the economic world surrounding us.  Along with learning the basic vocabulary terms of business, students will understand and solve problems relating to banking, buying, credit, career choices, general economic information, business organizations, and other business-related activities.  Students will understand that business activities and transactions are a major component of our economy.  

60621X  ACCOUNTING 1

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (1.0 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

Accounting I provides entry-level job skills and is recommended for any student who is planning to major in a business-related field in college.  Students will understand basic accounting and equation applications in order to prepare and analyze business records.  In addition, students will receive hands-on experience in learning basic tasks involved in the accounting cycle using journals, ledgers and financial statements electronically.  Students will also complete a comprehensive simulation.  Accounting I and II are recommended for any student who is planning to major in a business-related field in the post-secondary level.    

60622X  ACCOUNTING 2

(Grade 10,11,12) (1.0 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Accounting 1 and teacher recommendation)

Students will learn the advanced accounting cycle for a merchandise business organized as a corporation.  Concepts will include the use of the five special journals, posting, preparing payroll records, taxes and reports, worksheets for a merchandise business, financial statements for a corporation and recording, adjusting and closing entries for a corporation.  Students will enter data in journals and ledgers electronically, complete business forms and audit their results, and complete a comprehensive simulation.  Accounting I and II are recommended for any student who is planning to major in a business-related field in the post-secondary level.

*60602X  BUSINESS LAW

(Grade 10,11,12) (1.0 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

Students will learn about their rights and responsibilities as a student, minor, citizen, and consumer.  They will understand how the laws that we follow today have developed from the early English Common Law and Roman Code.  Moreover, students will apply legal concepts dealing with crimes, torts, and contract law to everyday life situations.  Achievement will be demonstrated through the completion of objective and subjective tests, simulations, oral presentations and projects.

60640W  ENTREPRENEURSHIP

(Grade 10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Suggested Prerequisite: Intro to Business)

Students will understand what it takes to run a successful business.  They will have the opportunity to use creativity and reasoning skills to create a product, buy an existing business, or start a new business.  Students will examine business elements and become familiar with the components of a business plan that includes a description, demographics, financials, marketing plans, and location analysis for their own business.

60605W  SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING

(Grade 10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Suggested Prerequisite: Intro to Business)

Students will learn key Marketing Concepts using real examples from the sports and entertainment industry.  Pricing, Product/Service Management, Promotion, Distribution, and Selling are covered using an industry that brings relevance to students.  They will use a variety of review and assessment activities that will reinforce the seven marketing functions.  Students will learn skills that translate to career preparation, exploration, and entrepreneurship.

60620E  PERSONAL FINANCE

(Grade 11,12) (1.0 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

This course equips students with the essential knowledge and skills to navigate key financial issues they will encounter throughout their lives. Students will explore topics such as how personal choices impact income, understanding income, benefits, and taxes, maximizing purchasing power, making informed financial decisions (including budgeting and planning), managing banking activities (such as checking, savings, and investments), mitigating personal risk, and using credit responsibly. As part of the course, students will complete a comprehensive budget simulation to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios. By mastering these concepts, students will enhance their ability to manage finances intelligently and make responsible financial decisions that positively influence their future. 

60625W  COMPUTER SCIENCE DISCOVERIES

(Grade 9,10) (0.5 Elective Credit) 

(Prerequisite:  None)

The course takes a wide lens on Computer Science by covering topics such as programming, physical computing, HTML/CSS, and data.  This introductory course empowers students to engage with Computer Science as a medium for creativity, communication, problem solving, and fun.  Students will become inspired as they build their own websites, apps, games, physical computing devices, and robotics.  Students will learn from a variety of curriculum including codehs.com, code.org, and projectstem.org. 

60627W  CREATING MOBILE APPS

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

This course is an introductory mobile application design and programming course where students will learn how to design an app’s user interface with the App Inventor Designer, and its behavior with the Blocks Editor.  Creating Mobile Apps also uses “drag-n-drop” programming and progresses to developing original apps.  Students will learn the components of a good app, color theory used in app design, and so much more such as image editing and story-boarding.  By the end of the course, students will be able to successfully demonstrate a self-created app with real world application. 

60628W  THE BUSINESS OF GAME DEVELOPMENT

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

Game Development is a game design course and much more.  The design process of planning, implementing, reviewing, and adjusting will be utilized as students create and program their games.  Technical skills such as programming, graphic design, animation, testing and debugging will be taught in this course.  Game Development will begin with drag-n-drop programming and advance to more complex projects that involve writing code.  Students will also explore the dramatic elements and narrative design behind games.  Once students have learned how to develop and program a game, they will investigate the business of game design and strategies to market an original game idea.

60629W  THE BUSINESS OF GAME DEVELOPMENT 2

(Grade 10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  Business of Game Development 1)

The Business of Game Development 2 will launch students deeper into the game design and marketing process.  Skills acquired in level one will be reviewed and expanded upon through the use of more robust software.  Furthermore, students will be asked to extend their prior projects created in the level one course to show the advanced use of design elements, coding, and analysis.   At the completion of this course, students will have planned, developed, and field-tested an original computer game using the provided software.  Additionally, students will create an innovative marketing plan and materials for their original creation.  

60633W  WEB DESIGN 1

(Grade 10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  Basic computer and keyboarding skills are necessary)

Students will learn how to create web pages, format the pages, add graphics to the pages, and create forms with this introduction to HTML.  This course will include the coverage of tables, frames, cascading style sheets, and Web Design considerations.  The focus of this course will be to learn the basics of Web Design in order to possibly design pages for the Whitehall High School Website.  

60634W  WEB DESIGN 2

(Grade 11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  Web Design 1)

This course is designed for students who have successfully completed Web Design 1 and would like to move on to more advanced web design and development.  JavaScript, dynamic HTML, and database integration are some of the new web design features to be covered.  Students will learn project management, communication, and leadership skills, as a result of performing group work.