Table of Contents
Introduction | Course Descriptions
Introduction
In today’s global economy, it is important that all students have knowledge of the economic and financial world in which they live. Shaker High School Students can gain that knowledge with their choice of 2 career pathways in the Business Education Department. Each career path or sequences of courses is approved by the New York State Education Department and includes a professional exam and an internship. Students who complete all the required courses and pass the professional exam will receive the Regents CTE endorsement on their diploma.
NYSED Approved Programs:
- Business Management/ Entrepreneurship
- Business Computer Applications (Microsoft Office Certification)
Business Management
Students must choose a minimum of one college level course*
Grade 9
Introduction (Intro 1 & 2 required)
- 511 Intro to Business – ½ unit
- 512 Intro to Business II – ½ unit
Grade 10
One Marketing course (minimum requirement)
- 522 Principles of Marketing* – ½ unit
- 519 Sports and Entertainment Marketing – 1 unit
- 527 Social Media Marketing and Advertising – ½ unit
Grade 11
One Finance course (minimum requirement)
- 513 Math and Finance* – ½ unit
- 554 Business Statistics* – ½ unit
- 516 Accounting – ½ unit
- 553 College Accounting*- 1 unit
Grade 12
One Management or Entrepreneurship course (minimum requirement)
- 520 American Entrepreneur – ½ unit
- 555 Business Management* – ½ unit
Microsoft Office Certification (MOS)
Grade 9
- 511 Intro to Business I – ½ unit
- 512 Intro to Business II – ½ unit
Grade 10
- 509 Keyboarding & Business Communication Essentials – ½ unit
- 510 Introduction to Microsoft Office Suite – ½ unit
Grade 11
- 540 Microsoft Office Certification – 1 unit
Grade 12
- 531 Financial Decision Making (CFM) – ½ unit
Course Descriptions
½ Unit Courses – Full Year Courses
Half Unit Courses
509 Keyboarding & Word Processing
Either Semester – ½ Unit
This course is designed to develop alphabetic and numeric keyboarding skills. Students will develop proficiency in formatting various business documents using Microsoft Teams and Google Docs. Students will learn key concepts in business communication with a focus on digital citizenship. The professional business communication skills discussed are essential for the world of work. The final assessment is departmental. This course is open to students in grades 9-12.
510 Introduction to Microsoft Office (P)
Second Semester – ½ Unit
Prerequisite: Keyboarding & Word Processing
Students will build skills in Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Access, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Teams. Students will learn how to professionally format letters, flyers, reports, brochures, spreadsheets and charts, and presentations. Students will work on projects that integrate the different Microsoft Office programs. This course is open to students in grades 9-12.
511 Introduction to Business I
First Semester – ½ Unit
Recommended for 9th and 10th graders.
This course provides an introduction to the topics of economics, business law, business ownership, ethical decision-making, and social responsibility. Emphasis is placed on the importance of effective human relations skills, teamwork, collaboration, and problem solving. The final assessment is departmental. This course is open to students in grades 9-12.
512 Introduction to Business II
Second Semester – ½ Unit
Recommended for 9th and 10th graders.
This course provides an introduction to the topics of international business, management, financial literacy, accounting and marketing. Emphasis is placed on the importance of effective human relations skills, teamwork, collaboration, and problem solving. The final assessment is departmental. This course is open to students in grades 9-12.
527 Social Media Marketing & Advertising
Either Semester – ½ Unit
Social media has helped give consumers a voice, connecting them with their friends and other like-minded consumers and giving them considerable power over marketers and brands. This course takes an in-depth look at social media platforms, Internet businesses, Internet marketing and advertising and the role social media, marketing and advertising play in a global environment. Students will learn how social media strategies can be used effectively in marketing programs, how to create them, and how to measure, track, and evaluate their performance and effectiveness. This course is open to students in grades 10-12.
531 Financial Decision Making
Either Semester – ½ Unit
Recommended for 11th and 12th graders.
This course provides students with the knowledge to gather, process, and present statistical data. They will learn to construct frequency charts, compute measures of central tendency and calculate standard and quartile deviations. The knowledge will then be applied to solving business problems and sampling, hypothesis testing, regression and correlation and trend analysis. This course carries four Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) credits for those students who choose this option. A tuition fee is required for this option. This course is open to students in grades 10-12.
520 American Entrepreneur
Either Semester – ½ Unit
In this course students will gain an understanding of how to start and successfully run a small business. Over the course of the semester students will develop a business model/plan which includes (but is not limited to) creating their own product/company, developing a logo and slogan, conducting customer discovery, identifying target markets and presenting their business model/plan as if they are on “Shark Tank.” Students will learn about the impact of the economy on business, what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur, different types of business ownership, how to identify customers, marketing plan development, how to build and maintain customer relationships, methods for generating revenue and much more! Concepts are taught utilizing project-based learning and practical application assignments. This course is open to students in grades 10-12.
516 Accounting (P)
Either Semester – ½ Unit
Prerequisite: Passing grade in Algebra 1.
This course is an introduction to managing business finances. Students will learn the processes and procedures for effectively maintaining and reporting a business’s financial records. Current topics include journalizing, posting, financial statements, and worksheets. Students will complete the accounting cycle manually using Microsoft Excel. The final exam is departmental. This course is open to students in grades 10-12.
513 Math and Finance (P)
Either Semester – ½ Unit
Prerequisite: Passing grade on Common Core Algebra Regents Exam.
This half-year college level Mathematics of Finance course includes algebra-based calculations and analysis of business investment situations. Included are simple compound interest, annuities (ordinary due, deferred, complex, perpetuity and forborne), applications of present value and future value and conceptual discussions of business investments. Students will learn how to use the financial functions in Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets to complete classroom and homework assignments. The final examination is departmental. Students taking this course may receive three college credits at Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC). A tuition fee is required for this option. This course is open to students in grades 10-12.
554 Business Statistics E (P)
Second Semester – ½ Unit
Prerequisite: Passing grade on Common Core Algebra Regents Exam.
This course explores general statistical methods used in the collection, presentation, analysis, and interpretation of statistical data. The topics covered are the measures of central tendency; dispersion and skewness; probability theory; probability distributions discrete and continuous); hypothesis testing, including “t” and “z” distributions; chi square analysis; and regression analysis, correlation and ANOVA. Students will complete case studies using the Statistical Functions in Microsoft Excel. This course carries four Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) credits for those students who choose this option. A tuition fee is required for this option. This course is open to students in grades 10-12.
522 Principles of Marketing
Either Semester – ½ Unit
Recommended for 11th and 12th graders.
This course provides students an introduction to Business Marketing. The marketing planning process and the market environment will be discussed. Students will learn about consumer behavior and gain an understanding of targeting and positioning. Additionally, the elements of the marketing mix including new product development, promotion, pricing, and distribution will be covered. This course carries three Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) credits for those students who choose this option. A tuition fee is required. This course is open to students in grades 10-12.
555 Business Management
Either Semester – ½ Unit
This course is a 200 level college course for students in grades 11 and 12. A minimum overall average of 85 or greater is recommended.
This course introduces students to essential business management skills and practices, with a focus on the corporate business environment. Topics covered include key managerial functions, the evolution of management, personality and qualities best for leadership, organizational culture, corporate social responsibility, human resource management and managing employees from diverse backgrounds, planning and managing strategy and dealing with changes in the global business environment. Concepts are reinforced with project-based learning; which also helps students develop leadership, team building, problem solving, and time management skills. This course carries three Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) credits for those students who choose this option. A tuition fee is required for this option.
558 Career Exploration Internship Program (CEIP)
Either Semester – ½ Unit
Prerequisite: Senior year, by application only.
This course allows students to complete an unpaid internship experience in one or two different careers that are of interest to them. Students will need to complete 54 hours in their internship experience and 27 hours of classroom instruction. In the past, students have explored careers in the fields of: business, criminal justice, education, engineering, health care, journalism, law, and many other occupations. Students planning to enroll in CEIP are required to have and provide their own transportation to and from their placements. They will also be required to make a commitment of four to five hours per week to meet their internship obligation. In addition, students will also have one or more class meetings a week for classroom instruction. Students who choose to enroll in this elective course are expected to demonstrate a high level of responsibility and commitment appropriate for the workplace.
Applications to enroll in this program may be obtained from the school counselors. Students will then be interviewed by members of the Business Education Department. This course is open to students in grade 12.
559 Extended Career Exploration Internship Program (CEIP)
Second Semester – ½ Unit
This course is for students who would like a full year internship. (Supervisor Approval)
Full Year Courses
518 Personal and Business Law
Second Semester – ½ Unit
Students in Personal and Business Law will gain a genuine respect for and understanding of the areas of law that affect them in personal and business applications. The curriculum in law includes careful consideration of the broad basis of law, an analysis of civil wrongs and crimes, and the sources and methods of enforcing the law. Other topics include special laws pertaining to minors, automobile insurance, and contracts. The midterm and final assessments are departmental. This course is open to students in grades 10-12.
519 Sports and Entertainment Marketing
Full Year – 1 Unit
Do you like sports? Do you like TV, movies, video games or music? If so, then this is the course for you! In this course students will learn the basic functions of marketing and how those functions are applied to sports and entertainment. The basic functions of marketing that will be included in the course are: target market identification, marketing information management, financing, pricing, promotion, product/service management, distribution, and selling. Concepts are taught utilizing project-based learning and practical application assignments. The midterm and final projects are departmental. This course provides students with the opportunity to attend a sports business day hosted by The New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. This course is open to students in grades 9-12.
540 Microsoft Office Certification
Full Year – 1 Unit
This course provides students with hands-on experience learning and applying intermediate and advanced features and functions related to word processing, spreadsheets, presentation development and database management using the Microsoft Office Suite (specifically Access, Excel, PowerPoint and Word) and cloud-based programs on the Google platform. To be successful in this course, students should have some familiarity with Microsoft Office Applications. The final examination is a departmentally-developed computer project. The first semester of this full year course carries three Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) credits (a tuition fee is required for this option). At the conclusion of the course, students will be prepared to take the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Certification exams in Access, Excel, PowerPoint and Word. The MOS Certification exams will be administered at Shaker High School at no cost to students. This course is open to students in grades 10-12.
553 College Accounting (P)
Full Year – 1 Unit
Prerequisite: Passing grade on Common Core Algebra Regents Exam.
This course provides a complete, modern course in accounting and satisfies the requirements of both accounting majors and non-majors. During the first semester students will receive instruction in the fundamental theory and practice of accounting with application in sole proprietorship. Units of study have been designed to present the principles of double entry; design and use of books of account; control accounts and subsidiary ledgers; preparation of worksheet; payroll and payroll taxes; valuation reserves; closing books and preparation of simple forms of profit and loss statements and balance sheets. In the second semester, this course is designed to provide treatment of concepts and principles, plant assets, partnerships, corporations, cash flow and financial statement analysis, and to provide opportunity for enrichment through elementary data processing and its application to accounting systems. This course carries three University of Albany credits for those students who choose this option. A tuition fee is required for this option. This course is open to students in grades 10-12.
526 Career Development (P)
Full Year – 1 Unit
Prerequisite: By supervisor permission only.
This course will build students’ knowledge about the world of work, explore career options, and relate personal skills, aptitudes and abilities to future career decisions. Students will demonstrate how academic knowledge and skills are applied in the workplace and other settings. Students will demonstrate mastery of the foundation skills and competencies essential for success in the workplace. These competencies will include: basic skills, thinking skills (i.e. problem solving, applying knowledge to new and unfamiliar situations), personal qualities (i.e. self-management, planning, organizing), interpersonal skills, technology, managing information, managing resources, and systems (understanding and working within natural and constructed systems). Semester one will be classroom oriented, while semester two will focus on work-based learning opportunities at Shaker High School. This course is open to students in grades 10-12.
**This course is applicable to those students pursuing a NYS CDOS Commencement Credential.