Business Management and Administration

Business Pathways Overview:

The purpose of the two Business Pathways is to introduce you to various areas of business including what is business, forms of business ownership, how business affects us, business communication, leadership and teamwork, budgeting and finance, job search, marketing, risk management (insurance), business social responsibility, etc. This is a great pathway to learning the basics of business, to help you determine if business is something you like, and to help you learn about the different areas in business. Speakers typically include an insurance agent, a banker, who judges student business plans, and a human resources manager (employment expert). Students have the opportunity to participate in a mock trial in the Legal class with a local judge presiding. Students work toward completing Microsoft Office Certifications in PowerPoint, Word, and Excel - all Industry-Recognized certifications. Students may complete two (2) Business Pathways by completing four (4) courses. Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is the business student leadership organization.

Business Pathways & Courses:

Entrepreneurship Pathway Courses

Introduction to Business; Legal Environment of Business; Entrepreneurship

Human Resources Management Pathway Courses

Introduction to Business; Legal Environment of Business; Human Resource Principles

Business Course Descriptions:

Introduction to Business (1st class in both pathways)

Introduction to Business and Technology is the foundational course for Entrepreneurship and Human Resources Management pathways. The course is designed for high school students as a gateway to the career pathways above, and provides an overview of business and technology skills required for today's business environment. Knowledge of business principles, the impact of financial decisions, and technology proficiencies demanded by business combine to establish the elements of this course. Emphasis is placed on developing proficient fundamental computer skills required for all career pathways.

Students will learn essentials for working in a business environment, managing a business, and owning a business. The intention of this course is to prepare students to be successful both personally and professionally in an information-based society. Students will not only understand the concepts, but apply their knowledge to situations and defend their actions/decisions/choices through the knowledge and skills acquired in this course.

Employability skills are integrated into activities, tasks, and projects throughout the course standards to demonstrate the skills required by business and industry. Specific project include: managing a checking account; preparing and balancing a personal budget (renting an apartment; buying a car; paycheck withholdings; etc.); a sports marketing activity; and a job search portfolio including job interview questions, creating a resume, filling out a job application, and career research.

Competencies in the co-curricular student organization, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), are integral components of both the employability skills standards and content standards for this course. Various forms of technologies will be highlighted to expose students to the emerging technologies impacting the business world. Professional communication skills and practices, problem-solving, ethical and legal issues, and the impact of effective presentation skills are taught in this course as a foundational knowledge to prepare students to be college and career ready. Introduction to Business and Technology is a course that is appropriate for all high school students.

After mastery of the standards in this course, students should be prepared to earn an industry-recognized credential: Microsoft Office Specialist Certification in PowerPoint.

Legal Environment of Business (2nd class in both pathways)

Legal Environment of Business addresses statutes and regulations affecting businesses, families, and individuals. All students will benefit with the knowledge of business law as they will eventually assume roles as citizens, workers, and consumers in their communities and in society at large. Students will get an overview of business law while concentrating on the legal aspects of business ownership and management.

Legal issues addressed include court procedures, contracts, torts, consumer law, employment law, environmental law, international law, ethics, and the role of the government in business. Students will not only understand the concepts, but will also apply their knowledge to situations and defend their actions, decisions, and choices. Various forms of technologies will be highlighted to expose students to the emerging technologies impacting the business world. Professional communication skills and practices, problem-solving, ethical and legal issues, and the impact of effective presentation skills are expanded in this course to prepare students to be college and career ready.

Employability skills are integrated into activities, tasks, and projects throughout this course to demonstrate skills required by business and industry. Students especially enjoy participation in a mock trial as a part of this course. If the health environment allows, students travel to the White County Court House and conduct a mock trial with a judge presiding. If we are not allowed to travel, the mock trial takes place in the Annex Gym with a judge presiding via technology.

Competencies in the co-curricular student organization, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), are integral components of both the employability skills and content standards of this course. Legal Environment of Business is the second course in the Entrepreneurship and Human Resources Management Pathways. Students in this course train for and take the Microsoft Office Specialist Certification test in Word. This is an industry-recognized certification. Students enrolled in this course should have successfully completed the first course in the pathway Introduction to Business & Technology.

Human Resources Principles (final class in HR pathway)

HIRED or FIRED? Students will analyze the primary functions of human resources management which include recruitment, selection, training, development, compensation, and evaluation. The course is designed to equip students with operational knowledge of hiring, managing, and firing employees. Throughout this course students will be introduced to the Human Resource Management role by following the life cycle of an employee from organizational entry to exit.

Various forms of technologies will be highlighted to expose students to the emerging technologies impacting the business world. Professional communication skills and practices, problem-solving, ethical and legal issues, and the impact of effective presentation skills are taught in this course as a foundational knowledge to prepare students to be college and career ready. Employability skills are integrated into activities, tasks, and projects throughout the course standards to demonstrate the skills required by business and industry.

Competencies in the co-curricular student organization, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), are integral components of both the employability skills standards and content standards for this course.

Students in this course train for and take the Microsoft Office Specialist Certification test in Excel. This is an industry-recognized certification. Human Resources Principles is the third course for the Human Resources Management Pathway. Students who are enrolled in this course should have successfully completed the first two courses in the pathway: Introduction to Business and Technology and Legal Environment of Business. After mastery of the standards in this course, students should be prepared to take an End of Pathway assessment in this career area.

Entrepreneurship (final class in Entrepreneurship pathway)

Entrepreneurship is the third and final course in the Small Business Development Pathway. An entrepreneur is a person who identifies an opportunity and then tries to capitalize on that opportunity to make money. The purpose of this class is to help you learn how to plan and start a business. You will prepare a business plan including these areas of business: accounting, finance, marketing, and management. You learn about the legal aspects of starting and running a business as well as learning professionalism and leadership skills. During this class, students participate in running a small, school-based business. The class typically hosts multiple local entrepreneurs to speak in class. Business Essentials and The Legal Environment of Business are prerequisites to this course.

Career Technical Student Organization

To learn about opportunities through the Business Pathways, click to visit Georgia FBLA.

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