BUSINESS

Students who elect courses from the Business Department are:

Competent learners whose academic goals are to:

· Read with understanding and insight.

· Write with clarity and precision.

· Utilize technology in the presentation of information to others.

Responsible individuals whose civic goals are to:

· Demonstrate character values and ethical behavior.

· Understand and appreciate the value of diversity amongst students and staff.

· Understands and appreciates the Island community and one’s unique connection to Martha’s Vineyard.

Complex thinkers whose social goals are to:

· Hold high expectations for their academic or career decisions.

It is hoped that when choosing electives, you will give serious consideration to the courses offered in the Business Department. No matter where your career path may lead, business courses will help you to gain practical, real world skills.

ACCOUNTING & QUICKBOOKS

5 Credits Full Year Unweighted Prerequisite: None

Accounting is the language of business. It is the planning, recording, analyzing, and interpreting of financial information. The course is designed to cover the complete accounting cycle for a sole proprietorship and to incorporate the most widely used program in the accounting industry, QuickBooks. Students will apply accounting concepts using both manual and automated systems. Real life simulations will be used to give students on the job training and hands-on experience doing the bookkeeping of a business.

DOCUMENT PROCESSING/KEYBOARDING

2.5 Credits Semester Unweighted

Prerequisite: Preference will be given to Seniors.

This is a very practical hands-on course. It is devoted to learning the alpha/numeric keyboard, word processing functions and personal-use applications. Speed and accuracy are stressed as the student masters the keyboard. Document formatting, language arts skills are continually reinforced.

INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS

2.5 Credits Semester Unweighted Prerequisite: None

This course is designed to provide insight into the characteristics, organization, and operations of business. Introduction of contemporary issues as well as routine business factors, including the environment of business, business ownership, finance, production, marketing, governmental regulations, and taxation. Emphasis is placed on entrepreneurship and management decision making. May be taken for 3 college credits in junior or senior year under tech prep.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND NEW VENTURES

2.5 Credits Semester Unweighted

Prerequisite: Grades 10-12 or recommendation of the department.

This course concentrates on starting and growing new businesses. Entrepreneurship focuses on recognizing a business opportunity, starting a business based on the recognized opportunity, and operating and maintaining that business. Many interesting case studies (Nantucket Nectars, Ben & Jerry’s, Southwest Airlines, are examples) will be used for discussion and debate. Island entrepreneurs will be featured as guest speakers. Student teams will write, articulate, and present a business plan for their own new ventures.

FASHION MARKETING

2.5 Credits Semester Unweighted

Prerequisite: Juniors and Seniors or recommendation of the department.

This course covers the concepts and functions of basic marketing using the fashion industry as the learning vehicle. We will pursue the interaction between fashion design and marketing. Students begin to learn the development, promotion, advertising and retailing skills needed to enter the real world and become successful. Emphasis will be placed on occupational applications as well as some collaboration with Art Department by way of its Fashion Design offering. Field trips and guest speakers will round out the offerings.

HOSPITALITY/TOURISM

2.5 Credits Semester Unweighted

Prerequisite: Grades 10-12 or recommendation of the department.

Hospitality is a course relating to the operation of hotels, restaurants, and lodging establishments. Areas covered include the history of hospitality and the lodging industry; ownership and management; front office operation; guest services; housekeeping; engineering and security; food and beverage operation; marketing and sales, and the back office. Emphasis is placed on vocational and career opportunities, coupled with field trips and guest speakers.

MARKETING

2.5 Credits Semester Unweighted

Prerequisite: Juniors and Seniors or recommendation of the department.

This course is for students who have a desire to enter careers in marketing, merchandising, or management. Included is instruction on advertising, human relations, product and service technology, operation and management skills, and promotion. Strong emphasis is placed on marketing yourself: teaching students how to apply personal and business marketing skills in preparation for college and/or entering the workforce.

THE STOCK MARKET

2.5 Credits Semester Unweighted

Utilizing actual Stock Market Game (SMG) simulation, this class will explore the basic investment techniques used on Wall Street. Students also learn the basics of how the stock market operates and are introduced to its history and evolution. With $100,000 of simulated capital students will invest in stocks, mutual funds over the course and will learn sophisticated investment strategies. We will compete against other students across the region that also uses SMG. We will utilize mathematical formulas to calculate capital gains or losses, earning per share, price/earning rations, dividend yield, etc. The financial terms introduced enrich students’ vocabularies throughout the simulation and give them practical real life type experiences.

PERSONAL FINANCE

2.5 Credits Semester Unweighted

Prerequisite: Preference will be given to Juniors and Seniors.

This is a practical course designed to prepare students for their future. The High School Financial Planning Program (HSFPP) will be utilized to educated students about sound money management skills and the financial planning process. Students will learn to maintain a checking account; prepare and follow a budget; use credit wisely; understand insurance and risk management; plan major purchases and prepare tax returns. Additional topics and

activities will be added to develop the skills necessary to function as knowledge consumers.

SPORTS MANAGEMENT I

2.5 Credits Semester Unweighted

Prerequisite: Juniors and Seniors or recommendation of the department.

This course is designed to illustrate the use of management, marketing and strategy principles/concepts and their implementation in a real world situation – the business of Professional Sports. Professional Sports is chosen as the context of this course because it offers a subject matter that is familiar to a large population of students and the huge amount of money generated and spent leaves little doubt that sports is truly “Big Business.” Additionally, Professional Sports offer a microcosm of the issues, trials and tribulations of the society in which we live. This course will feature many interesting case studies and a final project where teams research and analyze a Professional Sport of their choice and present their findings in a boardroom setting.

SPORTS MANAGEMENT II

2.5 Credits Semester Unweighted Prerequisite: Sports Management I

Students will expand upon their knowledge of the business of professional sports. Management strategies, understanding groups and teams, operations, and leadership characteristics will be the focal points of this course. Several college-level case studies will be examined. This course will also feature Virtual Business Sports, where students build and manage a new stadium. Popular online simulations will also be used for the class to compete as virtual GM’s.

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS
2.5 Credits Semester Unweighted Prerequisite: None
This is a one semester course that is for students with little computer background. Student will learn how to use the Macintosh and Windows operating systems to run programs, save files, create directories, back up data, and master other operating system functions. Skill areas to be investigated include word processing, databases, spreadsheets and multi-media presentations.
Computer safety and ethics will be emphasized.