High School of Business

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High School of Business

In 2011/12, students who completed the High School of Business™ program entered college with an average of 10 college credits. Data recently received show that 85.7% of participating schools have at least one local credit agreement with a two-year or four-year college post-secondary partner.
This is a nationally sponsored program by MBAResearch

Program Description

The Pomona High School of Business™ is designed much like a college business administration program. Students take approximately one course per semester, beginning with an introduction to business. The program continues with courses in various business functions concluding with the capstone course, Business Strategies, that requires implementation of the principles addressed throughout the High School of Business™ program.

  • Students incorporate High School of Business™ into a college-preparatory style course of study, resulting in the delivery of a breadth of academic knowledge that is then used in rigorous business-focused projects.

  • Participating schools agree to offer the program in its entirety (at least the six required courses: Principles of Business, Business Economics, Principles of Marketing, Principles of Finance, Principles of Management, and Business Strategies) over a period of four years to ensure that each student has the opportunity to complete the program.

  • Each of the five courses preceding the capstone course includes part of a program-long project. For example, students nearing the end of the Business Economics course learn how to use a decision matrix and business feasibility study to select a business idea from a list generated in the previous course, Principles of Business.

  • In Business Strategies, senior-level student teams use the knowledge and skills gained in all of the previous courses to implement their new business idea.

  • Each student has the opportunity to see business in action. Observing a senior-level business executive not only puts coursework into action, it can create a visual career goal for students.

  • Advanced Math with a Business Focus and Advanced English with a Business Focus: planning is currently underway in preparation for designing these supplemental materials. Note: these are not stand-alone courses. Each will be problems and projects schools can use to achieve academic and career tech integration.

Course Descriptions

1st Semester
2nd Semester
Grade 9

Leadership

Leadership, a project-based leadership course, develops student understanding and skills in such areas as communication skills, emotional intelligence, operations, and professional development. Students acquire an understanding and appreciation of the need for leadership skills. To encourage immediate implementation of leadership skills, Leadership utilizes an on-going service-learning project for course delivery and reinforcement. The course content is sequenced for students to identify, plan, implement, and evaluate a service-learning project based on the needs of their community/school. Throughout the course, students are presented problem-solving situations for which they must apply academic and critical-thinking skills. Formal reflection is an on-going component of the course.

Recommended: 9th grade

Credit: .5 (one semester)

Prerequisite: n/a

Wealth Management

This project-based financial literacy and investment course develops student understanding and skills in such areas as personal finance, types of investment, the stock market, and stock valuation. Students acquire an understanding and appreciation of the need for personal financial management and investing. To encourage immediate implementation of financial literacy and investment skills, Wealth Management utilizes an on-going investment project for course delivery and reinforcement. The course content is sequenced for students to develop a diversified, balanced investment portfolio based both on their interest in products and companies and on fundamental analysis. Throughout the course, students are presented problem-solving situations for which they must apply academic and critical-thinking skills.

Recommended: 9th grade

Credit: .5 (one semester)

Prerequisite: n/a ​
Grade 10

Principles of Business

Principles of Business, a project-based business course, develops student understanding and skills in such areas as business law, economics, financial analysis, human resources management, information management, marketing, operations, and strategic management. Through the use of three projects, students acquire an understanding and appreciation of the business world. They develop a business analysis report, conduct an environmental scan of the local business community, and investigate business activities. Current technology will be used to acquire information and to complete the projects. Throughout the course, students are presented problem-solving situations for which they must apply academic and critical-thinking skills. Formal reflection is an on-going component of the course.

Recommended: 10th grade

Credit: .5 (one semester)

Prerequisite: n/a ​

Business Economics 

In Business Economics, a project-based business course, students expand their understanding that businesses are influenced by external factors that are often beyond their control. Consumer spending, government policies, economic conditions, legal issues, and global competition are addressed through practical, current applications to everyday societal and business life. Decision matrices are introduced, and the importance and costs of quality are stressed. Students develop their knowledge and skills in such areas as economics, entrepreneurship, operations, and professional development. Throughout the course, students will be presented with current economic problems for which they are asked to determine solutions, often through the application of decision matrices.

Recommended: 10th grade

Credit: .5 (one semester)

Prerequisite: Principles of Business ​
Grade 11

Principles of Marketing

Principles of Marketing is a project-based business course that develops student understanding and skills in the functional areas of marketing: channel management, marketing-information management, market planning, pricing, product/service management, promotion, and selling. Students acquire an understanding and appreciation of each of the marketing functions and their ethical and legal issues. Decision matrices are employed to aid in market planning.

Recommended: 11th grade

Credit: .5 (one semester)

Prerequisite: Principles of Business and Business Economics

Principles of Finance

Principles of Finance furthers student understanding of two specific business activities—accounting and finance—that were introduced in an earlier High School of Business course, Principles of Business. Through multiple projects, students make connections between accounting, with an emphasis on cash flow, and finance, with an emphasis on decision-making. Students acquire an understanding of financial statements, calculate financial ratios, and make business decisions based on their interpretation of those financial statements and ratios. In addition, students determine business-financing options, as well as develop an appreciation for types of financial service providers and financial markets. Decision matrices are employed to aid in financial planning.

Recommended: 11th grade

Credit: .5 (one semester)

Prerequisite: Principles of Business and Business Economics ​
Grade 12

Principles of Management

Principles of Management is a project-based business course that expands student understanding of management. Students acquire an appreciation for aspects of management, such as project management, human resources management, knowledge management, quality management, and risk management. In addition, ethical and legal considerations affecting business activities are stressed, and students develop managerial and supervisory skills through interaction with lower grade-level High School of Business™ students. Decision matrices are employed to aid in management planning.

Recommended: 11th or 12th grade

Credit: .5 (one semester)

Prerequisites: Principles of Business and Business Economics ​

Business Strategies

Business Strategies serves as the capstone course for the High School of Business™ program. Students employ their decision matrices to finalize marketing, financial, and management plans developed previously, incorporating them into a business plan for a non-profit organization. The non-profit venture is actualized during the course, requiring students to engage in risk assessment, strategic planning, and performance assessment.

Recommended: 12th grade

Credit: .5 (one semester)

Prerequisite: Principles of Business, Business Economics, Principles of Marketing, Principles of Finance, and Principles of Management
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