Business & Computer Science
Mission:
Students today, leaders tomorrow.
Philosophy:
The Business & Computer Science Department teaches the necessary skills for entry-level employment, leadership positions, and post-secondary education by offering basic skills that are marketable and essential in life. Opportunities are provided to expand business knowledge while thinking critically, analytically and creatively. It is our aim to develop and apply the use of technology, business and economic concepts, and legal principals essential for our diverse student population. We will work cooperatively with the Marietta business community to assure our students are prepared to contribute to the development and prosperity of local communities.
Small Business Development Pathway
The Small Business Development Pathway prepares students for careers involving planning, organizing, directing and evaluating the business functions essential to efficient productive business operations.
Entrepreneurs, innovators, and small businesses play a key role in Georgia’s economy. According to the United States Small Business Administration, there are 813,100 small businesses in Georgia. Job opportunities in business are varied, and educational requirements vary according to specialization. Business professionals may be managers, owners, accountants, economists, administrators, or analysts. Those considering a career in business, especially small business, should be analytical, detail-oriented, flexible, and decisive. They will be required to coordinate several activities at once, quickly analyze and solve specific problems and cope with deadlines. Business professionals should also have good communication skills and be able to establish working relationships with many different people, from managers, supervisors and other professionals to clerks and related workers. Business job opportunities are expected to be good; however, job seeks may face keen competition in the business field. Competencies for the co-curricular student organization Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) are integral components of the performance standards.
Business Essentials – 06.4160081/2 - 1 semester. The course will help students build a strong knowledge base and develop management skills as they study forms of business ownership, functions of management, budgeting and finance, technology, communications, legislation, leadership and teamwork, marketing, and economics.
Entrepreneurial Ventures I - 06.4170081/82 - 1 semester. This course concentrates on the management skills necessary for successful business operation. Students will study management strategies for developing and implementing business plans; structuring the organization; financing the organization; and managing information, operations, marketing and human resources. 10-12 graders.
Prerequisite: Business Essentials.
Entrepreneurial Ventures II - 06.4170083/84 - 1 semester. An integral component of the Entrepreneurial Ventures course is a school-based or community-based entrepreneurial venture that will engage students in the creation and management of a business and the challenges of being a small business owner. 10-12 graders.
Prerequisite: Business Essentials and Entrepreneurial Ventures I.
Legal Environment of Business A/B - 06.0150081/82 - 2 semesters. This course concentrates on the legal aspects of business ownership and management. Legal issues will include contracts, sales, consumer law, agency and employment law, personal and real property, risk management, environmental law, and government effects on business. The impact of ethics on business operations will be studied. International business principles are infused in the standards. 10-12 graders. You do NOT have to take Legal Environment of Business A in order to take Legal Environment of Business B.
Prerequisite: Business Essentials.
Financial Management - Services Pathway
The financial services industry includes a wide variety of occupational fields, including banking, insurance, real estate, investment, and personal wealth management. Financial managers, loan officers, credit analysts, and financial counselors make recommendations and provide investment guidance for both individuals and businesses. Treasures, comptrollers, and Chief Financial Officers plan and direct the financial activities of an organization at the highest level of management. Personal financial advisors use their knowledge of investments, tax laws, and insurance to help individuals plan for and meet short- and long-term goals. They work in offices or their own homes and travel frequently to visit companies or potential investors. Overall, employment of financial analysts and personal financial advisors is expected to increase much faster than average.
The insurance industry is a major employer of actuaries, who forecast risk and liability based upon examination of mortality, accident, sickness, and disability data. Actuaries are primarily located in large urban areas. The insurance industry also employs insurance appraisers and adjustors, who determine the extent of a company's liability concerning personal, casualty, and property loss or damage. The insurance industry should continue to be a stable source of employment. Securities and commodities sales agents (also called stock brokers) buy and sell securities in investment and trading firms. They advise securities customers (both individuals and businesses) about such things as stocks, bonds, and market laws and practices. The state of the economy determines the rise and fall of jobs in this area. As the population grows and incomes increase, however, there will continue to be demand for financial services in securities and commodities. Competencies for the co-curricular student organization Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) are integral components of the performance standards.
Business Essentials - 06.4160081/2/82 - 1 semester. The course will help students build a strong knowledge base and develop management skills as they study forms of business ownership, functions of management, budgeting and finance, technology, communications, legislation, leadership and teamwork, marketing, and economics.
Banking and Investing - 07.4211081/82 - 1 semester. Using project-based instruction, students are introduced to the basics of the banking system, bank operating procedures, negotiable instruments, and the deposit and credit functions of banks. Methods used for measuring the financial performance of banks are analyzed. Current issues and future trends in banking are examined. Students explore the major functions of bank employees by completing a flow-of-work simulation. Students formulate business and individual investment decisions by comparing and contrasting a variety of investment options. Students analyze annual reports, predict growth rates, and chart trend lines. 10-12 graders.
Prerequisite: Business Essentials.
Financial Literacy - 07.4260081/82 - 1 semester. In this course they will learn about career decisions, money management, financial security, credit management, resource management, risk management, and consumer rights and responsibilities. 10-12 graders.
Prerequisite: Banking and Investing.
Financial Management – Accounting Pathway
The Accounting Pathway prepares students for careers that involve designing accounting systems, recording financial transactions, and analyzing and evaluating financial statements. Accountants and auditors gather, analyze, and ensure the accuracy of financial information. Strong growth in accounting jobs throughout the next decade is expected to occur due to the growing number of new businesses and stricter accounting and auditing regulations. Growth will be slightly slowed in some sectors because many individuals and small businesses may choose to use special accounting software. Even people who use the software, however, will still need to contact accountants for various financial needs.
Four major specialties make up the accounting industry. About eleven percent of public accountants own their own businesses, and others work for accounting firms. Their clients are either individuals or businesses. Management accountants work for corporations as part of the company’s management team, checking the company’s financial records as well as developing budgets and providing cost analysis information. Government accountants maintain and inspect records of government agencies. Internal auditors usually work for a company to ensure that the company’s financial information and records are accurate. Competencies for the co-curricular student organization Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) are integral components of the performance standards.
Business Essentials - 06.4160081/2/82 - 1 semester. The course will help students build a strong knowledge base and develop management skills as they study forms of business ownership, functions of management, budgeting and finance, technology, communications, legislation, leadership and teamwork, marketing, and economics.
Prin. of Accounting - 07.4110081/82 - 2 semesters. Introduces basics of accounting procedures. Topics include posting, financial reports, financial journal entries. 10-12 graders.
Prerequisite: Business Essentials.
Interactive Media Pathway
Careers in interactive media involve creating, designing and producing interactive multimedia products and services, including the development of digitally-generated or computer-enhanced media used in business, training, entertainment, communications and marketing. Sample interactive media occupations include web designer, webmaster, 3d animator, virtual reality specialist, multimedia producer and graphic artist.
Organizations of all types and sizes use digital media (the Word Wide Web, CD-ROM, DVD) to communicate with existing and potential customers, to track transactions and to collaborate with colleagues. Interactive media experts can find employment opportunities in organizations of all sizes and types, doing work such as creating e-business auction web sites that allow people around the world to buy and sell items in real-time.
Job prospects in the motion picture and video industry are excellent for multimedia artists and animators, film and video editors and others skilled in digital filming and computer generated imaging. Graphic designers with Web site design and animation experience will have good job opportunities also. A bachelor’s degree is required for most entry-level positions. However, an associate’s degree may be sufficient for technical positions. Competencies for the co-curricular student organization Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) are integral components of the performance standards.
Computing in the Modern World - 11.4120081/82 - 1 semester. In this course, high school students can acquire a fundamental understanding of the operation of computers and computer networks and create useful programs implementing simple algorithms. By developing Web pages that include images, sound, and text, they can acquire a working understanding of the Internet, common formats for data transmission, and some insights into the design of the human-computer interface.
Fundamentals of Web Page Design - 11.4310081/82 - 1 semester. This course will provide students with essential web page planning and development skills. Students will learn to write code manually and use graphical authoring tools. Students will also learn to work with web page layout and graphical elements, including images, hyperlinks, tables, forms, and frames. 10-12 graders.
Prerequisite: Computing in the Modern World.
Intro to Animation & 3D Graphics - 11.4280081/82 - 2 semesters. Introduction to Animation and 3d Design is a foundations course that serves as an introduction to the animation and 3d design industry. Emphasis is placed on career awareness, fundamentals of modeling, storyboard creation, cameras and lighting. Students will learn how 3d technology is used for film, broadcast and games and how it is rapidly becoming the medium of choice for industrial design, military simulations, and medical visualization. The standards are aligned with the interactive media standards in Georgia’s technical colleges, thus helping to qualify students for advanced placement should they continue their education at the postsecondary level. Competencies for the co-curricular student organization, SkillsUSA, are integral components of both the core employability skills standards and the technical skills standards, and SkillsUSA activities should be incorporated throughout instructional strategies developed for the course.
Prerequisite: Computing in the Modern World.
Computing Pathway
The computing profession includes a variety of jobs – computer engineering, computer science, information systems, information technology, and software engineering. The increased use of computers has created a high demand for specialists to provide advice to users, as well as for day-to-day administration, maintenance, and support of computer systems and networks. Computing jobs are generally high paying, and those working in the computing profession have a high level of job satisfaction. Computing majors require a foundational knowledge of problem solving and logical thinking.
Employers will seek those with strong programming, systems analysis, interpersonal and business skills. Most employers prefer to hire those with at least a bachelor’s degree and a broad knowledge of, and experience with a variety of computer systems and technologies. Certifications and practical experience are essential for persons without degrees.
Job opportunities in the computing field are expected to be excellent over the next 10 years. It is estimated that the number of people trained for jobs in the computing industry will fall far short of the employment demand. Competencies for the co-curricular student organization Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) are integral components of the performance standards.
Computing in the Modern World - 11.4120081/82 - 1 semester. In this course, high school students can acquire a fundamental understanding of the operation of computers and computer networks and create useful programs implementing simple algorithms. By developing Web pages that include images, sound, and text, they can acquire a working understanding of the Internet, common formats for data transmission, and some insights into the design of the human-computer interface.
Beginning Programming - 11.4180081/82 - 2 semesters. The major goal of this course is for students to develop the computer science skills of algorithm development, problem solving, and programming. While the emphasis of the course will be on programming, students will also be introduced to other important topics, such as careers, the limits of computing and the difference between interpreters and compilers.
Prerequisite: Computing in the Modern World.
AP Computer Science - 11.0170081/82 - 2 semesters. Using object-oriented programming, students will learn the fundamentals of creating objects, methods, classes, variables, number types, strings and control structures. Students will be introduced to graphics programming, arrays and class design as well as implementation for solutions to problems in a variety of application areas using Java. Second semester will cover polymorphism, inheritance, exceptions, files and streams, and graphical user interface programming. Students will use the standard Java library classes from the AP Java subset and will be able to make changes to the GridWorld Case Study found on the AP Exam.
Can count as a science elective credit (4th science requirement).
Computer Maintenance & Repair(Information Technology Essentials) - 11.4140081/82 - 1 semester. Introduces computer maintenance (A+, networking, operating systems (MCSE), and Internet and e-commerce.
Prerequisite: Computing in the Modern World.
