The Business Education curriculum has a three-fold purpose: to provide knowledge and skills as a foundation for college, to give students information helpful in carrying on personal business affairs more efficiently, and to prepare students for making informed economic decisions in life. A 5-credit business sequence (which must include CFM1 and CFM2) can be used to pursue an Advanced Regents Diploma.
Earning College Credit
A partnership between Niskayuna High School and Schenectady County Community College enables students to earn college credit through the College in the High School (CHS) program upon successfully completing designated full-year business classes. Students have the option of signing up for the college credit at the beginning of the school year, which requires a tuition fee.
Business Education Courses
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- CAREER and FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT I
- CAREER and FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT II
- CAREER EXPLORATION INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (CEIP)
- BUSINESS ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT
- BUSINESS LAW
- ACCOUNTING I
- ACCOUNTING II
- MARKETING
- GENERAL EDUCATION WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM
- SPORTS MARKETING MANAGEMENT
- INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
- AP BUSINESS WITH PERSONAL FINANCE
72020 CAREER and FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT I
1 semester, 1/2 credit, Recommended Grades 9-11
CFM I provides students with the opportunity to learn about features of our economy, explore a variety of careers, and develop the skills and competencies needed for success in the workplace. Students will be introduced to a variety of strategies and tools to manage financial resources to become a financially literate adult. Financial topics include money management, interest, credit, loans, and budgeting. Employment practices from a personal perspective will be explored and an understanding of employee rights, health and safety rules, as well as continuous development as a professional. This course aims to foster the development of progressive skills and behaviors, enabling young individuals to effectively integrate themselves into the workplace, home, and community.
72040 CAREER and FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT II
1 semester, 1/2 credit, Recommended Grades 9-11
CFM II provides students the opportunity to study a range of financial alternatives and explore basic decisions necessary to become informed employees, consumers, and citizens. General principles will be combined with practical applications to develop personal financial literacy. Finance topics include learning about investment vehicles, personal taxes, life and health insurance. Students will make preparations for entering the workforce by developing skills in communications, creating cover letters and building resumes. In addition, a heavy emphasis is placed on student awareness of securing an interview and important factors involved with employee benefit packages. Students must complete a job shadow experience during the semester as part of the course requirements.
72060 CAREER EXPLORATION INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (CEIP)
1 year, 1/2 credit, Grade 12 Only
CEIP combines in-school instruction with workplace internships. It is designed for students who wish to explore a career by observing, working alongside and dialoguing with adult role models in the workplace. CEIP was created to prepare students to make responsible career choices while becoming active, contributing members of their community. Students will spend most of their time interning in the field. Individual student interests will be accommodated as much as possible. Internship hours may be completed outside of the school day. In addition, a student may attend the internship during the school day only when they do not have a scheduled class. Students will need to provide their own transportation. Credit is awarded based on the successful completion of in-school instruction (1 mod every other day) and 54 internship hours.
72100 BUSINESS ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT
1 year, 1 credit, Grades 10-12
Students may elect to enroll in the College in the High School program through SCCC, which offers the opportunity to earn 3 college credits via dual enrollment.
This course offers students a broad overview of the business world. Students will learn about the overall creation and operation of running a small business. Areas discussed include entrepreneurship, business economic systems, legal structures, management styles, finance, marketing, global business and human resources. Students will engage in meaningful, creative and practical hands-on projects that connect to real life concepts in business ownership. This course is recommended for students interested in pursuing a business degree in college.
72150 BUSINESS LAW
1 year, 1 credit, Recommended Grades 10-12
Students may elect to enroll in the College in the High School program through SCCC, which offers the opportunity to earn 3 college credits via dual enrollment.
This course emphasizes the relationship of business law to an individual’s personal life and career. Business and Personal Law concentrates on several areas such as ethics and the law, criminal law, tort law, consumer law, contract law, personal and intellectual property and bailments. A variety of experiences will be provided for the student, such as discussions of current and historic case studies and conducting a mock trial. Students will also have the opportunity to visit the courthouse, visit the county jail, and interact with professionals from the criminal justice or legal system. This course is recommended for students interested in pursuing a career in criminal justice or a degree in business and/or law.
72200 ACCOUNTING I
1 year, 1 credit, Grades 11-12
Students may elect to enroll in the College in the High School program through SCCC, which offers the opportunity to earn 4 college credits via dual enrollment.
This course is designed to develop competence in the application of accounting theory. The course introduces the current procedures of financial accounting and generally accepted accounting principles. The course emphasizes the analysis of business transactions and the study of the accounting cycle. Accrued based accounting concepts, internal controls, and financial statement preparation are addressed as well as the accounting elements of a corporate business entity. Practice sets are used to give practical application of the accounting theory. The course is highly recommended for students pursuing a two- or four-year business program in college.
72250 ACCOUNTING II
1 year, 1 credit, Grades 11-12
This course is a continuation of Accounting I. The complete accounting cycle will be reviewed. Emphasis is placed on completing the accounting cycle for a merchandising business and partnerships. Prerequisite: Accounting I
72300 MARKETING
1 year, 1 credit, Grades 11-12
Students may elect to enroll in the College in the High School program through SCCC, which offers the opportunity to earn 3 college credits via dual enrollment.
This course offers an introduction to one of today’s fastest-growing fields, providing students with an understanding of both the consumer and business marketplaces. Topics include skills in marketing, product planning, consumer behavior, market research, marketing strategies, principles of economic systems, promotion, advertising, social media marketing, visual merchandising, and sports and entertainment marketing. Students will have an opportunity to create a variety of advertisements. This is an excellent course for those who have an interest in business and marketing studies in college.
72010 GENERAL EDUCATION WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM
Flexible Timeframe 1/2 – 2 credits, Grades 11-12
This elective course combines in-school instruction with workplace apprenticeships. It is designed for students who wish to explore and gain work experience by observing, working alongside of and dialoguing with adult role models in the workplace. GEWEP was created to prepare students to make responsible career choices while becoming active, contributing members of their community. Students will acquire foundational knowledge of the construction industry, focusing on current tools, methods, materials, and technologies. Emphasis will be placed on theoretical understanding and relevant mathematical concepts.
72310 Sports Marketing/Management
1/2 Year, 1/2 Credit, Grades 11-12
The course was developed as a collaborative effort involving business/marketing education staff from many New York State School Districts. It is designed so students will learn to think like a sports manager and solve problems relating to the sports industry with an emphasis on events planning, scheduling, budgeting and promotion. Sports theories and philosophies as well as leadership styles will be explored. Topics to be covered include basic management principles, intercollegiate sports, professional sports, press conferences, ethics, and NCAA guidelines. Careers in sports marketing and management will also be discussed. This course will provide students with an understanding of sports as a business.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of either Marketing or Business Organization and Management.
72320 International Business
1/2 Year, 1/2 Credit, Grades 11-12
International Business offers an exploration of the global business landscape. The curriculum covers the fundamentals of global commerce, the influence of cultural, legal, and political factors, and the development of strategies for success in the international marketplace. Throughout the course, students will build their own business portfolios which will allow them to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the global marketplace.
72500 AP Business with Personal Finance
1 Year, 1 Credit, Grades 10-12
AP Business with Personal Finance is a full-year, college-level course that prepares students for success in college and career through the practical application of business principles and personal financial literacy. Students will explore the core business disciplines including entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, accounting, and management, through real-world applications, case studies, and a major project where they develop their own business idea. In parallel, the course equips students with essential life skills, by covering all National Standards for Personal Financial Education, practicing crucial decision-making related to saving, borrowing, budgeting, and investing. Students with qualifying exam scores can earn credit at colleges and universities. Students with qualifying exam scores earn a credential they can apply toward further training or in the workforce.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of 1 credit of Business education.