The Business/Marketing Pathway designed for students eager to explore the dynamic world of business and marketing. This pathway offers a comprehensive curriculum that covers fundamental aspects of business operations, management, entrepreneurship, and advertising. Whether you’re aspiring to start your own business, manage a company, or delve into the creative realm of marketing, our pathway provides the essential skills and knowledge to help you succeed.
Our courses are structured to give students a robust foundation in business principles and practical experience in marketing strategies. Each course is tailored to foster critical thinking, innovation, and leadership abilities, preparing students for future academic pursuits or careers in the business world. Below, you’ll find detailed information about each course in our pathway, including the unique opportunities they offer.
Business/Marketing Pathway at a Glance
Business and Marketing Courses
Financial Literacy (required), Business Occupation Exploration, Introduction to Business, Business Management, Recordkeeping, Business Law, Accounting 1 & 2, Computer Accounting, Business Math, Advertising/Sales, Marketing, Sports Marketing 1 & 2, Interactive Marketing Capstone
Check out the Program of Studies for a complete list of course offerings and descriptions.
National Workforce Statistics for Marketing Managers
| 2023 U.S. median pay | $156,580 per year/$75.28 per hour |
| No. of jobs in 2022 | 389,000 |
| Projected no. needed annually | 34,000 |
Southeast Iowa Workforce Statistics
| Wage for marketing managers | $27.03-$33.07 per hour |
| Openings | 10 per year |
Business/Marketing Pathway Course Descriptions
Business Occupation Exploration
This course enables students to explore various business career pathways, including marketing, accounting, entrepreneurship, management, and finance. Through readings, coursework, guest speakers, and activities, students will gain insights into the training, tasks, and skills required in different business careers. Students will also begin creating their Business Pathway Portfolio, which will help guide their future career decisions.
Introduction to Business
An applied course that explains the role of business in our economic system. Students will develop an understanding of business ownership, forms of business organization, new technologies, and current trends in the free enterprise system. Topics such as insurance, credit use, and career exploration are also covered, making this a practical course beneficial to any student.
Workplace Readiness
Designed to prepare students to enter the workplace with confidence, this course covers job-searching, resume writing, job application processes, and interview skills. It also focuses on job-keeping skills such as teamwork, organization, self-management, and problem-solving. Additionally, students will learn about budgeting, saving, and making smart borrowing decisions before entering the workforce or college.
Marketing
This course provides an understanding of the importance of successful promotion campaigns for businesses. Students will learn about sales promotion activities, advertising, publicity, and display, as well as sports marketing. They will develop strategies for promotion programs, including print layouts and radio scripts, contributing to a firm’s success.
Business Math
Business Math covers personal record-keeping, banking, taxes, investments, and accounting from a practical and biblical perspective. Students will learn about assets, liabilities, capital, income, expenses, and double-entry bookkeeping. The course also includes a unit on management, covering topics such as ratio analysis, percent analysis, breakeven points, and inventory turnover.
Recordkeeping
This course provides the information and activities necessary to develop competency in personal and business recordkeeping. Students will learn to maintain personal records for taxes, budgets, credit, and banking, as well as prepare and use business records for sales, purchases, payroll, inventory, and accounting.
Business Management
An introduction to the concepts, terminology, principles, and theories of management. Students will learn about the essential concepts of management through field trips, guest speakers, and computer simulations. The course covers the complexities of management principles and theories, beneficial for students pursuing careers that involve managing other employees. Prerequisite: Introduction to Business.
Advertising/Sales
In this course, students will learn about selling and customer service, including how to determine clients’ needs and wants, and respond effectively to influence purchase decisions. The course focuses on the steps of the selling process, advertising principles, media psychology, and the relationship of sales promotion to the total marketing process. Emphasis is placed on the business aspects of advertising. Prerequisite: Introduction to Business.
Sports Marketing
This course studies marketing principles and concepts in the sports and entertainment industry. Instructional areas include economics, event execution, career opportunities, decision making, event marketing, advertising and promotion, and legal aspects/contracts. Students will use virtual business software to manage a football franchise, providing a practical application of the concepts learned.
Sports Marketing II
In this advanced course, students revisit the sports, entertainment, and event marketing industries. They acquire skills transferable to related industries for planning marketing strategies. Topics include legal issues, sports agents, sports union activities, marketing information management, promotion, sponsorship sales, performance, licensing, endorsements, budgeting, ticket sales, and venue creation. Prerequisite: Sports Marketing.
Accounting 1
Accounting is the language of business. This course provides a foundational understanding of double-entry accounting systems, covering the accounting equation, the accounting cycle, entering transactions in journals, posting to ledgers, end-of-period statements, inventories, and notes and interest. Essential for students aiming to enter the business world.
Accounting 2
A continuation of Accounting 1, this course explores business as a corporation and a merchandising business. Topics include accounts payable, receivables, taxes, inventory control, and payroll. A computer software program is introduced to enhance learning. It is recommended to take Accounting 1 and Accounting 2 in the same year. Prerequisite: Accounting 1.
Computer Accounting
Students apply the concepts learned in Accounting 1 and 2 using automated accounting software. This course is designed to enhance practical accounting skills with hands-on experience. Prerequisite: Accounting 1 or instructor approval.
Business Law
This course acquaints students with basic legal principles relevant to their roles as citizens, consumers, and employees. Topics include the origin of law, the court system, criminal and civil law, contracts, consumer protection, and legal affairs related to property. The law is interpreted through case studies and discussions.
Entrepreneurship
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to small business ownership and the management skills necessary for successful operation. It is beneficial for students interested in creating new jobs and pursuing careers in Industrial Technology, Marketing, and other related fields.
Interactive Marketing Capstone
Students will use their knowledge and skills to create, design, and produce interactive media products and services. Emphasizing videography, video editing, graphic media, web development, and print materials, this course involves creating promotional media for the district or a community business partner. It is a two-period class each trimester and can be repeated for multiple trimesters.