Business Education Department

Grades: 9-12

Note: This course only meets the Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement.

This class responds to the need for modern citizens who are financially literate and who face increasing financial choices due to the global economy. Personal Finance includes the application of knowledge, skills, and ethical values in consumer and financial decisions impacting self, family, and the local and global community. All students will develop skills and strategies that promote personal financial responsibility related to income and financial planning, checking and savings, proper use of credit, investment options, and insurance.

Grades: 9-12

Prerequisite: Must have fulfilled the Personal Finance course requirement and not the 21st Century Life and Careers or Career Technical Education graduation requirement.

This course builds on the understanding of investing found in Personal Finance. Students will explore how a company’s performance on the stock market can be influenced by current events, understand how a diversified investment portfolio can include investment in the stock market, and understand the risks associated with the stock market and the importance of a diversified portfolio. Students will research companies' finances and participate in a simulation to buy and sell stocks in a fictional stock market.

Grades: 9-12

Computer Science Discoveries is an introductory computer science course that empowers students to create authentic artifacts and engage with computer science as a medium for creativity, communication, problem-solving, and fun. Areas of study include problem-solving, animation and games, the design process, data and society, and physical computing. Students will also be exposed to the fundamentals of web development.

Grades: 9-12

This course covers the business side of the sports and entertainment industry. Students learn a variety of Office programs while studying the business models of professional sports, movies, music, and the video game industries. Topics will focus on the importance of management, marketing, and the development of strategies in business and sports-related industries. The course is project-based, with activities drawing from marketing plans for events, the creation of logos, setting ticket pricing, and event planning.

Grades: 9-12

This course provides students the opportunity to create dynamic presentations that incorporate text, digital images, audio, and video. Students learn to use a combination of hardware and software to plan, design, create, and deliver multimedia presentations through graphics, print, and video. Students demonstrate their mastery by creating multimedia presentations for content areas throughout the school and for their own visual expression of a specified topic.

This course is designed as a basic introduction to HTML and creating web pages. The students read, write, and edit HTML coding. The students learn how to create, edit, and manage webpages. The course also explores the basics of WYSIWYG programs, as well as basic picture editing. This course has a dual enrollment agreement with Raritan Valley Community College. Eligible students can earn 3 credits for RVCC’s course, IDMX 225, Web Page Development I. Visit the HCRHS dual enrollment webpage for more information.

Grades: 9-12

Prerequisite: #ET35 Introduction to HTML & Web Page Design

This course is for all students who have taken Introduction to HTML & Web Page Design and want to learn the advanced features of creating webpages. Students utilize advanced WYSIWYG programs to incorporate dynamic elements into their webpage, which include the application of CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). Students will have the opportunity to explore their design aesthetic and learn how to create a web design that corresponds with a brand’s marketing plan.

Grades: 9

This course will help students develop an understanding of their personal learning styles and explore study skills and work habits that work with their learning style. Students will also explore various technology tools that can be used to help organize tasks and manage their workload. Personal organization skills are essential for success in high school, college, and careers. In addition to skill development, students will have the opportunity to complete assignments for current courses in a supervised environment.

Computer Science Discoveries is an introductory computer science course that empowers students to create authentic artifacts and engage with computer science as a medium for creativity, communication, problem-solving, and fun. Areas of study include problem-solving, animation and games, the design process, data and society, and physical computing. Students will also be exposed to the fundamentals of web development.

Grades: 10-12

This course provides students with the opportunity to plan for their future. Students participate in self-assessments related to their personality, learning styles, interests, and values. Students will investigate many career options as well as research personal career choices. Students walk through the college planning process: conducting extensive college research that includes personal selection factors, the application process, and opportunities to assist with the cost of continuing their education. Utilizing 21st-century skills, students will create a resume and develop interviewing strategies necessary to obtain employment.

Grades: 10-12

Entrepreneurship focuses on the steps to take when creating a business, including recognizing a business opportunity and developing the opportunity into a small business. Through the development of a business idea, students work collaboratively to write a business plan and pitch the idea. They utilize many skills, including time and project management, collaboration, research and critical thinking. The main functions of business, including production, management, marketing and finance, are applied throughout the course. Students will discuss entrepreneurial thinking as a way for businesses to generate profit, remain competitive and solve problems. This course has a dual enrollment agreement with Raritan Valley Community College. Eligible students who complete this course can earn 3 credits for RVCC’s course, BUSI 111, Introduction to Business. Visit the HCRHS dual enrollment webpage for more information.

Grades: 10-12

Prerequisite: #612 Entrepreneurship

This course focuses on a deeper understanding of entrepreneurship, including engaging in customer discovery, design thinking, feasibility, financing, and planning for success. Students will have the opportunity to investigate different business models in addition to ways to obtain funding and grow a business. Students will continue to develop many soft skills through application, including presentation and pitch. This course offers a college credit opportunity with the University of Iowa. Eligible students can earn 3 credits for the University of Iowa’s course, ENTR 1010: Exploring Entrepreneurship. Visit the HCRHS dual enrollment webpage for more information.

Grades: 10-12

Accounting is a skill and application course that is of value to all students pursuing an education or career in business, marketing, and management. This course includes planned learning experiences that develop initial and basic skills used in systematically computing, classifying, recording, verifying, and maintaining numerical data involved in financial records and reports. Instruction includes information on keeping financial records, summarizing them for convenient interpretation, and analyzing them to provide assistance to management for decision-making. Accounting computer applications and an online workbook are integrated throughout the course. When combined with Accounting 2, this is the equivalent of one college semester of Accounting.

Grades: 11-12

Prerequisite: #621 Accounting 1

Accounting 2 is a continuation of Accounting 1 with emphasis on accounting as a profession. More complex accounting principles will be introduced including corporate accounting, delinquent accounts, plant assets, accruals, financial statement analysis, cash accounting, budgeting, and depreciation. Computerized accounting applications and an online workbook are integrated throughout the course. When combined with Accounting 1, this course is the equivalent of one college semester of Accounting. This course is recommended for students pursuing an education or career in business, marketing, and management. This course has a dual enrollment agreement with Raritan Valley Community College. Eligible students can earn 4 credits for RVCC’s course, ACCT 101, Financial Accounting. Visit the HCRHS dual enrollment webpage for more information.

Grades: 10-12

This course focuses on communication, leadership skills, group dynamics, and peer mediation/conflict resolution methods. Its purpose is to help students take responsibility for, and constructively solve, their own conflicts. Topics include problem-solving techniques, self-esteem issues, stress management, 5 Exemplary Practices of Leadership, leadership styles, bullying and group dynamics.

Grades: 10-12

This course provides students with an opportunity to study effective leadership skills to address problems within their own community. Students will examine their personal leadership style and communication skills using research-based models. Students will learn problem-solving and problem-mapping strategies, as well as consensus-building and action planning skills. Students will participate in a series of activities in partnership with Hunterdon County organizations that serve a variety of community needs. Participants will be exposed to the concepts and principles of philanthropic work and the challenges of sustained service. Students may need to collaborate with organizations and/or class peers outside of class time
in an effort to reach out to the community to address and advocate for an issue that exists in Hunterdon County.

Grades: 10-12

Criminal Law provides students with practical information and problem solving opportunities concerning the law in everyday life. Topics covered include definition of laws, why society has laws, types of laws, how laws are made, finding an attorney, definition of crime vs. disorderly offenses, types of crimes and punishments, the Criminal Justice System from the role of the police, the courts and sentencing/corrections. Guest speakers enhance instruction by providing a realistic account of the topics presented. The course culminates with students participating in a mock trial, to gain a greater understanding of how a case proceeds through the legal system.

Grades: 10-12

Business and Personal Law will acquaint students with a variety of legal issues. Topics will include contracts, employment, housing, and product liability. Students will learn how to identify and analyze legal and ethical issues facing businesses and citizens. Existing statutes, case studies and current events will be utilized throughout the course. The course culminates with a mock trial.