Pathfinder Tech
Business Technology
SKILLS ACQUIRED AT EACH GRADE LEVEL
Grade 9
- Photography
- Website Design
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Financial Literacy – Budgeting and Banking
- Adobe Photoshop
Grade 10
- Marketing
- Social Media Marketing
- Entrepreneurship
- Microsoft Excel & Word
- Financial Literacy – Investments
- Graphic Design – Adobe Illustrator
- Customer Service
Grade 11
- Entrepreneurship
- Microsoft Access, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
- School Store
- Stock Market & Investments
- Financial Literacy – Credit Cards, Auto & Home Insurance, Loans, Taxes
- Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop
- Accounting
- Customer Service
- Resume Writing & Interview Skills
Grade 12
- Co-op Placement
- Entrepreneurship
- School Store
- Microsoft Access, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
- Financial Literacy – Credit Cards, Auto & Home Insurance, Loans, Taxes
- Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop
- Stock Market & Investments
- Accounting
- Resume Writing & Interview Skills
Business Technology
Learn how to become a successful employee, entrepreneur, and leader in the ever-changing world of business. Have fun unleashing your creativity as you develop and run your own teen business. Develop your analytical and managerial skills as you learn to run multiple live, on-campus business, such as the Pioneer Lodge (school store), and the Design + Print Center.
The Pathfinder Tech Business Technology program prepares students for a variety of careers in the field of business by teaching the basics of personal finance, advertising and marketing, entrepreneurship, accounting, management, insurance, and investments. Students also learn design elements through the use of Adobe software and photography.
Business Technology prepares students for a wide range of business and office career paths by combining the business, computer, and office technology fields into one course of study. Students graduating from Business Technology are ready to enter different sectors of the business world with very marketable skills. Through the four year program, students gain a thorough knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation, and desktop publishing applications. In addition, students explore related business topics such as marketing, business management, customer service, entrepreneurship, communications, accounting, and finance. Business Technology students leave ready to be effective team members in a business organization or develop their skills further in college. They will also have the opportunity to sit for Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exams.
The strong emphasis placed on career planning is intended to guide students to challenging fields in which significant growth is anticipated by the U.S. Labor Department over the next ten years. Each student will spend 50% of the school year in their career/technical education program.
Students in Business Technology become members of Business Professionals of America (BPA) and are eligible to take part in BPA sponsored skills competitions involving high school students from across Massachusetts. State winners become eligible to participate in BPA’s national competition.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS
- OSHA 10-Hour General Industry
- CFA: Investment Foundations Certificate
- Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Certifications in Access, Excel, and Word
THIS PROGRAM RELIES HEAVILY ON THE FOLLOWING ACADEMIC SKILLS and/or DISCIPLINES
- Accounting
- Legal Studies
- Statistics
- English (professional writing)
- Professional Skills
NOTEWORTHY PROJECTS
- Create and manage your own exciting and innovative teen business for the Junior Achievement EnTEENpreneur Challenge each year. Teens who chose to run their business and write a business plan can qualify to compete nationally!
- Compete in over 50 events at Business Professionals of America (BPA), showcasing the office technology, entrepreneurship, marketing, financial, analytical, management, and professional skills that you develop over the four years in our program. Competitions are open to eligible Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.
- Have fun with team members as you invest $1 million dollars in an interactive, live event at the Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge.
- Research actual companies, predict their future performance, and learn about industry trends in the 10-week long SIFMA Foundation Stock Market Game.
- Demonstrate your entrepreneurial, management, and marketing skills at Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) using the communication skills you develop over the four years in the Business Technology program.
POSSIBLE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES UPON COMPLETION OF PROGRAM
Upon graduation:
- Payroll Clerk
- Receptionist
- Bank Teller
- Customer Service Representative
- Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerk
- Insurance Claims Examiner
- Database Manager
- Service Delivery Analyst
- Entrepreneur
After completion of 1-2 years of post-secondary technical training (apprenticeship, certificate program or associate’s degree):
- Administrative Assistant
- Executive Assistant
- Office Manager
- Sales Manager
- Payroll Supervisor
- Legal Secretary
- Customer Service Associate
- Store Manager
- Sales Support Specialist
After completion of Advanced degree (4 year college degree or higher)
- Accountant
- Financial Analyst
- Financial Advisor
- Marketing Manager
- Human Resources Specialist
- Project Manager
