PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Business & FINANCE
PROGRAM LENGTH: 3 years
GRADES: 9-12
This program is for students who want a practical head start in business, sales, finance, and management. It prepares students to make strong business decisions using data and technology, which helps sales, finance, and general operations run more efficiently.
Students learn through teamwork, presentations, simulations, and hands-on leadership in an academy student-run business, applying what they learn in a real working environment. Many students go on to continue their studies at a college or university.
By the end of the program, students will learn skills in:
- Business economics, global markets, types of businesses, and financial business practices
- Marketing principles, sales planning, upselling strategies, and quality customer service
- Management functions (planning, organizing, leading, and controlling), with an emphasis on ethics and social responsibility
- Microsoft Office, business technology, and data-driven decision-making
- Product development, inventory control, supply chain, and logistics through hands-on leadership in the academy student-run business
Course Pathway Map
This course introduces students to the world of business and sets a solid foundation for high school, college, and career. Students will be engaged in teamwork, presentations, computer-related activities, and current events while learning the following topics: general business economy, global markets, types of businesses, management practices, business financial practices, Microsoft Office and other business technology, customer service, and organizational communication. An integral component of the curriculum is the application of participating in an academy student-run business.
Students work towards the RISE Up Customer Service & Sales certification to help them discover the value of quality customer service, improve their knowledge of different types of customer needs, design a sales plan and apply upselling strategies, and acquire advanced retail skills.
Students who successfully complete the course while enrolled in a partner community college will also receive corresponding college credit in GBS151. Students will receive 1.0 CTE or Elective credit upon completion of this two-semester course (0.5 credit each semester).
Overview of computer technology, concepts, terminology, and the role of computers in business and society. Discussion of social and ethical issues related to computers. Use of word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation software. Includes uses of application software and the Internet for efficient and effective problem solving. Exploration of relevant emerging technologies.
Students will work towards the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Associate certification.
Students who complete the course while enrolled in the partner community college will receive corresponding college credit at that school in CIS105, and be required to pay corresponding fees. Students will receive 1.0 Elective credit upon completion of this two-semester course.
This course is designed to build upon a fundamental understanding of business management and covers managing, marketing, financing, and communicating within a business environment. Skills taught in the course will emphasize principles of marketing and the impact it has on markets, including communication, problem-solving, decision making, ethics, finance, leadership, and basic marketing principles.
This course assists students in developing proficient financial business skills and leadership abilities by explaining effective decision-making skills and processes, expanding workplace-readiness skills and understanding the steps necessary to obtain employment, and broadening opportunities for personal and professional growth. Simulations and projects promoting teamwork, leadership, and workplace skills will offer further opportunities for application of knowledge and skills for students to become independent and lifelong learners.
Students participate in an academy-run business, including leadership roles and developing and implementing marketing strategies for the business. Upon completion of this course, students take the RISE Up Business of Retail certification.
Students who successfully complete the course while enrolled in a partner community college will also receive corresponding college credit in MKT271. Students will receive 1.0 CTE or Elective credit upon completion of this two-semester course (0.5 credit each semester).
This course offers a higher level of continuing business support. Students have built a foundation of management strategies and practices that enable them to prosper in an ever-changing business environment. Students will also explore business organization and management functions: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling, with an emphasis on continual improvement, ethics, and social responsibility.
Simulations and projects promoting teamwork, leadership, and workplace skills will offer further opportunities for application of knowledge and skills for students to become independent and lifelong learners. Students will participate in an academy-run business, including leadership roles, product development, and inventory control. Upon completion of this course, students will take the RISE Up Supply Chain, Inventory & Logistics certification.
Students who successfully complete the course while enrolled in a partner community college will also receive corresponding college credit in MGT175. Students will receive 1.0 CTE or Elective credit upon completion of this two-semester course (0.5 credit each semester).
In this course, students will be provided additional classroom lab time or on-the-job training for extended hands-on experiences. These real-world, authentic activities reinforce the workplace skills necessary to master Business or Finance concepts. Internship students will experience on-the-job training in a career path.
Requirements include three weeks of classroom instruction in job preparation and application and 120 hours of on-the-job field work. Artifacts include a portfolio, two employer evaluations, two instructor field evaluations, and a final written summary and reflection. Students must provide their own transportation to the internship site.
Students will receive 1.0 CTE or Elective credit upon completion of this two-semester course (0.5 credit each semester).
In this course, students will participate in running the academy-run business in a leadership position and design a project using the fundamentals of project management, conduct research on their topic of interest, then produce a final written report, portfolio, or a presentation that summarizes and demonstrates student learning. The capstone project will relate to academic accomplishments and demonstrate mastery of the subject.
Students will receive 1.0 CTE or Elective credit upon completion of this two-semester course (0.5 credit each semester).
For the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding course offerings, requirements, and descriptions, please refer to the official course catalog.
Certificates & Licenses
Throughout the Business Management program, students build foundational skills in customer service, marketing, management, and business technology. Running a real student business gives them hands-on practice with the same skills employers look for.
Students can earn industry-recognized credentials from the RISE Up program in customer service, retail business, and supply chain, plus the Microsoft Office Specialist certification. These credentials support pathways into sales, retail management, operations, and further business study in college.
| Certificate Name | Class / Year Obtained | Type | Purpose / Eligibility | Information Covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RISE Up Customer Service & Sales | Business Management I | Certification | Prepares students for entry-level customer-facing and sales roles | Quality customer service, identifying customer needs, sales planning, upselling strategies, and retail skills |
| RISE Up Business of Retail | Business Management II | Certification | Prepares students for roles in retail operations, marketing, and business leadership | Retail business operations, marketing strategies, financial decision-making, and leadership |
| RISE Up Supply Chain, Inventory & Logistics | Business Management III | Certification | Prepares students for roles in operations, inventory management, and logistics | Supply chain fundamentals, inventory control, product development, and logistics |
| Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Associate | DE Technology Essentials | Certification | Validates the software skills employers expect in office and business roles | Word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and productivity applications |
Career, Salary, and Growth Opportunities
Entry
Median
Experienced
NATIONAL ANNUAL SALARY
2020
2022
2024
AZ MEDIAN SALARY GROWTH
2024
2034
PROJECTED JOB OUTLOOK
Business careers center on helping organizations run well: serving customers, marketing products, managing people and resources, and making smart decisions with data. Students who build skills in sales, customer service, management, and business technology, along with credentials like RISE Up and Microsoft Office Specialist, can qualify for entry-level roles and keep advancing through experience and further education.
Roles such as sales associate, customer service representative, office or retail supervisor, and operations or business manager offer room to grow, and many students go on to business degrees in management, marketing, or finance. Nearly every industry needs people with business skills, so for students who enjoy leading, problem-solving, and working with people, business careers offer a flexible pathway into in-demand work.
*Statistics sourced from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Arizona workforce projections.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Students who enjoy working with people, solving problems, and taking initiative do well here. Teamwork, communication, and a willingness to take on leadership roles in the student-run business all help students succeed.
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No. Business Management I has no prerequisites and starts with the fundamentals of business, technology, and customer service.
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Yes. Students enrolled through a partner community college can earn college credit for Business Management I (GBS151), II (MKT271), III (MGT175), and DE Technology Essentials (CIS105). College fees apply.
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Yes. Upper-level students can complete the Business/Finance Apprentice/Internship, which includes 120 hours of on-the-job fieldwork. Students provide their own transportation to the internship site.
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Students can earn three RISE Up certifications (Customer Service & Sales, Business of Retail, and Supply Chain, Inventory & Logistics) plus the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Associate certification.