CTE Pathways: Business

Business skills are essential in today’s world because they teach critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and financial literacy; abilities that open doors in any career field. Exploring the Business Pathway empowers students to turn ideas into action, preparing them to lead, innovate, and succeed in any professional setting.

Business Pathway

Downey Unified’s Career Technical Education (CTE) Business Pathway gives students the tools, confidence, and hands-on experience to become future leaders and entrepreneurs. Over two years, students will create and manage their own business from the ground up—learning everything from business planning and financial management to marketing, operations, and global trade. With guidance from expert teachers and real-world business partners, they’ll graduate with the skills, knowledge, and career-ready mindset to thrive in today’s competitive economy.

Courses

YEAR 1: Intermediate Business Management Technologies

Course Description

This is a year-long concentrator course for the CTE Business Management Pathway. Students will begin building a fictitious business, developing its business plan, and setting up the business’s financial/accounting books. Students will acquire skills during the first course to effectively organize, develop, create, and manage a business and be productive employers. Students learn about the business environment by studying the nature of the business, its products and services, management and structure, daily operations, supply and demand implications, taxation, and how to conduct international transactions. This course introduces students to the basic aspects of economics by developing an understanding of the key components and concepts involved in business ownership. Students will learn vital information processing concepts necessary to function in a rapidly changing technological and global society.

This course meets the University of California G-College Prep Elective requirements.

YEAR 2: Business Management Technologies Capstone

Course Description

The purpose of this course is to bring the business world to students by teaching entrepreneurship and practical skills essential to career readiness while promoting healthy competition to motivate students. The course is founded on the fundamental belief that all students will learn, learning will be relevant, students will apply what they learn, students will be encouraged to explore career options, and students will understand the world of work. With the guidance of the teacher and real-world business partners, students will determine the nature of and develop their business, its products and services, its management and structure, and engage in the daily operations of running a business. Emphasis is placed on using simulation software, current business software (including an online banking system to monitor individual bank accounts and pay bills), Adobe CS6 for marketing/promotional material, Quickbooks for tackling accounting transactions, the Internet, online apps, and web tools to create business documents and monitor operations and logistics.

This course meets the University of California G-College Prep Elective requirements.

Outcomes

Students who complete Intermediate Business Management Technologies will take the exam to receive a Microsoft Office Specialist Certification in Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Students who complete Business Management Technologies Capstone will take the exam to receive a Microsoft Office Specialist Certification in Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Students who complete Business Management Technologies Capstone may apply to receive credit for the Cerritos College course BA 132 Computer Applications for Managers.

For More Information

Contact:

Michael Crosby, Teacher
mcrosby@dusd.net

Learn More: CTE Pathways at DHS

Each CTE Pathway is industry-focused and usually consists of 2-3 courses. The last course in the pathway is the capstone. When students complete a course they may receive college credit or receive an industry certificate. Click on each industry below to see details about the courses and outcomes.