WHAT PATHS?
PATHWAYS
Business, Entrepreneurship, & Finance
Students pursuing a pathway in business and entrepreneurship are preparing for careers in planning, organizing, directing and evaluating business functions essential to efficient and productive business operations. Prospective business leaders and entrepreneurs are on track to drive social and economic change that will shape our collective future. Career opportunities are available in every sector of the economy, requiring require specific skills in organization, time management, customer service and communication.
AT A GLANCE
IS THIS YOU?
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I would like to explore and create with new technology.
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I like to help motivate others to achieve their dreams.
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I would like to learn about business policies that are ethical and sustainable for the environment.
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I identify problems and ideate solutions.
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I like to develop and implement strategies.
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I like to organize and analyze data.
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I find patterns in numbers.
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I want to change the world through exploration, research and creativity.
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I want to reach millions around the world through social media.
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I want to sell the next big thing.
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I am willing to take risks.
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I am innovative and creative.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP &
Innovation
COLLABORATIVE
Ideation
SOCIAL
Responsibility
Explore the Different Possibilities
Check out the specific concentrations within this interest cluster, with information regarding specific careers, as well as potential majors to pursue in college!
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
For the entrepreneurs and creators looking to merge disciplines in technology, business, and innovation. These students focus on high-level problem solving in areas as diverse as information systems, product development, human-centered design, e-commerce, health innovation, social change, and the future of the arts, media and entertainment ecosystems.
Potential Majors
CONCENTRATION IN
Fashion Business
For the student interested in the fields of fashion merchandising, marketing, and brand management. Programs emphasize the development of creative, financial, technological, buying, and promotional strategies that affect consumer behavior in the digital era, along with critical thought, creative applications, teamwork, and effective communication.
Potential Majors
CONCENTRATION IN
Finance
For the future investors, bankers, and accountants that are in charge of our money. Potential careers include: Securities and Investments, Business Finance, Banking Services, Insurance, Accounting
Potential Majors
CONCENTRATION IN
Marketing
For the inner strategists that utilize remarkable communication and observation skills in order to convey a message. Potential careers include: Marketing Management, Professional Sales, Merchandising, Marketing Communications, Marketing Research
Potential Majors
CONCENTRATION IN
Business Management & Administration
For students who envision planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating business functions essential to efficient and productive business operation. Potential careers include: General Management, Business Information Management, Human Resources Management, Operations Management
Potential Majors
CONCENTRATION IN
ROADMAPS
Connect with Alumni or a Senior Mentor
Check out how our alumni students and current seniors are pursuing this pathway! Learn about what it takes. To learn more about an alumni's journey, check out their roadmap.
Kelsey Taylor
Class of 2014
Accountant Executive at Ruder Finn
Public Relations & Advertising, Pepperdine University
Aubrey Moore
Class of 2014
Director of Sales at Holiday Inn
Enterprise Leadership, University of Iowa
Colby Tunick
Class of 2014
Founder of ReFocus, an AI Startup
International Security and Conflict Resolution, San Diego State University
Shelby Eichman
Class of 2010
Strategic Corporate Communications
Genetics, UC Davis
Mimi Mason
Class of 2017
Assistant Consultant at Oracle
Business Administration, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Ryan Olstad
Class of 2016
Direct-to-Consumer & International Strategy at Walt Disney
Economics, UCLA
Pia Shah
Class of 2015
Fashion & Social Media Influencer
Finance, Liberty University
Akhil Cherukupally
Class of 2013
Corporate Account Manager at Palo Alto Networks
Political Science, UCLA
Tiana Perez
Class of 2020
Undergraduate student
Business Administration, Cal Poly Pomona
COURSEWORK
Choosing the Right Courses
Provided here are the COC classes that are recommended for your pathway. You are not required to take all them, so you should talk to your counselor to clarify which classes are right for you. Explore the different possibilities below!
BIOSCI 100
General Biology
Explores the nature of science, including cell structure and processes, energetics in living systems, heredity, development, evolution, diversity, and environmental relationships.
Professors/Instructors
ECON 202
Microeconomics
Examines how individuals, firms, and industries perform in our economy, including supply and demand, perfect competition, monopolies, oligopolies, monopolistic competition, wages, prices and profits.
Professors/Instructors
ECON 201
Macroeconomics
Examines the basic concepts of economics, emphasizing macro-analysis including the nature of the American economy, national income analysis, money and banking, and fiscal and monetary policies.
Professors/Instructors
CAWT 140
Survey of Microsoft Office Programs
Examines operating systems, Microsoft Office, word processing, spreadsheet analysis, database management, presentation software, and the application of information technologies to organizational settings.
Professors/Instructors
BUS 140
Principles of Marketing
Focuses on the fundamental concepts of modern marketing in a changing world. Substantive areas include: creating customer value, buying behaviors, market research, market strategy, target market analysis, global marketing, electronic marketing, and sales techniques, with particular emphasis on the marketing mix, including product, pricing, promotion, and distribution decisions.
Professors/Instructors
BUS 211
Business Law
Introduces the legal environment of business, including federal and state court systems and processes, business crimes, contract law, tort law, employment law, and business organizations.
Professors/Instructors
Collins, G.
BUS 202
Principles of Accounting II
Presents the study of how managers use accounting information in decision-making, planning, directing operations, and controlling. Focuses on cost terms and concepts, cost behavior, cost structure, cost-volume profit analysis and budget analysis. Includes issues relating to cost systems, cost control, profit planning, and performance analysis in manufacturing and service environments. Designed for transfer majors in business disciplines.
Professors/Instructors
BUS 201
Principles of Accounting I
Presents the study of accounting as an information system, examining why it is important and how it is used by managers, investors, creditors, and others to make decisions. Covers the fundamental principles, theory and applications to record business transactions through the accounting cycle, including the application of generally accepted accounting principles, the financial statements, and statement analysis. Includes issues relating to asset, liability, and equity valuation, revenue and expense recognition, cash flow, internal controls, and ethics. Designed for transfer majors in business disciplines.
Professors/Instructors
BUS 110
Principles of Management
Examines the fundamental functions of modern management in a changing world with an emphasis on planning, leading, organizing, and control. Substantive areas include leadership in management, motivation, communication, cultural diversity, team decision-making, management by objectives, organizational environment, sustainability, planning and strategic management, control process, organizational structure, and managing organizational change.
Professors/Instructors
BUS 101
Bookkeeping & Accounting
Introduces the theory and application of double entry bookkeeping for non-transfer business majors. Examines the accounting cycle for both service and merchandising sole-proprietorship firms, including the use of ledgers, worksheets, and special purpose journals.
Professors/Instructors
BUS 100
Intro to Business
Introduces the field of business administration, examining how U.S. and global business policies and practices are affected by the interaction of economic systems, culture, legal, political, and financial institutions, including economic systems, leadership, entrepreneurship, strategic management, organizational structure and communication, marketing, accounting, finance, stock market, operations, information technology, human resources, organized labor, ethics, social responsibility, sustainability and globalization.
Professors/Instructors
COMS 105
Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Examines the principles and practices of public speaking, communication theory, and techniques for public speaking. Includes speech organization, development, research, audience analysis, reasoning, and presentation skills for the development of informative and persuasive speeches.
Professors/Instructors
GENERAL ADVICE FOR THIS PATHWAY
Competitive business schools are looking for students that posses proven entrepreneur and leadership skills, in addition to a demonstrated desire to affect positive change in their communities (UPenn)
Many competitive business schools appreciate academic readiness, particularly in mathematics and calculus, and will expect to see this reflected in your high school transcripts
From business undergraduate essay questions to the interview process, it is important to show that you have a career path in mind. Students who indicate that they have “so many ideas that they don’t know where to start” come across as unfocused and non-directed.
Put yourself out there. The more job, internship, and volunteer positions you apply for, the more likely you are to further your might as a business major.
Why? Because experience is everything. While classes can help you learn about how to handle running a business, nothing measures up to built experiences.
Network. Most positions are obtained by knowing people. It may not always be fun, but it helps to have connections in the business world. These people may prove to be great friends and/or grant you their service later on. Symbiosis, you feel?
Familiarize yourself with technology. Programs like Excel, Pages, Microsoft Office, and even video editing programs like Final Cut Pro or Sony Vegas can help you stand out among other applicants and help you communicate your ideas to others.
Four-Year Ed Plans
Provided here are ed plans for you to take AOC & COC coursework for specific concentrations within this pathway. Keep in mind that these ed-plans are subject to change based on your individual needs and preferences.
AA Degrees
The ed-plans above will allow you to earn either a certificate of specialization, or an Associate Degree in Business or Mathematics. All of the ed-plans above will allow you to complete your IGETC and to transfer several General Ed college credits.
