Business, Marketing, and Finance
Learn about the Business, Marketing, and Finance career cluster.
Strengthen your business skills
The Business, Marketing and Finance Career Cluster® focuses on careers in planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating business functions essential to efficient and productive business operations.
Need a hard copy? See the 23-24 Business, Marketing and Finance Career Cluster Packet (PDF).
Programs of study
Expand AllAccounting & Financial Services
The Accounting & Financial Services program of study teaches CTE learners how to examine, analyze, and interpret financial records. Through this program of study, students will learn the skills necessary to perform financial services, prepare financial statements, interpret accounting records, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. This program of study will also introduce students to mathematical modeling tools.
Course pathways
Note: This program has a specialized version as part of the Lakeview Centennial HS (LCHS) College and Career Magnet as well as the Naaman Forest HS(NFHS) Global Business & Leadership magnet.
Level | Campus pathway | LCHS pathway | NFHS pathway | GRCTC pathway |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
8D100, 8D105 DC 8F100 8D120, 8D125 DC |
8D600 CCM 8F100 8D120, 8D125 DC, 8D615 DC CCM |
8D510 GBL 8F100 8D520 GBL |
|
2 |
8F200, 8F205 DC 8F300, 8F305 DC |
8F200, 8F205 DC 8F300, 8F305 DC |
8F200, 8F205 DC 8F300, 8F305 DC |
|
3 | 8F410 Insurance Operations |
8F410 |
8F410 Insurance Operations |
8F915 DC GRCTC Accounting II |
4 | 8Q360 Career Preparation I |
8Q360 |
8Q360 Career Preparation I |
8F930S GRCTC 8F950 GRCTC
|
Note: Level 3 and 4 classes are advanced CTE courses.
Aligned Occupations
Occupations | Median Wage | Annual Openings | % Growth |
---|---|---|---|
Accountants and Auditors | $71,469 | 14,436 | 22% |
Loan Officers | $68,598 | 2,419 | 19% |
Personal Financial Advisors | $86,965 | 1,861 | 52% |
Administrative Service Managers | $96,138 | 2,277 | 21% |
Insurance Underwriters | $66,206 | 594 | 14% |
Industry-Based Certifications
- Accounting- Basic
- Accounting Foundations
- Certified Insurance Service Representative
- Intuit QuickBooks Certified User
- Microsoft Office Specialist:
- Microsoft Access Expert (Access and Access 2019)
- Microsoft Excel Expert (Excel and Excel 2019)
- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance/Tax Counseling Certification: Basic
- Microsoft Office Specialist - Excel*
*IBC subsetting 8/31/24
Postsecondary options
Below is a list of potential career certifications for a student interested in this program of study.
Education Level | Options |
---|---|
Associate's Degree |
|
Bachelor's Degree |
|
Master's/Doctoral Degree |
|
*Additional industry-based certification information is available on the TEA CTE website.
For more information on post-secondary options for this program of study, visit the TXCTE website.
Expanded learning opportunities
One of the best ways to acquire experience in your chosen career is by engaging in exploration activities, work-based learning, or by joining a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO).
Exploration activities
- Participate in the Business Professionals of America (BPA), Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and DECA
Work-based learning activities
- Get an internship with a local accounting firm
- Earn a Microsoft Office certification
Business Management
The Business Management program of study teaches CTE learners how to plan, direct, and coordinate the administrative services and operations of an organization. Through this program of study, students will learn the skills necessary to formulate policies, manage daily operations, and allocate the use of materials and human resources. This program of study will also introduce students to mathematical modeling tools and organizational evaluation methods.
Course pathways
Note: This program has a specialized version as part of the Lakeview Centennial HS (LCHS) College and Career Magnet as well as the Naaman Forest HS(NFHS) Global Business & Leadership Magnet.
Level | HS Campus pathway | LCHS pathway | NFHS pathway | GRCTC pathway |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
8D100, 8D105 DC 8D120, 8D125 DC |
8D100, 8D105 DC, 8D600 CCM 8D120, 8D125 DC, 8D615 DC LCHS |
8D100, 8D105 DC, 8D510 GBL 8D120, 8D125 DC, 8D520 GBL |
|
2 |
8D230 |
8D230 |
8D230, 8D540 GBL 8D530 GBL |
8D910S GRCTC Business Information Management II |
3 |
8D200S 8D220S |
8D200S 8D220S |
8D200S 8D220S |
8D930S GRCTC 8D200S 8D220S |
4 |
8F400 8Q360 |
8F400 8Q360 |
8F400 8Q360 |
8F400 8Q360 8D950 GRCTC |
Note: Level 3 and 4 classes are advanced CTE courses.
Aligned Occupations
Occupations | Median Wage | Annual Openings | % Growth |
---|---|---|---|
Administrative Service Managers | $96,138 | 2,277 | 21% |
Management Analysts | $87,651 | 4,706 | 32% |
General and Operations Managers | $107,640 | 18,679 | 20% |
Supervisors of Administrative Support Workers | $57,616 | 14,982 | 20% |
Industry-Based Certifications
- Entrepreneurship and Small Business
- Microsoft Office Specialist 2016 Master
- Microsoft Office Specialist: Microsoft Access Expert (Access and Access 2019)
- Microsoft Office Specialist: Microsoft Excel Expert (Excel and Excel 2019)
- Microsoft Office Specialist: Microsoft Word Expert (Word and Word 2019)
- Microsoft Office Specialist - Excel*
- Microsoft Office Specialist - Word*
*IBC sunsetting 8/31/24
Postsecondary options
Below is a list of potential career certifications for a student interested in this program of study.
Education Level | Options |
---|---|
Associate's Degree |
|
Bachelor's Degree |
|
Master's/Doctoral Degree |
|
*Additional industry-based certification information is available on the TEA CTE website.
For more information on post-secondary options for this program of study, visit the TXCTE website.
Expanded learning opportunities
One of the best ways to acquire experience in your chosen career is by engaging in exploration activities, work-based learning, or by joining a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO).
Exploration activities
- Participate in the Business Professionals of America (BPA), Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and DECA
Work-based learning activities
- Get an internship with a local business or chamber of commerce
Entrepreneurship
The Entrepreneurship program of study teaches CTE learners how to plan, direct, and coordinate the management and operations of public or private sector organizations. Through this program of study, students will learn the skills necessary to formulate policies, manage daily operations, analyze management structures, and plan for the use of materials and human resources.
Course pathways
Note: This program is offered as a specialized version as part of the Lakeview Centennial HS (LCHS) College and Career Magnet as well as the Naaman Forest HS (NFHS) Global Business & Leadership Magnet.
There are no Level 3 classes.
Level | LCHS pathway | NFHS pathway |
---|---|---|
1 |
8D600 CCM 8D615 DC CCM |
8D510 GBL 8D520 GBL |
2 |
8N600 CCM |
8N540 GBL Entrepreneurship |
3 | ||
4 |
8N310, 8N315 DC |
8N310, 8N315 DC, 8N550 GBL, 8N555 DC GBL Practicum in Marketing |
Note: Level 3 and 4 classes are advanced CTE courses.
Aligned Occupations
Occupations | Median wage | Annual openings | % Growth |
---|---|---|---|
General and Operations Managers | $107,640 | 18,679 | 20% |
Management Analysts | $87,651 | 4,706 | 32% |
Managers, All Others | $113,110 | 1,794 | 26% |
Industry-Based Certifications
- Entrepreneurship and Small Business
Postsecondary options
Below is a list of potential career certifications for a student interested in this program of study.
Education level | Options |
---|---|
Associate's Degree |
|
Bachelor's Degree |
|
Master's/Doctoral Degree |
|
*Additional industry-based certification information is available on the TEA CTE website.
For more information on post-secondary options in this program of study, visit the TXCTE website.
Expanded learning opportunities
One of the best ways to acquire experience in your chosen career is by engaging in exploration activities, work-based learning, or by joining a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO).
Exploration activities
- Participate in the Business Professionals of America (BPA)
- Participate in the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
- Participate in DECA
Work-based learning activities
- Internship with a local management consulting firm
Marketing and Sales
The Marketing and Sales program of study teaches CTE learners how to collect information to determine potential sales of a product or service and/or create a marketing campaign to market or distribute goods and services. Through this program of study, students will learn the skills necessary to understand and apply data on customer demographics, preferences, needs, and buying habits.
Course pathways
Note: This program is offered as a specialized version as part of the Lakeview Centennial HS (LCHS) College and Career Magnet as well as the Naaman Forest HS (NFHS) Global Business & Leadership Magnet.
Level | Campus pathway | LCHS pathway | NFHS pathway | GRCTC pathway |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
8D100, 8D105 DC, 8D600 CCM, 8D510 GBL |
8D100, 8D105 DC, 8D600 CCM Principles of Business, Marketing, and Finance |
8D100, 8D105 DC, 8D510 GBL Principles of Business, Marketing, and Finance |
|
2 |
8N210S 8N230S |
8N210S 8N230S |
8N210S 8N230S |
8N930S GRCTC, 8N935s DC GRCTC |
3 |
8N220S 8N200S 8F400 |
8N220S 8N200S 8F400 |
8N220S 8N200S 8F400 |
8N960S, 8N965S DC GRCTC |
4 |
8N310, 8N315 DC |
8N310, 8N315 DC Practicum in Marketing |
8N310, 8N315 DC, 8N550 GBL Practicum in Marketing |
8N970 GRCTC, 8N975 DC GRCTC Advanced Marketing |
Note: Level 3 and 4 classes are advanced CTE courses.
Aligned Occupations
Occupations | Median wage | Annual openings | % Growth |
---|---|---|---|
Marketing Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists |
$70,346 | 4,664 | 40% |
Insurance Sales Agents |
$43,181 | 5,886 | 30% |
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers |
$72,550 | 2,826 | 15% |
Wholesale and Retail Buyers |
$51,106 | 1,299 | 19% |
Industry-Based Certifications
- Entrepreneurship and Small Business
- Facebook Digital Marketing Associate Certification
- Retail Merchandising - Job Ready
- Student Social Media Marketing Certification
- Google Analytics Individual Qualification*
*IBC sunsetting 8/31/24
Postsecondary options
Below is a list of potential career certifications for a student interested in this program of study.
Education level | Options |
---|---|
Associate's Degree |
|
Bachelor's Degree |
|
Master's/Doctoral Degree |
|
*Additional industry-based certification information is available on the TEA CTE website.
For more information on post-secondary options for this program of study, visit the TXCTE website.
Expanded learning opportunities
One of the best ways to acquire experience in your chosen career is by engaging in exploration activities, work-based learning, or by joining a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO).
Exploration activities
- Participate in the Business Professionals of America (BPA)
- Participate in the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
- Participate in DECA
Work-based learning activities
- Do an internship with a local marketing firm
- Shadow a real estate agent
- Operate a school store on campus
Graduation planning
Endorsement: Business & Industry
See course descriptions and additional information on the course descriptions page.