Business Curriculum & Program
Explore Business
Whether your child is looking at a career in accounting, sharpening design skills for marketing, or embarking on their own journey as an entrepreneur—Stride Career Prep has a path to suit them. Students learn the core foundations of business operations and functions while building a variety of leadership and management skills in this pathway as they go.
Career pathways include:
Accounting Pathway
Accounting is the backbone of every business, big or small. In this pathway, students discover what it means to manage finances for businesses and how to play an important part in their financial success. This pathway is a great way to get a head start on becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or start a career in basic accounting.
Students will:
Explore how to help a business be financially successful
Learn the basics of business finance and accounting
Develop an understanding of the importance of business accounting
Administrative Support Pathway
All organizations, not just businesses, require administrative support, making this a versatile career. In this pathway, students gain the knowledge of how to efficiently manage tasks and communications so organizations can thrive.
Students will:
Explore career opportunities through administrative skills
Develop the computer skills needed for administrative tasks
Learn basic accounting to support businesses
Business Finance Pathway
Your child could help business reach new heights with a career in business finance. This pathway guides students through the fundamentals of finance, accounting, and useful computer programs.
Students will:
Explore financial best practices for successful businesses
Learn accounting skills and see how they relate to running a business
Develop the computer skills needed to complete finance projects
Entrepreneurship Pathway
Does your child dream of owning a successful business? In this pathway, students learn the process of starting a business—from drawing up financial plans to marketing their product.
Students will:
Explore what makes a business successful
Learn how to promote a business and attract investors
Discover what it takes to launch and grow a business
General Management Pathway
Students in this pathway discover how to manage a team and how to help a business become more profitable and efficient. Courses include project-based learning to give a hands-on experience in developing skills for the 21st century—leadership, communication, teamwork, creative problem solving, and critical thinking skills.
Students will:
Discover how teamwork contributes to the success of businesses
Develop leadership skills to build and manage productive teams
Learn the computer skills necessary to complete business goals
Hospitality: Food & Beverage Pathway
If food and travel are your child’s passion, they’ll learn how to turn it into a career with this pathway. Students explore the business side of hotels, restaurants, and food service. They gain the knowledge and skills needed for a successful career in the hospitality industry.
Students will:
Explore food culture, history, and trends
Build their knowledge of the responsibilities of running a restaurant
Learn relevant computer skills needed to thrive in hospitality
Marketing Communication Pathway
From social media to billboards, marketing is all around us. Students learn how to apply and grow their creativity in this pathway. Courses dive into the art and science of advertising and brand building for businesses.
Students will:
Explore the inner workings of successful ad campaigns
Expand their knowledge with introductory marketing courses
Learn relevant computer skills needed for marketing communications
Occupational Spotlight
Accountant
Accountants prepare and certify the accuracy of financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements, and tax filings. A common accountant position is as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Publicly traded companies are required to have CPAs sign documents they submit to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including annual and quarterly reports. Another possibility is a career as a forensic accountant, or one who specializes in uncovering financial crimes and fraud. Others specialize in auditing, or examining an organization’s records to identify fraud, waste, and abuse. Many accountants are self-employed; others work for accounting firms or government entities, or as an employer’s in-house accountant.
2020 Median Starting Salary1
$62,688
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
61,700
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
4% (Average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
Bachelor’s degree; CPAs must also pass an exam
Financial Analyst
Financial analysts provide guidance to businesses and individuals making investment decisions. They assess the performance of stocks, bonds, and other types of investments. They also make predictions about future performances by evaluating companies’ or bond issuers’ past financial performance, industry trends, and the impact of business decisions.
2020 Median Starting Salary1
$67,937
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
26,800
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
5% (Faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
Bachelor’s degree
Financial Clerk
Financial clerks process financial transactions, calculate bills and charges, and update and maintain financial records. Their duties vary widely, depending on the industry in which they are employed. Those in the banking industry, for example, might interview loan applicants, perform credit checks, and gather necessary loan paperwork. Those working for utility companies, on the other hand, may focus on preparing and sending bills to customers. And those in the insurance industry process insurance applications, as well as policy cancellations or changes.
2020 Median Starting Salary1
$37,774
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
3,500
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
1% (Slower than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or GED; accounting classes
Insurance Claims Adjuster/Appraiser/Examiner/ Investigator
Claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators evaluate insurance claims. They decide whether an insurance company must pay a claim and if so, how much. They identify and prevent fraudulent claims, negotiate settlements, and process payments. They are frequently required to perform site visits to verify and inspect damage from events covered by insurance.
2020 Median Starting Salary1
$53,938
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
-22,000
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
-6% (Decline)
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or GED plus significant on-the-job training; some employers prefer bachelor’s degrees
Insurance Sales Agent
Insurance sales agents identify and contact potential customers to sell one or multiple types of insurance. Insurance sales agents explain various insurance policies and help clients choose plans that suit their needs.
2020 Median Starting Salary1
$62,806
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
27,500
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
5% (Faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or GED; insurance agents must also be licensed in the state in which they practice
Research Analyst
Market research analysts study market conditions to examine the potential sales of products or services. They help companies understand what products people want, who will buy them, and at what price. To do so, they may create and administer surveys, run focus groups, or conduct polls. They also examine data on past marketing campaign performance to guide future campaigns.
2020 Median Starting Salary1
$52,792
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
130,300
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
18% (Much faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
Bachelor’s degree
What could my future look like with this career?
Burning Glass
FAQs
Curious about business careers or exploring education options? Read some of our most frequently asked questions.
Discover More
Connect with Industry Professionals
Students virtually connect with industry professionals and see how lessons in the classroom apply to the real world.
Gain Real World Experience
See how project-based learning helps students tackle real business challenges.
Learn more about course offerings in the other Stride Career Prep career fields.
Hear How Stride Career Prep Can Work for Your Teen
Think this might be a good fit for your student? Want to learn more about the program from current participants? Email your questions and hear what Stride Career Prep students have to say.
1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Website last modified date: Wednesday, September 1, 2020.
2Burning Glass Labor Insights, accessed October 16, 2020. Data is median salary for job postings with that job title, with typical minimum education requirements for that job title (as shown in chart on this page) and 0-2 years of experience, from October 1, 2019, to September 20, 2020.
*Opportunities vary by school; please visit your school page or check with your school counselor.
**Stride Career Prep is a program for grades 9–12. At some schools, career exploration is offered in middle school.
†Many Microsoft®️ Office certificates can be earned after completing one course. Other certificates require more classes to be better prepared, and students who participate in the program for at least two years will have further preparation for certification testing.
