AOF Course Descriptions

Students in a classroom listening to a lecture

AOF: Success Stategies

9075 (Fall) │Grade 10 │½ credit

Success Strategies orients students to the world of work and school by addressing the need for students to develop good habits. Students explore their strengths and weaknesses as well as understanding the diversity of others, group dynamics, effective time management, setting priorities and engaging in meaningful conversations. Students become aware of career and college options and develop solid interpersonal skills as they prepare for the world beyond the classroom.

UNC100 Mastering the Academic Environment - 3 credit option available

AOF: Principles of Finance

9075 (Fall) │Grade 10 │½ credit

This course introduces students to the financial world. Students develop financial literacy as they learn about the function of finance in society. They study income and wealth; examine financial institutions; learn how businesses raise capital; and study key investment-related terms and concepts. They also research how innovations have changed the financial services field. Finally, students explore careers that exist in finance today.

AOF: Financial Services

9076 (Spring) │Grade 10 │½ credit
Prerequisite: AOF: Principles of Finance

This course gives students an overview of banks and other financial services companies. It introduces students to the origins of money and banking and examines the early history of banking in the United States. Students study the financial services industry and the types of companies it includes in depth. They learn about the services offered by such companies and analyze the ways these companies earn profits. Finally, students examine careers in financial services.

AOF: Microsoft Office

9083 (Spring) │Grade 10 │½ credit
Prerequisite: AOF: Principles of Finance

This course focuses on the entire Microsoft Office Suite to include Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access. Students are introduced to the preferred productivity software for businesses and culminates with students earning Microsoft Office certification in Excel plus PowerPoint and/or Word.

CIS101 - Computer Fundamentals - 3 credit option available

AOF: Principles of Accounting

9077 (Fall) │Grade 11 │½ credit
Prerequisites: AOF: Principles of Finance, AOF: Financial Services

Principles of Accounting provides students with an understanding of the accounting process and how it facilitates decision making by providing data and information to internal and external stakeholders. Students learn that accounting is an integral part of all business activities. They learn how to apply technology to accounting by creating formulas and inputting data into spreadsheets. Students also examine career opportunities and the professional certifications and designations earned by individuals in the accounting profession.

AOF: Internship & Professional Ethics

9142 │Grade 11 │½ credit
Required: All previous work-based learning: Career Coaching, Mock Interview, Job Shadows
NOTE: The NAFTrack Paid Internship may be completed prior to this course.

This is the culminating work based learning course. Students consider the range of dilemmas faced in the workplace and learn about the qualities of effective leaders and the tools modern professionals use for effective communications, presentations, teamwork, networking, motivation, self-discipline and work-place etiquette. The course culminates with a business strategic plan presented to advisory board members and potential to interview for a paid internship.

NAFTrack: Paid Internship

9146 │Grade 12 │½ credit
Required: All employability requirements must be approved by the internship coordinator before enrollment is approved.
Required: All previous work-based learning: Career Coaching, Mock Interview, Job Shadows
Recommended: AOF: Internship & Professional Ethics credit or concurrent enrollment
NOTE: This course is an independent study and not part of a student schedule.
Credit is issued upon (A) proof of compensation and (B) positive evaluation by the internship supervisor in the NAFTrack system.

An internship is substantive for the student and productive for the employer, linked to curriculum beyond basic career exploration, directed and overseen by the employer and provides outcomes or consequences that impact beyond school. NAFTrack certification and AOF graduation requires the completion of a paid internship. Students secure an internship in one of two ways (a) Apply for an advisory board assisted internship or (b) Self-secure an internship in a career field of their choice. Internships can be completed anytime but most during the Jr-Sr summer for a duration of approximately 6-8 weeks.

AOF: Financial Planning

9072 │Grade 12 (Full year, alternating days) │½ credit
Required: AOF: Principles of Finance, AOF: Financial Services, AOF: Principles of Finance

Financial Planning provides students with an overview of the job of a financial planner. Students learn to consider how all aspects of financial planning might affect a potential client, and learn about the importance of financial planning in helping people reach their life goals. This course includes lessons on saving, borrowing, credit, and all types of insurance, and covers various types of investments. Students also examine careers in financial planning.

FIN110 Personal Finance - 3 credit option available

AOF Elective Choices

Make elective choices based on your chosen certification pathway (CTE or NAFTrack).

School Credit Union

Advanced Accounting

9031 (Spring) │Grade 10, 11, 12 │½ credit
Suggested Pairing - Principles of Accounting

This course is based on the fundamentals of Accounting with emphasis on merchandising businesses organized as corporation. This course will give students a strong foundation in advanced accounting theory and procedures including an indepth approach to preparing income statements and balance sheets along with recording of complex business transactions related to publicly held corporations. Students use computer software applications that can be used to expedite the accounting process. This course is highly recommended for students who are considering any business or accounting major in college.

SUNY Buffalo State: BUS212 – Introduction to Accounting - 3 credit option available
Dual enrollment requires students to have also taken Principles of Accounting.

Business and Personal Law

9035 │Grade 10, 11, 12 │½ credit
Suggested Pairing - Principles of Accounting

Learn about legal concepts that will impact your life now and in the future on a personal level and within the business community. In this course, you will develop an understanding of your legal rights and responsibilities as a citizen, consumer, and employee. Focus areas include an introduction to law, the structure of the U.S. and New York State court systems, contract law, consumer law, criminal law, civil law, family/domestic law, employment law and careers in the legal profession.

SUNY Buffalo State: BUS368 – Business Law I - 3 credit option available

Keyboarding & Microsoft Word

9012 (Fall) │Grade 9, 10, 11, 12 │½ credit (formerly "Digital Communications")
Suggested Pairing - Microsoft Excel & PowerPoint
Career and Technical Endorsement Course

What is it? A real world course that prepares students for fast, efficient forms of digital communications. Students learn efficient keyboarding skills and become skilled in Microsoft Word features by completing hands on simulations similar to what would be found in high school, college and business. Why it matters? Be quick and efficient! Students will be able to use tools that are necessary for high school, college, the workplace and everyday. Successful students will be eligible for Microsoft Office Specialist certifications which are among the most sought after by hiring managers.

Microsoft Excel & PowerPoint

7523 (Spring) │Grade 9, 10, 11, 12 │½ credit (formerly "Applied Digital Skills")
Suggested Pairing - Keyboarding & Microsoft Word
Career and Technical Endorsement Course

What is it? Microsoft Office, Social Media and Google Applications are how businesses communicate today. Utilize these tools to create spreadsheets and presentations, and learn how to use social media in a professional manner while gaining experience with Google Apps and Future Edge.

Why it matters: With so much competition in the job market, it should come as no surprise that those with Microsoft Office, Social Media skills and experience using Google Apps are often selected over those who do not. This class will give you the expertise in all these critical areas.

Start it Up!/Entrepreneurship

9038 (Fall) │Grade 10, 11, 12 │½ credit
Suggested Pairing - Make it your Business! – Business Planning
Career and Technical Endorsement Course

This course is designed to introduce students to the role that entrepreneurship and small business play in our economic system. An in-depth study of the various steps involved in starting a new business and the financial, legal and government aspects critical to a successful small business will be covered. Topics include marketing, competition, communication, human resources, type of ownership, location and setting up your business. Students will be involved in a variety of activities including project based learning, guest speakers, visits to local businesses and a field trip to the 43 North Business Plan Competition

SUNY Buffalo State: BUS365 – Entrepreneurship - 3 credit option available

Make it your Business/Business Planning

9041 (Spring) │Grade 10, 11, 12 │½ credit
Suggested Pairing - Start it Up! – Entrepreneurship
Career and Technical Endorsement Course

If you like Entrepreneurship and the hit show “Shark Tank”, this is the course for you! This course will go more in-depth and students will create and present a detailed business plan. We will work with a variety of local entrepreneurial organizations where students are be eligible to compete in a business plan competition. Other topics include Identifying and meeting a market need, marketing your business, Distribution, Promotion, Selling and Operations Management. Students will also visit 43 North Business Plan Competition headquarters at Seneca Tower.

Principles of Marketing

9037 (Fall) │Grade 10, 11, 12 │½ credit
Suggested Pairing - Marketing Sports & Entertainment
Career and Technical Endorsement Course

Marketing provides the bridge between business and consumers. This course will open the student's eyes to the world of marketing that is all around and to become educated decision makers. Content revolves around the basic marketing functions, selling, public service announcements, promotion, market research, social media, customer service and buying behavior. Marketing is a course for anyone to take who is and will continue to be a consumer.

SUNY Buffalo State: BUS320 – Principles of Marketing - 3 credit option available

Sports and Entertainment Marketing

9040 (Spring) │Grade 10, 11, 12 │½ credit
Suggested Pairing - Principles of Marketing
Career and Technical Endorsement Course

This course is designed to study marketing principles as it relates to the sports and entertainment industry. Instructional areas will include: marketing, advertising, promotion, internet/social media marketing, sponsorship and endorsements, event marketing, and branding an image. A basic understanding of the principles of marketing is helpful to enroll in this course, but not a requirement. Classroom instruction will be reinforced through the use of group/individual projects, guest speakers, possible field trip experiences, current periodicals, computer work, and lecture/discussions.

SUNY Buffalo State: BUS320 – Sports & Entertainment Marketing - 3 credit option available

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