BU55013 Introduction to Business
This course presents the everyday business activities that the student will experience in his or her own personal life. It is a general orientation course in the business field, including such topics for exploration as business careers, money management, investing, banking services, consumerism, and types of insurance. The course contributes to a better understanding of American business and where we as consumers and business persons will fit into this social and economic environment. This course meets the consumer education graduation requirement.
Semesters: 2
BU55025 Sheltered Introduction to Business (Semester)
This course introduces limited English speaking students to consumer problems that may be encountered now and in their adult years. Placement in this class is based on recommendations of both the ESL and Guidance departments. The topics covered in class relate to everyday living situations and help prepare individuals for making wise purchasing decisions in the marketplace. Some of the areas of study include: budgeting, savings, checking accounts, comparison-shopping, using credit wisely, deceptive advertising practices, taxation, and various consumer protection laws. This course meets the consumer education graduation requirement.
Semesters: 1 or 2
BU55035 Keyboarding/ Word Processing I
This semester course is strongly recommended for college-bound students as well as those students interested in entering the workforce. The objective of this course is to develop the skills necessary to accurately keyboard and word process reports, letters, outlines, and a variety of materials that the individual may have occasion to use. The objective of this course is to develop the skills necessary to type and format material for personal, professional and school use quickly and accurately. Students will learn basic Microsoft Word functions to complete business documents. This course is a dual credit course and receives college credit from College of DuPage. (WB)
Semesters: 1
BU55065 Consumer Management
This one-semester course focuses on specific consumer problems that students will encounter now and as an adult. This subject relates to everyday living and helps prepare individuals for making wise purchasing decisions. Topics include: budgeting, saving/checking, investments, comparison-shopping, using credit wisely, tax preparation, insurance, advertising practices, labor relations, and various consumer protection laws. This course meets the consumer education graduation requirement.
Semesters: 1
BU35305 Technical Writing
This course is a “writing-intensive” course specifically targeting the area of technical writing in the workplace. This will allow students the opportunity to integrate writing for specific audiences, research, and grammatical skills in the workplace environment. Students will be able to distinguish the differences between researching primary and secondary sources at school and work. Students will be able to identify characteristics of technical writing, plan a document’s purpose, scope, and medium, and compare technical writing to other written works. Students will use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and structure within written documents. This course meets the requirement for a semester of English credit and the Illinois “writing intensive” requirement.
Semesters: 1
BU55073 Accounting I
This course is highly recommended for students who plan to study any field of business in college. The study of accounting emphasizes the accounting principles and concepts necessary to process financial data. Students acquire the background essential for a solid foundation for the further study of accounting, as well as work in a wide range of accounting, clerical, and data processing jobs or any other business field. Computerized accounting software and spreadsheets are integrated into the curriculum.
Semesters: 2 (Articulated credit with C.O.D.)
BU55083 Accounting II
Prerequisite: Accounting I, and/or teacher recommendation.
This course is highly recommended for students who plan to study any field of business in college. This is an introductory college accounting course. It includes departmentalized accounting, cost accounting, accruals, deferrals, controlling financial resources, accounting for partnerships and corporations. Computerized accounting software and spreadsheets are integrated.
Semesters: 2 (Articulated credit with C.O.D.)
BU35313 Financial Math and Analysis
This course focuses on mathematical skills necessary when looking at application in ones own personal and corporate world. Topics may include: personal financial math & analysis ( i.e. payroll (gross and net pay), banking services, loans & credit, spending, owning a home or car, and insurance & investments) and business/corporate financial math & analysis (i.e. data analysis, technology, managing people & inventory, business costs, sales & marketing, profit & loss, and international business). Students will utilize mathematical concepts such as solving problems involving whole numbers, decimals, fractions, percents, ratios, averages, and proportions, using algebraic operations to solve problems, and analyzing and interpreting data using common statistical procedures. Extensive time is spent on integrating common financial software into the curriculum. This course satisfies the math graduation credit requirement.
Semesters: 2
BU55095 Marketing
BU55275 Marketing – Sports and Entertainment Focus (AT)
The student will study the four P's of marketing—product, price, place and promotion and how they relate to sales, advertising, and the distribution of goods and services. Sales, promotion, consumer behavior, interviewing, and market research are broken down to show how these areas benefit the business world and the student. Students will practice their marketing skills by utilizing role playing and engaging in realistic business simulations.
Semesters: 1
BU55105 Microcomputers
Don't be left out when it comes to learning and knowing how to use Microsoft Office Professional 2000. Learn word processing, database, and spreadsheet applications (Microsoft Word, Access, and Excel) and how to integrate them all together. This is a skill you should know whether you plan on going to college or entering the world of work immediately.
Semesters: 1
BU55125 Business Law
This course informs the student of everyday law. The course discusses one’s legal rights and benefits as well as one’s legal duties, obligations, and liabilities. Topics covered in business law include criminal and civil law, contracts, juvenile law, and a variety of current legal issues that arise.
Semester: 1
BU55135 Business Organization and Management
Managers play an important role in the success of a business. This course prepares students with the skills managers need to make a positive impact on implementing change in the workplace. Topics include interviewing skills, communication skills, training programs, characteristics of good leadership, how to evaluate employees, motivational strategies, writing job descriptions, and knowledge of labor unions. The course explores all aspects of business operation and investigates new and popular trends in business management.
Semester: 1
BU55143 / BU45303 Marketing Education / Work
BU55153 / BU45313 Marketing Education-Advanced / Work
Prerequisite: Coordinator approval
This is a cooperative course where students work and also go to school. It is a vocational education course planned to serve the immediate needs of those students interested in a career in retailing, wholesaling, advertising, or any phase of distribution of any type of merchandise or service. Learn to use business-oriented vocabulary, employment reading skills, a variety of computer applications and marketing principles. The students will receive one period of instruction in the classroom each day and will also spend a minimum of 15 hours per week on a job in the marketing field, thereby earning two credits per semester. The employer agrees to work with the M.E. teacher-coordinator in training the student for the job. The student is paid for the work done on the job. Students can also participate in national associations, called DECA or BPA, where they have the opportunity to compete in area, state, and national competitions.
Semesters: 2
BU55163 / BU45333 Office Education / Work
BU55173 / BU45323 Office Education, Advanced / Work
Prerequisite: Coordinator approval
Office Education is a cooperative vocational education course for students who wish to gain experience and training for careers in the clerical, secretarial, accounting, or data processing fields. It is recommended that, in addition to Keyboarding, students have taken or are enrolled in either Microcomputers, and/or Accounting, depending on the occupational goal of the student. The student will spend a minimum of 15 hours a week in an office-type job for hourly pay and will receive two credits a year for the job and two credits for the O.E. class. The classroom experience will highlight business vocabulary, reading skills, business math skills, office skills, and computer applications involving programs such as Microsoft Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, use of the Internet and various computer generated simulations. Students can also participate in Business Professionals of America, a national organization, where they have the opportunity to compete in area, state, and national competitions.
Semesters: 2
BU55045 Advanced Word Processing
Prerequisite: Keyboarding/Word Processing
This course is a continuation of Keyboarding/Word Processing. It can be taken at any time, but it is to the student's advantage to take it as soon after Keyboarding/Word Processing as possible. Speed and accuracy on computers is emphasized as well as using the computer as a tool in creating a variety of documents for personal and business use.
Semesters: 1
BU55053 ESL Keyboarding/Advanced Word Processing
Placement in this class is based on recommendations of both the E.S.L. and Guidance Departments. This class is an alternative to Keyboarding/Word Processing with Advanced Word Processing. The objective of this course is to develop the skills necessary to type and format reports, letters, tables, and a variety of other documents. Focus skills include: capitalization rules, punctuation, grammar, spelling, and spacing. Students will learn to type properly and to format material for personal, professional, and school use quickly and accurately.
Semesters: 2
BU55115 Desktop Publishing
Prerequisite: Keyboarding or consent of instructor
In this course, students will use the advanced features of Microsoft’s Word and Publisher software programs, as well as, QuarkXpress, to create documents such as calendars, flyers, gift certificates, letterhead, invitations, business cards, and menus. Features such as WordArt, TextBox, graphics, watermarks, and various templates aid in the process of creating advanced desktop publishing documents. Slide show presentations will also be designed using PowerPoint software, which is widely used in the business world today. Students will gain knowledge of the software, the ability to scan, and the ability to use the Internet for information and pictures to enhance their presentations.
Semesters: 1
BU55195 Hotel/Restaurant/Travel Industry
This is two-period course that is sponsored by Addison Trail, local hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality establishments. Students will gain experience with duties performed in the hotel, restaurant, and travel industry. Time will be spent in the classroom and at the sponsoring facilities. Class time consists of various projects including food preparation, concessions, computer lab time, and speakers. When on the cooperating site, the students will shadow/train with hotel personnel.
Semesters: 1
BU55205 Economics-Principles & Practice
With the help of Junior Achievement of Chicago, volunteer business consultants, and a Business Education and Social Studies teacher, the students of Economics are able to explore business concepts and economic theory. In addition to textbook materials, a student company is organized and operated by the students for the purpose of applying these concepts and theories by actually running their own business. This course meets the Economics graduation requirement.
Semesters: 1
Additional courses offered at Willowbrook HS:
BU55215 Sheltered Keyboarding
This class introduces limited English speaking students to the computer keyboard. This course will be beneficial for those students entering the workforce or continuing their education beyond high school. The objective of the course is to develop the skills necessary to accurately keyboard and format a variety of documents used in business and educational settings. Students will work on basic proofreading strategies to improve accuracy. Upon completion of this course, students will know how to use basic functions of Microsoft Word.
Semesters: 1
BU55225 Microcomputers II
Prerequisite: Microcomputers I
This one-semester course consists of a wide variety of advanced business applications for students who already possess proficiency in word processing, databases, and spreadsheets. Students will become competent in file management along with learning advanced and integrated features of one of the most widely used software programs in business-Microsoft Office Professional. The course will focus on Advanced Word, Access and Excel.
Semester: 1
BU55235 Microcomputers III
This one-semester computer applications course will highlight the topics of desktop publishing and Internet access. Desktop applications include the manipulation of fonts, graphics, text, layout, and tables to create flyers, brochures, resumes, calendars, business cards, and other business documents. Microsoft Word and PhotoShop will be utilized for these desktop applications. A business project using the Internet will also be included.
Semester: 1
BU55295 Consumer Education-Bilingual
Transitional Bilingual Consumer Education is a one-semester course taught in both Spanish and English. It focuses on specific consumer problems that students will encounter now and in their adult years. This subject relates to everyday living and helps prepare individuals for making wise purchasing decisions and to understand the U.S. marketplace. Topics include budgeting, savings/checking, investments, comparison shopping, using credit wisely, tax preparation, insurance, advertising practices, labor relations and various consumer protection laws. This course mirrors the Business Department’s Consumer Management course. Students must be enrolled in an ESL class and have limited English proficiency to qualify. This course meets the consumer education graduation requirement.
Semester: 1
BU55265 Business Explorations
This course will provide students with basic career management tools required in today's workforce, which includes how to design an impressive resume and cover letter. The class is designed to prepare students to successfully enter today's rapidly changing job market and develop skills to ensure lifelong career success. One of the main objectives of the course is to allow students to examine a variety of employment opportunities in the business world that range from professional careers to those that involve technical and service-based training. Areas of study will include desktop publishing, accounting, advertising, international business and management.
Semester: 1
BU55245 Website Publishing
This course is designed for students to publish information on the World Wide Web by creating and maintaining Willowbrook's home page. Throughout this course students will have hands-on experience with software and hardware needed to create a website. Students will learn the basic knowledge needed to work on the Internet and design web pages. Within the course, students will use Internet Explorer, HTML, FrontPage, Adobe Photo Shop, Adobe Illustrator, as well as, scanners and digital cameras to complete various classroom projects.
Semesters: 2
BU55255 Advanced Website Publishing
Prerequisite: Website Publishing
This class will focus on building intermediate and advanced skills in the creation and development of web page design. Students will continue to improve, maintain, and enhance features on Willowbrook's website. This course will also include the study of Macromedia's Flash software to develop sophisticated special effects and animation on the student's own web pages.
Semester: 1
