Business Management and Entrepreneurship Academy

Build a business as part of the next generation of socially responsible entrepreneurs and global business leaders seeking and finding innovative solutions to today’s challenges
Craft and define business goals and strategic plans in an environment modeled after the corporate world
Create vibrant marketing campaigns utilizing dynamic technology such as social media and digital platforms
Develop professional skills and earn industry-recognized certifications

Recommended Course Sequence


BME Fundamentals	BME Operations I and BME Operations II	BME Innovation	BME Capstone

Course Descriptions

BME Fundamentals: Principles of Business, Marketing, and Finance (1 credit)

In this unique hands-on startup experience, students are challenged to solve a problem or fill a need in their community. You will have the opportunity to experience launching and operating a business. Students explore the sale of goods and services, advertising and marketing strategies, and financial management for a business. Topics covered include:

Ethics and social responsibility - why honesty in business and giving back to your community are so important
Economic concepts - this includes supply and demand, how to price products to sell, and more
Introduction to Entrepreneurship - what is it? Do you have the characteristics it takes to own your own business and be successful?
Human Resources - this is all about attracting and managing people so that your business is successful
Logistics - how are you going to get products and services to your customers?
Accounting - this teaches you how to keep up with the money in your business so you make a profit
Finance - in knowing financial concepts, you’ll understand how to invest wisely both personally and for your business
Marketing Research Methods - teaches you how to find out what customers want, when they want it, and where they are willing to buy it
Sales - think selling is easy? Not really...learn the psychology behind selling your products and services
Marketing - using marketing research, you’ll develop plans to “get the word out” about what your business, your products/services
Management - learning management teaches you how to pull all this stuff together!
Business Law - understand contracts, trademarks, copyrights, and more
Personal Finance - learn how to manage your own finances and save for your retirement (yep, one day you’ll do that!--make sure you have plenty of money so you can!)

BME Operations I & II: Virtual Business and Social Media Marketing (Each .5 credit)

In course BME Operations I, students will focus on virtual (e-commerce) business development and establishing a web presence. Students in BME Operations II will learn the skills to become effective social media marketers by simulating social media activities for a business. Students explore current social media platforms and develop social marketing strategies and plans.

As part of BME Operations, students will continue industry certifications and learn about:

Introduction to financial statements - what are they and why are they important? You’ll learn how to build financial statements in Excel
Budgeting - how to create a budget - different types of budgets - you’ll learn how to build a budget using Excel
Credit management - How to build and manage credit - tied to Excel
Payroll - How to setup and administer payroll using Excel
Loans - how to apply for a loan and how to manage a loan - you’ll use Word and Excel for this
Valuation - How to calculate how much a company (hopefully your company) is worth
Charts and graphs - how to create them in Excel and how to use them in documents (Word) and presentations (PowerPoint)
Branding Book - learn what this is and how to create your own! (Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Adobe InDesign)
Logo - how to create one that ROCKS! (Adobe Illustrator)
Style guide - you’ll learn what a style guide is, how it is used, and how to develop one for your branding book
Business card - create your very own business card! (Illustrator, Photoshop)
Corporate identity - how do companies create an identity? You’ll use all different types of software to help you learn about corporate identity and how to create a winning brand
Website development & maintenance - DreamWeaver and online tools
Social media marketing techniques - you will learn how can a business uses social media as a way to market their products/services and build their corporate identity and brand awareness

BME Innovation: Entrepreneurship (1 credit)

The course focuses on helping students understand the process of analyzing business opportunities, determining feasibility of an idea using research, and developing a business plan from startup company to exit strategy. Students explore case studies in global business to learn about strategies for success in business. Areas of study include:

Writing your Business Plan, which includes: Executive Summary, Mission, Vision, Core Values, Story, Organizational Structure, Management Team Plan, Industry Analysis, Competitive Analysis, Company Analysis, SWOT Analysis, Product Development, Marketing Plan, Financial Plan, Contingency Plan

BME Capstone: Practicum in business management/Virtual Enterprises International (2 credits)

Student teams develop a business plan for a virtual startup business and participate in marketing and selling their product in the Virtual Enterprise International (VEI) virtual economy. Students assume specific job roles and responsibilities for their VEI firm. Students incorporate a broad base of knowledge, including legal, managerial, marketing, financial, ethical, and international dimensions of business, to make appropriate business decisions.