Business & Technology
| Site: | Learn@VCS |
| Course: | VCHS Course Catalog |
| Book: | Business & Technology |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Saturday, May 11, 2024, 12:30 AM |
Department Overview
DESCRIPTION OF EXCELLENCE
Lead with Purpose, Serve with Love, and Impact in Faith - Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10-11
The Business and Technology department offers academic courses in business, engineering, and computer science, enabling students to cultivate 21st-century skills rooted in Biblical principles. As students advance their knowledge and expertise in business, technology, and engineering, they are encouraged to nurture an entrepreneurial mindset to solve real-world problems. This interdisciplinary approach helps students build the foundational knowledge of creative design thinking at the core of technology innovation.DISTINCTIVE EXPERIENCE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Building upon the foundational learning in core business, technology, and engineering subjects, our students extend their knowledge to the next level through real-world applications and hands-on/project-based learning through co-curricular programs. The programs include the President's Business Challenge, DECA, Quest Incubator, and Speech and Debate.
Visit our BEI program page for more information.
Department Map
BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY COURSES
This map is a general planning tool, intended to show the course and typical student tracks. Students may deviate from the map and should consult with counselors and teachers to find the best classes to meet their academic and spiritual goals. Courses offered may vary from year to year.
BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTIONS
All of our course descriptions are found online: vcs.net/hscoursecatalog.
Business Courses
Business
Personal Finance & Stewardship
This course provides students the skills needed to avoid debt like the plague, budget with intention, invest, and build & steward wealth. Biblical tools and knowledge will be taught through teacher lectures, videos, class discussions, team projects, homework assignments and tests. All these ways of teaching a student will help them learn and bring this curriculum to life in their everyday financial decisions. This class will change the financial future of students and set them on a path to win with money.
In this course, emphasis is placed on five major units: 1) introduction to personal finance; 2) savings; 3) budgeting; 4) credit and debt; and 5) investing for retirement.
Additional Course Details
- Students will be required to open their own checking and savings account.
- Students will create a budget & track their own expenses using spreadsheets and budgeting mobile app.
- This course is a DECA approved course.
| Course Number | 0901 |
| Grade Level | 9,10,11,12 |
| Pre-Requisite | None |
| Application and/or Audition Date | None |
| Credits | 10 |
| VCHS Graduation Credit | Elective |
| UC Approval | Yes Area G (General Elective-Interdisciplinary) |
| Fees | $75 Curriculum Fee (includes textbook) |
Business Fundamentals
This course provides students the skills needed to effectively organize, develop, and manage a business. They will understand how the market economy and ownership leads to wealth creation. Students will learn not only the skills necessary to become a successful businessperson but also the attitudes, characteristics, and techniques needed to succeed. Personal financial literacy will be explored to help them meet their financial goals in life. Students will build analytical skills through solving complex problems and making sound decisions in order to produce a viable business.In this course, emphasis is placed on the functions of business management: organization, management, finance, marketing, distribution, promotion, and selling. Additional topics to be covered include the government's role in a business, the assessment of personal skills, the components of the free enterprise system and its place in the global economy, human relations and interpersonal skills, career planning, the importance of business ethics, and the role quality and service play in business.
Additional Course Details
- This course is a DECA approved course.
| Course Number |
0909 |
| Grade Level | 9,10,11,12 |
| Pre-Requisite | Space is limited and priority is given based on participation in DECA. |
| Application and/or Audition Date | |
| Credits | 10 |
| VCHS Graduation Credit | Elective |
| UC Approval | Yes Area G (General Elective-Interdisciplinary) |
| Fees | Possible $75 Curriculum Fee (would include textbook) |
Entrepreneurship Practicum (H)
In this hands-on course, students have the unique opportunity to dive into the world of small business management and put theory into practice, i.e. “Learn by Doing.” Walley’s student store is the real-world classroom where students gain practical experience operating and managing every aspect of the business. Current business units include snacks and merchandise. Students are encouraged to bring their creative ideas to this course as we continue to expand and explore other areas of business including T-shirt printing, coffee cart, and more.Students develop essential skills in project management, business development, operations/inventory management, sales, marketing, budgeting, human resources, customer service, and teamwork. This course goes beyond classroom knowledge and engages students in real-world business activities, encouraging critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, collaboration, and effective communication.
Additional Course Details
- Enrollment space is limited in this course.
- This is a DECA approved class.
- UC Approval of this course is pending.
| Course Number | 0783 |
| Grade Level | 10,11,12 |
| Pre-Requisite | Grade of "A" in Business Fundamentals AND Application. |
| Application and/or Audition Date | Apply by March 1st. Click here to fill out the application. Contact Mrs. Kim <hkim@vcs.net> with any questions. |
| Credits | 10 |
| VCHS Graduation Credit | Elective |
| UC Approval | Yes Area G (General Elective-Interdisciplinary) |
Entrepreneurship (H)
What are the key factors in the process of creating a company? What fundamental knowledge and skills do entrepreneurs need to develop an idea into a business opportunity? The Entrepreneurship Honors course provides students in grades 10-12 the ability to go through the planning and development process to launch their own startup during this yearlong, project-based course. Students will build upon the lessons and skills learned in the Business Fundamentals course and work through the process from ideation to product development.As part of this course, all students will participate in the President’s Business Challenge competition, allowing them to pitch their ideas to seasoned Silicon Valley venture capitalists. Students will interact with top industry leaders through personal mentoring as they go through the process from concept to launch. They will gain valuable experience in teamwork and collaboration as they learn to problem-solve and develop innovative business solutions that are viable, profitable, scalable, and sustainable. The end product will be a formal pitch deck that identifies their problem/opportunity, solution/product, TAM (total addressable market), go-to-market strategy, pro forma income statements, product brochure, and mock prototype.
Students will use a variety of curricula such as Entrepreneurship, Practice, and Mindset by Professor Heidi Neck at Babson College and/or Disciplined Entrepreneurship developed by Professor Bill Aulet at the MIT Center for Entrepreneurship and go through the 24 steps to take their startup idea from inception to implementation.
Additional Expectations: As with other advanced academic courses, students can expect two to three hours of homework per week. There are also 3 mandatory events outside of the classroom, these include the Mentorship Kickoff event, and semi-final/final rounds of the President’s Business Challenge, and BEI showcase.
Additional Course Details
- Enrollment space is limited in this class.
- This course is a DECA approved course.
| Course Number | 0903 |
| Grade Level | 10,11,12 |
| Pre-Requisite | Grade of "A" in Business Fundamentals AND completion of the application below. |
| Application and/or Audition Date | Apply by March 1st. Click here to fill out the application. Contact Mr. Weiner <mweiner@vcs.net> with any questions. |
| Credits | 10 |
| VCHS Graduation Credit | Elective |
| UC Approval | Yes Area G (General Elective-Interdisciplinary) |
| Fees | $250 Course & Program Fee (does not include textbook) |
Social Innovation (H)
This course introduces the concepts of innovation, design thinking, and impact in the social sector and teaches students to apply an entrepreneurial mindset to create sustainable solutions that address social needs in our community and beyond. We will explore historical approaches to social change, along with the strengths and limitations of the current social impact sector. We will examine how design thinking can be applied in different institutional, cultural, and economic contexts, with a particular emphasis on user empathy and stakeholder engagement. We will also study the various financial and corporate structures available to a social enterprise, including for-profit, nonprofit, B-corp, and hybrid structures.Through experiential learning, students will be exposed to social innovation. Students will use projects and both local and international case studies to discover the perspectives and strategies that drive real-world change. In the first semester, students will assess factors on our school campus that negatively affect the student experience, and engage in the design thinking process to come up with innovative, implementable solutions that are then formally proposed to school administrators. The second semester project will take place in partnership with a local government agency or nonprofit, in which students apply their knowledge to research, ideate, prototype, and test possible solutions to real-world problems faced by the local community before presenting their solutions to local leaders. Students will learn about and implement the following tools in their work: needfinding, ethnographic research, human-centered design, rapid prototyping, partnership building, and pathways for scaling solutions.
By the end of this course, the successful student will be able to demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills to analyze and evaluate qualitative and quantitative data to develop and implement solutions. Students will also develop effective communication and collaboration skills by working in groups, and present solutions to community leaders and decision-makers. Equally important to success in this class will be the ability to practice curiosity, humility, open-mindedness, and concern for others.
Additional Course Details
- Enrollment space is limited in this course.
- This course is a DECA approved course.
| Course Number | 0732 |
| Grade Level | 10,11,12 |
| Pre-Requisite | Grade of "A" in Business Fundamentals OR "'A" in Principles of Engineering OR "A" in AP Computer Science AND Application. |
| Application and/or Audition Date | Apply by March 1st. Click here to fill out the application. Contact Mrs. Cheng-Tozun <dchengtozun@vcs.net> with any questions. |
| Credits | 10 |
| VCHS Graduation Credit | Elective |
| UC Approval | Yes Area G (General Elective-Interdisciplinary) |
Computer Science Courses
Computer Science
Introduction to Computer Science (Code HS)
This course introduces students to computer programming and the steps required to build applications that will solve problems and automate tasks. Many assignments will require thinking through processes and building flow diagrams. These will then be used as a blueprint for writing code. Python will be taught as the entry point for learning programming. Concepts will include decision processing, array handling, and the use of various types of data. Students with any level of computer programming experience, including none at all, are encouraged take this course before taking AP Computer Science Principles and/or AP Computer Science A. This class utilizes an online curriculum for delivery of content.
| Course Number | 0759 |
| Grade Level | 9,10,11,12 |
| Pre-Requisite | Grade of B or better in Algebra I |
| Application and/or Audition Date | None |
| Credits | 10 |
| VCHS Graduation Credit | Elective |
| UC Approval | Yes-Area G (General Elective-Math-CompSci) |
| Fees | $75 Curriculum Fee (includes textbook) |
AP Computer Science Principles (Code HS)
| Course Number | 0758 |
| Grade Level | 9,10,11,12 |
| Pre-Requisite | Prior exposure to computer programming is helpful but not needed to succeed in this course. Students should also have a strong background in mathematics. Recommended pre-requisites: Introduction to Computer Programming or Introduction to Computer Science and Algebra 2 (taken previously or concurrent). |
| Application and/or Audition Date | None |
| Credits | 10 |
| VCHS Graduation Credit | Elective |
| UC Approval | Yes-Area D (Science) |
| Fees | $75 Curriculum Fee (includes textbook) and AP Exam Fee |
AP Computer Science A (Code HS)
This course covers basic and advanced topics of Java programming—including types, methods, conditionals, strings, and objects—in preparation for the AP Computer Science A exam. Students design and implement solutions to problems by writing, running, and debugging computer programs using algorithms and data structures. Students also recognize the ethical and social implications of computer use.
Additional Expectations: As with other advanced academic courses, students can expect two to three hours of homework per week, including programming assignments.
| Course Number | 0756 |
| Grade Level | 10,11,12 |
| Pre-Requisite | Space is limited and priority is given based on the prequisites and completion of an application below. Introduction to Computer Science (programming) grade of 70% or above OR AP Computer Science Principles grade 70% or above AND previous or concurrent enrollment in Algebra 2. Click here to fill out the application. Contact Mr. MacMillan <jmacmillan@vcs.net> with any questions. |
| Credits | 10 |
| VCHS Graduation Credit | Elective |
| UC Approval | Yes Area C (Mathematics-Computer Science) |
| Fees | $75 Curriculum Fee (includes textbook) and AP Exam Fee |
Data Structures and Algorithms (H)
Studying data structures and algorithms often represents a person’s first study of the “science” of computing, beyond just programming. Students use various data structures to solve computational problems and implement data structures using the Java programming language. Algorithms are created, decomposed, and expressed as pseudocode. The running time of various algorithms and their computational complexity are analyzed. Mastery of these concepts is part of the foundation of the discipline of computing, leading to computing professionals as distinct from programmers.
Additional Course Details
- Enrollment space is limited in this course.
- UC Approval of this course is pending.
| Course Number | 0784 |
| Grade Level | 10,11,12 |
| Pre-Requisite | Space is limited and priority is given based on the prequisites and completion of an application below. Grade of "A" in AP Computer Science A. Click here to fill out the application. Contact Mr. MacMillan <jmacmillan@vcs.net> with any questions. |
| Application and/or Audition Date | None |
| Credits | 10 |
| VCHS Graduation Credit | Elective |
UC Approval | Yes Area G (Elective, Mathematics - Computer Science) |
| Fees | $75 Curriculum Fee (includes textbook) |
iPad Technical Support Internship
Interns are on the front lines of student iPad support and are expected to help students with their use and application of iOS settings, iOS productivity and creativity Apps, file and data management, digital learning workflow, and common student functions such as communication, planning and organization, eReading, note taking, and Internet research. Students are trained in customer service and communication skills, troubleshooting skills, and escalating student help requests to the next point of support when necessary. Interns also contribute support articles to an iPad knowledge base and tips to an iPad blog. Interns are expected to be model digital citizens and learners. Students work directly for the VCS IT department during one of the eight periods of the school day or afterschool. There is also a summer internship available.
Additional Expectations: Interns also participate in approximately 3-5 VCS events during the school year (e.g. registration day).
| Course Number | 0716 |
| Grade Level | 9,10,11,12 |
| Pre-Requisite | Space is limited and this course requires completion of the Application below and instructor aproval. |
| Application and/or Audition Date | Click here to fill out the application. Contact Mr. Cunningham <jcunningham@vcs.net> with any questions. |
| Credits | 10 |
| VCHS Graduation Credit | Elective |
| UC Approval | No |
| Fees | None |
Engineering Courses
Engineering
PLTW: Introduction to Engineering Design (H)
This course exposes students to the design process, research, and analysis used in engineering. Students learn about global and human impacts and how to use the standards and technical documentation of engineering to address those impacts. Students also learn about the importance of teamwork and clear communication when using engineering solutions. Students use 3D solid modeling design software to help them formulate solutions to proposed problems. The skills taught culminate in an ability to effectively document work and communicate solutions to peers and members of the professional community.
| Course Number | 0730 |
| Grade Level | 9,10,11,12 |
| Pre-Requisite | Grade of B or better in Algebra I |
| Application and/or Audition Date | None |
| Credits | 10 |
| VCHS Graduation Credit | Elective |
| UC Approval | Yes Area D (Science - Engineering) |
| Fees | $175 Course Fee (includes textbook) |
PLTW: Principles of Engineering (H)
This course is for students who are serious about pursuing a possible future in engineering. This survey course exposes students to major concepts they will encounter in a post-secondary engineering course. This survey introduces mechanisms, energy sources, electronic circuits, thermodynamics, statics, material properties, structural design, control systems, and kinematics.
Students employ engineering and scientific concepts to solve design problems. Students develop problem-solving skills, document their work, and communicate solutions to peers and members of the professional community.
| Course Number | 0731 |
| Grade Level | 10,11,12 |
| Pre-Requisite | Grade C or higher in Intro to Engineering Design |
| Application and/or Audition Date | None |
| Credits | 10 |
| VCHS Graduation Credit | Elective |
| UC Approval | Yes Area D (Science - Engineering) |
| Fees | $175 Course Fee (includes textbook) |