What is the Marketing and Business Administration Program?
Could this be the right class for you?
January 13, 2023
This is the time of year where students begin thinking about the classes they are taking next year, and if you’re a sophomore, that means you have the option of taking a Career Tech course.
Mentor has a unique Career Tech program, for it is a part of the Lake Shore Compact, which is composed of Mentor, Euclid, and Wickliffe schools. From construction and culinary arts to welding and robotics, the opportunities within these programs are endless.
Today, we are going to be taking a closer look at the Marketing and Business Administration (MBA) program, which takes place at Mentor High School for only one class period (or two mods). Taught by Mrs. Tousignant and Mr. McKnight, this class aims to prepare students for all occupations surrounding business and provide them with real-world skills for college and their future career.
Some units taught by this class include, but are not limited to:
- Business ownership
- International business
- Accounting
- Professional Selling
- Marketing
- Professional Development
What is even better about this program is that the benefits don’t end there! By taking this course, students are able to obtain up to 13 college credits and receive numerous industry certifications that will add to their credentials, such as the OSHA 10-hour Safety Certification, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Certification, and the Rise Up Retail Industry Fundamentals Certification. These take students little to no time outside of class to complete, and they are great to add to resumes and college applications.
Perhaps one of the greatest aspects of this program is the internship portion that takes place during a student’s senior year. The last six mods, or three class periods, are open in the student’s schedule so that they may be excused from school to work to be an intern at a local business. This counts as a significant portion of their grade, for the student is evaluated by both their teacher and mentor, which is part of the reason the MBA program is worth four credits your senior year.
“Business is the number one college major,” wrote Mrs. Tousignant. “By taking the MBA program, students will have a better idea of what area they want to pursue when entering college. Every student will work for a business one day, the content you learn in the MBA program can help you no matter what route you choose to pursue. I highly recommend this program for every student at MHS, but especially those interested in becoming a business major in college.”
Throughout the school year, the program invites a variety of colleges and universities to visit Mentor High and talk about their business programs to both the junior and senior students. Recently, schools like Bowling Green, Duquesne, Toledo, and Akron have been more than willing to reach out to business students and show what they can offer them. This is a great opportunity for students starting out the college search process or aren’t exactly sure what they want to major in yet.
When asking Mr. McKnight for his thoughts on the program, he told Cardinal Nation, “I really enjoy the Marketing & Business Administration program because we offer practical, relevant, real-world learning opportunities while allowing the students to earn college credit as they prepare to be both college and career ready. From college preparedness to career connections; to field trips, guest speakers, and DECA (Emerging Leaders and Entrepreneurs) competitions, there is something for every student in the class to benefit from and enjoy!”
Check out this overview video from the Lake Shore Compact’s website that gives you a visual of what the class looks like:
“This program has given me a great understanding of multiple business areas such as accounting, finance, economics, useful skills and much more,” said Katie Klepcyk, senior. “I have been able to gain a good understanding of what I like and what areas I’m good at. With one of our requirements being a working internship, I have had great hands-on real world experience in a professional business environment.”
The MBA students are also proud members of DECA, a non-profit student organization that educates young leaders and entrepreneurs and prepares them for the business world. The organization hosts their competitions every year all the way up to the international level for both high school and college students and challenges competitors’ knowledge by applying what they have learned to real-world scenarios. Fourteen students were able to travel to Columbus last year for the states competition, and some have made it to the international conference too!
Overall, the Marketing and Business Administration program is a great way to prepare students for the world of business. The class provides students with the foundational skills they need for whatever field of study they wish to pursue, whether it be in business or not. If you are looking for a class to add to your schedule next year, this could be the perfect one for you. For more information about the program and the instructors, feel free to check out their page on the Lake Shore Compact’s website.
Check out a few pictures to see some of the events the MBA program has attended:
Remember, sophomore students must complete a quick application in order to be in a Career Tech program. If you aren’t sure which program you want to take, check out Mentor’s CTE Expo January 17th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. during the school day (lunch mods) and 6 – 7:30 p.m. in the evening at the Paradigm. All of the programs offered in the Lakeshore Compact will be there for you to get information, talk to current students, and ask questions.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to Mr. McKnight ([email protected]) or Mrs. Tousignant ([email protected]) with any questions. And check out the other department offerings in the attached brochures.