Business, Marketing, and Finance Career Cluster

Revised June 2024

The Business, Marketing, and Finance career cluster focuses on careers in planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating business functions essential to efficient and productive business operations. This career cluster includes occupations ranging from business owner and entrepreneur to accountant, retail manager, and market analyst.

Statewide Program of Study: Marketing and Sales

The Marketing and Sales program of study focuses on occupational and educational opportunities associated with collecting information to estimate potential sales of a product or service and creating campaigns to market or distribute goods and services. It includes applying data related to customer demographics, preferences, and buying habits.

Secondary Courses for High School Credit

• Level 1: Principles of Business, Marketing, and Finance
• Level 2: Sports and Entertainment Marketing
• Level 3:
  • Advertising
  • Retail Management
• Level 4:
  • Advanced Marketing
  • Practicum in Marketing

Aligned Advanced Academic Courses

• AP Statistics

Students should consult a counselor to consider these course opportunities to enrich their preparation. AP or IB courses not listed under the Secondary Courses for High School Credit section of this framework document do not count toward concentrator or completer status for this program of study.

Work-Based Learning and Expanded Learning Opportunities

Work-Based Learning Activities

• Intern at a marketing and advertising company
• Job shadow a pharmaceutical sales representative
• Intern at a local retail company

Expanded Learning Opportunities

• Job shadow an account representative at a marketing firm
• Participate in DECA

Example Postsecondary Opportunities

Associate Degrees

• Marketing/Marketing Management
• Retail Management

Bachelor’s Degrees

• Business Administration
• Marketing/Marketing Management
• Fashion Merchandising

Master’s, Doctoral, and Professional Degrees

• Business Administration
• Applied Economics
• Business Analytics

Additional Stackable Certifications

• Salesforce
• Service Contract Providers

Example Aligned Occupations

Retail Salespersons

• Median Wage: $28,356
• Annual Openings: 56,132
• 10-Year Growth: 15%

Market Research Analysts

• Median Wage: $60,926
• Annual Openings: 5,688
• 10-Year Growth: 35%

Sales Managers

• Median Wage: $123,729
• Annual Openings: 3,368
• 10-Year Growth: 21%

Aligned Industry-Based Certifications Offered in LCISD

• NOCTI Retail Merchandising

Additional Information

Successful completion of the Marketing and Sales program of study fulfills requirements of the Business and Industry endorsement.

Data Source: TexasWages, Texas Workforce Commission (Retrieved March 8, 2024)

https://tea.texas.gov/academics/college-career-and-military-prep/career-and-technical-education/programs-of-study