WHAT is the Marketing and Entrepreneurship program?

Students are introduced to the rewards and risks of owning or operating a business.  Emphasis is placed on planning, organizing, managing, and financing a small business. Skills in sales, customer service, advertising and promotion, event planning, e-commerce, communication, technical writing, mathematics, research, and problem-solving are developed as each student prepares a business plan.  Students participate in work-based learning, simulations, projects, and DECA leadership activities and competitions. 

WHY should I take the Marketing and Entrepreneurship program?

Classes at the Saginaw Career Complex are different than those offered at your home high school. You learn by doing - not just reading, listening, and memorizing. And you learn out in the real world, on-the-job, with real people.

Marketing and Entrepreneurship is part of the Business Services Technology career pathway.  The class is taught in a broad context that can be applied to a wide range of industries as well as sound preparation for higher education. Students gain entry-level skills and valuable hands-on experience as they write business plans and develop marketing strategies. The program also provides opportunities for students to work with professionals in a business environment. Each student participates in at least 45 hours of work-based learning each year.

You will also earn a competency certificate in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from the Saginaw Career Complex, which says you've learned actual job skills at high standards set by business and industry. Your parents will love it, so will colleges and employers.

WHAT will I learn in the Marketing and Entrepreneurship program?

You will learn about:
• Marketing foundations
• Business management and entrepreneurship
• Communication interpersonal skills
• Economics
• Professional development
• Marketing functions
• Communication
• Financing
• Distribution
• Product/service management
• Market-information management
• Pricing
• Promotion
• Selling

You will learn and apply these principles in a state of the art Marketing and Entrepreneurship lab. You will also learn and practice skills in real work environments.

For more specific areas of study click here to see more about the curriculum.

WHAT are my job prospects?

Great! The growing economy has allowed for expansion in management positions. Advancing Technology is helping entrepreneurship to boom with a major push in the area of marketing. Jobs in marketing and management will continue to see growth for years to come.

WHERE can I go after completing the program?

Your training in the Marketing and Entrepreneurship program gives you exciting options:

• Entry-level employment -Students may begin their careers in many different exciting positions such as retail sales.
• Entrepreneurship - Start their own business!
• Continued Education - Students may continue their education with the advantage of articulating college credits at the same time they are earning their high school diploma, and they don't have to pay for it! After successfully completing the program, students may articulate credits at Delta College. The articulation process will give students a head start on their post-secondary education, as well as save them a considerable sum of money. In addition, they are also ready to enter industry/employer-sponsored training programs.

WHO is the teacher?

Mr. Patrick Graham has been teaching marketing, management, and entrepreneurship in the Saginaw area for over ten years. His educational background includes a Bachelor's Degree from Eastern New Mexico University, with a double major in Marketing and Finance and a minor in Management; and a Master's Degree from Eastern Michigan University in Marketing Education. He is an adjunct professor at Eastern Michigan University instructing graduate courses in Methods of Teaching Marketing, and Methods of Teaching Entrepreneurship. He is currently authoring a new high school textbook in Entrepreneurship and is an entrepreneur himself! He invests in real estate, selling over the Internet, and is even involved in the production of hardwood lumber. He's worked in management in various industries, and maintains close contact with leaders in the marketing field. His energy level, devotion to the profession of teaching marketing and management, and his real concern for his students make him a vital link between students and their business career.

WHAT are the admission requirements?

Students admitted to the Marketing and Entrepreneurship program at the Saginaw Career Complex must:

• Have a career interest in marketing, management, or entrepreneurship
• Be a high school junior or senior
• Be on track for high school graduation
• Have good attendance habits
• Be willing to attend the Saginaw Career Complex for half the school day and participate in work-based learning experiences

WHAT does it cost?

Nothing! Eligible high school students may attend free of charge.

HOW do I enroll?

You can enroll by completing just a few easy steps. Click here to get started:

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