(a) General requirements. This course is recommended for students in Grades 11 and 12. The practicum course is a paid or unpaid capstone experience for students participating in a coherent sequence of career and technical education courses in the Business Management and Administration Career Cluster. Recommended prerequisites: Touch System Data Entry and Business Management or Business Information Management II. Corequisite: Practicum in Business Management. This course must be taken concurrently with Practicum in Business Management and may not be taken as a stand-alone course. Students shall be awarded one credit for successful completion of this course. A student may repeat this course once for credit provided that the student is experiencing different aspects of the industry and demonstrating proficiency in additional and more advanced knowledge and skills.
(b) Introduction.
  (1) Career and technical education instruction provides content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills for students to further their education and succeed in current or emerging professions.
  (2) The Business Management and Administration Career Cluster focuses on careers in planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating business functions essential to efficient and productive business operations.
  (3) Extended Practicum in Business Management is designed to give students supervised practical application of previously studied knowledge and skills. Practicum experiences occur in a paid or unpaid arrangement and a variety of locations appropriate to the nature and level of experience. Students implement personal and interpersonal skills to strengthen individual performance in the workplace and in society and to make a successful transition to the workforce or postsecondary education. Students apply technical skills to address business applications of emerging technologies. Students develop a foundation in the economic, financial, technological, international, social, and ethical aspects of business to become competent consumers, employees, and entrepreneurs. Students enhance reading, writing, computing, communication, and reasoning skills and apply them to the business environment. Students incorporate a broad base of knowledge that includes the legal, managerial, marketing, financial, ethical, and international dimensions of business to make appropriate business decisions.
  (4) Students are encouraged to participate in extended learning experiences such as career and technical student organizations and other leadership or extracurricular organizations.
  (5) Statements that contain the word "including" reference content that must be mastered, while those containing the phrase "such as" are intended as possible illustrative examples.
(c) Knowledge and skills.
  (1) The student demonstrates professional standards/employability skills as required by business and industry. The student is expected to:
    (A) participate in a paid or unpaid, laboratory- or work-based application of previously studied knowledge and skills related to business management;
    (B) participate in training, education, or preparation for licensure, certification, or other relevant credentials to prepare for employment;
    (C) demonstrate professional standards and personal qualities needed to be employable such as self-discipline, integrity, customer service, work ethic, and adaptability with increased fluency;
    (D) complete tasks with the highest standards to ensure quality products and services;
    (E) employ teamwork and conflict-management skills to achieve collective goals with increased fluency; and
    (F) employ planning and time-management skills and tools with increased fluency to enhance results and complete work tasks.
  (2) The student applies professional communications strategies. The student is expected to:
    (A) demonstrate proper use of written, verbal, and visual communication techniques with increased proficiency;
    (B) apply active listening skills to obtain and clarify information;
    (C) create and deliver formal and informal presentations effectively;
    (D) analyze, interpret, and effectively communicate information; and
    (E) exhibit public relations skills to maintain internal and external customer/client satisfaction.
  (3) The student implements advanced problem-solving methods. The student is expected to:
    (A) employ critical-thinking skills independently and in groups with increased fluency to solve problems and make decisions;
    (B) apply critical-thinking strategies with increased fluency to develop solutions using appropriate technologies and resources;
    (C) conduct technical research to gather information necessary for decision making; and
    (D) analyze elements of a problem to develop creative and innovative solutions.
  (4) The student understands and applies proper safety and security techniques in the workplace. The student is expected to:
    (A) understand and consistently follow workplace safety rules and regulations;
    (B) adhere to technology safety and security policies such as acceptable use policy and web page policies; and
    (C) follow policies to prevent loss of data integrity.
  (5) The student understands the professional, ethical, and legal responsibilities in business management. The student is expected to:
    (A) demonstrate a positive, productive work ethic by performing assigned tasks as directed;
    (B) describe and practice ethical and legal responsibilities associated with business management;
    (C) show integrity by choosing the ethical course of action when making decisions; and
    (D) comply with all applicable rules, laws, and regulations in a consistent manner.
  (6) The student participates in a business management experience. The student is expected to:
    (A) conduct, document, and evaluate learning activities in a supervised business management experience;
    (B) develop advanced technical knowledge and skills related to the student's occupational objective;
    (C) facilitate internal and external office communications to support work activities;
    (D) demonstrate appropriate use of information technology tools to manage and perform work responsibilities;
    (E) create customary styles of business documents such as memoranda, letters, emails, and reports, as appropriate;
    (F) perform scheduling functions electronically to facilitate on-time, prompt completion of work activities;
    (G) demonstrate growth of technical skill competencies;
    (H) evaluate strengths and weaknesses in technical skill proficiency; and
    (I) collect representative work samples.

Source Note: The provisions of this §130.144 adopted to be effective August 28, 2017, 41 TexReg 614