Business Studies
- Home
- /
- Business Studies
The Business Studies Junior Cert course focuses on improving students’ understanding of the business environment and on developing skills for life, work and further study through the three inter-connected strands:
- Personal Finance ,
- Enterprise and
- Our Economy .
Students sense of entrepreneurship is always encouraged and inspired in Edmund Rice.
Business Studies is that part of the curriculum which enables the student to make informed decisions in the everyday business of living, which contributes to the student’s understanding of the world of business, which encourages a positive attitude to enterprise and which develops appropriate skills in that field.
The syllabus is balanced between the business education necessary for the individual/household area and business education in the purely commercial context. Students will develop a strong understanding of The Business of Living (Management of personal finance), Economic Awareness, Enterprise and Information Technology.
What is it?
The Business Studies Junior Cycle course focuses on improving students’ understanding of the business environment and on developing skills for life, work and further study through the three inter-connected strands:
- Personal Finance
- Enterprise
- Our Economy
Who is it for?
Business Studies is that part of the curriculum which enables the student to make informed decisions in the everyday business of living, which contributes to the student’s understanding of the world of business, which encourages a positive attitude to enterprise and which develops appropriate skills in that field.
Business Studies often appeals to students because they are familiar with certain well-known entrepreneurs such as Elon Musk. Entrepreneuriship is a very important part of Business Studies, but the subject also focuses on areas such as EU and Consumer law, budgeting and other accounting tools, marketing and business documents.
What will I learn?
Where will it lead me?
Assessment
Students complete a Classroom Based Assessment (CBA) in Year 2 and another in Year 3. Their teacher will guide them through these projects and will assist them in their completion. The CBAs account for 10% of their overall grade.
The students sit a two-hour final exam in June of Year 3. Students are graded as the Profile of Achievement below:
Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement grades
| Percentage Range | Grade |
| 90 or over | Distinction |
| 75 but less than 90 | Higher Merit |
| 55 but less than 75 | Merit |
| 40 but less than 55 | Achieved |
| 20 but less than 40 | Partially Achieved |
| Less than 20 | Not Graded |
- Home
- /
- Business Studies
What is it?
Who is it for?
Anyone interested in the world of business or thinking of setting up their own business in the future will enjoy studying this subject. It will appeal to logical thinkers who enjoy working with numbers or who are organised, methodical individuals who like “right or wrong” answers.
Junior Cycle Business Studies is not a requirement to study Accounting but will be an advantage.
What will I learn?
- How to record and interpret the financial information of organisations of all sizes, including small businesses, large companies, clubs and farms.
- To identify problems in a business by looking at their historical accounts.
- To plan for future business success and aid management decision-making.
Where will it lead me?
- Many accountants and managers begin their careers by studying Leaving Certificate Accounting. Students who study Accounting have a distinct advantage over those who have not during the first year of Business courses that require students to take Accounting modules. Leaving Certificate Accounting also provides an invaluable body of knowledge for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Possible future careers are wide ranging and include:
- Accountant
- Business Owner
- Manager
- Law
- Stock Broker
- Financial Trader
- Administration
- Human Resources/Payroll
- Marketing
- Auditor
- Insurance
- Actuary
- Auctioneer
- Business Consultant
Assessment: Accounting can be studied at Ordinary or Higher Level and is studied over two academic years. It is assessed in June of the second year in a final three-hour long exam.
Projects : Students engage in Enterprise Week where they promote being enterprising to the O Fiaich community.
