BTEC Extended Diploma in Business
Overview
This course will enable students to gain knowledge and understanding of the business sector with an emphasis on developing skills relevant to the workplace. During Year 13, students will also have the opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding of specialist areas of business: e.g. Accounting or Law. Varied teaching methods are used throughout the course and assessment is based upon authentic business situations.
Course Outline
Year 1
Unit 1: The Business Environment – this unit covers ownership types, aims and functional areas.
Unit 2: Business Resources – this unit considers the resources that businesses need include human resource issues, physical resources and interpreting financial statements.
Unit 3: Introduction to Marketing – this unit covers the key concepts of marketing.
Unit 4: Business Communication – this unit covers how to effectively communicate with employees and how to motivate people.
Unit 5: Business Accounting – this unit introduces accounting processes in business.
Unit 13: Recruitment and Selection – this unit introduces the processes which businesses undertake when employing new staff.
Unit 23: Aspects of the Legal System and Law-making Process – this unit looks at how law is made, the framework of the courts and the types of cases heard in various courts.
Unit 43: Website Design Strategy – this unit looks at website design.
Unit 29: Understanding Retailing – this unit introduces students to the important role that retailing plays in the UK economy.
Year 2
In the second year student will be given a choice of specialised options, these may include:
• Accounting pathway:
Unit 6: Financial Accounting
Unit 7: Management Accounting
Unit 8: Accounting Systems
• Law pathway:
Unit 21: Aspects of Contract and Business Law
Unit 22: Aspects of Civil Liability for Business
Unit 24: Aspects of Criminal Law relating to Business
Plus the following general units:
Unit 10: Marketing Research in Business
Unit 16: Human Resource Management
Unit 27: Understanding Health and Safety in the Business workplace
Unit 36: Starting a Business
Unit 37: Understanding Business Ethics
Unit 38: Business and the Economic Environment
Assessment
Coursework (100%)
No Examinations
Examining Board - Edexcel
This 18 unit qualification is the equivalent of three full A Levels. There are no external examinations, and all the units are assessed through assignments or projects which students work on over a period of time.
Special Entry Requirements
None.
Prohibited Options
Business Studies AS.
Career and Progression Opportunities
Extended Diplomas are part of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) and they are recognised by universities and employers. Students can enter Business Degrees / HND’s or business with another related subject e.g. Business and IT. Alternatively, students can go into direct employment where the relevant skills acquired on the course are valued by employers.
Teaching Methods
Students will learn through a variety of teaching methods, e.g. group work, role play, presentations, independent study, videos and teacher-led subject teaching.
Cost Implications
Any trips or visits arranged will need to be paid for.
Links to External Organisations
There will be an opportunity for selected students to participate in the nationally-recognised Career Academy programme. A key element of this programme is a paid internship with a nationally-recognised business.
Complementary Subjects or Enrichments
AS subjects such as IT, Economics or Accounting could be studied alongside this course
Other Information
Students will be required to attend additional workshop sessions to develop their Business knowledge and coursework skills. There will also be an opportunity to study the Extended Project.
The College runs a Career Academies UK programme. A Business Career Academy for BTEC Business students has been running since 2010 and Career Academies will be launched in IT, Public Services, Media and Science from September 2012 onwards. For more information go to http://www.solihullsfc.ac.uk/courses/career-academy.
This information is correct for September 2012 entry.