General Business Management Pathway
Is your student a "take charge" kind of person? A natural leader who other people look to when organizing initiatives or activities? Then a career in management might be a perfect fit!
Management skills are in demand. Businesses need managers to oversee teams, handle logistics, and keep things running smoothly. And many people with great management skills decide to make the leap to running their own business!
With Stride Career Prep,* students have the chance to embark on a great career right after graduation—without the hassle or expense of additional training or degrees. Armed with the credentials and problem-solving and teamwork skills you develop, you could go right into a wide variety of management jobs!
Gain real-world skills through project-based learning.
Stride Career Prep has implemented project-based learning (PBL) for many of the courses in this pathway. PBL curriculum is designed to hone students' problem-solving, communication, critical thinking, and team collaboration skills. With PBL, there's little to memorize and repeat. Instead, students are given a real-life problem to solve and must work with a team to develop a creative solution.
Our General Management Curriculum in Detail
All our students take the core courses required for high school graduation in their state. The chart below shows the additional classes your student will take as part of the General Management pathway and the industry-recognized certification exams they can prepare to take. You can see the rest of the curriculum by viewing the full course list.
Note: Pathway courses are subject to change.
†New in fall 2022
Get credentialed.
In a world where competition for jobs, pay increases, and academic success continues to increase, certifications provide a credible, third-party assessment of a student's skills and knowledge of a given subject. The Entrepreneurship Pathway curriculum prepares students to take these industry-recognized certification exams:**
Get ahead of the competition.
We encourage students to jumpstart the job search by helping them create a professional résumé, cover letter, and profile on Tallo, the leading professional networking platform for Gen Z. Plus, they connect virtually to working business professionals and entrepreneurs through Nepris.***
Find a school near you that offers general management.
Stride Career Prep programs with the General Management pathway are available at tuition-free K12-powered, public online schools in the following states:
CALIFORNIA
FLORIDA
INDIANA
Indiana Digital Learning School
LOUISIANA
Louisiana Virtual Charter Academy
MICHIGAN
MINNESOTA
MISSOURI
PENNSYLVANIA
Stride Career Prep at Agora Cyber Charter School
SOUTH CAROLINA
Cyber Academy of South Carolina
WASHINGTON
WYOMING
Don't see your state? Check out the tuition-based options here in General Management. There are also tuition-free options in related fields like the Entrepreneurship Pathway!
Choose a career. Prepare for the future.
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Administrative Services and Facilities Manager
Administrative services managers (also known as office managers in small organizations) plan, direct, and coordinate activities that help an organization run efficiently. They typically oversee recordkeeping, mail distribution, and office maintenance, and may supervise clerical staff.
2021 Median Salary
$99,290
Expected Job Growth Rate for 2020–2030
Average
Typical Entry-Level Education
Bachelor's degree
This data reflects the information available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook on July 1, 2022. To learn more about this occupation, visit bls.gov/ooh/management/administrative-services-managers.htm.
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager
Property managers are responsible for the maintenance and profitability of a rental facility. They oversee maintenance workers and contractors, show prospective tenants the property, execute and renew leases, collect rent and condo fees, process and pay building expenses, and prepare budgets and financial reports.
2021 Median Salary
$59,230
Expected Job Growth Rate for 2020–2030
Slower than average
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or GED; courses in business and accounting are helpful
This data reflects the information available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook on July 1, 2022. To learn more about this occupation, visit bls.gov/ooh/management/property-real-estate-and-community-association-managers.htm.
Small Business Owner
Small businesses are generally defined as employing fewer than 500 employees, though many small businesses employ no one at all other than the owner. Small business owners range from owners of retail businesses, like bakeries, bike shops, and restaurants; to self-employed childcare providers, web developers, and consultants; to landscaping and construction businesses. No matter their specialty, they must oversee all aspects of their business, from marketing and sales to accounting and tax reporting—and, of course, they must ensure they turn a profit.
2021 Median Salary
Varies
Expected Job Growth Rate for 2020–2030
Data not available
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or GED, and significant expertise (and often required licenses) in the industry the individual is entering
This data reflects the information available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook on July 1, 2022. To learn more about this occupation, visit bls.gov/careeroutlook/2014/article/self-employment-what-to-know-to-be-your-own-boss.htm
FAQs
Can you get a job as a property manager without a college degree?
Yes. You need a high school diploma or GED, and courses in business and accounting are beneficial, such as those offered in the General Management pathway. Our tuition-free program also includes test prep for certifications valued by employers, including the NOCTI General Management certification exam and the Microsoft Word and Excel certification exams.†
Can you get a job as an office manager without a college degree?
Yes. However, you will need several years of clerical experience and be able to demonstrate leadership skills on the job.
If you want to go into general management, what classes should you take in high school?
General managers work on a wide range of activities and are involved in the day-to-day operations of a business or organization. While still in high school, classes in information management, data essentials, business law, and other business courses can help students prepare for general management careers. Students can also join clubs for aspiring business leaders, take on leadership positions in student clubs, spearhead new initiatives and fundraising campaigns, participate in business case competitions, shadow entrepreneurs, and offer to volunteer or work for an entrepreneur or local small business.
Our General Management Pathway uses a project-based learning curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, communication, and teamwork—skills that are vital to maintaining managerial order at a workplace.
Learn more about course offerings to get your student started in their career. Explore Stride Career Prep career fields:
*Stride Career Prep is a program for grades 9–12. Some schools offer career exploration in middle school.
**Many Microsoft®️ Office certificates can be earned after completing one course. Other certificates require more classes to be better prepared, and students who participate in the program for at least two years will have further preparation for certification testing.
***Opportunities vary by school; please visit your school page or check with your school counselor.
