Ford Academy of Business and Innovation

The Ford Academy of Business and Innovation offers the following pathways:

Digital Arts and Design
Entrepreneurship

Digital Arts and Design
Entrepreneurship

Digital Arts and Design

This pathway explores the occupations and educational opportunities associated with designing or creating graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. This Pathway may also include exploration into designing clothing and accessories, and creating special effects, animation, or other visual images using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media, for use in computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.

National Career Cluster Alignment

The Digital Arts and Design Pathway is a part of the Arts, Audio/Visual Technology, and Communication career cluster. The Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications Careers involve designing, producing, exhibiting, performing, writing, and publishing media content. This cluster also and performing arts, graphic design, journalism, and entertainment.

Pathway Courses

Level 1 Course: Digital Arts and Design I

Digital Arts and Design I is a foundational course in the Arts, A/V Technology, and Communications cluster for students interested in art and design professions. The primary aim of this course is to build a strong understanding of the principles and elements of design and the design process. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will be able to utilize industry tools to conceptualize and create communications solutions which effectively reach targeted audiences. Students will acquire basic skills in illustration, typography, and photography. Standards in this course include career exploration, an overview of the history of design, basic business management, and legal issues. In addition, students will begin compiling artifacts for inclusion in a digital portfolio, which they will carry with them throughout the full sequence of courses in this program of study.

Aligned Industry Credential: Adobe Certified Professional - Photoshop. The Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) certification is the industry-recognized validation of one’s skill in Adobe Photoshop CC. This certification requires in-depth knowledge of setting project requirements, understanding the Adobe Photoshop CC interface, as well as creating and publishing digital images using Adobe Photoshop CC.

Level 2 Course: Digital Arts and Design II

Digital Arts and Design II is a course that builds on the basic principles and design process learned in the introductory Digital Arts and Design I course. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will be able to perform advanced software operations to create photographs and illustrations of increasing complexity. Students will employ design principles and use industry software to create layouts for a variety of applications. Standards in this course also include an overview of art and design industries, career exploration, and business management. In addition, students will continue compiling artifacts for inclusion in a digital portfolio, which they will carry with them throughout the full sequence of courses in this program of study

Aligned Industry Credential: Adobe Certified Professional - Illustrator. The Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) certification is the industry-recognized validation of one’s proficiency in Adobe Illustrator CC. This certification requires in-depth knowledge of setting project requirements, identifying design elements used when preparing graphics, knowledge of Illustrator functions, creating graphics as well as the ability to archive, export and publish graphics used for web, print, and video.

Level 3 Course: Digital Arts and Design III

Digital Arts and Design III is the third course in the Digital Arts and Design program of study. Applying design skills developed in prior courses, students will expand their creative and critical thinking skills to create comprehensive multimedia projects and three-dimensional designs. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will be able to use industry-standard software to create multimedia projects, web pages, three-dimensional models, and animations. Students will utilize research techniques to plan and enhance project outcomes. Standards in this course also include professionalism and ethics, career exploration, and business and project management. In addition, students will continue compiling artifacts for inclusion in a digital portfolio, which they will carry with them throughout the full sequence of courses in this program of study.

Aligned Industry Credential: Adobe Certified Professional - InDesign. The Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) certification is the industry-recognized validation of one’s proficiency in Adobe InDesign CC. This certification requires in-depth knowledge of setting project requirements, identifying design elements, preparing page layouts, creating page layouts, as well as publishing, exporting and archiving page layouts using Adobe InDesign CC.

Dual Credit and/or Dual Enrollment Opportunity in this Pathway

Credit Type: Industry Credential for Dual Credit

Institution: NOSSI College of Art

Industry Credential for Dual Credit- Credit by assessment. Students are enrolled in a high school course that is identified as a match with a post-secondary course. Students complete the aligned industry credential assessment at the end of the course to prove mastery of content. If the student passes the assessment and earns the aligned industry credential, the student can use the college credit at that institution or request a transcript to use at a different institution.

Affiliated Career and Technical Student Organization: SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA improves the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce through the development of Framework skills that include personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics.

Entrepreneurship

This pathway is designed to prepare students who want to start, own, and operate their own business. The purpose of the Entrepreneurship program of studies is to help young innovators at the secondary level begin to develop and equip themselves with the practical skills and knowledge needed to successfully launch and maintain small businesses as entrepreneurs.

National Career Cluster Alignment

The Entrepreneurship Pathway is a part of the Marketing, Distribution, and Logistics career cluster. The Marketing Cluster involves planning, managing, and performing marketing and sales activities to reach an organization’s objectives.

Pathway Courses

Level 1 Course: Introduction to Entrepreneurship

In this course, students will develop strong foundational knowledge in key business and entrepreneurial principles, including types of business ownership management functions and styles, human resources, business operations, marketing, finance and budgeting, employment law, and ethics. Students will also develop skills in critical thinking, communication, and professionalism by exploring key aspects of leadership, the entrepreneurial mindset, diversity, teamwork, and conflict resolution. Upon completion of this course, students will be proficient in the foundations of entrepreneurship and small business ownership, business concepts and operations, finance and budgeting, marketing principles, leadership and management functions, and professional communications.

Aligned Industry Credential: Microsoft Office Specialist - Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook. Pass an exam in a specific Office program (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook) to earn a Microsoft Office Specialist certification. Being certified as a Microsoft Office Specialist demonstrates a student has the skills needed to get the most out of Office.

Level 2 Course: Marketing and Management I: Principles

Marketing and Management I: Principles focuses on the study of marketing concepts and their practical applications. Students will examine the risks and challenges that marketers face to establish a competitive edge in the sale of products and services. Topics covered include foundational marketing functions such as promotion, distribution, and selling, as well as coverage of economics fundamentals, international marketing, and career development. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will understand the economic principles, the marketing mix, and product development and selling strategies.

Aligned Industry Credential: Southwest Airlines Professional Communications Certification. The Southwest Airlines Professional Communication Certification focuses on how to communicate effectively in the workplace by addressing topics, including time management, written and verbal communication, listening skills, and effectively managing diversity in the workplace.

Level 3 Course: Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is an applied knowledge course that begins with the discovery process of generating new business ideas. Students research local, national, and international social and economic trends and analyze the feasibility of their own proposed businesses, both from a market demand and revenue-producing standpoint. Based on their entrepreneurial endeavors, students will prepare, write, and revise a business plan. In preparation for the business plan, students will conduct market research, study ownership structures, evaluate risks, examine startup costs, determine essential vendors, and identify sources of capital and financing options. Students will also draft, refine, and rehearse entrepreneurship pitches developed from their business plans to present during course intervals and to give final presentations at the conclusion of the course. Upon conclusion of this course, proficient students will be able to articulate, and defend, elements of a full business plan for a new business.

Aligned Industry Credential: Southwest Airlines Professional Communications Certification. The Southwest Airlines Professional Communication Certification focuses on how to communicate effectively in the workplace by addressing topics, including time management, written and verbal communication, listening skills, and effectively managing diversity in the workplace.

Dual Credit and/or Dual Enrollment Opportunity in this Pathway

Credit Type: Dual Credit

Institution: NSCC - Nashville State Community College

Dual Credit- Credit by assessment. Students are enrolled in a high school course that is identified as a match with a post-secondary course. Students complete a college assessment at the end of the course to prove mastery of content. If the student passes the test, the student can use the college credit at that institution or request a transcript to use at a different institution.

Affiliated Career and Technical Student Organization: DECA

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.

Academy Highlights

Nominated for Academy of the Year for the 2017-2018 school year
Offers an Annual Mock Interview Program with Academy Business Partners
Pairs seniors that may be struggling with an Academy Business Partner to help them graduate!
Received Model Status with Distinction for the NCAC Reaccreditation in 2019

FABI Clubs and Organizations

DECA
Film Makers Club
Fruit Blast
National Art Honor Society
AP Studio Art Club