Business Studies is concerned with the study of all aspects of business behaviour, from the purchase of raw materials, the recruitment of labour and the organisation of production, to the control of finances. The study of business practice is fundamentally concerned with decision making. GCSE business studies allows the student to investigate principles which govern business decisions and to identify solutions to possible business problems.
The practical nature of the subject permits variety in teaching and learning strategies i.e. the use of case studies, role play, debates etc.

Inherent knowledge and theory is not derived from a singular subject area, but is borrowed from a variety of disciplines including Economics, Psychology, Mathematics, Accounting, Information Technology etc.

Emphasis is not only on the acquisition of knowledge but also on the development of skills e.g. problem analysis, interpretation of data, design of solutions, effective communications etc.

SYLLABUS
The CCEA Business Studies Syllabus is quite wide. Students are required to cover the following topics during a two year period.

Practical Business Studies and External Environment of Business
Organisation and Management Business Behaviour
Business Finance

EXAMINATIONS

Paper 1
Written One and half hours 30%
Case Study exercise, the content of which is drawn from ATs 2-5

Paper 2
Written Two hours 50%
Four compulsory multi-part stimulus response questions regarding all ATs.

COURSEWORK 20%
One business related assignment of approximately 2,500 words.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Students who choose Business Studies as an “A” Level option have a diverse range of career paths open to them. The majority of ‘A’ Level students progress to third level education but some choose to proceed directly to employment.

POSSIBLE CAREERS
Accountancy,Finance, Advertising, Industrial Relations ,Architecture, Information Technology, Business Administration, Journalism, Banking, Law, Civil, Servic,e Marketing, Computer Programming, Medicine, Economics, Personnel Management
Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Environmental Planning, Retail Management
Estate Management, Teaching and European Business