DECA endorses the Career Cluster and pathway curriculum–planning model established by the States' Career Clusters Initiative (SCCI). The SCCI website (www.careerclusters.org) includes' information on the initiative and resources (including sample career pathway plans of study for each industry.

The Finance Cluster incorporates career opportunities that make strategic decisions to report, obtain, save, protect, and grow financial assets of business and individuals.

Using the SCCI pathway model and input from teachers we have identified finance courses and DECA competitive events that can be integrated into each course. These are suggestions for using competitive events in your classroom. They are not intended to restrict you or your students to certain competitive events. Any DECA member can enter any competitive event.

Here is a typical course sequence.

Sample

Finance Pathways

Accounting: Careers that record, classify, summarize, analyze, and communicate a business's financial information/business transactions for use in managerial decision–making.

Banking Services: Careers that accept deposits, lend funds, and extend credit.

Business Finance: Careers that manage policy and strategy for (and the implementation of) capital structure, budgeting, acquisition and merger, financial modeling and planning, funding, dividends and taxation.

Insurance: Careers that protect individuals and businesses from financial losses by delivering "products" that transfer risk from an individual or business to an insurance company.

Securities and Investments: Careers that support the flow of funds from investors to companies and institutions.