Business as a 'New Liberal Art' for Today's Students

This fall, College Board is introducing "Business with Personal Finance," a new career-focused course described as a rigorous, college-level experience. The curriculum emphasizes strategic thinking about money, teamwork, and bringing ideas to fruition, while also encouraging students to apply these concepts to their personal financial lives. The goal is to foster economic agency and build student confidence.

The course was developed over three years in collaboration with employers and colleges, intending to offer students credentials valued by both institutions and the workforce. College Board CEO David Coleman views business as a "new liberal art for our time," highlighting the practical and academic rigor of this new offering alongside a simultaneous rollout of a Cybersecurity course.

Coleman noted that while business is a popular college major, only 20 percent of U.S. high school students currently take a business course, and access to quality personal finance education is inconsistent. This new course merges entrepreneurship with financial literacy, offering a curriculum more akin to a business school class than traditional economics.

For schools, this provides a new college-level pathway that connects classroom learning to essential money management and business skills. The introduction of "Business with Personal Finance" and "Cybersecurity" broadens College Board's career-focused options, catering to a wider range of student interests and career aspirations.