This program is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in contemporary business practices, and the technologies that support them. The program covers a wide range of topics, from business and management skills to Microsoft Office and the Internet. Successful graduates will be well-prepared to enter the workforce as office administrators with a valuable level of technological competence, interpersonal abilities, and financial skills.

Course Descriptions

Business and Management Principles

This course introduces American business with an overview of various terms and concepts that provide a framework for understanding business. Topics include business operational environments; organizational structures; management roles and functions; and the complexities involved with managing marketing, operations, information technology, finance, and human resources.

Principles of Management

This course is designed to provide the student with a practical understanding of management principles, techniques, and concepts. Course topics include an overview of the nature of organization and the primary functions of the manager: creating, planning, organizing, motivating, communicating, and controlling. Students explore each managerial function through case studies and problems.

Business Communication

This course explores the principles and techniques of effective written business communications. Students will discuss, critique, and practice business-writing strategies to produce e-mail messages, letters, reports, and presentations, while developing critical thinking skills. Business communication in a global business environment is also emphasized.

Word Processing

This is a hands-on computer course designed to provide beginning through intermediate understanding of Microsoft Word. Topics to be to be covered include document creation, editing, formatting, table creation, macros, graphics insertion, printing and file management, mail merge, intermediate formatting paragraph techniques, document and table design, graphic features, form development, and collaborating with Workgroups. Students will practice creating newsletter layout, indexes, hyperlinks, calendars, tables, and web pages.

Database Management

This course covers the principles and features of a database management system, using a popular database. Students learn to create and manage databases, and acquire skills and knowledge regarding data management and integrity, working with queries and forms, managing reports, using tools and macros, database and file management, analyzing and filtering data, relational databases, and linking databases to the Web.

Spreadsheets

This hands-on course presents the practical application of the concepts and features of a spreadsheet package using spreadsheet functionality. Spreadsheet design, creation, revision, formatting, and printing are covered. Topics to be covered include importing and exporting data using templates, using multiple workbooks, formatting numbers, printing workbooks, working with named ranges, managing charts and graphics, working with toolbars, macros, using auditing tools, collaborative tools, and hyperlinks. Students create and submit a variety of spreadsheets employing a wide range of functions.

Graphical Presentations

Using a leading presentation application, students will learn the skills and principles of effective digital presentations. Topics to be covered include planning, creating, editing, viewing, uploading, and printing. Students will learn to create slides, add animations, and to add a variety of visual effects to slides. Students will make a presentation online.

Messaging and Collaboration

This course is designed to provide an introduction to personal management and collaboration software including email, calendar, contacts, and tasking features using Microsoft Outlook. Students learn the advanced functionality of Outlook, including interactive task and calendaring functions, and practice group scheduling.

Networking and Internet Essentials

In this course, students acquire a working understanding of the basic components of computer networks and the Internet. Hardware devices such as servers, routers, hubs and wireless access points are explained, and a very practical overview of networking technologies, including TCP/IP, is given. Students will gain a general, functional overview of the technologies that provide the backbone of the modern corporate office and of the Internet.