Office Assistant
Associate in Technical Arts
Purpose
These degree programs prepare students with a broad business background, as well as provide specialized training in office skills. While students are accepted into the program each quarter, those who start in September find it easier to schedule their courses in the suggested sequences. Prerequisites include: demonstrated proficiency in math, reading, English, and basic keyboarding skills. After completing the selected program, students will be prepared to compete for entry-level employment as office assistants, receptionists, and transcriptionists in general offices, legal offices, or medical offices. These Business Office Technology degrees are based upon a first year of core course offerings. The Office Assistant, Legal Office Assistant, and Medical Office Assistant programs begin with a core group of courses. Since many of these courses are offered only one or two quarters during the year, it is essential that students accurately plan each year of study with the help of their advisor. During the second year, students will specialize in their selected field.Career Opportunities: As business and industry increase, the need for office support staff will increase. Potential employers of office assistants are small and large businesses and government offices. Potential employers include small and large privately owned businesses. Also state and county government offices.
Employment Options: Entry-level employment includes office receptionist, typist, bookkeeper, file clerk, machine transcriptionist.
Students who successfully complete this program should be able to:
file correctly using alphabetic, numeric, geographic, and subject filing systems; apply rules of grammar, punctuation, and spelling in written and oral communications; relate well to others in an office environment; Word process using the latest versions of Word and WordPerfect; format basic business letters, memos, reports, tables, press releases, itineraries, and newsletters; write resumes, letters of application, business letters, and memos; transcribe from recorded dictation; operate a 10-key electronic calculator by touch; use business math and practical accounting to organize data; enter accounting transactions and print reports using QuickBooks; enter data on spreadsheets, enhance spreadsheets, and develop graphical charts; use accepted office procedures.
The additional year of study prepares students with a broad educational background, as well as specialized training in office skills. Additional training includes: keyboard at higher speed; cooperative work experience in an office; use the popular Microsoft Office program proficiently; basic understanding of business and economics; development of speech delivery; composing and writing; obtaining a first aid certificate.
Recommended Course Schedule
Fall Quarter, First Year
| B A 232 | Human Relations in Business | 3 |
| BTEC 102 | Skillbuilding I | 3 |
| BTEC 110 | Business English | 5 |
| BTEC 220 | Ten-Key | 1 |
| BTEC 233 | Filing | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 |
Winter Quarter, First Year
| BUS& 201 | Business Law | 5 |
| BTEC 210 | Word Processing I | 4 |
| BTEC 221 | Business Comunications | 5 |
| HLTH 145 | Fitness and Safety | 3 |
| Total Credits | 17 |
Spring Quarter, First Year
| BTEC 120 | Business Math | 5 |
| BTEC 218 | Word Processing II | 3 |
| ENGL& 101 | English Composition I | 5 |
| SPEE 101 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| Total Credits | 17 |
Fall Quarter, Second Year
| ACCT 110 | Practical Accounting I | 3 |
| BTEC 115 | Machine Transcription | 4 |
| BTEC 215 | Spreadsheet Module | 1 |
| BTEC 203 | Skillbuilding II | 3 |
| Computer Elective* | 2 | |
| Total Credits | 13 |
Winter Quarter, Second Year
| ACCT 120 | Practical Accounting II | 3 |
| BTEC 190 | Co-op Work Experience | 3 |
| BTEC 193 | Co-op Work Seminar | 1 |
| BTEC 214 | Spreadsheet | 3 |
| BTEC 212 | Microsoft Office II | 3 |
| Computer Elective* | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 16 |
Spring Quarter, Second Year
| ACCT 130 | Basic Computer Accounting | 3 |
| BTEC 190 | Co-op Work Experience | 2 |
| BTEC 216 | Database | 3 |
| BTEC 224 | Office Procedures | 5 |
| Total Credits | 13 |
*Suggested electives: Publisher, Outlook, Advanced Work, Front Page and Internet