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Administrative Office Support Certificate

Certificate Code 5768

Program Contacts:
QC Campus
Amy Levens-Smith, 309-796-5329, smitha@bhc.edu
East Campus
Wendy Smith, 309-854-1713, smithw@bhc.edu

The Administrative Office Support Certificate prepares the student as an entry-level office worker in private industry, non-profit organizations, and government offices.  Entry-level positions may include routing telephone calls, handling the mail, filing and retrieving documents, and using a computer to organize data. Higher level degree positions may require planning meetings and special events, writing business letters, and making travel arrangements.

The role of office professionals (commonly known as administrative assistant, receptionist, word processor, and secretary) has changed due to the downsizing of companies, a decrease in middle managers, and increased use of technology. Excellent opportunities for employment continue in many companies. Because job titles in industry vary, emphasis is placed on skills and competency levels rather than job titles. Programs encompass the integration of 21st century workforce skills emphasizing communication, teamwork, project management, and problem solving.

Required courses for this program include: »

BA 160 Business Math I
3 cr. hrs.; 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.
Prerequisite: A minimum score of 32 on COMPASS pre- algebra test or a minimum score of 22 on ACT math.
A short review of basic math concepts and their application to actual business problems. Covers insurance, interest calculations, merchandising discounts, taxes, dividends and basic statistical measures.

BE 100 Work Environment Orientation
2 cr. hrs.; 2 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.
This course is intended to introduce the facts, skills, strengths, and career goals necessary for success in the business education curricula.

BE 106 Records Management
3 cr. hrs.; 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.
Management of records using ARMA rules. Emphasis is on current business practices, systems, supplies, and computers in records control, retrieval, disposal, and database management.

BE 110 Data Entry Applications
2 cr. hrs.; 2 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.
Designed to teach data entry skills, to help the student develop dexterity and accuracy in keyboarding alphabetic and alphanumeric characters, and to help the student become familiar with common data entry procedures, including voice input.

BE 112 Document Editing/Proofreading
3 cr. hrs.; 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.
Development of proofreading and editing skills with focus on accuracy and excellence in written communication.

BE 122 Administrative Support Systems
3 cr. hrs.; 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.
Discussion of attitudes, ethics, professional conduct, global market awareness, and effective procedures for encouraging teamwork and discouraging workplace harassment. Emphasis on telecommunications, meeting planning, proofreading and grammar review, time management, organizational tools for electronic offices, and methods to research information for business use.

BE 142 Computerized Keyboarding II
3 cr. hrs.; 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.
Prerequisites: BE 145 “C” or better or BE 145A, BE 145B, and BE 145C “C” or better or instructor consent. Speed and accuracy building in producing business documents.

BE 145 Information Processing
1-3 cr. hrs.; 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.
Students learn word processing software most commonly found in area offices. This course is equivalent to BE 145A, 145B, and 145C.

BE 145A Information Processing I
1 cr. hr.; 1 lecture hour; 0 lab hours per week.
Students learn word processing software most commonly found in area offices.

BE 145B Information Processing II
1 cr. hr.; 1 lecture hour; 0 lab hours per week.
Students learn word processing software most commonly found in area offices.

BE 145C Information Processing III
1 cr. hr.; 1 lecture hour; 0 lab hours per week.
Students learn word processing software most commonly found in area offices.

BE 146 Excel for Business
1-3 cr. hrs.; 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.
Use of current spreadsheet software on microcomputers.

BE 160 Machine Transcription
3 cr. hrs.; 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.
Prerequisite: BE 141 “C” or better or instructor consent.
Development of machine transcription and proofreading skills using computer word processing software.

BE 163 Presentation Graphics
1 cr. hr.; 1 lecture hour; 0 lab hours per week.
Includes features of current Windows-based presentation graphics software.

COMM 105 Essentials of English
3 cr. hrs.; 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.
Prerequisite: See Assessment and Orientation
Reviews grammar, punctuation, usage and sentence structure and organizational principles of writing through a variety of tasks. COMM 105 is a required course in several career curricula.

Course of Study Outline – Suggested Courses (Credit Hours)
First Semester
BE 100 — Work Environment Orientation (2)
BE 106 — Records Management - fall only (3)
BE 110 — Data Entry - fall only (2)
BE 112 — Document Editing/Proofreading - fall only (3)
BE 145 A,B,C — Information Processing I, II, III  or  (3)
BE 145 — Information Processing
BE 160 — Machine Transcription - fall only (3)

Second Semester
BA 160 — Business Math I (3)
BE 122 — Administrative Support Systems - spring only (3)
BE 142 — Computerized Keyboarding II - spring only (3)
BE 146 — Excel for Business - spring only (3)
BE 163 — Presentation Graphics - Power Point (1)
COMM 105 — Essentials of English (3)

Minimum total hours required for certificate (32)

The Administrative Office Support Certificate is based upon a “ladder” concept so that students may exit the program after 32 hours or continue to pursue the Legal Office Professional Associate in Applied Science degree. The certificate consists of the first two semesters of the degree.

Occupational Profiles

CIP Code:
SOC Code:

Cost of Attendance

Success Rates All Students Full-Time Part-Time
Completion rate at 100%
Completion rate at 150%

Job Placement Rate:

Loans

  • Median loan debt
  • Title IV loan debt
  • Private loan debt – $0
  • Institutional debt – $0