The Career Pathway Certificate of Completion: Office Specialist prepares students for immediate employment as an entry-level professional in a variety of industries, including health care, finance, construction, and technical services. Coursework focuses on skills most requested by employers across the board, including written and oral communication, organization, customer service, and computer proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.
Employment in these types of occupations in 2012 was much larger than the statewide average for all occupations. The total number of job openings is projected to be much higher than the statewide average number of job openings for all occupations through 2022.
Credits earned in this program can be applied to the AAS Administrative Office Professional, the Certificate of Completion Clerical, and the Certificate of Completion Bookkeeping Clerical.
Click here to learn how this Career Pathway Certificate can lead to an AAS Administrative Office Professional degree.
Graduation Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 28 credit hours with a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or better. All courses must be completed with a grade of ‘C’ or better. One course must be completed at Southwestern before the Career Pathway Certificate of Completion: Office Specialist is awarded.
Complete the graduation application process one term prior to the term of completion (e.g., spring term graduates must apply during winter term).
Pre-Program Courses
Students are required to take the following courses prior to the program courses, depending on students' college placement information. See advisor for details:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CIS90 | Computer Basics | 2 |
| MTH20 | Basic Mathematics | 4 |
| OA121 | Beginning Keyboarding | 3 |
| WR90R | Academic Literacy (or placement in higher writing course) | 4 |
Program Guide
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| CIS125W | Word Processing Applications Microsoft | 3 |
| MTH82 | Business Mathematics 1 | 4 |
| OA124 | Keyboard Skill Building | 3 |
| OA220 | Electronic Calculators | 1 |
| WR115 or WR121 |
Introduction to Expository Writing or English Composition |
3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| AC2764 or BA212 |
Small Business Accounting or Principles of Accounting II |
4 |
| BA288 | Customer Service | 3 |
| CIS120 | Concepts of Computing | 4 |
| OA240 | Filing and Records Management | 3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 28 | |
| 1 | MTH98 Math Literacy or higher may be substituted for MTH82 Business Mathematics. |
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, the student will be able to:
- Provide customer service according to specific instructions.
- Use computer to organize/complete tasks, communicate effectively, and schedule self or others, according to specific instructions.
- Enter data accurately (requires basic math, keyboarding, and copying skills).
- Accurately produce, edit, and proofread business documents.
- Follow professional business procedures and standards.
- Store, locate, and retrieve information to perform routine duties in a professional environment.