Administrative Assistant Specialty
Advances in technology have changed the role of the Administrative Assistant to one which is more complex. Make sure you’re prepared for this changing work environment with the Office Administration Administrative Assistant Specialty. This program concentrates on the specific skills and concepts you need for employment as an executive administrative assistant in fast-paced and complex office environments.
Program Overview
The 15-week Administrative Assistant specialty program is delivered completely online and can be taken full-time or part-time. You can expect to produce ‘real-world’ business documents, develop business writing skills and learn to produce business letters, reports, presentations, newsletters and other documents requiring extensive use of graphics.
To receive an Administrative Assistant Specialty Certificate, students must complete all courses listed in the Office Administration Certificate, and the Administrative Assistant Specialty.
To complete the Administrative Assistant Specialty, you should be prepared to use Microsoft Office software extensively. Your keyboarding speed goal will be 55 words per minute.
Why Choose Administrative Assistant Specialty as a Career?
- Employment is available in both the private and public sectors.
- According to Work BC, there is anticipated to be over 15,000 job openings for Administrative Assistants in the next 10 years. The majority (73%) will result from replacement of retiring workers.
- Advances in technology have changed the duties of administrative assistants, providing the opportunity to take on more complex and diverse tasks.
Program Duration:
- Office Administration Certificate – 22 weeks
- Administrative Assistant Certificate – 15 weeks
Note: You can take up to five years to complete your Administrative Assistant certificate.
Program Start Dates:
You can start the program in September or January or on the first Monday of any month from September to April, provided spaces are available.
Classes:
Online Classes:
- Office Administration online courses are accessible from September to early June. Online instructional support is available during scheduled hours Monday through Friday. Course websites are accessible 24/7 except during scheduled breaks.
Face-to-face Instructor Support:
- If you live in the Cranbrook area, there is a dedicated Office Administration computer lab to work in, located at the Cranbrook campus. It is available Monday – Friday from September through early June during regular College of the Rockies hours.
Administrative Assistant Specialty Certificate Requirements:
Course | Title | Hours | Weeks | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|
OFAD 183 | MS PowerPoint 1 | 45 | 3 | 1.5 |
OFAD 220 | Desktop Publishing | 90 | 6 | 3 |
OFAD 233 | Business Communications 2 | 105 | 7 | 3 |
OFAD 234 | Office Procedures 2 | 75 | 5 | 2.5 |
OFAD 260 | Word Processing 3 | 120 | 8 | 3 |
435 | 29 | 13 | ||
14.5 Weeks | Full time |
Course Descriptions
The Administrative Assistant Specialty covers the skills and concepts needed by administrative assistant personnel. Students produce “real-world” business documents to professional standards. Students develop business correspondence writing skills for creating routine business letters, reports, presentations, newsletters and other documents requiring extensive use of graphics.
The use of MS Office software is extensive in all courses. Students’ keyboarding speed goal is 55 wpm.
To receive an Administrative Assistant Specialty Certificate, students must complete all courses listed in the Office Administration Certificate, and the Administrative Assistant Specialty as follows:
Office Administration Certificate Courses
OFAD-130 – Business English Essentials
Business English Essentials helps student to develop language skills necessary for written business documents, presentations and email correspondence and to communicate effectively in an office environment. The course emphasizes writing skills with a focus on editing and proofreading. Topics covered include spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and number usage.
- Minimum Credits: 3.5
- Length: 180 hours
- Prerequisites: None
- Delivery Method: ? Online
- Cost: $417.83
- Course Outline
OFAD-134 – Office Procedures 1
Office Procedures 1 incorporates practical and professional approaches to learning skills required in today’s office workplace. Students develop skills to efficiently complete a variety of office related procedures while demonstrating the personality traits, attitudes and behaviors required for an effective office administrative assistant. Students integrate new standards with equity, inclusion, and diversity in the workplace to solve on-the-job situations with a focus on wellness strategies for self and others.
- Minimum Credits: 3
- Length: 105 hours
- Prerequisites: OFAD 155 or current keyboarding speed of 25 gwam, OFAD 158, OFAD 160
- Delivery Method: ? Online
- Cost: $358.14
- Course Outline
OFAD-158 – Windows, Outlook, & File Management
Students learn terminology of Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Outlook, and Internet Explorer. Managing electronic files, scheduling, and privacy are also covered.
- Minimum Credits: 1
- Length: 30 hours
- Prerequisites: None
- Delivery Method: ? Online
- Cost: $119.38
- Course Outline
OFAD-160 – Word Processing 1
Word Processing 1 introduces students to word processing in a Windows environment. Students learn the main software features of MS Word and improve their keying speed and accuracy. Document formatting is presented during the course and students produce basic business documents using business formatting skills. Business standards in all documents are promoted throughout the course. The speed objective is 35 gross words a minute (gwam) in five-minute timings with five or fewer errors.
- Minimum Credits: 1.5
- Length: 45 hours
- Prerequisites: OFAD 155 or current typing speed of 25 gwam, OFAD 158.
- Delivery Method: ? Online
- Cost: $179.07
- Course Outline
OFAD-165 – Word Processing 2
Word Processing 2 is a progression beyond Word Processing 1. Students continue to learn the main software features of MS Word and improve their keying speed and accuracy. Students produce basic business documents using business formatting skills. Business standards in all documents are promoted throughout the course. The speed objective is 45 gwam in a five-minute timing with five or fewer errors.
- Minimum Credits: 2
- Length: 60 hours
- Prerequisites: OFAD 155 or current keyboarding speed of 25 gwam, OFAD 158, OFAD 160
- Delivery Method: ? Online
- Cost: $238.76
- Course Outline
OFAD-170 – Bookkeeping 1
Bookkeeping 1 covers basic bookkeeping skills learning the nine steps of the manual accounting cycle including recognizing source documents, recording journal entries, posting to the general ledger, preparing a trial balance and worksheet, preparing financial statements to a professional level, recording adjusting and closing entries, preparing a post-closing trial balance, and the basics of banking procedures and control of cash.
- Minimum Credits: 3
- Length: 120 hours
- Prerequisites: OFAD 158, and OFAD 180; strong reading and writing abilities. OFAD 155 or current typing speed of 25 gwam
- Delivery Method: ? Online
- Cost: $358.14
- Course Outline
OFAD-150 – Employability Skills
This course gives students the skills defined in the Office Administration and Applied Business Technology Provincial Curricula. These skills are considered to be essential requirements for today’s workforce. Employees need to be adaptable and capable of meeting the challenges of change in today’s economy, advances in technology, and changes in the way work is organized. This course uses an office simulation activity for students to practice job-ready skills in the use of technology and to hone their organizational and time management skills. The course also covers basic employment skills such as developing an effective resume and cover letter, and emphasizes professionalism, decision making, ethics, and communication skills.
- Minimum Credits: 1.5
- Length: 45 hours
- Prerequisites: OFAD 130, OFAD 134, OFAD 180
- Delivery Method: ? Online
- Cost: $179.07
- Course Outline
OFAD-180 – MS Excel Essentials and Business Math
MS Excel Essentials and Business Math is designed to introduce students to the concepts and fundamentals of creating personal and business budgets using mathematical computations, formulas, functions, and graphs within spreadsheets. Students also develop skills to critically select and apply formulas and functions.
- Minimum Credits: 2
- Length: 60 hours
- Prerequisites: OFAD 158. OFAD 155 or current typing speed of 25 gwam.
- Delivery Method: ? Online
- Cost: $238.76
- Course Outline
Administrative Assistant Specialty Courses
OFAD-183 – MS PowerPoint 1
This course introduces the use of MS PowerPoint software to create presentation media to accompany verbal presentations. The student applies features of slide transition, animation, various views, and design templates.
- Minimum Credits: 1.5
- Length: 45 hours
- Prerequisites: OFAD 158 OFAD 155 or current typing speed of 25 gwam.
- Delivery Method: ? Online
- Cost: $179.07
- Course Outline
OFAD-220 – Desktop Publishing
This course introduces basic design concepts and provides practice in the desktop publishing features of MS Publisher and MS Word software. Students produce newsletters, flyers, brochures, business cards, letterhead, and certificates.
- Minimum Credits: 3
- Length: 90 hours
- Prerequisites: OFAD 155 or current typing speed of 25 gwam, OFAD 158, OFAD 160, OFAD 165
- Delivery Method: ? Online
- Cost: $358.14
- Course Outline
OFAD-233 – Business Communications
OFAD 233 Business Communications applies language and writing skills acquired in Business English Essentials to the planning, organizing, compositing, and revising of a variety of business messages. Topics include applying writing strategies to compose letters, formal and informal reports, memos, and other brief messages with an emphasis on clear, concise communications. Interpersonal skills for successful customer relations and office interactions are also included.
- Minimum Credits: 3
- Length: 105 hours
- Prerequisites: OFAD 155 or current typing speed of 25 gwam, OFAD 158, OFAD 130 with a minimum B+ grade, OFAD 160
- Delivery Method: ? Online
- Cost: $358.14
- Course Outline
OFAD-234 – Office Procedures 2
Office Procedures 2 builds on the skills developed in Office Procedures 1 related to the functions of entry-level administrative assistants to the role of executive assistant. Students focus on administrative functions including travel arrangements, written communications, organizing meetings and conferences, referencing, and Internet research using a variety of research techniques and office communication skills.
- Minimum Credits: 2.5
- Length: 75 hours
- Prerequisites: OFAD 155 or current typing speed of 25 gwam, OFAD 134, OFAD 158, OFAD 160
- Delivery Method: ? Online
- Cost: $238.76
- Course Outline
OFAD-260 – Word Processing 3
Word Processing 3 advances a student’s ability to access and manage knowledge and to communicate effectively in a business environment. Students are introduced to design features to enhance report formats with elements that add structure, provide a consistent image, and increase readability of business documents. Students improve productivity and creativity by applying advanced MS Word software features including mail merge. The speed objective is 55 gwam with 5 or fewer errors on a minimum of three 5-minute timings.
- Minimum Credits: 3
- Length: 120 hours
- Prerequisites: OFAD 155 or a current typing speed of 25 gwam, OFAD 158, OFAD 160, OFAD 165
- Delivery Method: ? Online
- Cost: $358.14
- Course Outline
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements:
- Successful completion of the Office Administration certificate within the last 5 years.
- Transfer credit for an Office Administration certificate program taken at other institutions may be available.
Your Costs
Tuition and Fees:
Tuition: | $3,641.09 |
Application Fee: | $30.00 |
Student Association Fee: | $103.50 |
Total | $3,774.59 |
*These prices are for domestic students and may not be 100% accurate. However, these estimates will give you an adequate idea of tuition and fees for our programs. These prices do not include textbook costs. All prices are subject to change. Tuition fees include an alumni fee, student activity fees, and a student technology fee. In certain cases a materials and supply fee may also be included. For more information, visit: Tuition and Fees.
Textbooks and Supplies
Textbooks and supplies are available at the College Bookstore.
Online students must have a PC with Microsoft Office 2016 or Office 365 and Windows 10 for all OFAD courses. Registered students are eligible to acquire MS Office 365 for free. Details are provided after registration.
Note: Mac computers are not supported in the OFAD program.
Program Details
Delivery Method:?
Online
Credential:
Certificate
Categories:
Administrative & Accounting, Business, Finance & Accounting
Interests:
Office, Start or Run Your Own Business
Contact Details
Cranbrook
2700 College Way,
Box 8500, Cranbrook, BC, V1C 5L7
Phone: 250-489-2751
Toll-free: 1-877-489-2687
Email: info@cotr.bc.ca