Online Office Administrator Course

Program Outcomes

Graduates of this course will be trained in the interpersonal, administrative and project management skills needed to work in an entry-level office position. Students begin by sharpening their oral and written communication skills. Then, they learn to use computer applications to prepare professional and accurate business correspondence, create spreadsheets and research and incorporate sources into business reports and presentations. Students also learn basic bookkeeping skills, as well as gain critical project and office management perspectives and introductory human resources skills, such as recruiting, hiring, evaluating, and terminating employees. The course culminates with a real-world practicum that requires students to apply their professional office skills.

Curriculum

Instruction Pack I: The Basics of Office Administration

Students discover the importance of the office administrator’s role in today’s business world. Key business basics are introduced, providing students the opportunity to analyze and sharpen their own professional qualities and interpersonal skills. Additionally, students develop front office skills, such as telephone and listening techniques and strategies for working with visitors and dealing with office protocol. Students also formulate strategies to effectively manage and prioritize projects and tasks, as well as coordinate meeting and travel arrangements. Finally, students distinguish among the many facets of office technology used in today’s fast-paced, global business world.

Instruction Pack II: Information Management and Communication Skills

Students build upon their office technology knowledge by learning about the workings of the Internet and the World Wide Web. Additionally, they study techniques to use resources and references and accurately manage records, files, and mail, as well as practice the common math skills that office professionals often use. Finally, this instruction pack provides opportunities for students to practice and sharpen their written communication skills, including professional vocabulary, grammatical rules and effective sentence and paragraph structure.

Instruction Pack III: Business Correspondence and Bookkeeping Basics

Students are introduced to taking notes, as well as accurately transcribing dictation. They learn how to apply basic office management principles and human resources skills, such as recruiting, interviewing, terminating, and evaluating employees. Additionally, students access how legal and ethical concepts apply to the business world and their role as an office administrator. They study basic principles of bookkeeping, including how to calculate payroll, maintain expense reports, reconcile bank statements, and handle the many financial activities of a busy office environment. Also, students learn how to professionally integrate basic design principles, such as graphical elements, charts, and graphs, into their business documents. Students conclude this instruction pack as they explore commonly used database management features and functions.

Instruction Pack IV: Computer Applications

Students practice professional word processing techniques, including applying styles and templates to documents and formatting business correspondence. They also interpret proofreader marks and edit documents to a final, polished stage. Finally, students learn the most common features of spreadsheet programs.

Instruction Pack V: Office Management and Ethics

Students begin this instruction pack as they apply their knowledge of spreadsheets to a real-world project. They learn the effective elements of a professional business presentation and must apply these elements in a professional situation. The course culminates with a real-world practicum in which students apply many of the skills that a professional office administrator demonstrates.