Administrative Assistant Certificate Business Total Units: 16.0

Term Effective: Fall 2023

The requirements for this program of study are effective beginning the semester shown above. If you began working on this program before the effective semester, you may not be affected by the changes. Consult with the program contact person or the department chair to determine your eligibility to complete the program under previous requirements.

Term Inactive: Fall 2024

Previous Versions:

Administrative Assistant - effective Fall 2022
Administrative Assistant - effective Fall 2021
Administrative Assistant - effective Fall 2020
Administrative Assistant - effective Fall 2018
Administrative Assistant - effective Fall 2017
Administrative Assistant - effective Fall 2016
Administrative Assistant - effective Fall 2013
Administrative Assistant - effective Fall 2011
Administrative Assistant - effective Fall 2010
Administrative Assistant - effective Fall 1981

Description:

This program is a Certificate of Achievement. Because the administrative field continues to rank among the largest occupations in the U.S. economy, job opportunities for skilled Administrative Assistants are available locally and nationally. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, approximately nine out of ten Administrative Assistants are employed in service-providing industries that range from education, health care, and social services to government and retail trade. Depending on experience, skills, and level of responsibility, salaries vary broadly. However, job applicants with extensive technology knowledge and workforce skills such as communication, teamwork, project management, problem-solving, and systems develop are in high demand. Individuals who have earned certification typically earn higher salaries and are in high demand for employment.

The traditional role of office professionals continues to dramatically change due to corporate downsizing, the elimination of middle managers, and the increased dependency on technology. As a result, the importance and value of the administrative professionals have dramatically increased, and the demand for well-trained, well-rounded administrative staff has never been greater.

Most businesses regard administrative workers as the operation’s point people and rely on their skilled expertise and operational coordination to accomplish multiple administrative and clerical duties that are essential to efficiently running an organization. Some of the key responsibilities expected of Administrative Assistants are planning and scheduling meetings, troubleshooting office equipment and programs, conducting project and database management, disseminating information, pursuing Internet research, composing correspondence, and answering phones, emails and other communication.

The Administrative Assistant program includes an internship, which provides the student an opportunity to use their acquired skills in an office environment and gain experience in their profession before completing the program.

This certificate is the advanced level of the Administrative Assistant program. Students completing the Office Assistant Completion Certificate will have fulfilled a portion of the Administrative Assistant Certificate of Achievement.

Program Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  1. Compose and prepare business documents and correspondence demonstrating appropriate communication techniques and integration of appropriate software and other technology tools;
  2. Apply time management, project management, records management, and organizational skills to complete office tasks, projects, and operations;
  3. Use critical thinking, problem solving, interpersonal, and collaborative skills to complete work independently or in a team in an ethical and professional manner;
  4. Evaluate, analyze, and use appropriate technology to complete tasks and documents productively and efficiently; and
  5. Use integrated math computational skills to solve a variety of business applications such as inventory, payroll, calculating interest, and budget monitoring.

Program Requirements:

The requirements for the Administrative Assistant program are:

  • Complete 16.0 units from
    • Administrative Assistant Requirements

Administrative Assistant Requirements - complete 16.00 units
BAD 52Human Relations in Organizations3.00
BGN 110Introduction to the Administrative Professional1.00
BGN 154Office Technologies and Procedures3.00
Complete any combination totaling at least 3.00 units from the following:
CourseDescriptionUnits
BBK 50Computerized Bookkeeping and Accounting 13.00
BGN 81Practical Business Math Skills3.00
BMG 55Fundamentals of Financial Analysis3.00
Complete any combination totaling at least 3.00 units from the following:
CourseDescriptionUnits
BAD 53Introduction to Solving Business Problems With Spreadsheets1.50
CS 5Computer Literacy3.00
CS 60.11AMicrosoft Word, Part 11.50
CS 60.11BMicrosoft Word, Part 21.50
CS 61.11AMicrosoft Excel, Part 11.50
CS 61.11BMicrosoft Excel, Part 21.50
Complete any combination totaling at least 3.00 units from the following:
CourseDescriptionUnits
BGN 71Business English Grammar3.00
BGN 100Professional Writing and Presentations3.00
BMG 52Business Communication3.00

Course Prerequisites and Advisories:

Courses in a program of study may have prerequisites or advisories; that is, courses that must or should be completed before taking that course. Please check for prerequisites or advisories by clicking on the course numbers in the Program Requirements section.

Contact
Information
Phone Email Website
(707) 527-4458
kseder@santarosa.edu