2021-2022 Pierce College Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 Pierce College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Administrative Office Assistant (AAS) Course Map


Created by Pierce faculty, this map outlines the initial coursework for this career field. It provides you a clear path to complete your degree by listing a specific set of courses relevant to your program and career.  The map is designed with the appropriate number of credits and meets degree requirements. Courses are organized in a recommended sequence; please schedule accordingly. If a course is unavailable, select the next appropriate course within the sequence. For each course, a purpose statement explains how the content relates to your career field. On this map, there may be instances when you will be required to select a course from several options. Use these purpose statements and notes to choose the course that best aligns with your interests and needs. You will also find action items to complete to assure you progress and graduate on time.  While this map is a great guide to courses required to complete the Associate in Applied Science Administrative Office Assistant, you are responsible for fulfilling all degree requirements.  Questions? Your Success Network is ready to help you!

Meet with your advisor to choose the courses that meet your workplace goals.

Program Code: 547A


Total Credits: 93


1. Keyboarding Development and Document Formatting


Choose one

2. Business English I


  • Course purpose: This course will help you build the skills needed to prepare grammatically correct business documents. You will develop skill in editing documents for grammatical correctness. Job applicants must be able to write coherent messages with correct grammar for internal and external communication.

3. Business English Support Course (please see advisor)


4. PC Operating System/Microsoft Word


If you are unsure which course to take, please see your advisor to determine which 2-6 of these courses best align with your needs (for a total of 2-6 credits).

These courses count toward the 13 Computer Application Lab credits.*

*Note: A total of 13 Computer Application Lab credits will be required in order to meet the requirements of this degree. 

Action Item: Meet with Advisor


Meet with advisor for course registration information and review of educational plan. 

5. ABE Academic Support (please see advisor)


6. College Success


  • Course purpose:  A foundational course to explore and affirm a career choice and build upon the skills, knowledge, and resources that will support you at Pierce College and beyond.

  •  

  • Note: The College Success course you select will depend on the Career Pathway Map you are following. Your advisor will assist you in selecting either the 3- or 5- credit version of the course. Should you choose to repeat a College Success course you must enroll in a College Success course with the same credit amount as the original course; a COLLG 110 course grade can only be replaced with a grade from another COLLG 110 course and a COLLG 115 course grade can only be replaced with a grade from another COLLG 115 course.

7. Keyboard Development and Document Formatting


Choose one

8. Ten-Key Mastery


  • Course purpose: Proficient in 10-key by touch so you have skills for data entry. Employees are often required to enter data in spreadsheets or in other software. Speed and accuracy of this skill are highly desired by employers.

9. Business English II


  • Course purpose: Further study and practice with the writing process to create effective business memoranda, letters, and short reports. You will continue to build a strong business vocabulary and fluency with punctuation and rules.

    Job applicants must be able to write coherent messages with correct grammar for internal and external communication.

10. Business English II Support Course (please see advisor)


11. Computer Application Lab


Please see your advisor to determine which 3 or 4 of these courses best align with your needs (for a total of 3-4 credits).*

*Note: A total of 13 Computer Application Lab credits will be required in order to meet the requirements of this degree. 

12. ABE Academic Support (please see advisor)


  • Course purpose: Support class to help with Computer, Keyboarding, and Business English II, navigating Canvas and the overall college experience. In addition, continued exposure to some basic math in order to prepare them for BTECA 117.

13. Business Mathematics


  • Course purpose: You practice skills in banking such as keeping a checkbook and balancing it. Solving for equations for the unknown. Practicing percent and fractions. Understanding discounts, markups, and markdowns. Insight into perishables, simple interest promissory notes, discount notes, and the discount process, compound interest and present value. Installment buying and revolving credit, basic statistics, metric supplement depreciation, inventory, and overhead.

     

    Industry often requires basic bookkeeping and collection of funds from invoices and calculation of purchase orders. Math knowledge is necessary to write correct formulas in often used Excel spreadsheets for budgeting and other financial purposes.

14. Business Math Support Course (please see advisor)


You will take 2 credits in a support class offering extra instructions to meet outcomes of BTECA 117. 

Action Item: Meet with Advisor


Review and update your educational plan with your advisor. 

Action Item: Apply for Graduation


If you are completing the certificate, way to go! It is time to apply for graduation. Visit the Pierce College Graduation website for details. 

15. Office Procedures


  • Course purpose: This course prepares you with hard and soft skills necessary for success in an office. In addition, you will synthesize and apply content previously acquired while role playing scenarios that will occur during an average office workday.

16. Computer Application Lab


Please see your advisor to determine which 3-8 of these courses best align with your needs (for a total of 3-8 credits).*

*Note: A total of 13 Computer Application Lab credits will be required in order to meet the requirements of this degree. 

17. Office Procedures Support Course (please see advisor)


18. ABE CAL Support Course (please see advisor)


19. Records Management


  • Course purpose: Teaches you the lifecycle and management of paper and electronic records in an office setting. You need to learn to manage records to keep an office organized and for individuals to retrieve records quickly and maintain integrity of data.

20. Customer Relationship Management


Choose one

Action item: Meet with Advisor


Meet with internship course instructor to prepare for BTECA 246

Action Item: Apply for Graduation


If you are completing the degree, way to go! It is time to apply for graduation. Visit the Pierce College Graduation website for details. 

21. Microsoft Outlook


  • Course purpose: You will demonstrate skills in each tool utilized in Outlook: Calendar, email, scheduling, tasks, etc. which most offices are using these days.

22. Intercultural Communications


23. Business Communications


  • Course purpose: This course prepares you with advanced writing skills necessary for success in an office. In addition, you will synthesize and apply content previously acquired while learning how to write messages that build goodwill and positive relationships with clients and co-workers and writing for a specific purpose and audience.

24. Cooperative Work Experience


  • Course purpose: You gain practice in a workplace setting, while networking, establishing work experience for their resume, and hopefully ultimately gaining a job, which is what most students in the professional technical field want.

     

    (Students who are completing the associate degree should take this at the end of their program. See your advisor)

25. Introduction to Online Marketing


26. Survey of Accounting


  • Course purpose: Industry often requires basic bookkeeping and collection of funds from accounts receivable and calculation of accounts payable. Accounting knowledge is necessary in order to prepare balance sheets, income statements, and other financial documents.

27. Business Law


  • Course purpose: You should understand law in respect to the business world which will help you understand various laws, regulations, and requirements which govern employment and business practices

28. Human Relations in the Workplace


  • Course purpose: This class enables you to become better communicators by applying effective strategies for listening, receiving feedback, and examining their own biases. Today’s office has a diverse population and its multicultural makeup requires training in global communication.

29. Introduction to Business


Total Credits: 93