Academics

OFFICE TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONAL COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
ASB 2-year Degree Program
Program Description & Job Opportunities
Course Listings
Course Descriptions

AC106 ACCOUNTING FOR SMALL BUSINESS I (2.0 credits/36 clock hours)
An introductory course in accounting, the purpose of which is to acquaint the students with the relationship between accounting and business and to define basic accounting terminology. This course introduces the students to the following: double-entry accounting, journalizing and posting entries, combination journals, work at the end of the fiscal period, preparing financial statements, and adjusting and closing entries. Prerequisite: None.

AC107 ACCOUNTING FOR SMALL BUSINESS II (2.0 credits/36 clock hours)
Accounting for Small Business II expands on the groundwork laid in Accounting for Small Business I. The major emphasis of the course is on the actual basis of accounting as it applies to a merchandising enterprise. Topics covered include purchases and payments for merchandise, sales and collections for merchandise, accounting for cash, payroll, worksheets, financial statements, adjusting, closing and reversing entries. Prerequisite: Accounting for Small Business I with a minimum grade of C-.

CP210 ADVANCED DATABASE APPLICATIONS (1.5 credits/30 clock hours)
In this course in database management, students will build on the database concepts and terminology which were covered in Database. The focus of the course will be to create a project—a working database application, using several linked tables. The skills that will be enhanced are the design and creation of tables, custom forms, labels, queries, reports, and a menu system. Prerequisites: Database.

CP216 ADVANCED SPREADSHEET APPLICATIONS (1.5 credits/30 clock hours)
The student will be taught advanced techniques in spreadsheets, building on the skills learned in Spreadsheets. A class project will serve as the lecture base and individual projects will provide student interaction with spreadsheet applications. Prerequisite: Spreadsheets.

WP205 ADVANCED WORD PROCESSING (3.0 credits/60 clock hours)
This course is designed to further the students knowledge of the current version of Microsoft Office, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Windows. Students learn advanced features such as macros, electronic forms, and document collaboration. The course includes integrating Word and Excel. Prerequisite: Word Processing.

GE123 ALGEBRA (3.0 credits/60 clock hours)
Algebra is designed to cover basic mathematical and algebraic concepts with an emphasis on logical thinking skills. The topics that will be covered are review of decimals and fractions, basic definitions, operations with signed numbers, order of operations, simplifying algebraic expressions, evaluating algebraic expressions, manipulating and solving equations, exponents, different base systems, operations with polynominals, ratios and proportions, percentages, and word problems. This course forms the foundation for future courses in algebra, computer programming, electronics, accounting, statistics and software applications courses. Prerequisite: None.

LE115 BUSINESS LAW (2.0 credits/36 clock hours)
Provides the student with a basic understanding of the principles of law and its application to business. The student is introduced to the definition of law, why and how government regulates business, and the aspects of contracts and their relationship of law. Review of legal principles in the areas of business, contracts, and individual rights in business are discussed. Discussion will revolve around how business and law work and how law benefits the business organization and the consumer. Prerequisite: None.

CD211 CAREER PREPARATION (2.0 credits/30 clock hours)
This course supplements the on-the-job training of the internship. Individuals from the business community present material that enhances class work and the internship experience. The purpose is to help students become more professional, more self-confident, and, ultimately, more successful. Among areas covered are professional image building, ethics, sexual harassment, financial management, and health management for men and women. Sessions are held for two hours one day a week to allow time for the presentations. Prerequisite: As per the internship policy.

CP114 COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS (3.0 credits/60 clock hours)
This course in operating systems is designed to introduce students to the terminology and concepts that are required for computer literacy and for future computer related courses. Topics to be covered include hardware, software, DOS, Microsoft Windows, and a brief history of computers. Prerequisite: None.

CP206 COMPUTER PRESENTATIONS (2.0 credits/48 clock hours)
The course will use a problem-solving approach to teach the use of the computer for presentation purposes. The student will be able to create a business-oriented presentation, document the presentation, and deliver the presentation to an audience. The student will be introduced to the concept of integrating spreadsheets, word processing and graphics with the presentation software program. Prerequisite: Computer Fundamentals or Introduction to Computing(Accelerated) and Word Processing.

CP105 DATABASE (3.0 credits/60 clockhours)
This course will cover beginning and intermediate database topics. The student will learn what a database is and how it is used in business. The student will also learn how to design and build a database, tables, reports, queries and forms. General database topics such as normalization will be covered as well as features specific to Microsoft Access. Prerequisite: Computer Fundamentals or Introduction to Computers(Accelerated)

WP207 DESKTOP PUBLISHING (3.0 credits/60 clock hours)
This course teaches students to create professional printed materials such as brochures, forms, newsletters, reports, and booklets on the computer. Students will learn basic design and page layout skills and produce a variety of documents which incorporate text and graphics. Prerequisite: Word Processing.

KE147 DOCUMENT PROCESSING (2.0 credits/56 clock hours)
This course is designed to develop the student's ability to take unarranged material and type it into error-free business documents. Proofreading, accuracy in formatting and speed will be further developed through working with projects. Prerequisite: A grade of "C" or better in Keyboarding II and Keyboarding II Lab

KE148 DOCUMENT PROCESSING LAB (1.0 credit/28 clock hours)
This course is designed to provide extra time on drill work and timed writings in order to increase speed and accuracy. Prerequisite: A "C" grade or better in Keyboarding II and Keyboarding II Lab.

GE101 ECONOMICS (3.0 credits/60 clock hours)
This course is designed to introduce the student to the basic fundamentals of economics and how such knowledge can help us in understanding day to day life. We will discuss the principles of supply and demand and how these principles affect price and production in a free economy as well as in other economies. We will then discuss monetary policy and fiscal policy and their effectiveness in stabilizing our economy. We will end with a discussion of the varying degrees of competition and the subsequent effects on our economy. Prerequisite: None.

SS207 EDITING & PROOFREADING (1.0 credit/24 clock hours)
This course is designed to further develop the student’s ability to edit and proofread accurately and to use traditional proofreading symbols correctly in order to produce business communications in mailable form. Prerequisites: Keyboarding I and Lab, Keyboarding II and Lab, Word Processing, and English I and II.

EN101 ENGLISH I (3.0 credits/60 clock hours)
Students will learn the current practices of effective oral and written communication skills necessary for success in business and industry. Prerequisite: None.

GE127 ENGLISH II (3.0 credits/60 clock hours)
Students will continue studying and practicing the four bases of writing (unity, support, coherence, correctness). Students will write paragraphs, essays, summaries of short articles, continue to write in their journals, and a write a research paper. Prerequisite: English I.

GE135 ENGLISH III (3.0 credits/60 clock hours)
In order to prepare them to be successful writers of business correspondence, students will, via individual and group practice, apply the skills learned two writing effective business messages by memo, letter and e-mail. Additionally, students prepare a resume, letter of application, and thank-you letter. Prerequisite: English I and II.

GE128 ENGLISH COMPOSITION (1.5 credits/30 clock hours)
This capstone English course consists of short writing assignments requiring different structuring principles. This course requires knowledge of paragraph and essay writing as well as mastery of English sentence skills. Prerequisites: English I, II and III.

GE109 HUMAN RELATIONS (2.0 credits/36 clock hours)
This course is designed to be an in-depth study and the building of specific skills in the area of one-to-one communication. Emphasis is placed on group dynamics, conflict resolution, dealing with diversity, and social responsibility. Prerequisite: None.

GE141 INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS MATH (2.0 credits/36 clock hours)
This course is designed to refresh the student's knowledge of math fundamentals and to apply these fundamentals in business and everyday life. The concepts covered are a review of decimals and fractions, bank reconciliation, percentages, payroll, cash and trade discounts, and related areas. Prerequisite: None.

GE106 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY (2.0 credits/36 clock hours)
This course is an overview of basic psychological concepts. The relationship of psychology and states of consciousness to behavior introduces the areas of learning, memory, thinking and intelligence. Motivation, emotion and stress will be included as well as personality and social psychology. The emphasis is placed on the application of these principles in the student’s life at work and home. Prerequisite: None

GE140 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY (1.0 credit/24 clock hours)
In this survey course students are encouraged to think about society critically, by examining such topics as: culture, socialization, social interaction, social inequality, and social change. Included are the study of race and ethnicity, sex and gender, families, government, health care, urbanism and the environment. Prerequisite: None.

SS210 INTEGRATED OFFICE SIMULATION (3.0 credits/60 clock hours)
This is a capstone applications course after the student has mastered the basic concepts of word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation software. The student will apply this knowledge through office simulations. Each student will determine what software package to use to produce the work assignments. Electronic mail will be used to receive instructions and to communicate with the instructor. Topics covered are internet research, organizing word load, scheduling with Outlook, producing spreadsheets and graphs, creating database tables and reports, preparing documents and presentations, integrating information, and working with document storage and retrieval. Presequisites: Word Processing, Advanced Word Processing, Desktop Publishing, Database, Spreadsheets, Keyboarding II and a keyboarding speed of 30.

CD204 JOB SEARCH SKILLS (1.0 credit/24 clock hours)
This course instructs students in job seeking skills. Topics such as informational interviewing resume development, application completion and job interviewing will be covered. Students will identify work and personal skills, role-play mock interviews using the video camera, and start to develop a list of prospective employers for which they would like to work. Prerequisite: None.

KE101 KEYBOARDING I & LAB (3.0 credits/60 clock hours)
This course is designed to teach the student correct keyboarding techniques and to help the student operate the letters, numbers, and symbols keys. Introduction to letters, memorandums, centering, tabulation, simple reports, word division, and business forms are stressed. This class will also provide time for students to increase their speed and accuracy through drill work and timed writings. Prerequisite: None.

KE143 KEYBOARDING II (2.0 credits/56 clock hours)
The Keyboarding II class will reinforce the format for letters, memorandums and reports, itineraries, agenda, minutes, and press releases, and further develop speed and accuracy on timed writings. Production tests will be taken to develop speed and accuracy on business documents. Prerequisite: A grade of "C" or better in Keyboarding I & Lab.

KE144 KEYBOARDING II LAB (1.0 credit/28 clock hours)
This course is designed to build speed and accuracy by providing extra time to work on drill work and timed writings. Prerequisite: A C grade or better in Keyboarding I & Lab.

CP205 MICROCOMPUTER SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT (3.0 credits/60 clock hours)
This course covers material pertaining to microcomputer systems and networks. The emphasis is on how computers are networked together and how to design, use and troubleshoot networks. Prerequisite: Computer Fundamentals or Introduction to Computing(Accelerated)

CP602 OFFICE PROFESSIONAL INTERNSHIP (8.0 credits/336 clock hours)
To fulfill the requirements of the internship, the student will participate throughout his/her final term in a work-experience program which directly relates to the computerized office. Under the supervision of an administrator, office manager, or computer technician the student will have the opportunity to enhance his/her education, personal skills, computer skills, and observe the interaction of personnel within an office environment. Prerequisite: As per internship policy.

AC109 PAYROLL ACCOUNTING (2.0 credits/48 clock hours)
Payroll accounting introduces the student to the history of employment laws in the United States, the requirements for maintaining employees’ payroll records, the computations necessary to determine proper wages and appropriate tax withholdings, the procedures for remitting the taxes, and the employer’s responsibilities for reporting payroll information to the various governmental agencies. Current Federal and Pennsylvania requirements will be discussed. In addition, the student will be exposed to an overview of the process necessary to record payroll transactions in a manual and computerized payroll system. Prerequisites: Accounting I or Accounting for Small Business I, and Business Math I or Mathematics.

PD119 PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT (1.0 credit/24 clock hours)
This course is designed to explore the fundamental building blocks to a student's success in school and ultimate success in the workplace. The focus is on building success through goal setting, motivation, personal responsibility, self-discovery, and change. Prerequisite: None.

MG231 PERSONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (2.0 credits/36 clock hours)
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to: set realistic financial goals; understand how, when and where a recordkeeping system should be developed; develop a budget; understand debt and debt reduction; and understand Social Security benefits. Additionally, the following topics will be covered: savings and investment, the home as an investment, funding college education, purchasing an automobile, insurance, retirement, financial fitness for women on their own, and your will. Prerequisite: None.

MG200 PRINCIPLES OF SUPERVISION (2.0 credits/36 clock hours)
Concepts of management, including basic theories, planning, controlling, organizing, staffing and training will be presented. Emphasis is placed on human relations, motivation, leadership, and communication. Preparation of budgets, time management, dealing with unions, and writing job descriptions will also be covered. Prerequisite: None.

CD212 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (2.0 credits/30 clock hours)
This course is taken concurrently with the internship. The faculty advisor and the student discuss the student’s progress at the internship site in a group setting and, for specific problems and successes, individually. Weekly reports are submitted and the experiences of the week are reviewed. In addition, classroom instruction may be given to address areas where the interns, faculty, or site supervisors feel additional work is needed. Field trips to explore different business environments and/or to expand knowledge about the area of study may be taken. Prerequisite: Taken concurrently with the internship.

SS101 RECORDS MANAGEMENT (1.0 credit/24 clock hours)
This course teaches the fundamentals of filing through a series of instructions, exercises and quizzes. Using a practice file kit, the student will apply correct procedures for filing records. Alphabetic, numeric, correspondence, subject, and geographic systems will be used in accordance with the popular ARMA rules. Prerequisite: None.

CP104 SPREADSHEETS (3.0 credits/60 clock hours)
This course uses a problem-solving approach to teach spreadsheet functions. The student will be introduced to beginning and intermediate level spreadsheet functions that will be used for creating, manipulating and enhancing a worksheet, for creating graphics based on the worksheet, enhancing a worksheet, integrating worksheets, and graphics. Prerequisite: Computer Fundamentals or Introduction to Computing(Accelerated).

GE224 SPEECH (1.0 credit/24 clock hours)
This introductory course offers fundamentals in communication with emphasis on improving speaking and listening skills. This course will familiarize students with formal speech preparation, presentation skills, and nonverbal communication. Prerequisite: None.

CP214 SOFTWARE SURVEY (3.0 credits/60 clock hours)
Students will have the opportunity to install and explore a wide variety of commercial software packages in this course. The emphasis will be on independent learning, so that the students will develop the skills necessary to install, evaluate, and use software packages that they will encounter in the future. In addition, students will be required to make an oral marketing presentation on one package, and to develop and conduct a training workshop to train several other students, using that same or another software package. Prerequisites: Computer Fundamentals or Introduction to Computing(Accelerated), and Word Processing.

SS103 TELEPHONE & RECEPTIONIST TECHNIQUES (1.0 credit/24 clock hours)
This course is designed to give the student formal training on how to answer the telephone professionally and greet the office visitor in a businesslike manner. Prerequisite: None.

KE115 TRANSCRIPTION (1.5 credits/30 clock hours)
This course stresses aural communications correctly transcribed into mailable business letters. Prerequisite: Keyboarding I and Lab, Word Processing.

GE125 THE ARTS (2.0 credits/36 clock hours)
This course is a general education elective that is designed to expose the student to the arts through class discussions, opportunities to see and hear representative examples of different forms of the arts, and attendance at artistic events during the term. Prerequisite: None.

SS201 THE OFFICE PROFESSIONAL (3.0 credits/60 clock hours)
The Office Professional course is a capstone course for students. The course provides students with the opportunity to integrate their knowledge and skills in the areas of keyboarding, shorthand, desktop publishing, letter composition, word processing, communications, and human relations. Professionalism will be stressed. Students will also explore the changing office environment with emphasis on the electronic office. Students complete projects and activities using various computer applications. Prerequisites: Keyboarding I and Lab, Keyboarding II and Lab, Word Processing, and Desktop Publishing.

GE132 TWENTIETH CENTURY CULTURE (2.0 credits/36 clock hours)
A survey of modern Western culture from circa 1900 to 2000. The course will give students a familiarity with major figures and ideas of the century in the arts, science and politics. Important historical periods and events will be presented through literature, music and the visual arts in order to give students a better understanding of the present. Prerequisite: None.

CP233 WEB SITE DESIGN (3.0 credits/60 clock hours)
This course introduces Web site design using Macromedia Dreamweaver and Web graphics editing using Macromedia Fireworks. Students will learn the basic techniques of creating Web sites using Dreamweaver as well as using HTML programming code. Various methods of site design will be covered. The course will then cover intermediate and advanced Web design features, enabling students to create more dynamic, interactive and commercially viable Web pages. Students will also learn to create and edit graphs, images and animation for the Web using Fireworks. Prerequisite: Computer Fundamentals or Introduction to Computing(Accelerated)

WP202 WORD PROCESSING (3.0 credits/60 clock hours)
This course is designed to provide students with the basic understanding of word processing keyboarding applications, concepts, and terminology. The purpose of the course is to develop an ability to use the current version of Microsoft Word for both professional use (simple business correspondence) and for personal use (report writing). Prerequisite: Keyboarding I & Lab or exemption.