Administrative Assistant

This major is designed to prepare learners for employment as administrative secretaries or assistants. Administrative assistants' responsibilities may include processing incoming and outgoing mail, communicating through electronic mail, scheduling, keyboarding documents and forms, transcribing business documents and forms, transcribing business documents from machine dictation, filing and retrieving records, handling telephone calls, and making travel arrangements. In addition, they may be given more challenging tasks such as composing and dictating letters, recording meeting minutes, collecting data and performing research, generating reports, maintaining budgets and other bookkeeping applications, and applying supervisory responsibilities. Learners in this major will also perform advanced microcomputer applications that will include file transfer options; malicious program items; management techniques; networking and security; data communications; and software evaluation, selection, and installation procedures. This major requires strong verbal, listening, and writing skills; interpersonal and supervisory skills; ability to keep confidences; knowledge of records management; and knowledge of a variety of software application programs and integrated electronic office systems.