Office management positions increasingly
require specialized training in computer software and business skills.
An online office management associate's degree program prepares students
to direct an office staff and provide administrative business support.
Description of Online Associate's Degree Program in Office Management
Successful office managers know how to use popular business computer
software, understand basic accounting principles and can manage an
administrative staff. An online Associate of Science degree program in
office management teaches students about specific software, business
communication and management through readings, exercises and discussion.
Often offered by community colleges and technical schools, online
office management programs are geared toward office professionals and
those planning to enter the field. Students also take required general
education courses.
Online associate's degrees in office management typically take about
two years to complete. Some schools offer only a portion of their office
management training online, while others offer associate's degrees in
office management entirely online. Increasingly, online schools are
creating interactive, virtual campuses that allow students to
communicate with classmates and professors. Virtual campuses also enable
other tasks typically done in person, like researching in a library,
participating in discussions and taking timed exams.
Office management coursework includes instruction in programs like
Microsoft's Excel and Outlook, which makes it important for students to
have access to these and other popular office tools. Students also need
access to high-speed Internet for many programs that include multimedia
presentations in their teaching methods.
List of Common Online Associate's Degree Office Management Courses
Courses required in an online office management associate's degree
program cover accounting, electronic filing, keyboarding and
communications. Many programs require general education courses like
economics, public speaking or literature.
Business Communications Course
A business communications course teaches office management students
about interacting with clients and co-workers. Students also explore
communications technology, using telephones, computer software, personal
digital assistant devices and voice recognition technology. Business
writing is also a component of many communications classes.
Electronic Filing Course
The Association of Records Managers and Administrators (ARMA)
provides rules for managing records and indexes. An electronic filing
course teaches students to use technology to keep proper records as an
office manager. Some electronic filing courses for office management students include using the keyboard to perform mathematical calculations.
Presentations Course
Office management students in an online associate's degree program
take a presentations course to learn how to effectively assemble data,
text and graphics into a clear and concise slideshow, typically using
Microsoft's PowerPoint program. Many presentation courses also discuss
appearance, speaking techniques and professional behavior.
Business Ethics Course
A business ethics course teaches office management students about
common business practices, legal issues and consequences of workplace
behavior. In an online business ethics course, students might be
required to participate in online discussions via message boards and
e-mail.
Spreadsheets Course
Online office management classes in spreadsheets teach students how
to utilize programs like Microsoft Excel to create templates, analyze
data and print worksheets. Students extensively manipulate and create
spreadsheets and workbooks in an online spreadsheets course.
Intense competition for office management positions is predicted by
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and applicants who hold an
associate's degree in office management can expect to be hired for
entry-level jobs (
www.bls.gov). The BLS says that many companies
hire office managers from within, and many employers are hiring office
managers who possess a bachelor's degree. The number of office
management positions in the U.S. will grow about 11%, says the BLS,
which is about as fast as all other occupations. According to
Payscale.com, office managers with associate's degrees earned a median wage of about $39,000 per year in 2010.
The International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP)
offers a credential called Certified Administrative Professional (CAP),
which is appropriate for aspiring and existing office managers. The IAAP
also offers online training, recertification and online computer
software certification through the Madison Area Technical College, based
in Wisconsin. Other options for office managers who wish to pursue
online certification and training include the Association of
Professional Office Managers, online colleges and other professional
organizations.
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