Office and Business Technology (OBT)

Office and Business Technology Degrees and Courses

Program Description

Program Closure - Skagit Valley College will no longer accept students into Office and Business Technology program degrees and certificates after September 24th, 2019. Students enrolled in Office and Business Technology degrees and certificates will have until Spring quarter of 2021 to complete their programs. For more information please contact the Office and Business Technology Department Chairs, Tamara Oakes and Kristi Spinnie, at Tamara.Oakes@skagit.edu and Kristi.Spinnie@skagit.edu.

The Office and Business Technology (OBT) program offers a learner-centered and employment-focused curriculum for students seeking training in administrative office and accounting support positions. Careers as administrative assistants and accounting paraprofessionals are evolving with broader responsibilities and higher salaries. Faculty members work closely with local employers to ensure that current curriculum represents current job requirements.

Key curriculum courses include business software applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint), desktop publishing, communication skills, records management, and accounting. Students may choose to pursue an Associate in Applied Science degree (93 credits) or a specialized certificate (43-70 credits). Students may also choose to group certain key curriculum courses that will support related programs or fulfill industry-specific competencies.

Degree Options

Career paths for students who successfully complete the Administrative Assistant degree emphasis might include employment as an Executive Assistant, Administrative Assistant, Executive/Confidential Secretary, or Office Manager. Completion of the Accounting Paraprofessional degree emphasis could lead to employment as an Accounting Technician, Accounts Payable/Receivable Clerk, Payroll Clerk, or Full-Charge Bookkeeper.

Students who plan to major in Accounting or Business Administration at a four-year institution should take ACCT& 201 , ACCT& 202 , and ACCT& 203 . Course descriptions are listed under Business Administration.

Certificate Options

Certificates may be earned by completing initial, intermediate, or advanced courses targeted for individual career pursuits. These certificates are designed for those whose intended job does not require an associate degree or for those who wish additional training in specific areas.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Office and Business Technology program will be able to:

Select and use appropriate application software to complete business-related tasks, integrating the applications when appropriate (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook). Completed tasks will demonstrate attention to detail and will contain minimal errors.
Demonstrate the ability to use appropriate filing procedures to store and retrieve records necessary for the day-to-day operations of an organization.
Demonstrate a basic understanding of accounting concepts (accounting equation, journalizing and posting transactions, end-of-period transactions, and financial statement) and basic payroll procedures (earnings and deductions, complete payroll cycle, employer taxes, and common federal forms).
Create a position-specific and error-free employment application packet (cover letter, resume, and application).

In addition to outcomes 1 through 4, Administrative Assistant AAS students will be able to:

Demonstrate the ability to properly format a variety of commonly-used business documents with a very high degree of accuracy.

In addition to outcomes 1 through 4, Accounting Paraprofessional AAS students will be able to:

Demonstrate the ability to records business transactions in a variety of business structures (sole proprietorship or partnership, service or merchandising business) in both manual and computerized accounting systems.

General Education Learning Outcomes

Think

Think analytically, logically, creatively, and reflectively.

Quantify

Apply mathematical skills quantitatively, logically, creatively, and critically.

Communicate

Produce and exchange ideas and information through written, spoken, and visual forms.

Integrate

Apply knowledge, skills, and methodologies from multiple disciplines.

Engage

Interact with humans and the environment informed by an understanding of equity.

Entry into the Program

Please apply at Enrollment Services. The admission and registration guidelines are listed in the catalog and on the College’s website, www.skagit.edu. Before enrolling in Office and Business Technology (OBT), students are encouraged to review the sample schedules and the course descriptions. Although students may enter the program at the beginning of any quarter, some key courses are offered only at specific times during the year.

Career & Technical Education (CTE)

Please see Non-Degree Programs for information regarding CTE.

Work-Based Learning

Students working toward an AAS degree will integrate their classroom learning with work-based learning by participating in Cooperative Education (OBT 199 ) at a supervised work site. Department Chair approval is required.

Credits and grades are based on job hours worked, work performance, and completion of learning objectives specified in a learning contract. Concurrent enrollment in the Cooperative Education seminar or equivalent is required. A special project may be substituted for Cooperative Education with consent of the Department Chair.

Credit by Examination

Credit by examination is available for the following OBT courses: OBT 115 , OBT 122 , OBT 132 , OBT 134 , OBT 140 , and ACCT 145 . Regulations for awarding credit by examination have been established by the college and are listed in the “Academic Regulations” section of this catalog.

Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree

An Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree is awarded upon completion of a minimum of 90 credits of specified technical and related education coursework above 100-level with both an overall 2.0 grade point average and a 2.0 grade point average in the technical major.

These suggested schedules illustrate one way students can complete the OBT program and obtain an associate degree.

Note: these suggested schedules are for first-year, full-time students who begin school fall quarter.

It is important to consult each course description for any prerequisites required.
Some courses are offered only once a year. It is important to review the annual schedule.
Quarterly schedules are subject to change. Students should contact a department adviser to review any changes prior to registering for classes.
Students starting winter or spring quarters should contact a department adviser.

Program Certificates

A Certificate in Office and Business Technology is granted upon completion of the following requirements with a 2.0 grade point average or above. Credits earned in these certificates can be applied to requirements in the degree program.

Office and Business Technology (OBT) Degrees and Courses

Programs

Courses

Office and Business Technology