Pierce College Home • Programs • Student Services • Educational Support • Student Life • Faculty Sites • Community Services • News & Events • About Pierce College • FAQ • Contact Us • Search

Pierce College District 11 Catalog, Program listing for 2003–2005

List of changes since catalog printing | Jump to table of contents | Go to list of courses
This information dates from the 2003 - 2005 catalog. Not all information is completely up-to-date. If you have questions, contact us.

Office Technology

Faculty (Fort Steilacoom): Katrina Bakke, Candace Gentry, Luann Wolden
  (Puyallup): Carol McGonagill, Karen Myers
Degrees: Administrative Assistant: General Office
Administrative Assistant: Office Management
Administrative Assistant: International Business
Administrative Assistant: Legal Office
Medical Office Assistant (Transcriptionist)
Certificates: Office Assistant: General
Office Assistant: Legal
Office Assistant: Medical
Office Assistant: Medical Billing
Administrative Assistant: General Office

Today's office environment requires support staff who have skills in business communications and computer technology. Students in the Administrative Assistant program prepare for careers in business, industry, and government. When composing documents, students integrate information from various computer programs including word processing, spreadsheets and presentations. An office internship is required.

List of all Office Technology (OFFCE) courses

See Catalog pg. 61-64

Office Technology Requirements

Business Requirements

Administrative Assistant: Office Management

Experienced office workers find that the Office Management degree provides them with the necessary technical knowledge and supervisory skills to move into office management. Positions in private enterprise and government service are available in the fields of personnel, finance, production, marketing, and administration. Students develop proficiency in using word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation software. Students gain a solid foundation in business principles, while focusing on supervisory skills. An office internship is required.

Office Technology Requirements (50-51 credits)

General Business And Management Requirements (48 credits)

Total Credits Required 98-99

*Meets related instruction requirements for professional/technical programs.

Administrative Assistant: International Business

International business assistants work in areas such as the Puget Sound, where a heavy dependence on international trade exists. Secretaries in this field develop cultural understanding with required skills in one foreign language, anthropology, and international business communication. Students develop computer skills including word processing, spreadsheets, presentation and databases. Students learn to produce complex business reports created from a variety of computer-generated information sources as well as building on their grammar and business writing skills. An office internship is required.

Office Technology Requirements (50-51 credits)

Business Requirements

General Requirements

Foreign Language (same language) 15

Total Credits Required 101-102

*Meets related instruction requirements for professional/technical programs.

Administrative Assistant: Legal Office

Legal office assistants are in demand in private law offices, large corporations, financial institutions, and government offices. They are knowledgeable about spreadsheets and databases and are experts in using word processing software to increase their productivity. In addition, their positions require an understanding of legal procedures and court rules.

Students in this program develop the ability to use appropriate legal terminology, prepare accurate court and other legal documents, handle professional correspondence, serve as receptionists, and assume considerable responsibility for the management of the law practice. The importance of technology to productivity is emphasized. Courses in word processing, spreadsheets and databases culminate in the preparation of sophisticated business reports linking information from various computer programs. A legal office internship is required.

Office TechnologyRequirements

General Business Requirements

Total Credits Required 94-95

*Meets related instruction requirements for professional/technical programs.

Medical Office Assistant (Transcriptionist)

Students in the Medical Office Assistant (Transcriptionist) program prepare to work in a variety of medical office settings, which include clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, laboratories, and physicians' and dentists' offices. Medical office assistants (transcriptionists) must work with a high degree of accuracy and a clear understanding of medical ethics, legality of medical reports, and empathy for patients.

A thorough knowledge of punctuation and grammar, medical terminology, medical transcription, medical forms (including basic coding and processing insurance forms), word processing, and accounting are essential elements of this program. Additional courses in spreadsheets and databases broaden the required computer knowledge in this field. An Office Internship Is Required.

Core Requirements (72-73 credits)

General Business Requirements (23 credits)

General Requirements (2 credits)

Total Credits Required 97-98

Transcriptionist–Omit Professional Office Applications III and Medical Forms & Referral Management and add Medical Transcription I (5) and II (5)

*Meets related instruction requirements for professional/technical programs.

**Valid First Aid/CPR card satisfies this requirement

Certificate - Office Assistant: General

Students who earn the General certificate gain a full range of basic employable skills in a relatively short time. Students complete courses in word processing, spreadsheet preparation, filing, database management, and communications.

Core Requirements

Total Credits Required 52-53

*Meets related instruction requirements for professional/technical programs.

Office Assistant: Legal

Experienced office assistants with a solid foundation in basic skills can move into the legal field upon completion of this certificate program. The program provides an understanding of the law, familiarity with legal vocabulary and procedures, fine tuning of grammar and business writing principles, and an opportunity to learn about the features of computer technology, including word processing, spreadsheets, and database software.

Core Requirements (42-43 credits)

General Business Requirements (16 credits)

Total Credits Required (5)8-59

*Meets related instruction requirements for professional/technical programs.

Office Assistant: Medical

As the front-office person, the receptionist greets patients, screens telephone calls, schedules appointments, and assists in records management and accounting. The medical receptionist works with a high degree of accuracy and a clear understanding of medical ethics, legality of medical reports, and empathy for patients. The medical receptionist student prepares for employment by taking courses in medical terminology, forms and referral management, office procedures, and word processing.

Core Requirements (37-38 credits)

General Business Requirements (18 credits)

General Requirements (2 credits)

Total Credits Required 58-59

*Meets related instruction requirements for professional/technical programs.

**Valid First Aid/CPR card satisfies this requirement

Office Assistant: Medical Billing

Students in the Medical Billing program prepare for employment as ambulatory care coders (ICD-9-CM and CPT), billers, patient account representatives, surgery schedulers, and other support positions in a variety of medical settings. Graduates are able to code and bill accurately, ethically, and assertively; optimize reimbursement; research and explain coverage to patients and families; and handle all components of claims processing.

Office Technology Requirements (28 credits)

General Requirements (34 credits)

Total Credits Required 62

*Meets related instruction requirements for professional/technical programs

**Valid First Aid/CPR card satisfies this requirement