Office Administration – Executive

Program Overview

Executive assistants are administrative professionals who contribute to the effectiveness of an office in an important way. They manage projects and budgets, make travel arrangements and manage events, prepare communication and take on a collection of essential tasks. Excellent at time management, project management and multi-tasking, they are critical to any organization. You will learn from professionals who are current in their field and will have the opportunity to enhance your resumé with real-life work experience.

Classes in this program are offered in a compressed format on three consecutive days each week.

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
Grade 12 English (C or U)

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Tuition

Year one domestic: $2,722 (CAD)
Year one international: $13,852 (CAD)

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Semester 1 Courses

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Field Placement

Computer Skills

Practical Learning

Intakes and Availability

Date	Domestic Availability	International Availability
January 2022	Open	Closed
September 2022	Open	Open
January 2023	Open

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Administrative Assistant
Accounts Payable Clerk
Executive Assistant
Customer Service Representative
Human Resources Assistant
Office Manager
Sales Support Representative

View all Career Options

Program Details

Classes in this program are offered in a compressed format on three consecutive days each week.

This two-year diploma program is designed to provide you with the skills and knowledge required of an executive office assistant. You will gain extensive practical understanding and knowledge of office concepts; business operations and procedures; current computer software; and how to collaborate on various management activities.

You will develop your skills through various learning methods such as group and individual projects, discussions, lectures, case studies and office simulations.

Emphasis is placed on the practical demands of the job including:

High-level word processing skills
Preparing professional documents with accuracy
Developing presentation, Internet, email, project management, spreadsheet and database skills in a network environment
Interpersonal and human relations
Meeting deadlines
Organizing activities

If you choose to pursue this option, you should enjoy working on computers and interacting with others. In addition, you must be willing to work to develop a professional level of ability in business skills.

Please note: You will be required to achieve a keyboarding speed of 45 net words per minute to graduate.

Upon successful completion of your first year, you may elect to finish your studies and graduate with a one-year Ontario college certificate in Office Administration. Please make arrangements through the Office of the Registrar.

Students will be provided various Microsoft Office user specialist (MOS) certification opportunities.

ACCREDITATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS

You can increase your marketability by leveraging the learning built directly into the program to help you obtain the following additional credentials:

Microsoft Office Specialist Certification - Word Associate
Microsoft Office Specialist Certification - PowerPoint Associate
Microsoft Office Specialist Certification - Excel Associate

Program Learning Outcomes

Conduct oneself professionally and adhere to relevant legislation, standards and codes of ethics.
Manage the scheduling, coordination and organisation of administrative tasks and workflow within specific deadlines and according to set priorities.
Coordinate the collection, analysis, distribution and response to communications in the workplace to facilitate the flow of information.
Operate and provide support related to the use, maintenance and procurement of office equipment and technologies.
Evaluate, establish and administer a variety of records management systems to ensure confidential, secure, accessible and organised electronic and paper records.
Produce financial documents and reports by identifying and compiling relevant information and using accounting software.
Prepare and produce a variety of business documents using available technologies and applying industry standards.
Use interpersonal, leadership and client service skills to respond to diversity and to support the vision and mission of the organisation.
Research, analyse and summarise information on resources and services and prepare summary reports with recommendations.
Select and use information technologies to support communication with internal and external stakeholders and to promote the organisation.
Organise and coordinate meetings, conferences, special events and make travel arrangements, including the preparation of related documentation.
Support the implementation of projects by applying basic principles of project management.

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
Grade 12 English (C or U)

Courses

The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyCampus.

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Courses and course descriptions are subject to change. Please note that as a result of COVID-19 the 2022-23 program of study may be modified to accommodate program delivery changes.

Costs

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Administrative Assistant
Accounts Payable Clerk
Executive Assistant
Customer Service Representative
Human Resources Assistant
Office Manager
Sales Support Representative

WHERE YOU COULD WORK:

Corporate businesses
Educational institutions
Municipal or provincial government
Non-profit organizations

Field Placement

Your learning experience will be complemented by a workplace field placement component. This will take place within an office environment, and will provide you with practical, hands-on experience and the opportunity to apply the theories and concepts learned in the Office Administration – Executive program.

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions. Sample diploma-to-degree opportunities include:

Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.

Laptop Requirements

MINIMUM RECOMMENDED HARDWARE

Laptop: Personal computer (PC). A Mac is not recommended – see notes below*
Operating System: Windows 10 Professional (64-bit only) and later
Processor: Intel Core i5 or better
Memory: 4 GB of RAM (8 GB preferred)
Hard Drive: 250 GB or larger (Solid State Drive (SSD) preferred)
Warranty: 3 years parts and labour (On-site preferred)
2 USB ports
Webcam
Microphone (headset preferred)

*Mac Computers

Some required software applications are not available for Mac.
Students who choose a Mac may need to purchase additional software to complete assessments and class exercises at their own cost.

SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

Windows 10 Professional (64-bit only)
Microsoft Office 2019 or 365 (Students will be provided access to Microsoft Office 365 through the College’s Microsoft Office account)
Chrome
Internet Explorer/ Edge
Mozilla Firefox
Acrobat Reader
Windows Media Player

NOTE: Some required software applications are not available for MAC OS or Chromebook. Please ensure that you have access to a PC.

Office Administration – Executive

Program Overview

Admission Requirements

Tuition

Semester 1 Courses

Intakes and Availability

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Program Details

ACCREDITATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS

Program Learning Outcomes

Admission Requirements

Courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Costs

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

WHERE YOU COULD WORK:

Field Placement

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Laptop Requirements

MINIMUM RECOMMENDED HARDWARE

SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

Office Administration – Executive in the news

Helpful Resources

Have a Question? Attend a Program Information Webinar

Financial Aid Information

Graduate Employment Report [PDF]

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Attend a Program Information Webinar