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  • Office Administration – Executive

Office Administration – Executive

Credential
Ontario College Diploma
Location
Whitby
School
School of Business, IT & Management (BITM)
Length
Four semesters
OCAS Code
OFEX
Next Intake
September 2021   +View all Intakes
Laptop
Learn more about laptop requirements
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Apply Now
  • Overview
  • Program Details
  • Admission Requirements
  • Courses
  • Costs
  • Career Options
  • Field Placement
  • Transfer
  • Laptop

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)

View All Requirements

Tuition

Year one domestic: $2,722 (CAD)
Year one international: $13,322 (CAD)

View Full Costs

Semester 1 Courses

  • Communication Foundations - Business, IT & Management (COMM 1801)
  • Fundamental Communication Skills (COMM 1810)
  • Document Production 1 (DOCU 1600)
  • General Education Elective (GNED 0000)
  • Keyboarding Fundamentals (KEYB 1300)
  • Technology And Office Procedures (OFFC 1300)
  • Office Professionalism (PROF 1303)

View All Courses

Field Placement
Field Placement
Computer Skills
Computer Skills
Practical Learning
Practical Learning

Intakes and Availability

Date Domestic Availability International Availability
September 2021OpenOpen
January 2022OpenOpen

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

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Conduct oneself professionally and adhere to relevant legislation, standards and codes of ethics.
  2. Manage the scheduling, coordination and organisation of administrative tasks and workflow within specific deadlines and according to set priorities.
  3. Coordinate the collection, analysis, distribution and response to communications in the workplace to facilitate the flow of information.
  4. Operate and provide support related to the use, maintenance and procurement of office equipment and technologies.
  5. Evaluate, establish and administer a variety of records management systems to ensure confidential, secure, accessible and organised electronic and paper records.
  6. Produce financial documents and reports by identifying and compiling relevant information and using accounting software.
  7. Prepare and produce a variety of business documents using available technologies and applying industry standards.
  8. Use interpersonal, leadership and client service skills to respond to diversity and to support the vision and mission of the organisation.
  9. Research, analyse and summarise information on resources and services and prepare summary reports with recommendations.
  10. Select and use information technologies to support communication with internal and external stakeholders and to promote the organisation.
  11. Organise and coordinate meetings, conferences, special events and make travel arrangements, including the preparation of related documentation.
  12. 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

  • Communication Foundations - Business, IT & Management (COMM 1801)
  • Fundamental Communication Skills (COMM 1810)
  • Document Production 1 (DOCU 1600)
  • General Education Elective (GNED 0000)
  • Keyboarding Fundamentals (KEYB 1300)
  • Technology And Office Procedures (OFFC 1300)
  • Office Professionalism (PROF 1303)

Semester 2

  • Practical Skills For Employment (CAPS 1300)
  • Business Writing Strategies (COMM 2710)
  • Document Production 2 (DOCU 2600)
  • Financial Administration In The Office (FINC 1301)
  • General Education Elective (GNED 0000)
  • Office Professionalism II (PROF 2303)

Semester 3

  • Introduction To Bookkeeping (BOOK 3601)
  • Comm. For Office Prof III (COMM 3310)
  • Word Processing And Email (DOCU 3600)
  • Advanced Spreadsheets And Microsoft Integration (DOCU 3700)
  • Field Placement Preparation (FWKP 1304)
  • Advanced Keyboarding (KEYB 2301)

Semester 4

  • Introduction To Project Management And Coordination (BUS 3601)
  • Event And Travel Planning (EVNT 3601)
  • Field Placement Sem-Executive (FWK 3308)
  • General Education Elective (GNED 0000)
  • Meeting Management (MANG 3601)
  • Desktop Publishing (PUBL 1303)

Courses and course descriptions are subject to change. Please note that as a result of COVID-19 the 2020-21 program of study may be modified to accommodate program delivery changes. Students should refer to their timetable for the most up-to-date course information.

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:

  • Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) – Ontario Tech University (Ontario Tech)
  • Bachelor of Arts (Honours) – Educational Studies and Digital Technology – Ontario Tech
  • Bachelor of Professional Arts in Communication Studies – Athabasca University
  • Bachelor of Business Administration – General Business – Davenport University
  • Bachelor of Arts in Information Systems Managements – Institute of Technology, Tralee (Ireland)

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.

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