Office Administration 
Loading... All students must complete the core curriculum of 18 credits and 12 credits through one of the specialized programs. These programs are designed to provide graduates with the critical employability skills required to succeed in the office. Graduates of the program attain professional knowledge and skills in communications, office professionalism, interpersonal relations, and office technology. Students in the Office Administration Certificate programs will develop superior office skills that are highly sought after by all employers.
Graduates have opportunities to enter and advance in careers such as office assistants, legal assistants, administrative assistants, bookkeeping assistants, accounting technicians, and receptionists.
Admission Requirements
If applicants are entering the program directly from high school, they require a High School Diploma with the following Alberta Education courses or equivalents:
- English 30-1 or English 30-2, minimum grade of 50%
- Mathematics 20-1, 20-2, or 20-3, minimum grade of 50%
If applicants do not have a high school diploma and have been out of school for at least one year, they require the following Alberta Education courses or equivalents:
- English 30-1 or English 30-2, minimum grade of 50%
- Mathematics 20-1, 20-2, or 20-3, minimum grade of 50%
Mature Student Admission
If applicants are 21 years of age or older and do not meet any of the admission requirements for this program, they must attain a minimum score on an appropriate entrance test.
Progression Criteria
In addition to the Academic Guidelines, the Department reserves the right to adhere to the following progression criteria:
- If a full-time student fails two courses in a semester, they will be placed on contractual departmental probation. They may be required to attend an additional writing and/or typing lab.
- If a full-time student fails three or more courses in any one semester, they will be required to withdraw from the full-time program for one full semester.
Practicum Progression Criteria
Students will be eligible to enrol in OA1240, Work Experience, on the basis of:
- successful completion of five other OA courses,
- a minimum GPA of 2.3 in the most recently completed semester, and permission of the Practicum Instructor.
In granting permission to enrol in OA1240, the Practicum Instructor will take non-academic factors into consideration (attendance, interpersonal skills, etc.). Once on practicum, employment-level attendance and performance at the job site are required in order to receive credit for OA1240 Work Experience. A second placement will not normally be offered to students who do not receive credit for their first practicum.
Graduation Requirements
To be eligible to receive a Certificate in Office Administration, students must successfully complete all program requirements. If students meet these requirements, they may apply to graduate.
Advanced Standing
If students have completed high school career and technology studies courses, they may be eligible for transfer credit towards Office Administration Certificate courses. As well, some post-secondary courses or prior learning may transfer to Office Administration programs.
If students believe they have completed work experience equivalent to OA1240 Work Experience, they may apply for Advanced Standing in accordance with Northwestern Polytechnic Policy. Advanced Credit or Credit for Prior Learning for OA1240 must be approved before the end of the second week of classes.
High School CTS Course Credit Available
If students have successfully completed courses in the Information Processing or Financial Management strands in the Career and Technology program of studies, they may be eligible for Advanced Standing in Office Administration. Student should inform their advisor, and the Department will assess courses on an individual basis.
Statute of Limitations on Advance Standing
Students transferring into Office Administration with previous software training from other institutions should note that only software training successfully completed within the three years prior to admission will be considered for advanced standing or transfer credit.
Additional Information
*Skill Building Requirement
All students' keyboarding skills will be tested during the Department Orientation. Students who can demonstrate keyboarding skills at 40 net words per minute on a five minute timed test may choose to enroll in a 1.5 credit option. Students not keying at 40 net words per minute are required to enroll in one of OA1231 or OA1232, depending on their skills.
MICROSOFT OFFICE CERTIFICATION
Microsoft Certification courses provide instruction and practice in the concepts required to successfully pass the Microsoft Office Certificate Exam. Students should be aware that there is an extra cost component attached to each Microsoft Office Certification Exam.
Microsoft Office Specialist certification enhances academic performance while providing students with a substantial advantage in their higher learning and workforce pursuits. Students who earn their Microsoft Office Specialist certification will be rewarded with heightened confidence and increasingly competitive academic and workforce environments. They will be qualified to meet greater challenges, possessing the knowledge and ability to be more productive and share information in a compelling, intuitive manner.
The Department of Business and Office Administration is authorized as a Microsoft Office Specialist Testing Centre. For more information visit us at www.gprc.ab.ca.
Contact Information
