Administrative Assistant

Effective: Fall 2023
Associate in Science Program Map
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This program map from the 2024-2025 catalog year represents one possible pathway to complete this program. Your pathway may vary depending on your transfer plans and also previous college credit, including AP Test scores, concurrent enrollment courses and high school articulated courses.

I'm ready to get started. What do I do next?

  1. Review this program map to get an overview of the required courses
  2. Meet with a counselor to develop your customized student education plan www.chabotcollege.edu/counseling
  3. Use DegreeWorks, an online student education planning tool, to track your progress toward graduation www.chabotcollege.edu / admissions / degreeworks
Program Description

The two Administrative Assistant programs are stackable: you start with the Administrative Assistant certificate of achievement (21 units), then take 12 more units of major courses, the general education classes (15 units), and 12 units of electives (any courses) to graduate with the AS in Administrative Assistant (60 units). All classes in the major are available online, so you can complete these two diplomas fully online. The goal of both programs is immediate employment.


What can I do with this major?
By completing the Administrative Assistant certificate, you can obtain such positions as an Executive Assistant, Assistant Office Manager, Assistant to the Vice President or the President, Personal Assistant, Office Specialist. There are 8,663 new jobs open in this field in the Bay Area, including 1,607 new jobs in the East Bay. The median hourly wage is $30.57 for the Bay Area and $27.45 for East Bay. As you start growing in your career, you will continue your studies with the next level AS Administrative Assistant degree. After gaining some experience in the administrative assistant career, you will usually find more career options.

Learning and Career Pathway
  • Business, Economics & Information Technology

Icon Key

= Critical Course = Prerequisite for Other Courses = Prerequisite Required = Required for Major GE = General Education

Semester 1

16 units

CAS 50
Introduction to Computer Application Systems

3 units
Introduction to computer applications systems as it relates to business and home use. Course introduces software topics in Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, internet, World Wide Web, electronic mail, file management, data communications and an introduction to basic computer programming. Hardware topics include PC system components and troubleshooting issues. Other topics include computer-based careers and trends, electronic computing issues, terminology, electronic communication skills, ethics, security, and netiquette in today’s business computing environment.
Course Details:

CAS 71
Keyboarding & 10 Key

3 units
Students will master the touch operation on a computer keyboard and 10 key pad. Correct fingering by touch and good posturing techniques will be emphasized along with speed and accuracy. Students will use basic word processing functions on a variety of document types.
Course Details:

    BUS 14
    Business Communications

    3 units
    This course applies the principles of ethical and effective communication to the creation of letters, memos, emails, and written and oral reports for a variety of business situations. The course emphasizes planning, organizing, composing, and revising business documents using word processing software for written documents and presentation-graphics software to create and deliver professional-level oral reports. This course is designed for students who already have college-level writing skills.
    Course Details:
    1. Strongly Recommended: ENGL 1

    List A Course #1

    3 units
    Select one course from List A
    See the full list: (Click here)

    English 1- Critical Reading and Composition

    4 units
    GE

    Semester 2

    15-17 units

    CAS 54
    Microsoft Excel

    3 units
    This course covers an in depth look at Microsoft Excel, a widely used spreadsheet application program that allows users to complete advanced mathematical formulas and functions, display information through graphs and charts with the use a microcomputer. Students will be prepared to take the Microsoft Certification Exams.
    Course Details:

      BUS 7
      Accounting for Small Business

      3 units
      Bookkeeping practices and accounting cycle for a service and merchandising sole proprietorship. Double-accounting entry system (debits and credits), journal, ledgers, adjusting and closing entries, income statement, balance sheet, and statement of owner’s equity, cash, banking activities, payroll, merchandising transactions.
      Course Details:

      CAS 88
      Microsoft Word

      3 units
      This course covers Microsoft Word in depth, teaching word processing creation, editing, and advanced features adding functionality to electronic documents. This course will prepare a student to sit for the Microsoft MOS Certification Exam.
      Course Details:

        List A Course #2

        3 units
        Select one course from List A not already taken
        See the full list: (Click here)

        Math Course: see a counselor to choose the appropriate course.

        3-5 units
        GE
        BUS 19 Business Statistics recommended

        Semester 3

        15 units

        List A course #3

        3 units
        Select one course from List A not already taken
        See the full list: (Click here)

        General Education Course- see a counselor to choose the appropriate general education pattern and general ed course option for this term.

        3 units
        GE

        General Education Course- see a counselor to choose the appropriate general education pattern and general ed course option for this term.

        3 units
        GE

        General Education Course- see a counselor to choose the appropriate general education pattern and general ed course option for this term.

        3 units
        GE

        Elective- see a counselor to choose a course that counts for elective units (can be any credit course).

        3 units

        Semester 4

        14 units

        List B courses

        3 units
        Choose three courses from List B for a total of 3 units
        See the full list: (Click here)

        General Education Course- see a counselor to choose the appropriate general education pattern and general ed course option for this term.

        3 units
        GE

        Electives- see a counselor to choose courses that count for elective units (can be any credit courses).

        8 units

        List A

        BUS 12
        Introduction to Business

        3 units
        Survey of the private enterprise system and basic business concepts, business economics, types of business ownership, ethics, globalization, and organizational functions (management, marketing, accounting, human resources, and finance). Provides a multidisciplinary examination of how culture, society, economic systems, legal, international, political, financial institutions, and human behavior interact to influence an organization's policies and practices within the U.S. and a global environments.

        BUS 16
        Business Mathematics

        3 units
        Mathematics to solve typical business problems including banking, simple interest, compound interest, installment sales, trade and cash discounts, markup percents, pricing, discounting notes and drafts, payroll, insurance, statistics, stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.
        Course Details:

          BUS 21
          Human Resource Management

          3 units
          Introduction to the management of human resources and an understanding of the impact and accountability to the organization in terms of human resource activities. Global human resource strategies, social and organizational realities, legal implications affecting people at work, union/non-union practices, comparable work, employee compensations, benefits, and employee rights.
          Course Details:

          BUS 22
          Introduction to Management

          3 units
          Principles and concepts of traditional management tasks, contemporary management challenges including human relations, diversity, quality, social responsibility and ethics, the global environment, human resource management, business communications, competitiveness, motivation, leadership and teamwork.
          Course Details:

          BUS 28
          Human Relations in the Workplace

          3 units
          Business concepts of individual, group, and organizational human behavior as they affect human relations, performance, and productivity within the workplace. Strategies and techniques that influence communications, employee leadership and interactions among people—including cultural diversity and its impact—are explored.
          Course Details:

          BUS 36
          Introduction to Marketing

          3 units
          Survey of marketing, including consumer behavior, company and environmental analysis, market segmentation, product development, pricing, promotion, and distribution. Marketing for small and large businesses, startups, governments, and institutions. Personal, consumer, business to business and digital marketing are included.
          Course Details:

          List B

          Select three of the following courses (3 units total)

          BUS 50K
          Listening Skills

          1 unit
          Examination of listening styles and skill development for the business environment. Includes exploration of the benefits of listening, listening attitudes, and tips for improving listening. Increase leadership skills and exploring active listening.
          Course Details:

          BUS 50A
          Skills for Supervisors

          1 unit
          This course will provide survival skills for new supervisors and those who aspire to move to managerial positions. Necessary skills of time management, leadership, planning, motivation, conducting meetings, communication, handling stress, conflict, and performance appraisals will be discussed. Students will be involved in a variety of management exercises, discussions, current trends in supervision, and real-world case studies.
          Course Details:

          BUS 50C
          Interviewing for Success

          1 unit
          Principles and techniques of successful employment interviews: interview preparation, selling your qualifications, managing difficult qualifications, following up on the interview.

          BUS 50M
          Workplace Diversity

          1 unit
          Tips and tools to value and manage diversity in the workplace.  Overview of theoretical and legal perspectives, dimensions of diversity, the impact of diversity on the workplace. Case studies to acknowledge differences and successfully build relationships with people of diverse backgrounds.

          BUS 50N
          Dealing with Difficult People

          1 unit
          Techniques for resolving and preventing interpersonal conflict in the workplace.

          BUS 50D
          Resumes and Job Application Letters

          1 unit
          Research and preparation of persuasive employment search documents, including company research, self-assessment, document composition and format. Includes resumes, job application letters, and follow up communications.

          BUS 50J
          Time Management Skills

          1 unit
          Practical tips and tools to manage time in academic and business-related situations. Setting short-term and long-term goals. Prioritization of goals and activities. Developing plans; organizing your workplace. Typical time wasters/time leaks, including procrastination, and ways of overcoming them.
          Course Details:

          BUS 50P
          Quality Customer Service

          1 unit
          Techniques and tools to understand customer expectations, and to exceed those expectations. Includes analysis of customer needs, delivery of quality customer service, and dealing with challenging customers to win customer loyalty.

          BUS 50R
          Being a Successful Virtual Worker

          1 unit
          Students will learn about the skills, characteristics, and strategies of successful remote/virtual workers, as well as the aspects that impede successfully working in a virtual position. Students will examine elements related to keeping productivity high and creating a healthy virtual work life and personal life balance.
          Course Details:

          BUS 50S
          Managing Virtual Teams

          1 unit
          Students will discover the characteristics and skills of effective virtual team members and leaders. Students will learn the virtual team life cycle (including establishing and disbanding a virtual team), effective communication in and with a virtual team, and leading virtual team members to keep them engaged.
          Course Details:
          Total Units: 60-62 units
          This program map is not a guarantee of course availability or financial aid applicability.