Wallace State: Business Education

Admission Requirements and Curriculum (catalog)

AWARD OFFERED Associate in Applied Science Degree

As the reliance on technology continues to expand in offices, the role of the office professional has greatly evolved. Office automation and organizational restructuring have led secretaries and administrative assistants to assume responsibilities once reserved for managerial and professional staff. Many secretaries and administrative assistants now provide training and orientation for new staff, conduct research on the Internet, and operate and troubleshoot new office technologies. In spite of these changes, however, the core responsibilities for secretaries and administrative assistants have remained much the same: Performing and coordinating an office’s administrative activities and storing, retrieving, and integrating information for dissemination to staff and clients.

Secretaries and administrative assistants are responsible for a variety of administrative duties and must possess technological skills to run an organization efficiently. They serve as information and communication managers for an office; plan and schedule meetings and appointments; organize and maintain paper and electronic files; manage projects; conduct research; and disseminate information by using the telephone, mail services, Web sites, and e-mail. They also may handle travel and guest arrangements.

The Business Education and Office Administration programs are designed for those students who wish to pursue careers in the accounting and administrative assistant fields. The program offers a comprehensive curriculum to help students progress rapidly into a changing business world.

Those who have knowledge of a wide range of bookkeeping and accounting activities, and those with extensive knowledge of software applications, will be in great demand in today’s office environment.

Demand for full-charge bookkeepers is expected to increase, because they are called upon to do much of the work of accountants, as well as perform a wider variety of financial transactions, from payroll to billing.

In May 2004, the median wage and salary annual earnings of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks were $28,570. Median annual earnings of executive secretaries and administrative assistants were $34,970 in May 2004. (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Marcy Manning, Advisor
256/352-8174
mary.manning@wallacestate.edu