Office Technology Course Descriptions

Prerequisite: SS101 or Equivalent

This course continues emphasis on improvement of keyboarding skills with daily practice drills and speed/accuracy timings. Skill in the preparation of business documents, using current computer software programs, such as letters, memos, forms, tables, manuscripts, and e-mail is developed through practice with source documents. Different sources for document production such as straight copy, shorthand, and transcription are also discussed.

Prerequisite: SS102, SS121

This course continues and expands student exposure to the production of more complex business and legal documents using current office and computer equipment, such as the transcribing machine, word processing and spreadsheet programs, and the Internet. Students will achieve the minimum typing speed of 40 words per minute on five-minute timed writings while striving for a combination of speed and accuracy in document production that is necessary in business today.

Prerequisite: SS102, SS121

This course provides the student with skills in keyboarding case materials, correspondence, forms and medical reports that are chosen from the files of practicing health care providers and other medical facilities. Accuracy and efficiency in keyboarding of these documents are developed.

Prerequisite: SS102

This course focuses on skills in keyboarding legal case materials, correspondence, forms, briefs, and other documents associated with the legal profession. Current appropriate computer software programs and functions are utilized. Increased accuracy and speed in document production are developed through practice drills and regular timings.

Prerequisite: SS101

This course provides the student with skills in transcribing medical reports, each of which relates to a patient with a specific medical condition. These medical reports are taken from inpatients as well as outpatients. Listening and proofreading skills are developed. Use of English language skills (grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and word division) are incorporated into document preparation. Accuracy and efficiency in transcribing documents for the medical field are introduced in order to produce an accurate and well-formatted document.

Prerequisite: SS106

This course provides the students with further skills in transcribing dictation involving systems of the body. The course provides students with competitive transcription skills. The course reinforces and supplements medical terminology and other skills acquired in SS106.

Prerequisite: SS111

This course provides the student with an understanding of how to arrange travel, assist in the arrangement of meetings/conferences, implement cost control methods, and use modern technology, such as the Internet, for researching information for business reports. Topics include business correspondence, record management, and banking procedures. The student will learn how to maintain payroll, employee tax, petty cash and inventory records. Financial instruments will be discussed.

Prerequisite: SS101

This course provides the student with skills in medical billing and practice management on a computer system. Students will be introduced to the basic International Classification of Disease (ICD-4) and Common Procedural Terminology (CPT-4). Input of patient demographics and patient charges for services, as well as posting computerized insurance billings and payments, is presented in the keyboarding laboratory environment.

Prerequisite: SS101

This course provides instruction in word processing utilizing current software programs. The basic operations of word processing programs are covered with the production of a broad variety of business office documents such as letters, memos, manuscripts/reports and tables. Students develop word processing techniques necessary for employment in contemporary business.

Prerequisite: SS101 or CP100

This course provides the student with skills in desktop publishing: the production of artistically typeset documents. Familiarization with equipment, available software, and electronic printing will be emphasized. Students will receive hands-on laboratory training relating to typesetting on the microcomputer. Topics include input, composition, and output in electronic publishing.

Prerequisite: SS101

The study of shorthand characters is presented. Dictation of unfamiliar business letters, at suitable levels of speed and accuracy, are developed.

Prerequisite: SS131

Principles of shorthand theory and business vocabulary are reviewed and developed. Dictation of business documents, at suitable levels of speed and accuracy, are developed. Typewritten transcription of letters with copies and envelopes are produced.

Prerequisite: SS101

Accurate and efficient dictation and transcription skills for legal documents used in litigation, including complaints, answers, affidavits, summonses, verifications and judgments are developed. Envelopes are produced.

Prerequisite: SS201

Accurate and efficient dictation and transcription skills for nonlitigation documents including contracts, powers of attorney, wills, and real estate papers are developed.

Prerequisite: SS211

A discussion of the duties of a legal secretary through the utilization
of a simulated legal office. Preparation of inter-office
memoranda, appellate briefs, pleadings, contracts, wills, business
agreements, and legal business letters is included.

Prerequisite: SS131

This course develops legal vocabulary building for accurate and efficient dictation and transcription of legal correspondence, speeches and legal opinion memoranda.

Prerequisite: SS231

The development of accurate and efficient dictation and transcription of inter-office memoranda, appellate briefs, pleadings, contracts, wills, business agreements, and legal business letters is presented. Computer resources and Internet facilities are provided to students for use in course assignments and research.

Prerequisite: SS101

This course provides the student with an understanding of the responsibilities of the medical secretary in a health care providers office. Billing, insurance forms, appointment scheduling, and medical terminology are discussed. The terminology of disease, operations (surgery) and symptomatology is presented. The historical development of medical records and the functions of the professional association are discussed.

Prerequisite: SS101

This course provides the student with an understanding of the responsibilities of the financial secretary. The areas to be covered include customer relations, securities, stocks, bonds and other types of investments. The relationships among the various components of a financial institution, both national and international, are discussed in relation to the secretary's role. Buying and selling procedures and record keeping as applied to such areas as stock and commodity exchanges are presented. Legal considerations are discussed.