Admin Assistant information sheet

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

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The Dordt Difference Dordt College is one of the few places where you can spend two years on the campus of a Christian comprehensive college while you prepare for a career as an administrative assistant. You’ll receive topnotch technical training and become part of a Christian community of new friends who are training for engineering, teaching, accounting, healthcare, and other careers. You will find friendships that may last a lifetime and gain a new sense of God’s calling in your life.

Core courses such as English, history, theology, and communication are an important part of your training. You’ll not only develop specific job skills, you’ll learn how to think critically, how to understand issues, and how to articulate your values. These characteristics will make you a stronger person and also a more confident and capable employee. Employers look for intelligent and responsible problem solvers with good computer skills who are able to take initiative in their work. Dordt A.A. graduates exhibit those qualities.

Our facilities are excellent. Most classes are taught in a classroom computer lab, where you’ll have a personal computer as a tool—just like on the job. Our computers are replaced regularly and run the latest Microsoft software and other popular state-of-the-art business applications. Labs are networked and Internet-enabled to allow easy access to information, communication, and your personal data files.

The business department regularly surveys our alumni to find out about the programs and equipment they are using in the workplace to make sure that you will have the tools you need as you begin your career.

DORDT’S ADVANTAGE In seven of the past 10 years, every graduate of Dordt’s administrative assistant program has found a job after graduation. The overall placement rate is 94 percent. Those who do not obtain a position related to their major have often turned down offers because of geographical or personal preferences, not lack of opportunity. The reputation of our graduates continues to open the door for current and future graduates. You’ll benefit from the contacts we have with our graduates when you begin looking for a position.

THE PROGRAM The associate of arts degree in administrative assistance is a two-year program that will prepare you for a career in professional settings such as legal, educational, and accounting offices. Banks, insurance agencies, and almost any type of business that needs office support personnel also employ our graduates. Courses include: • Business Administration 100 (an introduction to Microsoft Office) • Management and Marketing, along with other business electives • Five degree-oriented courses • Core Program requirements

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

• A few electives • A communication course • For a medical emphasis, you can add human anatomy and physiology or medical terminology Should you decide to continue your studies for a four-year major, the courses you’ve taken will satisfy many of the core requirements for other programs.

Each year, several administrative assistant students decide to remain at Dordt College to work toward four-year degrees in business education, business administration, or communication; some even enter fields unrelated to business.

Graduates advance from our program into challenging positions of responsibility and supervision, positions such as executive secretary and office manager. They also serve as valuable team members in human resources, marketing, and production facilities.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT MARIA (SCHUITEMAN) GALLAGHER (’12) Why did you attend Dordt? I enjoyed the professors when I visited. The campus is beautiful. I wanted to go to a Christian college that had an A.A. degree. Dordt was that school for me.

How did your education prepare you for your current position? I appreciate the well-rounded background in business I had in my two years at Dordt. Working as a customer service representative at Premier Communications, I use the skills I learned every day. I deal with many people each day, and I always aim to let my faith shine through everything that I do, whether that is talking to a customer on the phone or helping someone pay their bill. The business department also helped me understand what servant leadership means and challenged me to honor God with my finances.

What were some of the highlights for you as a student at Dordt?

The community. I knew from the first time I visited that it was where God wanted me. I loved getting to know people from different countries and states. I learned so much about who I was and what I stood for.

The activities. I enjoyed working at 55th Avenue, going on business trips, being on the traveling praise team, attending chapel, dorm get togethers, line dancing and swing dancing, intramurals, Bible studies; they all led to having the opportunity to meet many different people.

The professors. Years later, I can go to them for advice or a reference.

THE FACULTY Tim Klein, M.Ed. Administrative assistant and business technology courses Shirley Folkerts, M.A.Ed., M.Div. Technology courses

Shirley.Folkerts@dordt.edu

For more information go to www.dordt.edu/academics/programs/adm_assistant.

August 2015

Tim.Klein@dordt.edu