Applied Business Technology

The Applied Business Technology program prepares students to work in offices in business, government, and industry. The demand for administrative assistants in government, municipal offices, accounting firms, oil and gas, legal, and health care is growing, and employers actively seek graduates. Students are trained in current software packages and administrative procedures in order to be prepared for employment upon graduation.

This program teaches current office skills in word processing, keyboarding, spreadsheets, automated accounting and bookkeeping. Business communications and office procedures courses enable students to develop the soft skills necessary for success in today’s offices. Students utilize current Microsoft Office software in the program. While most students complete the Administrative Assistant specialization, two alternative streams, Financial Assistant and Office Assistant, enable students to exit early. Each stream includes a one- or two-week practicum placement to give students the opportunity to apply their new skills in an office environment.

Note: Applicants should have a basic familiarity with computers and a minimum typing speed of 15 wpm.

Executive Assistant

The Executive Assistant Certificate is designed for graduates of Administrative Assistant Certificate programs who want to develop their career opportunities and educational qualifications. Graduates will be prepared to seek opportunities as office managers or as assistants to senior executives. Graduates will also have the opportunity to ladder their coursework into business degree programs at Thompson Rivers University.

Program graduates may seek opportunities as office managers or as assistants to senior executives. Program graduates will also be well-prepared to write the accreditation exams for the Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) or the Organizational Management (OM) designation programs.