Office Technology
The Associate of Applied Business in Office Technology at Kent State University prepares students for diverse administrative and office support roles across industries. This online program covers essential skills such as computer applications, office management, and customer service, equipping graduates to handle the demands of modern office environments. Ideal for those looking to enter the workforce or advance in administrative careers, this program provides a strong foundation in office technology and organizational efficiency.
Office Technology Undergraduate Certificate Program Overview
The Associate of Applied Business degree in Office Technology focuses primarily on front-end office functions, where employees use technology for daily job responsibilities that may include producing business documents, designing presentations, generating data reports and creating financial spreadsheets. Students use the most current versions of business software applications and learn the fundamentals of accounting, automated records management, business communications and resource management.
Graduates gain a wide variety of computer application skills needed for gainful employment in office administrative support positions, including office assistant, accounting clerk, office manager, administrative coordinator, executive administrative and administrative assistant–technology.
The Office Technology major includes the following optional concentration:
- The Medical Billing/ Coding Office concentration provides a basic understanding of software, medical terminology, billing/coding and procedures used in medical settings such as hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices and outsourcing facilities involved with providing billing operations.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Organize, manage and analyze critical business data using spreadsheet and database software.
- Create state-of-the-art documents, using design guidelines, terminology and basic publication concepts of industry standards.
- Import and integrate data from their original software to another for upgraded usage.
- Determine the most appropriate software to use in creating specific business documents that meet industry standards for mailing.
- Contrast, compare and adapt to forces that influence emerging management practices.
- Manage the people, productivity, technology and environment within the administrative function of an organization.
- Integrate coursework with realistic office settings, emphasizing the total quality management environment.
- Use multiple channels used in business to communicate with others
- Participate in the activities of various businesses to determine the variety of job responsibilities assigned to employees in their profession; develop job search strategies for use in their outreach activities.
- Track and provide administrative support in managing projects, using software designed for this specific purpose.
- Examine, describe and exercise various leadership, decision-making and motivational skills.
Program Structure
61-64 minimum total credit hours: 18-19 credits (6) major requirement courses, 2-3 credits of seminar or internship, 8 credits (3) additional requirement courses, 12 credits (4) Kent Core courses, 9 credits (3) applied elective courses, 12-15 credits of additional requirements or concentration courses
Office Technology Undergraduate Certificate Program Admissions Requirements
The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.
Kent State campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, and the Twinsburg Academic Center, have open enrollment admission for students who hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.
Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.
For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.
Program Courses
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| BSCI 10001 | HUMAN BIOLOGY (KBS) | 3-4 |
| BSCI 11010 | FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB) | |
| BSCI 21010 | ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB) | |
| OTEC 16620 | WORD PROCESSING I | 3 |
| OTEC 16639 | DATABASE APPLICATIONS | 3 |
| OTEC 26611 | SPREADSHEET APPLICATIONS | 3 |
| OTEC 26635 | ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| OTEC 26640 | CURRENT TECHNOLOGIES | 3 |
| OTEC 26691 | SEMINAR FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS | 2-3 |
| OTEC 26692 | INTERNSHIP FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS (ELR) | |
| Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA) | ||
| ACTT 11000 | ACCOUNTING I: FINANCIAL | 4 |
| IT 21010 | WORKGROUP PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE | 3 |
| UC 10001 | FLASHES 101 | 1 |
| Kent Core Composition | 3 | |
| Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning | 3 | |
| Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Kent Core Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Applied Electives, choose from the following: 2 | 9 | |
| BMRT 11000 | INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS | |
| BMRT 11009 | INTRODUCTION TO MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY | |
| BMRT 21000 | BUSINESS LAW AND ETHICS I | |
| BMRT 31006 | HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT | |
| IT 11000 | INTRODUCTION TO OFFICE PRODUCTIVITY APPS 1 | |
| IT 11004 | SURVEY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | |
| IT 11005 | INTRODUCTION TO OPERATING SYSTEMS AND NETWORKING TECHNOLOGY | |
| IT 11006 | INTRODUCTION TO WEB SITE TECHNOLOGY | |
| OTEC 16640 | ADVANCED DATABASE APPLICATIONS | |
| OTEC 16680 | COMPUTER KEYBOARDING | |
| OTEC 26623 | DESKTOP PUBLISHING II | |
| OTEC 26636 | PROJECT MANAGEMENT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS | |
| OTEC 26638 | BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS | |
| OTEC 26695 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS | |
| Any Office Technology (OTEC) course (consult with program coordinator) | ||
| Additional Requirements or Concentrations | ||
| Choose from the following: | 12-15 | |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 61-64 | |
1IT 11000 may count toward applied electives if taken before or with any other Information Technology (IT) or Office Technology (OTEC) course.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| OTEC 16621 | WORD PROCESSING II | 3 |
| OTEC 16625 | BUSINESS PRESENTATIONS | 3 |
| OTEC 16638 | GOOGLE APPLICATIONS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS | 3 |
| OTEC 26622 | DESKTOP PUBLISHING I | 3 |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 12 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| HED 14020 | MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY | 3 |
| OTEC 26638 | BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS | 3 |
| OTEC 26650 | MEDICAL BILLING PROCEDURES | 3 |
| OTEC 26655 | ICD CODING | 3 |
| OTEC 26656 | CURRENT PROCEDURAL TERMINOLOGY (CPT) CODING | 3 |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 15 | |
Office Technology Undergraduate Certificate Program Tuition and Fees
Ohio Residents
| Per Credit Hour | Per 3-Credit Course | Approximate Tuition Cost |
$335.57 Lower Division Courses $393.35 Upper Division Courses | $1,006.71 Lower Division Courses $1,180.05 Upper Division Courses | $14,800 full-time1 |
Non-Ohio Residents
| Per Credit Hour | Per 3-Credit Course | Approximate Tuition Cost |
$335.80 Lower Division Courses $391.90 Upper Division Courses | $1,007.40 Lower Division Courses $1,175.70 Upper Division Courses | $15,400 full-time2 |
1The flat-rate semester fee of $3,692.65 for LOWER division courses applies to full-time Ohio resident undergraduate students taking between 12-18 credit hours per semester. The approximate tuition for Associate degrees is calculated at 4 semesters using the lower division course flat rate.
2The flat-rate semester fee of $3,692.65 for LOWER division courses applies to full-time non-Ohio resident undergraduate students enrolled in a fully online degree program and taking between 12-18 credit hours per semester, PLUS a surcharge of $10 per credit hour of actual credit hours taken (between 12-18 semester credits or $120-$180). The approximate tuition for Associate degrees is calculated at 4 semesters using the lower division flat rate and the surcharge ($150 x 4).
For part-time semesters: The $335.57 per-credit-hour tuition rate for LOWER division courses and $393.35 for UPPER division courses applies to part-time Ohio resident undergraduate students, PLUS a $10 per-credit-hour surcharge for non-Ohio resident undergraduate students, taking fewer than 12 credit hours per semester.
An additional Distance Learning fee for all students enrolled in a distance learning course is $15 per credit hour. Program tuition and costs are estimated and subject to change.
Actual tuition costs may vary based on a student’s chosen academic plan. For a complete listing of tuition rates for approved online programs, please contact Kent State’s Financial, Billing & Enrollment Center at 330-672-6000 or via our website Contact Us link.
The total program costs are estimates and are not final or binding. Program costs are based on standard fees, but fees may vary based on the actual classes taken. Kent State University disclaims any liability arising from the use of or reliance upon these program cost estimates by any person. Program costs are subject to change without notice.
Careers
- 4.8% about as fast as the average
- 163,700 number of jobs
- $40,930 potential earnings
- -20.4% decline
- 593,400 number of jobs
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- -3.0% decline
- 1,552,400 number of jobs
- $58,450 potential earnings
- -5.0% decline
- 123,900 number of jobs
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- -10.1% decline
- 2,250,200 number of jobs
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Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
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