Whether you are preparing for a career in administrative support, planning to transfer to a four-year baccalaureate-granting institution or updating your skills, COD has the right program for you. COD offers:

• Dedicated instructors with years of practical industry experience, certification and licensing.
• instruction in top-notch facilities and state-of-the-art equipment.
• Flexible schedules with day, evening and online learning.
• Practical hands-on experience as well as classroom-based studies.
• An active and engaged advisory board made up of local industry professionals who help to maintain the quality and professional relevance of the OFTI program.

Administrative Support and Meeting/Event Planning, A.A.S.

The Administrative Support and Meeting/Event Planning degree prepares the student for an administrative support position with a focus on meeting and event planning.

Administrative Support and Meeting/Event Planning, Certificate

The Administrative Support and Meeting/Event Planning certificate prepares the student for an administrative support position with a focus on meeting and event planning.

Administrative Support Essentials, Certificate

The Administrative Support Essentials certificate provides additional opportunity for administrative professionals and progresses into the Administrative Support Specialist certificate and degree.

Administrative Support Specialist, A.A.S.

The Administrative Support Specialist degree prepares students by developing and enhancing their skills using current technologies in today's office. Courses are designed for students entering the Office Technology Information curriculum for the first time and for students preparing for a return to the work force. This degree requires a minimum of 64 credits in program requirements, program electives and general education in the courses listed below.

Administrative Support Specialist, Certificate

The Administrative Support Specialist certificate prepares students by developing and enhancing their skills using current technologies in today's office. Courses are designed for students entering the administrative support workforce.

Executive Assistant, A.A.S.

The Office Technology Information program prepares students by developing and enhancing their skills using current technologies in today’s office. Courses required are designed for student with some related office experience or for students preparing to return to the workforce. The degree prepares students to assist executives through general office procedures and overall organization in an office environment. The Executive Assistant degree requires 64 credits in program requirements and general education in the courses listed below.

Legal Administrative Assistant, Certificate

Prepares students for entry-level administrative roles within the legal field. Students will learn specialized knowledge and skills for efficiently managing the administrative tasks that support legal offices and professionals, such as attorneys and paralegals.

Medical Office, Certificate

The Medical Office certificate prepares the student for an entry level administrative support position into the medical office environment.

Office Technology Specialist, Certificate

The Office Technology Specialist certificate prepares the student for an entry-level administrative support position. This certificate requires 18 credits in the courses listed below.

Word Specialist, Certificate

The Word Specialist certificate develops MS Word skills and includes topics for industry certification. This certificate requires 6 credits in the courses listed below.

Academic and Career Pathways give you a roadmap to achieving your career goals. Follow a pathway based on your degree or certificate that outlines which classes you need to take and when so you graduate on time or move on to the next phase in your career.

• Administrative Assistant and Meeting/Event Planning, Associate in Applied Science
• Administrative Assistant and Meeting/Event Planning, Certificate
• Administrative Support Essentials, Certificate
• Administrative Support Specialist, Associate in Applied Science
• Administrative Support Specialist, Certificate
• Executive Assistant, Associate in Applied Science 
• Medical Office, Certificate
• Office Technology Specialist, Certificate
• Word Specialist, Certificate

Office Technology Information Program graduates will

• Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrate proper keyboarding and document formatting skills
• Develop general use and operation of computers
• Illustrate strong proofreading and grammar skills
• Design, prepare, and present informative, persuasive, and demonstrative presentations
• Format and produce academic and business reports, letters, outlines, tables, itineraries, agendas, meeting minutes, press releases, title pages, long documents, table of contents, and indexes
• Develop personal professionalism and self-confidence
• Create professional employment documents
• Improve multi-tasking and time management skills
• Demonstrate effective team, leadership, and critical thinking skills

Administrative Support Specialist degree graduates will

• Understand the organization and operation of business, the relationships of business to society, and types of businesses
• Recognize the impact of marketing, the four components of the marketing mix, and strategic marketing decisions
• Define management, functions of management, resources managers control, and the management process
• Understand organizational design and structures
• Discuss financial statement’s role in the business environment
• Apply generally accepted accounting principles
• Apply accounting information to business decisions

Executive Assistant degree graduates will

• Understand the organization and operation of business, the relationships of business to society, and types of businesses
• Recognize the impact of marketing, the four components of the marketing mix, and strategic marketing decisions
• Define management, functions of management, resource control, and the management process.
• Understand organizational design and structures
• Define Organizational Behavior (OB)
• Demonstrate value of objective knowledge and skill development in the study of OB
• Discuss financial statement’s role in the business environment
• Apply generally accepted accounting principles
• Apply accounting information to business decisions
• Recognize the legal framework of business as it pertains to contracts
• Recognize the purpose and logic of the law to improve decision making process within the frame work of the rules of law
• Recognize internal and external factors that affect budget preparations
• Prepare budgets and systems for organizing and administering the budgetary process

Administrative Assistant and Meeting/Event degree graduates will

• Demonstrate understanding of meetings, events, and conventions
• Recognize relationship between the hospitality industry and individuals who plan meetings, conventions, and events
• Explain technical differences among meetings, conventions, expositions, and special events
• Demonstrate acquired skills and knowledge in execution of a simulated event and group sales
• Explain the role of hospitality marketing management
• Compare and contrast the "service product" approach to hospitality marketing to the traditional approach
• Analyze the role of marketing in strategic hospitality planning
• Appraise the roles of buying influences in the hospitality purchasing decision
• Demonstrate the process of evaluating potential hotel market segments to choose target markets effectively
• Judge the role of sales organizations and distribution methods or chains of supply as applied to hospitality products
• Design a hospitality communication mix program including loyalty programs

A certificate focuses on the core curriculum of a program. These courses provide the information and skills necessary for performing the job duties of a specific profession. A degree includes the entire core curriculum, as well as a broad range of academic courses.

The decision to complete a certificate or a degree is a personal decision. Some students pursue a certificate because it takes less time to complete compared to a degree. Others pursue a certificate because they already have a degree and are seeking retraining or career advancement.

Degree seekers need to complete core curriculum as well as required academic courses. These students may want to transfer to a four-year school or university and pursue a bachelor's degree. Typically those who complete a degree demand a higher salary than those who do not.

The length of time it takes to complete a certificate or a degree depends on how many courses are taken each term. A degree is designed to be completed within two years if a student takes 16 hours each term (summer excluded). Students should always meet with an OFTI advisor to set up a course schedule.

Yes general advising can help you to get started. You should always meet with an OFTI faculty member to help you plan your courses and determine the course sequence and availability.

Prerequisites are courses (or demonstrated equivalent experience) that students must complete prior to enrolling in a similar higher-level course.

A prerequisite course provides the background necessary for the successful completion of a higher-level course. A higher-level course instructor assumes that a student has mastered the content of the prerequisite course. Generally, mastery of the content covered in a prerequisite course will improve a student's chances of successful performance in the higher-level course.

No every course is not offered every semester, but many OFTI courses are available each term. Basic courses are offered every semester. Courses are also offered in day, evening and online.

The rule of thumb is between one to three hours of homework each week for each semester hour of a course. For instance, a three-semester- hour course can expect to have three to nine hours of homework each week. The actual amount of time will depend on your skill level and understanding of the course material. Online courses can expect to spend an additional two to four hours each week to make up for the time not spent in the actual classroom.

An executive assistant performs administrative duties for executive management. Responsibilities may include screening calls, making travel and meeting arrangements, preparing reports and financial data, training and supervising other support staff, and customer relations. This position requires strong computer and Internet research skills. This individual must be flexible with excellent interpersonal skills, possess project coordination experience and the ability to work well with all levels of internal management and staff as well as outside clients and vendors.

An administrative assistant performs administrative and office support activities for multiple supervisors. Duties may include fielding telephone calls, receiving and directing visitors, word processing, filing, and faxing. Extensive software skills are required, as well as Internet research abilities and strong communication skills. Staff in this category also may have the title of department assistant, coordinator or associate.

A glossary of administrative support job descriptions is posted on the International Association of Administrative Professionals website.