Computer Application Specialist, Certificate of Achievement

 The Computer Applications Specialist Certificate of Achievement (26 units) is designed to develop integrated application software skills for an increasing information technology field. Upon completion of this certificate, students demonstrate upper computer application specialist skills with the ability to integrate and use software tools to provide employers with superior skills and efficiency. This program prepares students for careers such as data analyst, help desk technician, office specialist, database-entry specialist, computer operator, and general office positions.

Each course for this certificate must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.

The Business Office Technology (BSOT) program served the Microsoft Office courses in the past, but were split up into one-unit sections so students could not easily complete the Office product software skills development in one semester. Additionally the BSOT program focused on the office environment targeting clerical assistance and administrative assistance which were not highly paid. Persistence and completion in these courses was challenging. The new Computer Application Specialist changes the emphasis from the “office” environment to the “software” environment which has wider application to other fields. The courses are redesigned with this new emphasis in addition to being combining the one-unit courses into a comprehensive 3-unit course so that when students take Microsoft Word, they learn the entirety of the application. Additional software packages (Adobe, Google) and collaboration cloud tools and data analytics raise the level of these completers and will provide them with high paying jobs.

As noted above, the enrollment, persistence and completer information in the BSOT was challenging. Students would take one to two levels a semester and then not complete the last course. This new design and emphasis is projected to increase enrollment, persistence and completion.

Estimated 15-20 completers annually. 

Program goal is to address an occupational need in the region. The computer application specialist program is a revision of the prior business office technology program at Cerro Coso Community College. This certificate provides students with the computer software specialist skills to be utilized in the information technology environment. The courses are designed around the Microsoft Office Specialist certification exam to provide preparation to take the exams in addition to Google applications, cloud and data analytic tools. This skills certificate prepares students for a variety of information technology positions in the ICT industry sector, such as data analyst, helpdesk technician, office specialist, database-entry specialist, computer operator, and other general office positions.

There has been an increasing need in our service area, state and across the country for qualified entry-level personnel to provide support using computer application products. From the office environment to help desk personnel, database specialist, desktop publishing, accounting technician, data analyst, and various other computer operators support personnel, employees need to demonstrate proficiency and expertise in the Office, Google, Adobe products as well as using cloud and collaboration tools to effectively and efficiently use the higher level features and the integration of all the products.