Business Office Technology

Associate of Business Office Technology Degree

• Accounting Assistant Option
• Administrative Assistant Option
• Legal Office Assistant Option
• Medical Office Assistant Option

Certificate of Completion

• Bilingual Office Specialist
• General Office Assistant
• Medical Billing
• Medical Transcription

(575) 527-7579

Because today’s business world is constantly being transformed by new information processing technologies, employment opportunities in office careers are on the rise. The smooth functioning of today’s automated office depends on the support of well-trained administrative, accounting, legal office and medical office assistants.

If you find satisfaction in working as a team member, are well organized, and enjoy meeting and helping new people, Business Office Technology could be the right program for you. This program has some significant advantages: it not only allows you to specialize in an area of interest to you, but it also provides a fast track to an
entry-level position. Students may obtain a general office assistant certificate of completion in as little as one year and then begin earning money while studying for their associate degree.

By studying a second year toward the associate degree in Business Office Technology, you can prepare for a more challenging position as either a general administrative assistant, accounting assistant, legal office assistant, or medical office assistant. You will learn to use state-of-the-art microcomputers, become familiar with various up-to-date software applications, and become proficient in a specific area of study.

Because our region values bilingual (Spanish/English) skills in the workplace, students already possessing ability in Spanish have the opportunity to enroll in two courses to further enhance their Spanish communication skills. These courses are part of the Bilingual Office Specialist Certificate.

The work settings where program graduates find employment are as varied as the organizations themselves. They include educational institutions; federal, state, and local government offices; medical facilities; legal firms; financial institutions; corporate settings; and small and large businesses. Not only are the work settings varied,
but so are the positions within each organization.

Employment opportunities for administrative assistants, accounting assistants, legal office assistants, and medical office assistants continue to grow on average between 10 and 20 percent each year in a broad variety of industries and businesses. Current salary ranges can be found in the Occupational Outlook Handbook at the U.S. Department of Labor web site: http://www.bls.gov.

Associate Degree (67-70 credits)

NOTE: Courses appearing in italics are identical to those offered at New Mexico State University Las Cruces (main) Campus.

Certificate (36 credits)

Two 36-credit Business Office Technology certificate options are available. The General Business Office Technology option prepares students for receptionist, clerk-typist, or other entry-level positions. The Bilingual Office Specialist option qualifies students for positions requiring Spanish-English language proficiency. Additionally,
the Business Office Technology Program offers two 15-credit specialized certificates in Medical Billing and Medical Transcription. Coursework for the certificates are applicable toward the Business Office Technology associate degree.