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Business Administration

Mission Statement

The Business and Public Service Division supports the mission of the College by offering business/public service-related courses and programs that prepare students for employment or advancement in Georgia's economy.

The mission of the associate of applied science degree program in Business Administration is to provide students with an understanding of the concepts, principles, and techniques required in today's business and office environment. The program emphasizes coursework in general education, business management, accounting, human resources, marketing, computer applications, business law, and business ethics. The associate degree program provides graduates with career mobility options and facilitates continuing education at the baccalaureate level.

Work Environment

Administrative services managers spend much of their day in an office, but site visits around the building, outdoors to supervise groundkeeping activities, or to other facilities under their management are common. Technology allows many facility managers to monitor equipment remotely and teleconferencing has reduced the need to travel as frequently to meet with off-site staff and vendors. About half of administrative services managers work a standard 40-hour week; most of the remaining workforce work longer hours. However, uncompensated overtime frequently is required to resolve problems and meet deadlines. Facility managers often are "on call" to address a variety of problems that can arise in a facility during nonworking hours.

Nature of the Work

Administrative services managers plan, coordinate, and direct a broad range of services that allow organizations to operate efficiently. For example, they may coordinate space allocation, facilities maintenance and operations, and major property and equipment procurement. They also may oversee centralized operations that meet the needs of multiple departments. These operations could include information and data processing, mail, materials scheduling and distribution, printing and reproduction, records management, telecommunications management, security, recycling, wellness, and transportation services.

Specific duties for these managers vary by size of company or office and degree of responsibility and authority. In small organizations, a single administrative services manager, sometimes called an office manager, may oversee all support services. In larger ones, however, there may be several layers of administrative services managers that may specialize in different areas and report to directors of administration, or vice presidents of administration who oversee all administrative services.

Employment

Employment of office and administrative support supervisors and managers nationally is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2018. Continuing advances in technology should increase office and administrative support workers' productivity and allow a wider variety of tasks to be performed by people in professional positions.

Earnings

Median annual wages nationally for office and administrative support worker supervisors and managers were $45,790 in May 2008.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition (http://www.bls.gov/oco/)

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the associate of applied science degree program in Business Administration will be able to complete the following tasks:

  • Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills
  • Demonstrate facility with current software applications
  • Plan, coordinate, and direct a broad range of services that allow organizations to operate efficiently
  • Apply management techniques to monitor and direct the work of lower-level personnel
  • Demonstrate the personal and professional ethics and interpersonal skills that are expected in the workplace

Essential Functions

The purpose of the essential functions list is to allow prospective students who are considering a career to be informed of the physical, emotional, and psychological demands related to training and employment in a field of study. These lists are provided to allow prospective students to make informed career choices by providing them with a summary of the physical abilities and personality traits that are generally required for the successful completion of a curriculum and result in employment in their field of study after graduation.

For students to be successful in the Business Administration program, they must be able to perform the following essential functions:

  • Write letters, reports, and memoranda clearly, logically, and persuasively using concise and grammatically correct language
  • Speak clearly, distinctly, and effectively with individuals or groups using tact and diplomacy
  • Demonstrate the ability to think critically
  • Use technology effectively to complete required tasks and communicate results
  • Display flexibility and adaptability
  • Demonstrate time management and multi-tasking skills
  • Use good judgment and problem solving skills
  • Listen effectively to clients, supervisors, and colleagues
  • Use project management and process improvement skills to achieve desired results
  • Analyze and report data for informed business decisions
  • Assist with the planning and directing or coordinating of the operations of a business
  • Exhibit leadership skills
  • Apply accounting and financial knowledge to the operations of an organization
  • Value diversity
  • Practice ethical leadership
  • Apply knowledge of human resources, accounting, marketing, ethics, computer skills, and knowledge of information technology to the operations of the organization
  • Possess sufficient strength, coordination, mobility, and manual dexterity to perform the following procedures accurately, safely, and efficiently
  • Physical requirements that vary depending on the specific position and business location
    • Walking, stooping, sitting, bending, climbing stairs, and reaching
    • Sitting and/or standing for prolonged periods of time
    • Lifting or moving up to 25 pounds
    • Manual dexterity in arms, hands, and fingers

Program Expenses

The Higher Education Act requires all colleges and universities to notify students and prospective students of all program costs for which they will be responsible. Students will be responsible for the following expenses each semester (unless otherwise noted):

  • Tuition ($75 per credit hour)
  • Registration fee ($39)
  • Student activity fees ($30)
  • Accident insurance fee ($6)
  • Instructional and technology supply fee ($55)
  • Textbooks (Approximately $3,040)

These expenses are based on costs in effect at the time this catalog was published. Prices are subject to change.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must submit the following information to the Admissions Office:

  • Completed and signed application for admission and a $20 nonrefundable application fee
  • Official high school or GED transcripts and/or official college transcripts from all colleges attended in the past (see General Admission Requirements)
  • Valid COMPASS, ASSET, SAT, or ACT test scores (see COMPASS and ASSET Placement Tests)