Online Courses in Secretarial Studies
Below are the descriptions of some commonly offered online secretarial courses.
- Beginning Keyboarding Course: This course introduces students to the computer keyboard and its many functions. Students develop proficiency and speed using the alphabetic and numeric keys.
- Basic Word Processing Course: Word processing software, such as Microsoft Word, is used to teach students basic office processes. Topics covered in this course include entering, editing, saving and retrieving information, along with sorting and merging data. Students also learn the importance of copyediting and proofreading using documents typical of a business office.
- Introduction to Business Course: This course teaches students basic business principles and concepts, including management, business ethics, human resources, business law, financial marketing and business policies. Students are introduced to the commercial and business world, along with the responsibilities in a management position.
- Intro to Accounting Course: This course teaches students about the entire accounting cycle, including developing and maintaining accounts using principles typical of a business entity. Students learn accounting procedures such as data entry, recording transactions, presenting financial data, using functions, reconciling balances and retrieving data.
- Medical Insurance and Billing Course: This course teaches students the insurance concepts in place today, along with understanding medical insurance billing. Students learn about health care procedures, coding and billing, methods of medical insurance billing and dealing with third-party insurances.
- Legal and Professional Writing Course: Students in this course learn the effective verbiage used in a legal profession, while reinforcing their knowledge of the English language. Students gain experience in drafting legal correspondence, briefing case law, writing legal memorandums and creating factual reports.
- Legal Terminology and Transcription Course: Students learn the meaning of each document, while understanding how to draft, format, transcribe and process legal documents using the correct legal terminology. This course includes a comprehensive study of the abbreviations, phrases and symbols used by paralegals, attorneys and the court system.
- Telecommunications Course: In this course, students will learn the fundamentals of effective written and spoken communications. The course will cover phone and email etiquette, taking messages and managing multi-line phone technology.
- Records Management Course: This class teaches students how to operate various record management systems. Topics will include alphabetic filing, transferring of paper records, electronic filing and indexing principles. International records management is also covered.
- Travel Arrangements Course: Students in this class will explore the most proficient methods of arranging business travel. This will cover the booking of flights, cars and hotels, as well as the complexities of international travel.
Program Information
Many online secretarial or administrative assistant programs are offered as part of a training or certificate program, though some associate's degree programs are available. These courses help students develop skills that are beneficial in the business world, as well as the legal and medical professions. Graduates of online secretarial courses are prepared for positions as office managers, administrative assistants, legal secretaries and medical secretaries. In addition to updated computer and Internet access, online secretarial courses usually require students to have Microsoft Office software.
Online secretarial courses are commonly as available, usually as part of a certificate or associate's degree program. A wide range of business/office skills are covered in these programs, including accounting, keyboarding, professional writing and billing.
