Spokane Falls Community College

The program trains students for all areas of record keeping and offers an emphasis on computer applications to make its graduates more marketable.

The Administrative Assistant degree is a two-year professional program. Students may participate in online or on-ground classes. The program offers expert business technology instruction giving students the diversified training and background needed to hold positions of responsibility and importance in many areas of the business world. The Administrative Assistant degree gives students a technical background through completion of computer application courses, provides students an understanding of professional responsibilities, and offers additional on-the-job training. Students develop competencies in office procedures; software applications; business writing and presentations; accounting and business math; organizational and supervisory skills; office, time, and calendar management; desktop publishing and project management. Students practice customer relations and the "soft" skills employers demand. Students will also have a strong foundation in Microsoft Office and other commonly used business software applications. Students will complete capstone courses which will integrate classroom learning into "real-world" office situations.

The Administrative Office Management program is an associate degree program that prepares students to assume positions as office managers, supervisors, or as assistants to top executives. Students will develop administrative skills necessary to participate as part of the management team; assist in planning, organizing, and controlling information related activities; and in leading or directing people to attain the objectives of the organization. They may handle a wide range of daily responsibilities including the supervision of support services.

The Customer Service degree is a two-year professional program. The Customer Service Representative program provides the business background and human relations skills needed to work successfully with clients and customers. Students may participate in online or on-ground classes. This degree prepares students for jobs as customer service representatives. An associate's degree in customer service introduces students to techniques used to deliver quality customer service care. Students develop their communication, marketing, personnel supervision and customer relations skills. Subjects taught during a customer service training program are a combination of business and customer service specific courses. These individuals are the face of the company and are the ones who deal with customers in a friendly and courteous manner. Customer service professionals are required to interact with customers before, during, and after the sale has been made as well. Customer service training program graduates will also have a better chance of reaching the supervisory or management levels in this field.

You may earn college credits toward a certificate or degree through the successful completion of online classes. Students may complete most credits required through our extensive online class offerings. Many of the tests for the courses are proctored; local colleges and libraries are often willing to proctor exams.

Growth forecasts are very strong in the small business/entrepreneurial sectors. The A.A.S. business degree programs are designed to prepare you for the demands of small or large companies – or to start your own business. The choice is yours!

Office Assistant: The Clerical Assistant program is a two quarter program where students learn general office skills needed for entry-level office positions. Students may select one of three "tracks" in the second quarter. The first track will offer an introduction to the medical clerical assistant office, the second track an introduction to the legal clerical assistant office, and the third track an introduction to the administrative clerical assistant office.

Office Clerk/Office Software Specialist: The Front Office Professional program is a three-quarter program preparing students for entry-level positions. Students completing this program are prepared to greet callers, make and receive telephone calls in a professional way, format correspondence and reports, and perform a variety of duties depending on the office situations.

The Business Software Specialist degree is a two-year program with classes offered online or on-campus. This program combines training in information processing systems and office administration to give students the diversified training and background needed to hold positions of responsibility in business offices. Upon completion students will be prepared for administrative positions that require advanced spreadsheet, database, presentation, and project management software. This program provides students with one or more of the following additional areas: basic computer hardware troubleshooting, online collaboration, MOS certification, or basic network administration.

Certificate: Early childhood education certificates and degrees cover an interdisciplinary array of topics to prepare graduates to work with children, usually from the ages of birth through around age 8. Courses include opportunities to work with children through specially design practicum and course application components.

Associate Degree: The Early Childhood program is designed to provide experiences in educational theory in the areas of social, emotional, cognitive, physical/motor and creative development for children from birth through age eight. Courses also are available for caregivers of school-age children, ages 5 through 14. Now that ongoing research reveals the significance of early development, professional preparation has become essential for anyone pursuing a career in the education and care of young children.

The Education Paraprofessional program provides theory and practice in the skills for working as effective members of instructional teams. The core curriculum focuses on current issues and historical foundations of regular and special education, instructional strategies, behavior management, human development and interpersonal skills in the context of a diverse society. Supervised practicum opportunities for hands-on experiences in schools are provided throughout this course of study.

SFCC's paraprofessional program offers a two-year associate in applied science (A.A.S.) degree. The two-year A.A.S. degree option prepares a student for work as a paraprofessional in a human services or social services agency. Paraprofessionals assist with case management, field visitations, referrals and/ or intake interviews. If an A.A.S. graduate chooses to continue his or her education, most, if not all, credits are transferable, depending upon the college or university and the major that student is pursuing.

Health information has gone high tech! Using skills from science-based courses like anatomy, physiology, disease process and computer applications, the health information technologist (HIT) assists in the documentation of patient care, and provides clinical information for research as a basis for planning and continuity of care. Health information professionals work in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, group practice clinics, mental health facilities and health insurance agencies.

Legal Administration is a career path in which the individual is typically employed in a supervisory role in a law office or other legal setting (court administration, etc.). The role requires management, financial, accounting, computer information systems, human resource management and legal knowledge.

This program prepares students for legal office positions where the primary duties are the operation of computer equipment; typing and proofreading manuscripts, tables, reports, correspondence, and other documents from dictating machines or rough drafts; correcting errors in existing documents; and consulting with persons initiating job requests.

The Interpreter Training Program is an innovative program that offers the opportunity to acquire basic skills to launch into a new career in the sign language interpreting field skill in American Sign Language or to use sign language as a foreign language credit. All program courses are offered on campus and online.

The Library and Information Services program offers an online AAS degree and an online certificate for library support staff and paraprofessionals who wish to start their career as a library staff member or who wish to further their career development.

Spokane Falls Community College offers a program designed to provide specific training to individuals who wish to establish a career in meeting the needs of a rapidly expanding older population. The Gerontology program examines mental, emotional, physical and social changes that confront older adults. Gerontology is distinct from geriatrics, a medical specialty that explores health and disease in elders. Some of the current career fields may include program management, administration, recreation services, residential care, business and education fields, and human service programs related to life after sixty.

The Medical Assistant is an allied health professional who assists physicians and other health care providers in their offices or other medical settings. In accordance with respective state laws, they perform a broad range of administrative and clinical duties. In the Medical Assistant program at Spokane Community College, students learn about the administrative duties of scheduling and receiving patients, preparing and maintaining medical records, performing basic secretarial skills and medical transcription, handling telephone calls, writing correspondence, serving as a liaison between the physician and other individuals, and managing practice finances.

This program prepares individuals for employment in medical offices as medical office receptionists. Spokane is a major regional center for medical care, offering many opportunities for employment. Positions are available in medical clinics, medical insurance companies and private physicians' offices.

Students obtain the knowledge and skills in all phases of the pharmacy field: drug products, calculations, dosages, dispensing techniques, inventory management, aseptic techniques, and Washington pharmacy law. The school stresses skills development, acceptable work attitudes and ethics, proper work habit and job appreciation. Graduates will be prepared to work in both community and hospital pharmacy settings.