Employers expect new college graduates to be familiar with standard business computer applications including word processing, spreadsheets, data management, and presentation software. You can increase your computer/technical skills in classes, workshops, and experiences that focus on applying technology and learning software programs.

Courses

Few classes offered in the General Education Program focus solely on technology, yet almost every class provides students with opportunities to gain technology skills. Every time a student learns to use a new digital resource in the Pollak Library, the student increases his/her technology skills. Utilizing PowerPoint to make a class presentation or organizing class notes using a spreadsheet are just two ways of increasing familiarity and confidence with software programs.

Research assignments in such classes as World History
(HIST 110A/B) or Government (POSC 100) or a class from the G.E. Category Introduction to the Arts (e.g. ART 101 or THTR 100) represent opportunities to hone the student’s technology skills.

Many academic majors require courses that contribute to building technology skills. Students should welcome these experiences, confident that they will push them to grow in skills they will some day need.

A sample of elective or major coursework includes:

• Accounting 201A - Financial Accounting
• Computer Science 103 - Introduction to Personal Computer Applications
• Computer Science 203 - Advanced Personal Computing
• Geography 281 - Map Making with GIS
• Info. Systems & Decision Sciences 162 - Introduction to Excel Spreadsheets
• Info. Systems & Decision Sciences 166 - Developing Comp. Based Presentations
• Info. Systems & Decision Sciences 168 - Mastering the World Wide Web
• Marketing 353 - Marketing Information Technology
• Mathematics 135 - Business Calculus
• Modern Languages & Literatures 300 - Spanish Conversation

"Our employees constantly use basic computer technologies to serve our customers and interact with other team members. In a technology driven market, these skills are essential." - Keith Kelley, Corporate Recruiter, Experian

Experiences

• Create and use a PowerPoint presentation
• Work as a student assistant in Information Technology
• Keep budgets for student clubs using Excel
• Work in a studio or control room for a radio or TV station
• Take a computer class
• Design or maintain a website for a student organization or campus office
• Design brochures or newsletters
• Design advertisement materials
• Start a web-based business
• Create a database to organize your contacts as you search for a summer job
• Assist organizations and departments with database development and statistical analysis
• Get a job or internship working on computer networks or programming
• Conduct research on the Internet.