Business Administration Certificate

• Use fundamental business soft skills for communication, leadership, and management
• Explore how to manage larger projects using team communication and management skills
• Examine how to improve as a leader in business

Word Level 1

• Learn the environment and terminology in Microsoft Word
• Create a basic document using Microsoft Word
• Edit and format text.
• Add tables and graphic elements to a document
• Control a document’s page setup and its overall appearance
• Proof documents to make them more accurate

Word Level 2

• Create and manage ordered and unordered lists
• Customize your own tables and charts
• Work with formatting using styles and themes
• Add images to your documents
• Create customized graphic elements
• Insert content using Quick Parts
• Control text flow
• Use templates to automate document creation
• Perform complex mail merges efficiently
• Use macros to automate common tasks

 
Excel Level 1

• Create a basic worksheet by using Microsoft Excel
• Perform calculations in an Excel worksheet
• Understand absolute vs relative references in a formula
• Modify an Excel worksheet
• Modify the appearance of data within a worksheet
• Manage Excel workbooks
• Print the content of an Excel worksheet

Excel Level 2

• Understand how to write and use advanced formulas with functions including text, date, logical, conditional, and lookup functions
• Organize worksheet and table data using various techniques
• Create and modify charts
• Analyze data using PivotTables, Slicers, and PivotCharts
• Insert and modify graphic objects in a worksheet
• Customize and enhance workbooks and the Microsoft Office Excel environment

Excel Level 3

• Enhance productivity and efficiency by improving the workflow
• Automate repetitive tasks using Macros
• Work with developer tools including form controls (command button, text box, check box)
• Collaborate with other Excel users
• Trace and Audit formula errors
• Analyze data
• Link multiple workbooks
• Confidently import and export Excel data

Excel PivotTables & PivotCharts

• Analyze large amounts of data using PivotTables and PivotCharts
• Create a basic Excel PivotTable
• Group and summarize your data in creative ways
• File and sort your PivotTable
• Use advanced features of PivotTables
• Format PivotTables easily
• Use conditional formatting within PivotTables

 
PowerPoint Level 1

• Get started with the PowerPoint environment and terminology
• Create and format a presentation.
• Add graphical objects to a presentation.
• Modify objects on slides.
• Add tables and charts to a presentation.
• Work on basic animations and transitions
• Prepare to deliver a presentation.

PowerPoint  Level 2

• Customize the PowerPoint environment.
• Customize a design template
• Understand Slide Master slides to become more efficient
• Add diagrams and special effects to your presentation.
• Create custom animations and transitions
• Use the various options to customize slide shows.
• Use PowerPoint to collaborate on a presentation.
• Finalize a presentation.

• Explore the Outlook interface, send mail, and respond to messages.
• Compose email messages.
• Organize email messages into folders.
• Manage contacts and contact information.
• Schedule appointments.
• Schedule a meeting.
• Manage tasks and notes.

• Understand the benefits of Google Workspace and how the tools are utilized in business today
• Explore e-mail, calendar, cloud storage, and common tools used in common business scenarios
• Learn to collaborate and share with team members to take full advantage of the Google Workspace suite of products

In Module 7, students have an opportunity to put their finishing touches on their Capstone project. In addition, as students begin to look after
graduation and to the next step of their career path, our instructors will provide extensive mentorship on what the job market trends look like,
and how to prepare to find work. At the end of this module, students will present their final Capstone project and receive critique from their instructor.

• Finding work within business administration
• What to expect in interviews
• Final presentations and critique

With experience and advanced Microsoft Office proficiency, professionals advance into office manager, executive assistant, operations manager, and administrative services manager roles. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $108,390 for administrative services managers as of May 2024. Adding MOS certification to a resume carries meaningful weight with employers who need verifiable proof of software competency.

The Business Administration Certificate is eligible for WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) funding, which is a federal workforce development program administered through local American Job Centers. WIOA can cover part or all of tuition for eligible individuals who are unemployed, underemployed, or seeking to change careers.

Administrative and business support roles represent one of the largest and most consistently hiring occupational categories in the economy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects approximately 358,300 openings per year for secretaries and administrative assistants through 2034. At $5,295 for 83 hours of private live instruction, this program sits within the typical WIOA individual training account range and prepares students for the full Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification pathway from Associate through Expert, which is the most widely recognized technology credential in the administrative workforce.

Your local American Job Center determines your eligibility based on your employment status and income level. If approved, your case manager authorizes funding through an Individual Training Account (ITA). DWC is listed as an eligible training provider and works directly with case managers to provide everything they need to process a funding request.

DWC prepares a complete documentation package for every WIOA-funded student, including the program description and learning objectives, tuition and itemized costs, the program schedule and duration, credential documentation for the DPOS professional certificate, labor market alignment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (administrative assistant and administrative services manager employment projections, salary data, and job posting demand), and student performance and completion outcomes data. Because this is private instruction, the schedule is set after enrollment based on the student’s availability. The admissions team can provide the case manager with an estimated start date and completion timeline during the approval process. If your case manager has documentation requirements beyond this standard package, the admissions team will work with them directly.

DWC is approved to operate and enroll students in Colorado, Utah, Oregon, Indiana, Iowa, and Illinois. Students from other states are welcome to enroll. If your state is not listed, contact the admissions team to discuss eligibility and funding options in your area.

Not sure if you qualify? Contact your local American Job Center to start the eligibility process, or contact DWC’s admissions team and we can help you identify the right workforce resources for your situation.

The Business Administration Certificate is eligible for funding through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). DVR provides training funding for individuals with documented disabilities who are working toward employment. DVR services are available in every state through state-run vocational rehabilitation agencies.

Business administration and office support roles are among the most accessible career paths for DVR-funded students. The work is performed entirely on a computer, the program is delivered 100% online, and administrative roles are available in every industry and community, including many organizations that offer remote and hybrid positions. The private one-on-one instruction format is particularly well-suited for DVR clients because the pace, emphasis, and teaching approach are adapted to each student’s individual learning needs. If you have a physical, cognitive, sensory, or learning disability that affects how you process information or how long you can sustain focus in a session, your instructor adjusts rather than asking you to keep up with a group.

Students who have completed DWC’s Blueprint Basic Digital Literacy Certificate can continue directly into the Business Administration Certificate as a natural next step. DVR counselors who have funded a client’s Blueprint program can use the same documentation and coordination process to fund the Business Administration Certificate as a continuation of the employment plan.

If you are already working with a DVR counselor, they can contact DWC directly to initiate enrollment and coordinate funding approval. DWC’s admissions team has experience working with DVR offices across multiple states and handles the documentation, scheduling coordination, and progress reporting that DVR counselors require.

If you think you may be eligible for DVR services but do not yet have a counselor, contact your state’s vocational rehabilitation agency to begin the intake process. Eligibility is based on having a documented disability that creates a barrier to employment. DWC can provide program information to support your application.

DWC awards scholarships to eligible students through the following programs. Scholarship availability is limited for private instruction programs. Contact the admissions team for current availability.

The Tech Skills Scholarship is for unemployed individuals who are returning to the workforce and need financial support to complete their training. Scholarship amounts vary and are determined on a case-by-case basis.

The Women in Tech Scholarship is for women pursuing careers in technology, design, IT, data analytics, or other technical fields. Administrative and business support roles are the backbone of every organization, and professionals who hold Microsoft Office Specialist certification at the Expert level are consistently among the highest-paid and fastest-promoted in the administrative workforce. This scholarship is designed to help women build those credentials.

The Next Mission Scholarship is for eligible U.S. veterans and qualifying active-duty service members within 180 days of separation. The Next Mission Scholarship provides 80% off standard tuition on this program. For the Business Administration Certificate, that means a qualifying veteran pays $1,059 instead of $5,295, with the remaining balance financed through Climb Credit at payments as low as $30/month over 36 months. Eligibility requires verified veteran status (DD-214 or equivalent), individual annual income between $30,000 and $75,000, and separation within the past 7 years. Veterans with income below $30,000 may qualify for fully funded training through WIOA or VA Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31) at no out-of-pocket cost. Veterans with income above $75,000 qualify for the Community Heroes Discount of 40% off standard tuition. See if you qualify or visit the Next Mission Scholarship page for full details, eligibility criteria, and required documentation.

To inquire about current scholarship availability for this program, contact the admissions team or visit the financial aid page.

Many employers offer professional development budgets, tuition reimbursement programs, or workforce training stipends that can be applied to DWC certificate programs. If you are currently employed and your employer supports professional development, the Business Administration Certificate may be partially or fully covered by your company’s existing benefits.

Microsoft Office proficiency is the single most common technology requirement in administrative, operations, and business support job postings. If your employer has ever been frustrated by a spreadsheet that does not calculate correctly, a mail merge that fails, a presentation that looks unprofessional, or reports that take hours to produce because no one on the team knows how to use PivotTables, this program solves that problem. The curriculum covers Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook from fundamentals through Expert-level proficiency, plus Google Workspace for organizations that use both platforms. An employee who returns from this program with MOS certification can produce better work, faster, with fewer errors, starting immediately.

If you are not sure how to approach the conversation, DWC has a step-by-step guide on how to ask your employer to pay for professional development that includes talking points, email templates, and tips on framing the request as a business investment. DWC can also provide a program summary document with the curriculum overview, credential outcomes, and a clear explanation of how the training benefits your employer. Contact the admissions team to request this document.

If your employer wants to train multiple team members in Microsoft Office, DWC offers group training options in Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other Microsoft 365 applications. Contact us to discuss employer-sponsored enrollment or team training.

For students paying out of pocket, DWC partners with Climb Credit for student-friendly tuition financing. Climb Credit offers fixed monthly payments with terms up to 36 months, 0% interest payment plan options (subject to credit approval), no prepayment penalties, and an online application with fast approval.

For the Business Administration Certificate at $5,295, monthly payments through Climb Credit can be as low as approximately $120 per month. Apply through Climb Credit to see your personalized options, or visit the financial aid page for more details.

A Microsoft 365 subscription is required for the Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook modules and is not included in tuition. Microsoft 365 is available as a monthly subscription. Google Workspace, which is also covered in the program, is free and browser-based.

Note that Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification exam fees are not included in tuition. MOS exams are administered through Certiport and cost approximately $100 to $150 per exam. The full MOS Expert designation requires passing five exams (three Associate plus two Expert). Taking the exams is optional but recommended for students entering the job market, as MOS certification carries significant weight with employers who need verifiable proof of Microsoft Office proficiency. The program curriculum covers all exam objectives, and exam preparation guidance is included in the final module.

DWC also accepts direct payment by credit card or bank transfer. Contact the admissions team to discuss payment options.

Starting points vary widely in business administration. Private instruction means neither the beginner nor the experienced user wastes time. Your instructor tailors exercises to your actual job context or career target.

Yes. The curriculum covers all exam objectives for the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification pathway, from Associate through Expert. The program prepares you for all four Associate exams (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) and both Expert exams (Word Expert and Excel Expert). MOS exam fees are not included in tuition and are paid separately through Certiport at approximately $100 to $150 per exam. Taking the exams is optional but recommended for students entering the job market, as MOS certification carries significant weight with employers.

The DWC Business Administration Certificate (DPOS higher education professional certificate) plus preparation for multiple MOS certification exams through Microsoft and Certiport.

Microsoft 365 subscription (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook). Google Workspace is browser-based and free.