Computer technology plays a tremendous role in life and business, and that role is only expanding every day. As this technology advances, so does the need for a highly trained, computer-savvy workforce. Developing computer knowledge and skills gives you a competitive edge, no matter your career field or area of interest. Oakton's Computer Applications for Business (CAB) curriculum offers the programs and courses you need to develop these essential skills.
The CAB program prepares you for all the application software commonly found in the modern workplace. You will become proficient with word processors, spreadsheets, databases, presentation graphics, business graphics and desktop publishing programs. In addition to making you a more efficient office problem solver, our program will also help you become a well-rounded office leader. You will develop supervisory skills, expand business productivity and enhance skills in communication, human relations and modern office technology systems and procedures.
Eligible CAB students can register for a business internship, which provides salaried employment experience in a computer-related environment where you can put your new skills to work right away.
Students who complete the program will receive an associate in applied science degree. Students can also seek professional certificates, including but not limited to the Microsoft Office Specialist, Operational Software Specialist, Executive Administrative and Creative Software User certificates.
The office systems technology field is highly sophisticated and demands a trained and competent workforce, and we want you to be at the forefront of that workforce. The training you receive at Oakton will prepare you to pursue a career as an administrative assistant, office manager, director of information support systems, office supervisor, marketing support representative, office support professional or office automation specialist.
We can help you with your career planning while you are still working on completing our Computer Applications for Business program. Get a head start on your career with our experts in the Career and Transfer Center.
The Computer Applications for Business curriculum provides education and workplace training for today and for the future. Courses are designed for students who will be working in a variety of business environments. The curriculum also supports other departments throughout the college by offering courses that develop students’ software expertise.
This program prepares students for positions as administrative assistants. Graduates gain strong skills in computer applications, written communications, and office procedures.
Complete this certificate in 29 credit hours and learn skills in Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator and more.
Complete this certificate in one semester and take classes to learn Windows Fundamentals (CAB 110) in addition to learning skills in Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and more.
You can complete this certificate in one semester with a total of seven credit hours. You'll learn the fundamentals of Windows along with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
This certificate is a 36 credit hour program in which you'll gain skills with Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint along with classes that focus on the Principles of Management and Financial Accounting.
You can learn basic keyboarding, communication strategies, keyboarding and Windows fundamentals with this eight-credit-hour course.
Our Microsoft Office Advanced Specialist Certificate is a 14 credit hour course that includes classes on presenting with PowerPoint and Advanced Spreadsheeting Using Excel.
With 10 credit hours needed, you can complete this certificate in one semester. You will learn how to use Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Windows and more.
Earn your Microsoft Office User Certificate in three classes (six credit hours) in as little as one semester.
Earn your Office Assistant Certificate in 15 credit hours and learn the skills to perform basic office functions, compose business correspondence and create graphics and electronic presentations.
This 12-credit hour certificate program prepares students for positions as either administrative or operational managers, or administrative or operational specialists across or within departments. In this program, students acquire strong skills in Information Technology, applications software, and administrative planning.
This 13-credit hour certificate program prepares students for positions as presentation coordinators and presentation specialists across and within departments. Students acquire strong skills in Information Technology, presentation software and communications planning.
This 16-credit hour certificate program prepares students for positions as reporting managers and reporting specialists across and within departments. Students acquire strong skills in Information Technology, reporting software and communications planning.
The training you receive at Oakton will prepare you to pursue a career as an administrative assistant, office manager, director of information support systems, office supervisor, marketing support representative, office support professional or office automation specialist.
Among the career opportunities, the median annual wage for secretaries and administrative assistants was $40,990 in May 2020.
Doris Gronseth
Coordinator
Distinguished Professor of Computer Technologies and Information Systems
B.A. Lewis University
M.B.A. Lewis University
M.A. Webster University
dgronset@oakton.edu
847.376.7055
Office: 2751, Des Plaines
Meet our part-time faculty
Floyd Aylin
Lecturer
A.A. College of San Mateo
B.S. San Jose State University
M.S. San Jose State University
faylin@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: 2180, Des Plaines
Cheryl Brown
Lecturer
B.S.B.A. University of Illinois, Chicago
M.B.A. Roosevelt Universtiy
cbrown@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: 2180, Des Plaines
Joanne Delaney
Lecturer
B.S. Mundelein College
M.S. DePaul University
J.D. DePaul University
jdelaney@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: 2180, Des Plaines
Renee Marks
Lecturer
B.J.S. Spertus College of Judaica
B.S.J. Northwestern University
J.M.A. Mundelein College
M.Ed. DePaul University
rmarks@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: 2180, Des Plaines
Russell McNeilly
Lecturer
B.S. Illinois Institute of Technology
M.B.A. Loyola University, Chicago
mcneill@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: 2180, Des Plaines
Marianne Millman
Lecturer
B.S. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
M.B.A. DePaul University
mmillman@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: 2180, Des Plaines
Deanne Rehmer
Lecturer
B.S. Northern Illinois University
rehmer@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: 2180, Des Plaines
Joann Stavropoulos
Lecturer
A.A.S. Oakton College
B.S.Ed. DePaul University
M.A. DePaul University
joann@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: 2180, Des Plaines
W. Ken Woo
Lecturer
B.S. Loyola University
M.S. DePaul University
M.B.A. Lake Forest University
Ed.D. Benedictine University
kwoo@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: 2180, Des Plaines
Licensure Requirements: Each state and territory has different licensure and certification requirements. Oakton has researched and/or contacted state licensing authorities to confirm that the program meets the educational requirements leading to professional licensure or certification.
Licensure information is reviewed and updated on this site in June of each year. As of July 1, 2020, we have determined that individuals that sit for and pass Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Expert Certification and Adobe Certified Expert Certification examinations after successful completion of Oakton’s Computer Applications for Business course and program curriculum:
Meets the education requirements leading to licensure/certification in these states and U.S. Territories: Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Does NOT meet the education requirements For licensure/certification in these states and U.S. Territories:
We have not made a determination if the program curriculum meets the requirements for licensure/certification in these states and US Territories:
If you intend to practice in any state other than Illinois, you should contact the appropriate licensing agency to independently verify whether Oakton’s program satisfies the educational requirements for licensure in a particular state before beginning Oakton’s program. Be aware that state licensure requirements may change from time to time and that states may have conditions for licensure in addition to educational requirements.
This information is provided to meet the Disclosure Requirements for Academic Programs Leading to Professional Licensure or Certification.
Can a student earn credit for a course without taking the course?
Some of the CAB courses have a proficiency exam that can be taken if you feel you know the material in a particular course. Successful performance on the exam would allow a student to move on to the next level course without having to take the first. But college credit would not be earned for the first course. After verifying with the CAB program coordinator that a proficiency exam is available for a given course, contact the testing center in Des Plaines to set up a time to take the exam. If you think your work or life experience qualifies you to earn Oakton credit for a course, contact, the CAB program coordinator to discuss this further.
The following courses are not offered every semester:
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Fall
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Spring
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The CTIS Department--Computer Technology and Information Systems--is made up of two programs: CAB--Computer Applications for Business, and CIS--Computer Information Systems. The coordinator for each of these programs or the department chair can be contacted as indicated below:
Harold Ogg, chair of CTIS, coordinator of CSC
hcogg@oakton.edu or 847.376.7092
Michele Reznick, coordinator of CIS
mreznick@oakton.edu or 847.635.1904
Doris Gronseth, coordinator of CAB
dgronset@oakton.edu or 847.376.7055
To contact any faculty member in CAB, consult the faculty page of this website. Other programs also offer computer-oriented curriculum such as Computer Networking and Systems, Electronics, etc. Consult the college catalog for further information.
The CAB program offers a variety of classes delivered through the World Wide Web. The Microsoft Office Specialist Core certificate as well as courses in all four main components of Microsoft Office--Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access can be learned in an online course environment. Visit the online courses link on this website for additional courses taught online in the CTIS Department. These credit courses can usually be adapted to the student's schedule and availability. The courses taught online often require a majority of class time be spent on the web, though most will require additional materials such as textbooks and/or video media. The courses contain a discussion forum and other online devices through which students can interact via the web with their teacher and classmates as well as a variety of other sources.
Online courses require different skills and learning styles from conventional courses. For instance, students in an online class are responsible for scheduling their own "class time." Motivation and self-discipline are essential for success in an online course. The online courses cover the same material as the on campus sections of the same courses. The expected student requirements are the same whether the course is taken online or on campus. Visit Oakton's online learning site for more information.
With a good majority of communication taking place through the computer, keyboarding--being able to enter data without looking at your fingers and using both hands--is an essential skill. Do you want to be able to say all you want in an e-mail message and not have to cut it short because of the time it takes to find all the keys? Do you want to be able to concentrate on learning and/or using a software package without slowing yourself down looking for all of the necessary keys?
CAB 102 Basic Keyboarding is a one credit course that, in seven weeks, will teach you to keyboard without looking at your fingers. CAB104 Skill Building and Formatting is for the student that wants to further develop their keyboarding, document design, word processing, and communication skills. If you had a keyboarding course and wish to improve your speed or accuracy, consider CAB 106 Keyboarding Speed and Accuracy Development.