Business Information WorkerAS DegreeCertificate of Achievement

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Community of interest
Business, Cosmetology, Arts & Design
Award
AS Degree
Program code
01313.02AS
Department
Bus/Legal/Medical/BIW
CIP code
52.0401: Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science, General.
TOP code
0514.00 - Office Technology/Office Computer Applications*
The Business Information Worker (BIW) program is a two-tiered, structured career pathway for students who are interested in entering the exciting and diverse career field of office and administrative support. Butte College's BIW pathway is aligned with a California statewide program that collaborated with businesses and advisory committees across the state to identify the most in-demand and desirable knowledge and skills required of today's business information workers. Additionally, this pathway clearly communicates to students what skills they need to be successful in today's businesses, as well as provides a branded BIW pathway for businesses to quickly recognize on resumes. Please visit the ICT-DM.NET./BIW site to obtain more information and locate support resources for this pathway. Students graduating from the BIW program gain proficiency in business communication, professional development, records management, technology tools used to support businesses to achieve goals, such as Microsoft Office applications, collaboration tools, and desktop publishing applications. Career related fields for the BIW include office and administrative support workers, administrative assistants, receptionists, office specialists, customer service representatives, general office and information clerks, and file clerks. Students who have earned the AS degree in BIW will have also completed the BIW Certificate and the BIW Certificate of Achievement. Taken full-time, this program can be completed in two years.
Program detailsAward, code, department, CIP/TOP

Program Snapshot

Community of interest
BCAD Business, Cosmetology, Arts & Design
Award
AS Degree
Program code
01313.02AS
Department
Bus/Legal/Medical/BIW
CIP code
52.0401: Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science, General.
TOP code
0514.00 - Office Technology/Office Computer Applications*

Next Steps

Map Class Schedule

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

Program Schedule ReportMeet with a counselor
Business Information Worker
AS Degree — expand to learn about this award

The Associate of Science is typically awarded for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. Like every Butte College associate degree, it has two parts: a general-education curriculum that gives you a broad base of knowledge, and an academic program where you specialize.

About General Education. GE is an integrated program of learning designed to foster intellectual curiosity, cultural understanding, critical thinking, creative reasoning, oral and written communication, and the capacity for ethical reasoning. By graduation, you'll have developed the ability to think critically, communicate clearly, apply quantitative reasoning, understand how the major academic disciplines ask their questions, comprehend diverse cultures and historical periods, and assess ethical problems — alongside the depth you build in your major.

See the 2025-26 Catalog for official program details

Semester-by-Semester Map

Term 1

Class Schedules

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

15.5–17.5 units
BCIS 13
Business Communication
3 units
course details

This course applies the principles of ethical and effective communication to the creation of letters, memos, emails, and written and oral reports for a variety of business situations. The course emphasizes planning, organizing, composing, and revising business documents using word processing software for written documents and presentation-graphics software to create and deliver professional-level oral reports. This course is designed for students who already have college-level writing skills. (C-ID BUS 115).

BCIS 18
Introduction to Business Technology
3 units
course details

This course is an examination of information and communication technologies used in today's businesses and the impact these technologies are having on today's workplaces. The course will include examination and application of a wide range of information and communication technology tools used to support and enhance business functions and processes. Focus will be placed on solving a variety of business problems, improving organizational productivity, and achieving the goals of business.

BCIS 20
Beginning Keyboarding
1.5 units
course details

This course is designed for the student who has had little or no previous training in the operation of a keyboard. Students learn to type by touch, to use appropriate keyboarding techniques, and to develop speed and accuracy. Students learn to use common proofreader's marks in document editing.

General Education: Area 2

about Area 2

Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

College-level mathematics or quantitative reasoning — the toolkit behind science, business, and informed citizenship.

General Education: Area 6

about Area 6

Ethnic Studies

The histories, experiences, and contributions of the four autonomous disciplines: Black / African American / Africana studies, Native American studies, Chicano/a/x and Latino/a/x studies, and Asian American studies.

Graduation Requirement Choice (See GE Guide)

Term 2

Class Schedules

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

15–18 units
BCIS 46
Business Math Calculations
2 units
course details

In this course, students use the features of a business ten-key calculator to solve business math problems including banking, payroll, invoicing, markups/markdowns, interest, present and future value, credit cards, student loans, types of insurance, installment buying, and mortgages. Students will develop ten-key speed and accuracy using the touch method.

BCIS 28
Microsoft Word for Windows
3 units
course details

This course covers the most recent version of Microsoft Word for Windows (full desktop version) for students who have an understanding of computers and desire comprehensive knowledge of word processing. Course content includes creating, editing, and formatting documents; creating and modifying headers and footers; inserting objects such as images, SmartArt, and WordArt; creating, modifying, and customizing tables; merging documents to create letters, envelopes and labels; creating charts; proofing documents; creating and managing shared documents and online forms; and automating process using macros.

BCIS 33
Skills for the Working Professional
1 units
course details

This course provides an exploration of essential soft skills necessary for working professionals, focusing on both external and internal communication, effective conflict management, and cultivating a positive attitude. Students will also learn to develop interpersonal and self-management skills for creating a professional image, preparing them for success in today’s workplace.

General Education: Area 1A

about Area 1A

English Composition

Baccalaureate-level academic writing — expository and argumentative. The foundation for every other course you'll write in.

General Education: Area 1B

about Area 1B

Oral Communication and Critical Thinking

Baccalaureate-level oral communication and/or critical thinking — speaking with structure to a live audience, analyzing arguments, identifying assumptions.

General Education: Area 4

about Area 4

Social and Behavioral Sciences

The systematic study of people as members of society — cultural anthropology, cultural geography, economics, history, political science, psychology, sociology — and the methods these disciplines use to ask their questions.

Term 3

Class Schedules

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

13–15 units
BCIS 16
Project Management Tools
3 units
course details

This course introduces students to critical project management and personal information management (PIM) tools integral to today’s business operations: Microsoft Project and Outlook. Students will gain practical experience in utilizing Microsoft Outlook to manage professional e-mail communication, organize events, and create/manage contact groups. Additionally, the course will cover foundational project management skills using Microsoft Project, including planning, building, and tracking project schedules; creating and assigning tasks; managing resources; building Gantt charts, timelines, and reports; and monitoring project progress. Emphasis will be placed on skills that directly align with industry expectations and standards, including preparation for the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification where relevant.

BCIS 70
Adobe Acrobat Professional
1 units
course details

This course introduces students to the current version of Acrobat Pro DC software's major features. Coverage includes interacting with PDFs using multiple devices, creating, scanning, converting, editing, sharing, signing, protecting, & standardizing PDFs. Additionally, ensuring accessibility, applying Bates numbering, redacting sensitive information, and preparing fillable forms will also be covered. (C-ID BSOT 125X).

BCIS 85
Microsoft Excel for Windows
3 units
course details

This course covers a recent version of Microsoft Excel (full desktop version) for students who have an understanding of computers and desire comprehensive knowledge of spreadsheets. Course content includes creating, formatting, and maintaining worksheets; using logical and financial formulas and functions; creating and modifying charts; using visual enhancements; working with tables and data tools; creating xlookup reference functions; and creating pivot tables.

General Education: Area 5

about Area 5

Physical and Biological Sciences

The physical universe, its life forms, and its natural phenomena — astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, meteorology, oceanography, physics — taught alongside the scientific method that makes them work.

Elective (any course numbered 1-99 or C1000-C1999)

Only necessary if the 60 units needed to graduate have not been completed. Consider taking a Cal-GETC General Education course. Visit www.assist.org to see options.

Term 4

Class Schedules

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

16.5–17.5 units
BCIS 15
Web-based Tools for Business
3 units
course details

This course examines the role that the end-user plays in monitoring, maintaining, and managing the web-based technology tools being used by businesses to improve and support collaboration, communication, and processes. Web-based tools and services used in business, including those used for communication, collaboration, social media, storage, and live support will be examined and applied.

BCIS 50
Office Administration
3 units
course details

This course encompasses and integrates the complex and varied technical, procedural, and communication skills required of today's administrative professional. An emphasis will be placed on workplace ethics, human relations, effective communication, time management, and customer service. Additionally, students will engage in discussions about the common procedures practiced in today’s offices including but not limited to managing physical and electronic records, planning and scheduling meetings and events, coordinating business travel, and managing financial documents. Finally, students will create professional-level job application materials and develop interviewing skills.

BCIS 51
Records Management
3 units
course details

This course introduces students to the increasingly complex field of records management. The class emphasizes the importance of effective records management for all types of documents from their creation or receipt, through their processing, distribution, organization, storage, and retrieval, to their ultimate disposition. Students will investigate the management functions necessary to operate a records management program effectively.

General Education: Area 3

about Area 3

Arts and Humanities

How people and cultures, across time, respond to themselves and the world through artistic and cultural creative production. Visual and performing arts, art history, foreign languages, literature, philosophy, religion.

Elective (any course numbered 1-99 or C1000-C1999)

Only necessary if the 60 units needed to graduate have not been completed. Consider taking a Cal-GETC General Education course. Visit www.assist.org to see options.

Career Connections

2-Year Degree Paths

Entry points students may pursue after associate-level study, technical preparation, or licensure pathways.

No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset point cleanly to an immediate 2-year outcome for this program.

4-Year Degree Paths

Roles that more often open up after transfer and a bachelor's degree.

No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset are grouped into the 4-year pathway for this program.

Graduate School Paths

Advanced roles commonly associated with graduate, professional, or post-baccalaureate study.

No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset are grouped into the graduate-school pathway for this program.

Source Notes

Course sequencing is generated from the Acadia Program Mapper cache. Career groupings use local CIP-to-SOC mappings and BLS occupation data when available. Confirm education plans with Counseling and Advising.

No NCES/IPEDS CIP-to-SOC mapping was found for this program's CIP code.

Last generated 2026-06-12T23:18+00:00