Program Advisor: Kathleen Gowdey 
 Microsoft^® Office Master Instructor, 413-236-4640

The Business Software Systems degree program prepares students to become software applications specialists. Graduates possess mastery of the Microsoft^® Office Suite. This program also emphasizes basic business fundamentals, and oral and written communications.

Training is conducted on state-of-the-art computers. Through this program, students are encouraged to become Microsoft^® Certified by taking  the Microsoft^® Certified Application Specialist exams.

In addition, the BSS program has articulation agreements with American International College, elms college, and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA).

The Business Software Systems Webpage can be viewed by clicking on this link, or is available to students in printed form.

Expected Outcomes

Graduates of this program should be able to:

• determine the most appropriate Microsoft^® Office software to use in creating business documents;
• demonstrate competency in using the Windows operating system for maximized productivity;
• demonstrate proficiency in formatting business correspondence;
• demonstrate effective communication skills;
• demonstrate their ability to work successfully in teams;
• find employment in their field or continue their education.  

Graduation Requirements

To earn a degree in this program, a student must complete the 60 program and general education credits, plus the additional require­ments, shown below.

Program		39 Credits
BSS 101	Microsoft® Windows	3
BSS 102	Microsoft® Word	3
BSS 103	Desktop Publishing - Word	3
BSS 105	Microsoft® PowerPoint	3
BSS 121	Document Processing	3
BSS 201	Microsoft® Excel	3
BSS 202	Microsoft® Access	3
BSS 204	Software Integration	3
BUS 107	Fundamentals of Business	3
BUS 206	Principles of Management	3
BUS 247	Business Communications	3
	Free Elective	3
	Professional Electives (see footnote 2)	3

General Education		Credits
COM	Communication	3
ENG	English Composition/Writing	6
MAT	Mathematics (see footnote 1)	3
	History OR
	Behavioral and Social Science	3
	Humanities and Fine Arts	3
	Natural or Physical Science OR
	Evnironmental Studies	3

Additional Requirements
	Core Competencies Portfolio	6 Items
	Forum	12 Units
	Health/Fitness	30 Hours
Minimum Cumulative Averages: Overall Area of Specialization: All Required BSS and BUS courses		2.000 2.000

Suggested Block for Program Completion

The following is a suggestion for completing this program in two years. The actual time to complete the program may vary according to each student's individual needs.

First Semester		15 Credits
BSS 101	Microsoft® Windows	3
BSS 102	Microsoft® Word	3
BSS 105	Microsoft® PowerPoint	3
BUS 107	Fundamentals of Business	3
ENG	English Composition/Writing	3

Second Semester		15 Credits
BSS 103	Desktop Publishing - Word	3
BSS 121	Document Processing	3
BSS 201	Microsoft® Excel	3
BSS 202	Microsoft® Access	3
ENG	English Composition/Writing	3

Third Semester		15 Credits
BSS 204	Software Integration	3
BUS 206	Principles of Management	3
	Professional Elective (see footnote 2)	3
COM	Communication	3
MAT	Mathematics (see footnote 1) Free	3

Fourth Semester		15 Credits
BSS 247	Business Communications	3
	Free Elective	3
	History  OR
	Behavioral and Social Science	3
	Humanities and Fine Arts	3
	Natural or Physical Science  OR
	Environmental Studies	3

Footnotes: 

1. MAT 101 , Applied Contemporary Mathematics, or any course with the "MA" General Education designation; students wishing to transfer should take MAT 102 or higher.

2. Professional elective chosen from courses designated BUS or CIS. BUS 111 , Principles of Accounting I, strongly recomended.

NOTE: All BSS courses must be taken in the four years prior to graduation.