Secretarial Science Majors
Find out what courses you'll take in a secretarial science certificate or degree program. Learn the average salary of general secretaries as well as those working in specialized areas, such as in law or medical offices.
<h3 id="section---WhatIsSecretarialScience">What is Secretarial Science?</h3>
<p>Programs in this field teach you the skills necessary to perform basic office work and, in some programs, teach you how to manage and run an office. The name 'secretarial science' is slightly outdated, though - most schools now offer programs in office administration, office management or office technology. Besides general office programs, there are programs that allow you to specialize in medical or law office management.
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<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Program Specializations</b></td><td> Medical office, law office</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Program Levels</b></td><td> Certificate program, associate's degree, bachelor's degree</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Prerequisites</b></td><td> High school diploma or GED</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Common Courses</b></td><td> Accounting, billing, bookkeeping, word processing, records management</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Online Availability</b></td><td> Some courses may be available online</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Average Salary (2020)*</b></td><td> $40,420 (<i>secretary</i>), <br /> $52,750 (<i>legal secretary</i>), <br /> $39,000 (<i>medical secretary</i>)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b> Job Outlook (2019-2029)</b></td><td> 9% decline (<i>for all secretaries and administrative assistants</i>) </td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
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<h3 id="section---WhatLevelsOfStudyAreAvailable">What Levels of Study are Available?</h3>
<p>These programs are most often offered at the certificate or associate's degree level. A few schools offer bachelor's degree programs in office technology or business administration with an office administration emphasis.
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<h3 id="section---AreThereAnyPrerequisites">Are There Any Prerequisites?</h3>
<p>Most programs do not require you to have anything more than a high school diploma or a GED. They are specifically designed for those with little or no office experience and no prior academic background beyond the high school level.
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<h3 id="section---WhatCoursesWillITake">What Courses Will I Take?</h3>
<p>You will study a variety of subjects as you learn the basics of working in a business office. You'll learn accounting and word processing, how to use common office machines, dictation and computers. You will also gain management, sales and organizational skills. Some areas of study include:
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<ul><li>Word processing
</li><li>Typing
</li><li>Databases
</li><li>Business communication
</li><li>Bookkeeping
</li><li>Records management
</li><li>Desktop publishing
</li><li>Inventory management
</li><li>Transcription
</li><li>Billing
</li></ul><h3 id="section---CanIEarnThisDegreeOnline">Can I Earn This Degree Online?</h3>
<p>Online secretarial science programs are rare. Much of the program involves working in a computer lab as you learn important computer and office technology skills. You may be able to take some general education classes online, depending on the school.
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<h3 id="section---HowMuchCanIEarnWorkingAsASecretary">How Much Can I Earn Working as a Secretary?</h3>
<p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, secretaries in 2020 earned an average salary of $40,420. Secretaries at the executive level earned $65,230 a year, while those specializing in the legal profession earned an average of $52,750 a year. Secretaries working in medical offices had an average annual salary of $39,000.</p>