Legal Studies, Library Science & Business Technology

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Legal Studies, Library Science & Business Technology
Business Office Technology	Click here to visit our web site.
Because today’s business world is constantly being transformed by new information processing technologies, employment opportunities in office careers are on the rise. The smooth functioning of today’s automated office depends on the support of well-trained administrative, accounting, legal office and medical office assistants. If you find satisfaction in working as a team member, are well organized, and enjoy meeting and helping new people, Business Office Technology could be the right program for you. This program has some significant advantages: it not only allows you to specialize in an area of interest to you, but it also provides a fast track to an entry-level position. Students may obtain a general office assistant certificate of completion in as little as one year and then begin earning money while studying for their associate degree. By studying a second year toward the associate degree in Business Office Technology, you can prepare for a more challenging position as either a general administrative assistant, accounting assistant, legal office assistant, or medical office assistant. You will learn to use state-of-the-art microcomputers, become familiar with various upto-date software applications, and become proficient in a specific area of study. Because our region values bilingual (Spanish/English) skills in the workplace, students already possessing ability in Spanish have the opportunity to enroll in two courses to further enhance their Spanish communication skills. These courses are part of the Bilingual Office Specialist Certificate. The work settings where program graduates find employment are as varied as the organizations themselves. They include educational institutions; federal, state, and local government offices; medical facilities; legal firms; financial institutions; corporate settings; and small and large businesses. Not only are the work settings varied, but so are the positions within each organization. Employment opportunities for administrative assistants, accounting assistants, legal office or medical office assistants continue to grow 10 to 20 percent in a variety of industries and businesses. Current salary ranges can be found in the Occupational Outlook Handbook at the U.S. Department of Labor web site: http://www.bls.gov/.
HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY	Web site coming soon.
Health Information Technicians are counted among the many highly qualified health professionals necessary to meet the growing needs of the health care industry. One of the things that sets this field apart is that there is little or no direct contact with patients. The following are a sampling of the duties health information technicians typically perform: • analyzing and evaluating health records that comply with health information standards and regulations; • compiling various types of administrative and health statistics for research and public policy planning and assessment; • coding symptoms, diseases, operations, procedures, and other therapies for maximum reimbursement; • transcribing medical records and reports; • ensuring that health information is complete and available to legitimate users while protecting patient privacy and information security; and • maintaining and utilizing a variety of health record indexes and storage and retrieval systems. DACC offers a rigorous course of study to prepare graduates for employment as health information technicians, which includes computer literacy, professional practice skills, and life skills such as critical analytical thinking, problem solving, and good study habits. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will have numerous options. Job prospects for HIT professionals are very good because their skills are necessary throughout the entire health care industry. They can work in a wide variety of settings and can be employed in any organization that utilizes health information. These work settings include physician practices, hospitals, managed care organizations, long-term care facilities, behavioral health facilities, ambulatory care facilities, rehabilitation centers, home health care providers, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, consulting and law firms, skilled nursing facilities, and federal and state governmental agencies.
Library Science	Click here to visit our web site.
In this Information Age, the role of libraries in providing for the knowledge needs of all sectors of the population is expanding. The changing needs of information management in our society have sparked an increasing demand for the work of library and information specialists who can organize, manage, and retrieve information from the vast storehouses that exist. While library and information centers retain their traditional study tables and shelves full of books, increasingly they are being transformed into computerized clearinghouses to accommodate the rapidly evolving information technology. Electronic catalogs, online databases, CD-ROM products, and the Internet and Worldwide Web provide almost unlimited access to the information people need for lifelong learning, and for both professional and recreational activities. Employment opportunities in libraries and throughout the rest of the information management field are growing. Acquiring, organizing and preserving, and providing access to the vast wealth of materials that exist in increasingly automated environments are ongoing challenges. Those who have strong skills in these areas will find themselves in great demand in the job market. Graduates of the Library Science Program are prepared to enter the workforce in a variety of settings and positions, including those found in public libraries and school or academic libraries. They may also choose from the wide spectrum of special library positions that are found in corporate, institutional, and government information centers. Additional information on career opportunities and salaries may be obtained from the Occupational Outlook Handbook, available online at http://www.bls.gov/oco/.
Paralegal Studies	Click her to visit our web site.
If you have an interest in the law and how it affects individuals and society as a whole, then a career as a paralegal could be an excellent choice for you. Paralegals enjoy the intellectual challenge of assisting attorneys in finding legal solutions for their clients’ problems. A precise description of the paralegal’s role is found in the New Mexico Supreme Court’s definition in the Rules Governing Paralegal Services (Rule 20-102A), which states that a paralegal is one who: 1 contracts with or is employed by an attorney, law firm, corporation, governmental agency or other entity; 2 performs substantive legal work under the supervision of a licensed attorney who assumes professional responsibility for the final work product; and 3 meets one or more of the education, training or work experience qualifications set forth in Rule 20-115 NMRA of these rules; ... In the same Rules mentioned previously, the Court’s examples of substantive legal work include, “case planning, development and management; legal research and analysis; interviewing clients; fact gathering and retrieving information; drafting legal documents; collecting, compiling, and utilizing technical information to make an independent decision and recommendation to the supervising attorney; and representing clients before a state or federal administrative agency if that representation is authorized by law.” (Rule 20-102B NMRA) The DACC Paralegal Studies program focuses on developing skills necessary to perform substantive legal work. Examples of courses leading to that end include Litigation, Legal Research and Writing, Interviewing and Investigation, Virtual Law Office, Legal Ethics, and Torts. Through classroom instruction (including practical exercises and assignments), computer lab practice, and an internship/cooperative experience, students gain essential skills, as well as a broad background in many different areas of law. Graduates of the Paralegal Studies program are eligible to apply to take the national certification examination offered by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). Those who successfully complete this two-day exam are designated Certified Legal Assistants (CLA). The employment outlook for paralegals is good. Program graduates are employed with private firms, various courts, community legal services, state and federal governmental agencies (e.g., Human Services Departments, public defenders, and district attorneys), as well as a variety of businesses.

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