SOFTWARE SPECIALIST ACADEMY
College credits earned: up to 12.0 (varies by program location)
Why College Credit in High School?
… Find your passion
… Get a head start
… Experience college-level expectations
with rock star teachers
… Earn free college credit
… Why not!
Experience
Become skilled in various high demand software
applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel and Access,
desktop publishing, Web page design and multimedia.
Outcome
Software is a part of not only business and industry,
but a part of our daily lives as well. Completing this
academy gives students a strong understanding in the
application area and skills that are transferrable and
useful to countless career opportunities.
Career Focus
Worldwide over 500 million customers use MS Office
applications. Earn a competitive edge in business/
industry by acquiring IT skills that are in high demand
and useful to many professional careers.
The Kirkwood Software Specialist Academy provides students
with a jump start to earning an associates, bachelors and/or
graduate degree. Examples of college majors include, but are not
limited to: Administrative Assistant, Business Administration,
Web Designer, Computer Support Specialist. If you’re planning
to transfer to a four-year college or university after attending
Kirkwood, specific transfer information can be found at the
following link: www.kirkwood.edu/fouryeartransfer
Iowa Average Salaries
Administrative Assistant: $29,280
Web Designer: $62,500
Computer Support Specialist: $44,220
Business Occupations: $57,070
More info can be found at: www.bls.gov
College credit courses included in this academy experience:
BCA-213 Intermediate Computer
3 college credits
Business Applications
In this course, students move beyond the basic features of
standard Microsoft Office software applications (Word, Access,
Excel and PowerPoint) and should be proficient in the use of
these business applications. Students who complete this
course qualify to take the Microsoft Office Specialist
certification-core level.
ADM-142 Desktop Publishing
3 college credits
Students learn to create professional-quality documents, such as
one-page bulletins or short newsletters, using desktop publishing
software such as Adobe In Design and Photoshop. Students will
learn to integrate text, graphic and image files previously created
in other software applications.
BCA-179 Powerpoint Multimedia
3 college credits
Develops knowledge of multimedia concepts by studying
multimedia software and the hardware components needed
to develop and view multimedia productions. Assessment
projects are used by students for demonstration of knowledge
of multimedia elements (copyright, video, graphics, sound,
animation) knowledge of tools (digital camera, video camera,
scanner, cams), and knowledge of editing software (sound
editing, video editing, graphics editing).
CIS-207 Fundamentals of Web
3 college credits
Programming
Presents hypertext markup language principles used in created
well-designed web pages. Students also use JavaScript and
DHTML on an introductory level. Course not offered at all
locations. Prerequisite: CSC-110 – Introduction to Computers or
equivalent course.
Need to Know …
• Students enrolled will receive credit from their high school and
college credit from Kirkwood. The college tuition is paid for by
the high school district.
• The grade earned in this course will be reflected on the
student’s official college transcript. Students not planning to
attend Kirkwood after high school graduation should plan to
include this transcript as part of your application process to
other colleges or universities. www.kirkwood.edu/transcript
• As part of earning college credit for this academy, students
must complete an online application to Kirkwood Community
College, and must provide a social security number as part
of the secure online college application process to create the
official student record.
KIRKWOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE
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Software Specialist Academy
Program Details
• Course offerings vary by program location.
• Check with your guidance counselor to see if the Software
Specialist Academy is at a location near you.
How to Get Started
• Talk to your parents and your guidance counselor.
• Go to www.kirkwood.edu/apply and click “Earn College Credit
in High School.”
KIRKWOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE
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