Computer applications courses are offered at all levels and can be part of many types of academic programs. Courses prepare students for a variety of jobs, including basic jobs such as data entry all the way up to more advanced positions such as graphics designer, Computer Hardware Team, Web Design.
Using Computer ApplicationsThis is another practical, introductory computer applications class that trains individuals to use a wide range of computer application programs and is likely to be an early course taken in many programs. Students practice using command keys and formatting material for ease of reading and learn to use Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint to create presentations, spreadsheets and text documents. Occasionally, this course touches on touch typing, requiring students to get typing speed up to a certain number of words per minute, usually around 45.
Some programs focus more on operating basic software such as Microsoft Office while others focus on more intermediate and advanced topics such as using HyperText Markup Language (HTML), graphics design software such as Adobe InDesign and Adobe’s photo-editing application Photoshop.
Students taking this intermediate-level course learn how to create, format and edit images using Adobe Photoshop. Students also edit photos and modify them by adding or removing colors, lightening, darkening and making photos presentable for print or Web publication. They also optimize images and layer them to create fuller, richer designs. Photoshop is an advanced-level application and so courses for it are typically taken late in the certificate or degree program.