I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Introduction to Computer Applications

2. Course Prefix & Number:
COMP 1120

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 3

Lab Hours: 0

4. Course Description:

This course covers the computer application software most used in this business and education worlds, the Microsoft Office suite of Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Outlook. Some of the topics to be covered include: formatting Word documents; creating research papers and resumes using wizards and templates; creating Web pages with Word; using Excel to create worksheets and embedded charts; using Excel formulas and functions; creating what-if analysis; creating static and dynamic web pages using Excel; creating and querying an Access database; creating a PowerPoint presentation with a unified design; pictures and sound elements; and using Outlook to send and view mail, manage appointments and contacts. Career Preparation: Any business career that uses the Microsoft Office suite applications, including, but not limited to: Computer Support Specialist, Network Administrator, Network Engineer, Systems Analyst, Systems Engineer, and Business Analyst. Certification Preparation: Optional. Certiport: IC3 - Key Applications

5. Placement Tests Required:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

9. Co-requisite Courses:

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

3. Prior Learning - the following prior learning methods are acceptable for this course:

• Advanced Standing
• Written
• Oral
• Demonstration
• Portfolio

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Operating System Basics and Applications
• Define the term computer and discuss the four basic computer operations: input, processing, output, and storage
• Define data and information
• Explain the principal components of the computer and their use
• Describe the use of magnetic disks, USB flash drives, and other storage media
• Discuss computer software and explain the difference between system software and application software
• Identify several types of personal computer application software
• Discuss computer communications channels and equipment and the Internet and World Wide Web
• Define e-commerce
• Explain how to purchase a personal computer Start Windows Vista, log on to the computer, and identify the objects on the desktop
• Perform basic mouse operations
• Display the Start menu and start an application program
• Open, minimize, maximize, restore, move, size, scroll, and close a window
• Display drive and folder contents
• Create a folder in Windows Explorer and WordPad
• Browse the Web using Windows Internet Explorer 7.0, a URL, and tabbed browsing
• Download folders from scsite.com
• Copy, move, rename, and delete files
• Search for files using a word or phrase in the file or by name
• Use Windows Help and Support
• Log off from the computer and turn it off
2. Microsoft Word 2010 
• Start and quit Word
• Describe the Word window
• Enter text in a document
• Check spelling as you type
• Save a document
• Format text, paragraphs, and document elements
• Undo and redo commands or actions
• Insert a picture and format it
• Print a document
• Change document properties
• Open a document
• Correct errors in a document
• Use Word’s Help
• Describe the MLA documentation style for research papers
• Change line and paragraph spacing in a document
• Use a header to number pages of a document
• Apply formatting using shortcut keys
• Modify paragraph indentation
• Create and modify styles
• Insert and edit citations and their sources
• Add a footnote to a document
• Insert a manual page break
• Create a bibliographical list of sources
• Move text
• Find and replace text
• Use the Research task pane to look up information
• Format characters and paragraphs
• Insert and format clip art
• Set and use tab stops
• Identify the components of a business letter
• Insert the current date
• Create and insert a building block
• Insert a Word table, enter data in the table, and format the table
• Use a template to create a document
• Fill in a document template
• Copy and paste using the Office Clipboard
• Indent paragraphs
• Insert a Quick Part
• Sort a List
• Use print preview to view and print a document
• Address and print an envelope
• Border and shade a paragraph
• Insert and format a SmartArt graphic
• Insert a watermark
• Insert a section break
• Insert a Word document in an open document
• Insert headers and footers
• Modify and format a Word table
• Sum columns in a table
• Create a chart from a Word table
• Add picture bullets to a list
• Create and apply a character style
• Draw a table
• Explain the merge process
• Use the Mail Merge task pane and the Mailings tab on the Ribbon
• Use a letter template as the main document for a mail merge
• Insert and format a shape on a drawing canvas
• Create and edit a data source
• Insert merge fields in a main document
• Create a multilevel list
• Use an IF field in a main document
• Merge and print form letters
• Sort data records
• Address and print mailing labels and envelopes
• Merge all data records to a directory
• Change page orientation
• Modify table properties
• Create and format WordArt
• Insert a symbol in a document
• Insert and format a floating graphic
• Format a document in multiple columns
• Format a character as a drop cap
• Insert a column break
• Modify a style
• Place a vertical rule between columns
• Insert and format a text box
• Copy and paste using a split window
• Balance columns
• Modify and format a SmartArt graphic
• Add a page border
3. Microsoft Excel 2010 
• Start and quit Excel
• Describe the Excel worksheet
• Enter text and numbers
• Use the Sum button to sum a range of cells
• Copy the contents of a cell to a range of cells using the fill handle
• Save a workbook
• Format cells in a worksheet
• Create a 3-D Clustered Column chart
• Change document properties
• Save a workbook a second time using the same file name
• Print a worksheet
• Open a workbook
• Use the AutoCalculate area to determine statistics
• Correct errors on a worksheet
• Use Excel Help to answer questions
• Enter formulas using the keyboard and Point mode
• Apply the AVERAGE, MAX, and MIN functions
• Verify a formula using Range Finder
• Apply a theme to a workbook
• Add conditional formatting to cells
• Change column width and row height
• Check the spelling of a worksheet
• Set margins, headers and footers in Page Layout View
• Preview and print versions of a worksheet
• Use a Web query to get real-time data from a Web site
• Rename sheets in a workbook
• E-mail the active workbook from within Excel
• Rotate text in a cell
• Create a series of month names
• Copy, paste, insert, and delete cells
• Format numbers using format symbols
• Freeze and unfreeze titles
• Show and format the system date
• Use absolute cell references in a formula
• Use the IF function to perform a logical test
• Use the Format Painter button to format cells
• Create a 3-D Pie chart on a separate chart sheet
• Color and rearrange worksheet tabs
• Change the worksheet view
• Answer what-if questions
• Goal seek to answer what-if questions
• Control the color and thickness of outlines and borders
• Assign a name to a cell and refer to the cell in a formula using the assigned name
• Determine the monthly payment of a loan using the financial function PMT
• Use the financial functions PV (present value) and FV (future value)
• Create a data table to analyze data in a worksheet
• Add a pointer to a data table
• Create an amortization schedule
• Analyze worksheet data by changing values
• Use names and the Set Print Area command to print sections of a worksheet
• Set print options
• Protect and unprotect cells in a worksheet
• Use the formula checking features of Excel
• Hide and unhide cell gridlines, rows, columns, sheets, and workbooks
• Create and manipulate a table
• Delete sheets in a workbook
• Validate data
• Add calculated columns to a table
• Use icon sets with conditional formatting
• Use the VLOOKUP function to look up a value in a table
• Print a table
• Add and delete records and change field values in a table
• Sort a table on one field or multiple fields
• Display automatic subtotals
• Use Group and Outline features to hide and unhide data
• Query a table
• Apply database functions, the SUMIF function, and the COUNTIF function
• Save a workbook in different file formats
• Create and use a template
• Use the ROUND function
• Utilize custom format codes
• Define, apply, and remove a style
• Add a worksheet to a workbook
• Create formulas that use 3-D cell references
• Draw a Clustered Cone chart
• Use WordArt to create a title and create and modify shapes
• Add a header or footer, change margins, and insert and move a page break
• Save a workbook as a PDF or XPS file
• Use the Find and Replace commands
• Create a workspace
• Consolidate data by linking workbooks
• Describe databases and database management systems
• Design a database to satisfy a collection of requirements
4. Microsoft Access 2010
• Start Access
• Describe the features of the Access window
• Create a database
• Create a table and add records
• Close a table
• Close a database and quit Access
• Open a database
• Print the contents of a table
• Create and print custom reports
• Create and use a split form
• Use the Access Help system
• Create queries using the Simple Query Wizard
• Print query results
• Create queries using Design View
• Include fields in the design grid
• Use text and numeric data in criteria
• Create and use parameter queries
• Save a query and use the saved query
• Use compound criteria in queries
• Sort data in queries
• Join tables in queries
• Create a report from a query
• Perform calculations in queries
• Calculate statistics in queries
• Create crosstab queries
• Customize the Navigation Pane
• Add, change, and delete records
• Search for records
• Filter records
• Update a table design
• Format a datasheet
• Use action queries to update records
• Specify validation rules, default values, and formats
• Create and use single-valued and multivalued Lookup fields
• Specify referential integrity
• Use a subdatasheet
• Sort records
• Create reports and forms using wizards
• Group and sort in a report
• Add totals and subtotals to a report
• Resize columns
• Conditionally format controls
• Filter records in reports and forms
• Print reports and forms
• Add a field to a report or form
• Include gridlines
• Add a date
• Change the format of a control
• Move controls
• Use Yes/No, Date, Memo, OLE, Object, Attachment, and Hyperlink fields
• Use the Input Mask Wizard
• Update fields and enter data
• Change row and column size
• Create a form with a subform in Design view
• Modify a subform and form design
• Enhance the form title
• Change tab stops and tab order
• Use the form to view data and attachments
• Use Date, Memo, and Yes/No fields in a query
• View object dependencies
• Create and modify macros and macro groups
• Run macros
• Create a switchboard and switchboard pages
• Modify switchboard pages
• Use a switchboard
• Import data and create a query
• Create a PivotTable
• Change properties in a PivotTable
• Use a PivotTable
• Create a PivotChart and add a legend
• Change the chart type and organization of a PivotChart
• Remove drop zones in a PivotChart
• Assign axis titles and a chart title in a PivotChart
• Use a PivotChart
5. Microsoft PowerPoint 2010
• Start and quit PowerPoint
• Describe the PowerPoint window
• Select a document theme
• Create a title slide and text slides with single- and multi-level bulleted lists
• Save a presentation
• Copy elements from one slide to another
• View a presentation in Slide Show view
• Open a presentation
• Display and print a presentation in grayscale
• Check spelling
• Use PowerPoint Help
• Create slides from a blank presentation
• Change views to review a presentation
• Change slide layouts
• Add a background style   
• Insert, move, and size clip art        
• Insert a photograph from a file
• Delete a placeholder         
• Change font color
• Format text using the Format Painter
• Add and size a shape
• Apply Quick Styles to placeholders and shapes
• Select slide transitions
• Preview and print an outline and handout Create a presentation from a Microsoft Office Word 2007 outline
• Add a picture to create a custom background
• Add background graphics to slide masters
• Add slide numbers and the date to slide masters
• Apply a WordArt style
• Format WordArt
• Apply effects to pictures
• Insert and modify text boxes
• Apply effects to shapes
• Create a SmartArt graphic
• Use the Text pane to enter placeholder text
• Apply a SmartArt style to a graphic
• Modify an entire presentation by changing the theme colors and fonts
• Insert pictures and clips into slides without content placeholders
• Format pictures and clips by applying styles and adding borders
• Apply effects to pictures and clips
• Add hyperlinks to a slide
• Create and format a table
• Create a chart
• Find synonyms using the thesaurus
• Add action buttons and action settings
• Display guides to position slide elements
• Hide slides
• Run a slide show with hyperlinks
6. Microsoft Outlook 2010
• Start and quit Outlook
• Open, read, print, reply to, and delete electronic mail messages
• View a file attachment