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 current computer application software most used in the business and education worlds, the Microsoft Office suite of Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint. 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. 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.

5. Placement Tests Required:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

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

Normandale Community College, CAPL 1200 Intermediate Computer Applications, 3 credits
Century College, CAPL 1010 Introduction to Software Applications, 3 credits

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):

Computer Information Technology, AAS  
Computer Network Administration, AAS  
Computer Support Specialist, Diploma
Emerging Digital Technologies, Certificate

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Analyze and follow a sequence of operations	Create documents, spreadsheets, databases and presentations.
Utilize appropriate technology	Use current industry software applications.

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

Effectively use the current Windows operating system to create and manage files and folders for use with the current Microsoft Office Suite.

• MICROSOFT WORD.
  1. Create and Edit a Word Document.
  2. Create a Research Paper.
  3. Create a Cover Letter and a Resume.
  4.Web Feature: Create a Web Page Using Word.
• MICROSOFT EXCEL.
  1. Create a Worksheet and an Embedded Chart.
  2. Implement Formulas, Functions, Formatting, and Web Queries.
  3. Use What-If Analysis, Charting, and Work with Large Worksheets.
  4.Web Feature: Create Web Pages Using Excel.
• MICROSOFT ACCESS.
  1. Create and Use a Database.
  2. Query a Database.
  3. Maintain a Database.
  4.Integration Feature: Share Data Among Applications.
• MICROSOFT POWERPOINT.
  1. Create and Edit a Presentation.
  2. Create a Presentation with Illustrations and Shapes.
  3.Web Feature: Create Web Pages Using PowerPoint
• MICROSOFT OUTLOOK 2010.
  1. Manage E-Mail and Contacts with Outlook.

V. Topical Outline

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

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Microsoft Word   
• 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
• Draw a table
• Change page orientation
• Modify table properties
• Create and format WordArt
• Insert a symbol in a document
• Insert and format a floating graphic
• Add a page border
2. Microsoft Excel   
• 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
• 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
3. Microsoft Access 
• 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
4. Microsoft PowerPoint 
• 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 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
• Display guides to position slide elements
• Hide slides