Ivy Tech School of Business, Logistics & Supply Chain
Business Operations, Applications & Technology (BOAT)
High-Tech Student. World-Class Employee.
What You'll Learn
We are living in a digital world. From purchasing products online to using software to build a presentation, students who can understand technology are a great asset to their company. With Business Operations, Applications and Technology, students can learn how to use and control digital systems to make an organization better, faster, and stronger.
Specifically, students in the BOAT program will:
Become proficient in Microsoft Applications such as Excel and Word
Prepare for a career in all types of business operations including manufacturing, commercial, government, legal, medical, and technology
Earn a degree that is listed in the Top 10 Occupations by Growth according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development
Have the opportunity to learn online or on-campus
Grow in their business technology education
Career Options
With the BOAT program, opportunities are endless. Since technology is virtually everywhere, students have the chance to use their education to make whatever organization they work for better.
From business analytics to information management, this program is incredibly versatile. If you have an interest in data and technology, BOAT is for you.
Degree Types Offered
Credential Type
Associate Degree – Career-Ready Degree
Long-Term Certificate
– known as a Technical Certificate (TC)
Short-Term Certificate
– known as a Certificate (CT)
Note: Program availability varies by location and not all program tracks are offered at each campus/location.
NATIONALLY-ACCREDITED PROGRAM
The Ivy Tech School of Business, Logistics, and Supply Chain is proud to be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), one of the most highly regarded international accreditations. This status recognizes our commitment to both teaching and learning.
Key Employer Partners
Ivy Tech is proud to partner with Indiana companies to offer our students real-world exercises and experiences in Business Operations, Applications, and Technology. Some of these partners include:
Workforce Certifications
Wanting to skill up in a specific program? Ivy Tech offers courses that are taught by a certified Ivy Tech instructor, but also allow students to earn a certification from a third-party, industry vendor.
Proctored exams for these certifications are administered by a trained, independent person in a secure testing environment. Every Ivy Tech full-service campus has a Testing Center where students can schedule and take proctored exams.
Workforce certifications are available in various platforms that correspond with the following courses:
BOAT 101–Microsoft Outlook–MOS Certification
BOAT 105–Microsoft Word–MOS Certification
BOAT 109–Microsoft PowerPoint–MOS Certification
BOAT 218–Microsoft Excel–MOS Certification
BOAT 216–Communication Skills for Business Certification
The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Business Operations, Applications, and Technology (BOAT) degree program is designed for students who want to move into a career in all types of professional work environments. Our students develop communication, organizational, leadership, and technology skills that are required to be successful in the high-tech, customer-focused, world-class work environment. Our students also develop proficiency in the latest applications such as in Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Salesforce. Students will have the opportunity to earn Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) and Salesforce certifications that are recognized worldwide. The AAS degree is the perfect first step in your career goals.
An Associate of Applied Science in the BOAT program can be obtained in 4 semesters, or about two years.
Earn a Certificate on the Way to Your AAS
A recommended path to the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Business Operations, Applications, and Technology is to complete one or more of the certificates offered by Ivy Tech while working toward the degree. The certificates are designed to provide gateways toward entry-level business careers, so you can begin working quickly. You may then choose to pursue a credential that requires more credits and time in order to learn more and move up in your professional career. You can apply the credits from your certificate to your higher-level credential at Ivy Tech to make the most of your time and tuition.
Required Courses
AAS graduates must complete a total of 60 credit hours:
16 credit hours in General Education
3 credit hours in Communications
26 credit hours in Professional-Technical
ACCT 101 Financial Accounting | 3 credit hours
BUSN 101 Introduction to Business | 3 credit hours
BOAT 218 Microsoft Excel | 3 credit hours
BOAT 121 Office Procedures and Team Dynamics | 3 credit hours
BOAT 201 Emerging Technologies | 3 credit hours
BOAT 216 Business Communications | 3 credit hours
BOAT 105 Microsoft Word | 3 credit hours
BOAT 130 Quality and Customer Service | 3 credit hours
BUSI 279 School of Business Evaluation and Professional Development | 2 credit hours
A completion guide provides the recommended path to graduation, broken out by 8-week terms. For students taking fewer classes at a time, the courses are numbered to show the overall number that will be taken.
Long-Term Certificate
known as a Technical Certificate (TC)
The Technical Certificate (TC) in Business Operations, Applications and Technology is a focused, directly applicable credential for immediate entrance into the workforce. This certificate program takes students into a deep dive of business subjects.
A TC in Business Operations, Applications and Technology can be achieved in about one year.
Next Level Jobs
The Business Operations, Applications and Technology TC is part of Indiana’s Next Level Jobs degree program, funded by the Workforce Ready Grant. You may be eligible for a free BOAT TC if you fulfill all of the following requirements:
Are an Indiana resident
Have a high school diploma or GED/High School Equivalency
Have not previously received a certificate in a Next Level Jobs eligible program
Have not previously received an associate degree or higher (bachelors, masters, etc.)
*Note: Students who are admitted to the Next Level Jobs program to pursue the BOAT TC are required to pay for and submit to a criminal background check, drug testing, and physical exam.
Building on Your Certificate
If your goal is to earn an associate degree in Business Operations, Applications and Technology, you can earn this TC on your way. The TC is designed to provide a gateway into entry-level business careers. That means you may be able to enter the workforce in your desired field even before you graduate, if your plan includes working while you’re in school.
Required Courses
TC in Business Operations, Applications and Technology graduates must complete a total of 31 credit hours:
4 credit hours of General Education Core
ENGL 111 English Composition | 3 credit hours
IVYT 111 Student Success in University Transfer | 1 credit hour
27 credit hours of Professional Technical Core with courses including
BOAT 105 Microsoft Word | 3 credit hours
BOAT 121 Office Procedures and Team Dynamics | 3 credit hours
A completion guide provides the recommended path to graduation, broken out by 8-week terms. This completion guide also shows how this credential can stack with our other BOAT credentials to give you additional milestones on your way to earning an associate degree.
Short-Term Certificate
known as a Certificate (CT)
Are you ready to take your career to the next level? With a Certificate (CT) in Microsoft Office Specialist, you will suddenly become the go-to person in the office for all things Microsoft Office. From becoming a wizard of Word to the professor of Excel, you will be sure to master the Microsoft Office suite.
The Microsoft Office Specialist CT can be achieved in about six months.
Building on Your Certificate
If your goal is to earn an associate degree in Business Operations, Applications and Technology, you can earn this CT on your way. The CT is designed to provide a gateway into entry-level business careers. That means you may be able to enter the workforce in your desired field even before you graduate, if your plan includes working while you’re in school.
Required Courses
Microsoft Office Specialist graduates must complete a total of 18 credit hours:
BOAT 101 Microsoft Outlook | 3 credit hours
BOAT 105 Microsoft Word | 3 credit hours
BOAT 109 Microsoft PowerPoint | 3 credit hours
BOAT 214 Microsoft Project | 3 credit hours
BOAT 218 Microsoft Excel | 3 credit hours
BOAT 228 Advanced Microsoft Excel | 3 credit hours
A completion guide provides the recommended path to graduation, broken out by 8-week terms. This completion guide also shows how this credential can stack with our other BOAT credentials to give you additional milestones on your way to earning an associate degree.
Business Operations, Applications & Technology (BOAT) is offered at 25 Ivy Tech locations in Indiana. Each location offers a unique combination of certificate and degree options:
Campus
Microsoft Office Specialist CT
Business Operations, Applications, and Technology TC
Business Operations, Applications, and Technology (AAS)
Prerequisite Courses for Business Operations Applications Technology (BOAT)
The BOAT program does not require any prerequisites to apply to the program. Some courses students take early on in their time at Ivy Tech count as prerequisites to courses later in their journey, but your advisor will work with you to ensure all of your courses are taken in an order that satisfies all requirements as you pursue your credential.
No Expiration of Credits
There is no expiration date for course credits that were earned in previous years from Ivy Tech Community College.
Transfer Credit for Prerequisite Courses
Prerequisite courses completed at colleges other than Ivy Tech will only be considered for general education selection points if transfer credit has been awarded and courses appear on the Ivy Tech transcript prior to the application deadline.
TR grades are not recognized by the online application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that transfer credit has been awarded and that TR grades are updated to transfer letter grades (TA, TB, TC) on their Ivy Tech transcript.
It is recommended that college transcripts be submitted to the Registrar’s office for evaluation and transfer credit at least 4 weeks prior to the program application deadline to ensure adequate time for processing.
Business Operations, Applications & Technology (BOAT) Courses
Descriptions of business operations, applications and technology courses can be found in our online course catalog. View required classes and course descriptions for:
See when specific classes will be offered by searching our class list in Schedule Builder. First, select the semester you’re looking for and then enter the name of the class in the search bar.
If you’re a current student, upcoming classes are easy to find in Schedule Builder in MyIvy.
Class Formats
Students in the Business Operations, Applications and Technology program have the opportunity to take classes on-campus and online.
Applying to Ivy Tech is Free & Easy
The Ivy Tech application is free and easy—you don’t need a certain test score, GPA, or class rank to get started at Ivy Tech. Applying takes about 10-15 minutes and can be completed entirely online.
No Application Deadlines
Ivy Tech does not have a deadline for admission. Our 8-week class sessions start throughout the year—in January, March, June, August, and October—and there is no hard deadline for applying for any of the start dates. It's important, though, to apply early enough that you'll be able to complete all the degree planning, financial aid, and registration activities that need to happen before your first day. We recommend you apply about one month before you intend to start classes. See upcoming start dates
Steps to Apply
(1) Apply to Ivy Tech
If you’ve never applied to Ivy Tech Community College before (or if it’s been two years since you last attended classes here), your first step is to apply to Ivy Tech. You can apply online or in person. To apply in person, reach out toyour local admissions team and arrange a meeting. Or, stop by any campus on any Tuesday for Tuesdays@TheTech to receive personal assistance with applying and registering for classes.
After you submit your application, you'll be asked to upload documentation—such as SAT/ACT/PSAT scores or high school and college transcripts—that can assess your readiness for college-level coursework and help us make sure you are taking classes that are the right fit for you. How to upload assessment documents
If you don't have your scores or transcripts at your fingertips, don’t worry. Go ahead and submit your application. You can go back to upload assessment documents at any time until the end of the term for which you applied.
(3) Look for a Confirmation Email
Once your application is processed, you will receive a confirmation email at the email address provided on your application. Typically the email will arrive within 1-2 business days of submission, but during peak processing periods (April-June) could take up to 5-10 business days.
The email will contain instructions on how to register for classes, as well as important information regarding your Ivy Tech student portal (MyIvy account), tuition, payment options, and more.
(4) Create an Account in MyIvy
MyIvy is Ivy Tech's online student portal. Students use MyIvy to check e-mail, register for classes, pay tuition, manage financial aid, get the latest news and announcements, and much more. MyIvy also contains "QuickLinks" to the Ivy Tech websites and online tools you will use most often. Learn more about MyIvy
Before you can register for classes you will need to submit documentation or complete an assessment test. Your test scores can help us determine the best English and math starting classes for you. See the Test Score Course Placement Chart
If you submitted assessment documentation during the application process, your advisor will likely be able to work with those documents to determine course placement and you won't need to take any further steps. If you don't have any of those documents or the scores don't meet minimum thresholds, don’t worry! Your advisor will direct you to complete our freeKnowledge Assessment to help develop your customized learning path to better prepare you for courses.
(6) Register for Classes
Once you have completed the steps above, you may register for classes. Ivy Tech students register for courses using the Schedule Builder tool which can be accessed withinMyIvy. If you are a new, first-time Ivy Tech student, we recommend that you meet withyour advisor who will help you develop your Academic Completion Plan and help you sign up for courses that are the best fit for you.
For a complete list of registration steps, including detailed registration steps, deadlines, and information about holds, withdrawals, waitlists, and refunds, visit our Registration 101 page.
(7) Pay Your Tuition
After registering for your courses, your bill can be viewed in yourMyIvy account > Student Dashboard- > View/Pay Balance. Payments can also be made in your MyIvy account. For complete information about payments, including payment options, payment plans, how to make immediate payments, due dates, information about refunds, and more, visit our Payments page.
Donna Zeh Department Chair - Business Administration, Business Operations, Applications & Technology (BOAT), Accounting, and Logistics & Supply Chain Management (812) 374-5158 dzeh@ivytech.edu
Kelly Eckstein Assistant Professor & Program Chair – School of Business, Logistics, and Supply Chain Lawrenceburg Campus 812-537-4010 ext. 5268 keckstein@ivytech.edu
Learn About the Value of the Microsoft Office Certification (2:20)
“"I've always been interested in business and entrepreneurship. Earning my BOAT degree helped me learn more about starting my own business and earn my Microsoft Office Specialist certifications. I started working full-time at Ivy Tech right after graduation. As a lifelong learner, I'm excited to work in education and continue expanding my education."”
–Allison S. | Associate of Applied Science in BOAT
“"Ivy Tech's affordability allowed me to complete my associate degree. I am thankful that I was able to achieve the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certifications which made me more marketable. My instructors guided me through with encouragement and motivation along with kindness and grace. I was able to transfer my Ivy Tech credits and earn my bachelor's degree! These degrees helped me advance in my career. I now work for the City of Logansport. I'm grateful and proud to forever be an Ivy Tech alumna."”
–Rose W. | Associate of Applied Science in BOAT
“"The BOAT program helped me obtain a career at Purdue University. After graduating, I had the tools and knowledge to apply myself. The program gave me the confidence to go into the interviews with my head held high. It is rewarding to implement what I learned in the BOAT program and use it every day at work. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner."”
–Heather F. | Associate of Applied Science in BOAT
Questions About the Program?
Future Students
If you’re not yet an Ivy Tech student, contact us at 1-888-489-5463 and we’ll be happy to help.
Current Students
Contact your academic advisor, who can answer any questions you have about the Business Operations, Applications & Technology (BOAT) program and your certificate and degree options.
Find Local Advising Contact Info
Don't see a nearby location?
Call 1-888-489-5463 and we'll get you started.
Madison Advising Center
590 Ivy Tech Drive
Madison, IN 47250
Fax 812-265-4028
Zoom Video Calls Available by appointment only. Call 812-256-2580, ext. 4502 to make an appointment.
Advising Team Tricia Miracle 812-265-2580 ext. 4137 tmiracle2@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 812-510-3844 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Wednesdays 9:00-1:00pm & Thursdays 2:00-5:30pm Zoom Link
Lisa Kelley 812-265-2580 ext. 4163 lkelley3@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 502-414-1597 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Tuesdays 1:30pm-5pm & Thursdays 8:30am-12pm Zoom Link
Starting Oct. 28th Tuesdays: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All other days by appointment from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. **Special Saturday December 7 @ 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
1 Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage estimates: Indiana.(2023). Lightcast™, lightcast.io. Occupational Overview for Indiana, 2023-2024
2 Associate degree cost is determined by tuition for an in-state, full-time student. Certificate and technical certificate costs are determined by tuition for an in-state, part-time student. Additional fees may be applied. Visit the Tuition & Fees page to learn more.
