(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - April 29, 2013) - - - Columbia State Community College's Center for Workforce Development is offering a variety of professional development courses during the month of May. Courses include computer, healthcare and leadership training for anyone who would like to learn new skills or refresh their current skill sets.

Basic Computers covers topics for novice users, such as windows explorer, starting a program, moving and resizing windows; creating, accessing and saving documents, using menus, basics of email, shortcuts and toolbars; and using dialog boxes and scroll bars. This class takes place on Friday, May 3.

Introduction to Power Point 2010 is one of the top presentation programs on the market today. Learn how to create slide presentations that contain text, objects, animation, slide transitions, sounds, charts, outlines, media clips, clip art and hyperlinks. Learn how to work with the new PowerPoint ribbon, task panes, clip organizer, and how to access Microsoft's website to download clip art and templates for presentations. Finally, discover how to save presentations so you can share them online or copy them onto CDs. This class will be on Friday, May 10.

Introduction to Word 2010 is a hands-on class, the student will learn how to add, move through and edit text, move words from one part of your document to another, work on two or more documents simultaneously, change the size or appearance of text, change margins and tab settings, run grammar and spelling check, use the thesaurus, and save, retrieve, copy, organize and print documents. This class will take place on the Columbia campus on Friday, May 17.

Introduction to Excel 2010 teaches students how to sort and analyze data, design custom charts and graphs, and format worksheets using mathematical formulas. The course takes place Friday, May 24.

Leadership Series: Launching a Successful Team teaches leaders the process of setting up a team charter, including goals, ground rules and other important elements of a successful team. The course provides practical, actionable tools to help members stay on track, avoid the problems that plague many teams, and achieve success. This class will be on Thursday, May 9.

Each job has inherent, distinct responsibilities, so each job has a unique set of competencies-behaviors, knowledge, and motivations that are needed to be successful on the job. Leadership Series: Retention Interviewing program gives the employer the training needed to have a better opportunity to make the best hiring decisions when they gather meaningful, job-related information from applicants. This class will meet at the Columbia campus on Thursday, May 16.

Value Stream Mapping is a powerful lean manufacturing technique commonly used in manufacturing, healthcare, software and product development, logistics, supply chain, and service industries. Also known as "material and information flow mapping," a value stream map uses a diagram to analyze the flow of materials and information required to bring a product or service to a consumer. A value stream map helps to quickly visualize the entire process, identifying bottlenecks or inefficiencies where the processes can be streamlined or improved. You can see more than just one component of your business (eg. Assembly, Quality Assurance, etc.), and instead visualize the total business flow, easily identifying the stoppages and waste that can be eliminated. This class meets on Friday, May 10.

Medical transcription is a healthcare profession that is in great need of knowledgeable and skilled professionals. Online Medical Transcription involves an intense curriculum that prepares individuals to be employable and achieve financial goals. This class will begin on Monday, May 20.

Pharmacy Technician Certificate Program is a popular 50-hour medical certificate program that qualifies students for immediate employment in Tennessee's growing healthcare industry. The class meets Tuesday, May 28 through Tuesday, July 16.

Online Paralegal Career Advancement Certificate trains students to interview witnesses, investigate complex fact patterns, research the law, prepare legal documents, and assist in preparing cases for courtroom litigation. Topics include legal terminology, introduction to the evidentiary predicate, identifying relevant authority, legal research, and legal writing and appellate procedure. This class is runs Monday, May 6 through Friday, Aug. 16.

Online Legal Secretary is designed for both beginning and experienced secretaries who to improve their skills and work more efficiently within the law office. Topics include legal terminology, legal process, jurisdiction and venue, ethics, and written communication, including letters, pleadings, discovery, notices and motions. This class begins Monday, May 6 and runs through Friday, June 21.

For class times, pricing or additional information, call (931) 540-2659. To register for continuing education courses through Columbia State's Center for Workforce Development, visit http://registration.xenegrade.com/columbiastate.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the sixth largest higher education system in the nation. For more information, please visit http://www.columbiastate.edu.