Get the Skills to Become a Medical Assistant

Medical Assisting Associate Degree Program

Medical Terminology

Identification of medical terminology elements, proper pronunciation, spelling, and medical abbreviations are the focus of the course.

Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisite(s): None

Introduction to Medical Professions

The course introduces the student to the health care system, healthcare professions, ethics and law for the medical office. The student will learn how to maintain boundaries and respect in communication with other allied health professionals and patients. Medical asepsis, OSHA guidelines, and handwashing will be discussed and demonstrated.

Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisite(s): None

Basic Billing and Coding

Students will be introduced to the medical billing cycle. Students will learn the importance of assigning proper codes and the effect it has on the payment process. A comprehensive review of health insurance coverage and completion of the CMS-1500 insurance form will be discussed in the class. Students will be introduced to Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), International Classification of Diseases (ICD10-CM), and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code books.

Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisite(s): None

Anatomy and Physiology A

The focus of this course is the study of particular body systems, their structures, functions, diseases, disorders, treatment, and terminology pertaining to each system. Included will be anatomical descriptors and body directions, the cell, integumentary, musculoskeletal, respiratory, and nervous systems. This course will focus on various diseases affecting the human body with the emphasis on disease definitions, etiology, diagnostic studies, and treatments.

Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisite(s): None

Anatomy and Physiology B

The study of particular body systems, their structures, functions, diseases, disorders, treatment, and terminology pertaining to each system will be the focus of this course. Systems included will be the circulatory, blood, lymphatic, digestive, urinary, reproductive, and endocrine. This course will focus on various diseases affecting the human body with the emphasis on disease definitions, etiology, diagnostic studies, and treatments.

Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisite(s): None

Administrative Procedures

The administrative course will focus on medical records, patient reception, telephone techniques, and scheduling appointments.

Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisite(s): None

Electronic Health Records

This course will review the history of the electronic health record and current trends in the healthcare setting, and is designed to give students experience working with health information technology and electronic health records. The students will have hands-on experience working in an EHR system by creating an electronic medical record, creating electronic prescriptions and lab requisitions, performing electronic history, performing electronic scheduling functions, and documenting information regarding the professional encounter.

Credit Hours: 2
Prerequisite(s): Medical Terminology

Practice Management Software

This course introduces the student to medical billing software and how it is used in a medical practice. The student will manage the revenue cycle, document patient encounters, enter charges, submit electronic insurance claim forms, post payments, produce reports, and learn collection processes through utilization of patient management software. In addition, the student will gain an understanding of office professionalism along with procedures in managing office supplies and equipment and proper telephone techniques.

Credit Hours: 2
Prerequisite(s): Medical Terminology

First Aid & Emergency Preparedness

This course introduces the student to the effects of a disaster, an emergency action plan, office emergency situations, first aid, agents to promote tissue healing, and minor office surgery.

Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisite(s): None

Introduction to Clinical Procedures

This course introduces the student to sterilization and disinfection, vital signs, physical examination, and eye and ear assessment and procedures.

Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisite(s): Introduction to Medical Professions

Clinic I

This course introduces the student to gynecologic and prenatal care, pediatric care, administration of medication and intravenous therapy, cardiopulmonary examination, colon procedures, male reproductive health, radiology, and diagnostic imaging.

Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisite(s): Introduction to Clinical Procedures

Clinic II

This course introduces the student to the clinical laboratory, urinalysis, phlebotomy, hematology, blood chemistry and immunology.

Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisite(s): Introduction to Clinical Procedures

Clinical Practicum

This course will allow the student to utilize and enhance knowledge and skills while receiving hands-on experience working in an allied healthcare facility. The student will, under supervision, complete a minimum of 160 hours of practicum (externship) experience in an allied healthcare setting. Students will meet weekly for certification preparation and discussion of learning outcomes derived from their practicum experiences. To be eligible, the student must have a GPA of 2.0, have documentation of a completed physical with the necessary immunizations, and completed all core medical assisting courses.

Credit Hours: 6
Prerequisite(s): All core Medical Assisting courses

CPR

In this course students will become CPR certified. Students do not learn how to maintain a safe work environment by identifying emergencies in the workplace and how to respond to them.

Credit Hours: 1
Prerequisite(s): None

Word Processing

This course introduces and develops the basic procedures of entering, editing, formatting, printing, and storing documents using word processing software. Also studied are intermediate procedures such as find and replace, bullets and numbering, tabs and tabbed columns, and headers and footers.

Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisite(s): Forum on Technology and Resources

Introduction to Business

The student will study the basic concepts of business operations in our society and the various functions within a business enterprise. Topics such as business environment, management, organization, marketing, finance, economics and accounting are discussed in an introductory manner. This course is a valuable starting point for further business management study or an excellent review of the fundamentals of business.

Credit Hours: 5
Prerequisite(s): None

Business Communications

This course will enable students to develop communication skills that will be effective in job placement, performance, career advancement, and organizational success. Students will develop effective writing, listening, presenting, and interview skills through the process of practice, application, and meaningful feedback. Students will learn the organizational skills necessary for success in contemporary technology-driven business environments. For maximum student benefit, this course should be taken in a student’s last quarter.

Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisite(s): Composition I; Forum on Technology and Resources

Composition I

Students will gain a foundation for college level writing valuable for nearly any field. This course focuses not only on writing but also on reading and critically engaging various texts. Students will read and write essays with a variety of rhetorical purposes: Observing, explaining, investigating, evaluating, problem solving and arguing. Also includes library and electronic research culminating in research papers.

Credit Hours: 5
Prerequisite(s): Forum on Technology and Resources

Composition II

This course further develops students’ ability to write for academic and professional contexts with increased emphasis on argumentation and research. Requires students to evaluate, integrate, and document print and digital sources to produce a range of academic and multimodal texts, culminating in a fully documented research paper. Composition II is a blended course using both classroom and web-based learning platforms.

Credit Hours: 5
Prerequisite(s): Composition I with a grade of “C” or better or permission of the General Education Program Director; Forum on Technology and Resources

COM— Communication Elective

HUM— Humanities Elective

Introductory Algebra I

This course is an introduction to algebra. The content will cover the study of operations on integers and rational number, the solution of equations with one and two unknown variables, linear equation, and coordinate graphing. Application problems are used extensively throughout the course.

Credit Hours: 5
Prerequisite(s): None

SSC— Social Science Elective

Forum on Technology and Resources

This interdisciplinary course empowers students to be successful by providing opportunities to cultivate skills needed to enhance their careers and to be capable life-long learners. Essential computer applications that enhance marketability are integrated with self-management skills, critical thinking, learning strategies, and time management. Students will research topics for written and oral reports and develop a career portfolio.

Credit Hours: 5
Prerequisite(s): None