Medical Assisting Diploma

The course is designed to study the personal and professional characteristics necessary for obtaining and maintaining suitable employment. The student will assemble a complete job-seeking portfolio including his/her resume and references, letters of application and appreciation, documentation of work and educational history, and demonstration of skills through examples of student work. The course includes an in-depth study of self-marketing approaches, job interviewing techniques and professionalism as well as participation in a mock interview.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: E242
Credits: 2

This course is intended to help students develop their ability to write and express ideas in an organized, unified, coherent manner that reflects an appropriate awareness of purpose and audience. Through writing, reading, and discussion, students will learn to synthesize their thoughts as they communicate more effectively. Course concepts are applied to essays, research projects, and specialized writing. Regular writing and revision will improve students' grammar, punctuation and usage skills.

Prerequisite: Passing grade in Reading and Writing Strategies or placement determined by STEP assessment score.

Course ID: G124
Credits: 4

This is a basic medical vocabulary-building course. An emphasis will be placed on the most common medical terms based on prefixes and suffixes, Latin and Greek origins, and anatomic roots denoting body structures. All body systems will be covered with a focus on word parts, terms built from word parts, abbreviations, and basic disease and surgical terms. Students will be expected to focus on spelling and pronunciation.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: M120
Credits: 4

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the administrative duties performed in the medical office. Concepts covered include: preparing, filing and maintaining medical records; knowledge of the various types of health insurance coverage, coding and reimbursement; confidentiality and guidelines for releasing health information; and effective oral and written communication skills.

Prerequisite: Medical Terminology

Course ID: M200
Credits: 4

A study of the United States legal system and court process with emphasis on legal and ethical issues within the healthcare environment. Fraud and abuse, patient privacy and confidentiality, and professional practice law and ethics will be covered. The course will include a project that is specific to the student's program of study.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: M230
Credits: 4

Students will learn basic concepts and terminology related to diseases and disorders of the human body. Focus is on the structure, nature, causes, diagnostic procedures, pharmacology and treatment of common diseases of selected human body systems.

Prerequisite: Human Anatomy and Physiology I, or Structure and Function of the Human Body

Course ID: M232
Credits: 5

In this course students will begin their study of the essential and basic core of front-office and back-office medical-assisting skills. They will learn the basics of the medical-assisting profession, and will master knowledge and skills including communication and technology, patient centered care, safety and emergency plans, patient assessments and encounters, medical documentation, medication administration, asepsis and infection control, vital signs, and diagnostic procedures. They will follow applied-learning approaches to all skill-development and performance objectives.

Pre or Co-requisites: Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Medical Terminology, Attendance of Programmatic Orientation in first quarter

Course ID: MA110
Credits: 4

Students in this course will learn the pharmacology concepts necessary for a variety of allied-health programs. They will study drugs according to their therapeutic applications. They will examine pertinent physiology and related diseases before discussing the pharmacology of the drug. Students will also learn basic regulations that apply to drugs.

Prerequisites: Medical Terminology; Human Anatomy and Physiology I, or Structure and Function of the Human Body

Course ID: MA135
Credits: 4

Students will continue their study of the essential and basic core of back-office medical assisting skills. They will master knowledge and skills including patient examination and assessment, performing electrocardiography, performing venipuncture, performing medication administration, minor surgical procedures, procedures for medical emergencies, first aid and CPR, and behaviors influencing health. They will also learn basic steps for finding employment and advancing in their careers. Students will follow applied-learning approaches to all skill development and performance objectives.

Prerequisites: Clinical Skills I; Human Anatomy and Physiology I; Medical Terminology

Pre- or Co-requisite: Human Anatomy and Physiology II

Course ID: MA145
Credits: 4

In this course students will study medical laboratory procedures and techniques that are significant to medical and laboratory assistants and other healthcare professionals. They will learn about laboratory equipment and safety, and issues of patient confidentiality. They will learn to collect specimen samples by venipuncture and patient instruction and perform laboratory procedures including urinalysis and hematology, chemistry, immunology, and microbiology testing.

Prerequisite: Clinical Skills II

Pre- or Co-requisite: Pathophysiology

Course ID: MA225
Credits: 4

In this course students will begin their study of the structure and function of the human body. They will examine topics including basic chemistry and cell biology, tissues, and the integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, sensory, and endocrine systems of the body, and will learn medical terminology is emphasized. Students will complete laboratory exercises coordinated with course content and including microscopic observation, experimentation, study of anatomical models, dissection activities, and a study of the structure and function of the human body. A body system approach to learning will include the integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, sensory, and endocrine systems. Students will complete laboratory exercises coordinated with course content and will include microscopic observation, experimentation, dissection activities and study of anatomical models.

Prerequisite: Introduction to Human Biology (except for students enrolled in the Medical Assisting Program)

Course ID: MA241
Credits: 5

In this course, students will continue their study of human anatomy and physiology begun in Human Anatomy and Physiology I. They will examine the circulatory, lymphatic and immune, respiratory, urinary, digestive, and reproductive systems, as well as fluid and electrolyte balance, acid-base balance, and nutrition and metabolism. Students will complete laboratory exercises coordinated with course content and including microscopic observation, experimentation, study of anatomical models, and dissection activities.

Prerequisite: Human Anatomy and Physiology I

Course ID: MA242
Credits: 5

A comprehensive study for limited scope of practice in radiography. Skills and processes covered will be: radiation protection, equipment operation and quality control, image production and evaluation, and patient care and education, along with radiographic procedure modules that will cover each anatomic region. The course is designed to prepare students for the examination for Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography and possible employment as an X-ray operator.

Prerequisite: Anatomy and Physiology II

Course ID: MA250
Credits: 3

Students will engage in an 11-week on-the-job Medical Assisting training experience in a physician's office/clinic or medical center. The extern will perform medical-assisting job duties in both the front-office administrative area and the back-office clinical area, in order to develop on-the-job learning skills. Under no circumstances will the student extern receive pay for the externship hours worked. In the lecture portion of the course, students will learn job-search techniques and skills for entry-level medical assistants. Students will also prepare to sit for the Medical Assisting credential examination during this course (either the CMA or RMA depending on accreditation status).

Prerequisites: All Hepatitis B injections are completed; successful completion of background check; Attendance at Rasmussen Externship Meeting held by Program Coordinator; Attendance at externship site orientation (if required by site); Successful completion of all Medical Assisting core courses except Career Development; Approval of Medical Assisting Program Coordinator. Completion of a 2-Step Mantoux screening test within 6 months of starting externship.

Course ID: MA265
Credits: 8

This course develops students' reading and writing skills in preparation for college-level coursework. Through review of grammar, punctuation, and the writing process, students will enhance their ability to compose sentences, paragraphs, and short essays. The study of active reading strategies will provide students with the tools necessary for comprehending collegiate level texts.

Prerequisite: Placement determined by placement test score.

Course ID: B080
Credits: 4

This course is a study of the fundamentals of mathematics in the following areas: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, and percentages.

Prerequisite: Placement determined by placement test score.

Course ID: B099
Credits: 4