Medical Assistant Diploma Courses

Medical Office Management introduces students to the essential skills required to operate efficiently in a healthcare office environment. This course combines traditional administrative responsibilities with modern Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems to prepare students for today’s medical practices. Students will gain hands-on experience with patient scheduling, insurance processing, billing, coding, and medical documentation. Emphasis is placed on accuracy, professionalism, and compliance with healthcare regulations. By integrating both paper-based systems and EHR platforms, students will develop the versatility needed to manage a variety of clinical office settings.

Lecture Hours: 48

This course introduces the role of the medical assistant and provides foundational skills in laboratory techniques, infection control, and surgical preparation. Students learn basic patient intake and assessment procedures, perform routine maintenance of clinical equipment, and apply methods of quality control. The course emphasizes first aid, emergency preparedness, and compliance with OSHA and CLIA regulations to promote a safe and effective clinical environment.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

Clinical Experience I is a rotation that introduces students to the clinical environment. Under supervision, students begin applying basic skills learned in the classroom and lab. Emphasis is on professional behavior, communication, and gaining confidence in patient care and administrative tasks.

Clinic Hours: 48

This course is an advanced laboratory introduction to medical diagnostic and laboratory techniques and offers skill development in a wide variety of low and moderately complex diagnostic procedures, microscopic and chemical analysis of blood. Students will develop skills in specimen collection in varying age groups and in using a variety of blood collection methods including; vacuum collection devices, syringes, capillary skin puncture, butterfly needles and blood culture. Topics covered will include hematology, body chemistry, microbiology, immunology testing, and blood typing.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 64

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of C in MAP-227

Clinical Experience II is focused on skill reinforcement and increasing independence. Students expand their ability to perform both clinical and administrative responsibilities while applying critical thinking in patient care.

Clinic Hours: 48

For health occupations students. Human anatomy and physiology form simple structures to the more complex and the interrelationships between them. Basic concepts of medical terminology will be incorporated.

Lecture Hours: 64 Lab Hours: 32

This course provides an understanding of best practices in the medical office setting with a focus on infection control, risk management, and patient preparation for specialty examinations. Students will gain experience assisting with wound care treatments and providing health and nutrition education. The course includes instruction and practice in the safe preparation and administration of medications via oral, parenteral (excluding intravenous), transdermal, and inhalation routes. Emphasis is placed on maintaining compliance with federal and state healthcare legislation and regulations. Students will also perform CLIA-waived laboratory tests following established protocols and safety standards.

Lecture Hours: 16 Lab Hours: 64

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of C in MAP-227

This course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform electrocardiograms in a clinical setting. Emphasis is placed on understanding cardiac anatomy and physiology, identifying normal and abnormal heart rhythms, and properly preparing patients for ECG procedures. Students will learn how to operate ECG equipment, recognize artifacts, and ensure accurate recording and documentation of results. Safety measures, infection control, and professional communication are integrated throughout the course.

Lecture Hours: 32

Clinical Experience III is a clinical rotation that prepares students for transition into the workforce. Students are expected to function with minimal supervision, demonstrating mastery of both administrative and clinical skills while displaying professionalism and leadership.

Clinic Hours: 48

This course provides a comprehensive overview of pharmacology for the medical assistant. Students explore drug classifications, dosage calculations, medication administration, and safety practices. Emphasis is placed on commonly prescribed medications in ambulatory care, prescription interpretation, patient instruction, and understanding legal and ethical responsibilities in pharmacologic care.

Lecture Hours: 32

This course introduces diseases and disorders frequently encountered in the medical office setting. Focus is placed on causes, signs and symptoms, diagnostic procedures, usual treatment modalities, prognosis and prevention.

Lecture Hours: 32

This course will provide the student with the legal and ethical implications of practice in a medical setting. Issues covered will include scope of practice, confidentiality, HIPAA privacy and security requirements, legal terms and elements in the delivery of care, ethical guidelines of practice, and legal documentation requirements.

Lecture Hours: 32

Medical Assistant Seminar emphasizes group discussion and individual conferences on clinical experiences. The course includes preparation for the certification exam through the use of practice tests.

Lecture Hours: 16

The practicum provides the students the opportunity to apply classroom theory to on the job experiences in a medical facility approved by the Practicum Coordinator. Primary objective is to provide students with a variety of experiences in the administrative, clinical and laboratory areas of an ambulatory care clinic. This opportunity allows the students to enhance communication skills by interacting with physicians, clinic staff and patients. Students are evaluated by the clinic supervisors and the practicum coordinator.

Co-op Hours: 192

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of C in MAP-402 and MAP-533 and MAP-240 and MAP-261 and MAP-373 and MAP-512 and PNN-122

This course presents the foundation necessary to develop a basic medical terminology vocabulary. Emphasis on the components of terms as related to each body system will be provided. The course further provides the student with the opportunity to properly spell, pronounce and utilize medical terms in relation to pathological conditions, tests, and procedures. Common medical abbreviations will also be discussed for each system.

Lecture Hours: 32

The first of a two-semester sequence especially designed for students pursuing careers in allied health fields as well as any student desiring an in-depth undergraduate transfer course. The course focuses on the interdependent relationships between the structure and functions of body systems and the ways these parts interact (homeostasis) to insure the survival of the organism. Major topics addressed include levels of organization, the chemistry of life, support/movement, integration/control, and coordination. Coordinated laboratory exercises focus on anatomical knowledge and physiological functions.

Lecture Hours: 48 Lab Hours: 32

The second of a two-semester sequence designed for students pursuing careers in allied health fields or wishing an in-depth undergraduate transfer course in the biological sciences. The course focuses on interdependent relationships between the structures and functions of body systems and the way these parts interact (homeostasis) to insure survival of the organism. Major topics addressed include systems associated with circulation, maintenance, elimination and continuity. Coordinated laboratory exercises focus on anatomical knowledge and physiological functions.

Lecture Hours: 48 Lab Hours: 32

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of C- in BIO-168

This course presents the foundation necessary to develop a basic medical terminology vocabulary. Emphasis on the components of terms as related to each body system will be provided. The course further provides the student with the opportunity to properly spell, pronounce and utilize medical terms in relation to pathological conditions, tests, and procedures. Common medical abbreviations will also be discussed for each system.

Lecture Hours: 32

This introductory course provides an overview of basic anatomy and physiology of all body systems. It is designed primarily for the non-professional majors as an introductory course. Laboratory includes microscopy, the study of human anatomy, computer simulations, preserved specimens and the study of physiological processes.

Lecture Hours: 48 Lab Hours: 32

This course presents the foundation necessary to develop a basic medical terminology vocabulary. Emphasis on the components of terms as related to each body system will be provided. The course further provides the student with the opportunity to properly spell, pronounce and utilize medical terms in relation to pathological conditions, tests, and procedures. Common medical abbreviations will also be discussed for each system.

Lecture Hours: 32

An introduction to the principles of human anatomy and physiology beginning with the cellular/biochemical level of organization and progressing through a comprehensive study of organ systems emphasizing homeostasis. This is a one-term transfer level class designed for students entering allied health fields or biological sciences. Each student must enroll for one laboratory section.

Lecture Hours: 48 Lab Hours: 32