Medical Assisting

Program Requirements

*For allowable substitutions of arts and sciences courses, see the Arts & Sciences Department page.

Program includes a total of 1,170 contact hours.

*The following courses are available online for Medical Assisting students: CIS108, COM115, COR191, ENG110, FOR110, HUM205, and PSY105. MED courses may be offered via Remote Synchronous Delivery (see Remote Synchronous and Hybrid Delivery of Courses/Programs).

Medical Assistants perform a combination of clinical and administrative duties. Clinical duties might include preparing the patient for a physician’s examination, collecting and preparing specimens, performing basic laboratory tests and EKGs, removing sutures after surgery, changing dressings, sterilizing medical instruments, and administering injections. They also communicate extensively with patients and other healthcare providers. The administrative duties include scheduling appointments, recording information in electronics medical records, completing insurance forms, arranging for referrals to other healthcare institutions, performing billing functions, and purchasing and maintaining supplies and equipment. These duties occur in a wide range of healthcare settings, such as doctors’ offices, hospitals, clinics, urgent care, and other healthcare facilities.

For employment, students will generally need to pass a routine physical examination, background check, credit check, drug screening, and Mantoux test for tuberculosis and have current vaccinations, including Hepatitis B. Students must be able to comply with all federal regulations regarding HIPAA and OSHA.

Graduates could obtain employment as Medical Assistants, Phlebotomists, or EKG technicians, and they could be expected to work in any healthcare environment.

Upon completion, graduates with an Associate of Science Degree in Health Science with a concentration in Medical Assisting could possibly pursue entry-level career opportunities such as the following:

• Medical Assistants
• Phlebotomists
• EKG technicians
• Physician offices
• Clinics
• Related healthcare settings

Experienced Medical Assistants may function in supervisory or managerial capacities including personnel selection, hiring, and evaluation. Following graduation, you are qualified to take professional certification exams.

• Demonstrate characteristics of self-direction and accountability with strong educational foundations for lifelong personal and professional growth.
• Demonstrate critical thinking skills to effectively address patient care and to adapt to the rapidly changing challenges in healthcare and medical assisting.
• Provide clinically competent, contemporary care that recognizes individual differences and promotes caring behavior in the health care community.
• Function as competent, beginning practitioner in both clinical and administrative procedures for the medical office.
• Be eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant Exam offered through AAMA and/or the RMA exam by AMT.
• Program provides comprehensive preparation of graduates for work in the career field.