Medical Assisting, Associate of Applied Science in Health Sciences
Program Overview
The Associate of Applied Science in Health Sciences-Medical Assisting degree prepares students to perform clinical and administrative functions in a physician‘s office or other medical setting. The program includes didactic classroom instruction, extensive hands-on laboratory experience, and externship in a local area medical facility. Applied Science in Health Sciences-Medical Assisting graduates are CPR certified.
Students graduating from this program may be eligible to become Certified Medical Assistants, Registered Medical Assistants, Certified Phlebotomy Technicians, and EKG Technicians.
Program Outcomes
- 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
For additional information about the program link to: http://www.ecpi.edu/medical/program/medical-assistant-associate-degree/. To see the Student Consumer Information link to: https://www.ecpi.edu/student-consumer-services which provides additional information on the future careers, success, cost, and financing for this program. For information on the University Completion and Graduation Rates, please see About ECPI University on the ECPI website.
About Medical Assisting
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.
Recommended Certifications
Certifications are not required for completion of this program; however, ECPI encourages student to obtain all appropriate certifications to increase potential job opportunities. ECPI provides students in this program with vouchers which allow the student to take certification exams at a greatly reduced cost. Students graduating from this program may be eligible to become Certified Medical Assistants (CMA), Registered Medical Assistants (RMA), Certified Phlebotomy Technicians, and EKG Technicians. Students should also obtain their CPR certification.
Program Outline
To receive the Applied Science in Health Sciences-Medical Assisting degree, students must earn 61 semester credit hours. The program requires a minimum of 4 semesters, which is equivalent to15 months or 60 weeks of instruction. The program requirements are as follows:
Program Requirements
Core Curriculum
34 semester credit hours
| MED104 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| MED112 | Medical Coding and Billing I | 2 |
| MED143 | Principles of Pharmacology | 3 |
| MED149 | Medical Ethics | 3 |
| MED158 | Phlebotomy and Laboratory Procedures | 2 |
| MED159 | Patient Intake and Infection Control | 2 |
| MED160 | Medical Office Procedures I | 2 |
| MED203 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| MED229 | Advanced Procedures, Life Support & Specialties | 2 |
| MED232 | Advanced Diagnostics and Testing | 2 |
| MED239 | EKG Technician and Cardiology | 2 |
| MED254 | Medical Office Procedures II | 3 |
| MED286 | National Certification Exam Prep | 1 |
| MED295 | Medical Assisting Externship | 4 |
Arts and Sciences*
21 semester credit hours
| BIO101 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 3 |
| BIO104 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 3 |
| COM115 | Principles of Communication | 3 |
| ENG110 | College Composition | 3 |
| HUM205 | Culture and Diversity: Exploring the Humanities | 3 |
| MTH120 | College Mathematics | 3 |
| PSY105 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
*For allowable substitutions of arts and sciences courses, see the Arts & Sciences Department page.
Self-Integration
6 semester credit hours
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).