Program Outline
Your program is designed to provide the knowledge and skills you’ll need for your new career.
Students begin working toward their Associate Degree by first completing the 15 credits of General Studies for Medical Assistants courses. Then students complete the 46 credits in the three semesters of their major (Medical Assistant) to earn their Associate Degree.
Your first set of course materials will be sent to you immediately after your enrollment. You will also have access to course materials online. You submit exams and interact with faculty from your personal home page on our website. Courses will follow one at a time as you complete your required assignments, so you’ll always have learning materials to work with. As you successfully complete each semester, an enrollment application for the next semester will be sent to you.
You can also receive college credit for previous college work if it meets Penn Foster College standards. If you wish to receive credit for previous coursework, contact the college you attended and request that your official transcripts be forwarded to Penn Foster College for evaluation. All previous college work must have been completed with a grade of "C" or better, and up to 75% of the required credits may be transferred. We will also credit your tuition for all the courses that are acceptable.
The Medical Assistant Program requires students to participate in weekly interactive discussion board activity related to medical topics pertinent to the course being studied. Students will be required to respond to discussion topics posted by the faculty and other students each week. In addition, the core medical assistant courses will require students to participate in scheduled online classes with an instructor and other students. In order to earn a passing grade in these courses, students will be required to provide substantive comments on discussion topics and to participate in the live online classes. When students reach their externship assignment, members of the faculty will conduct weekly discussions with the student and the externship supervisors to measure progress.
Prior to your final semester, students will be required to obtain professional liability insurance, show proof of health insurance, and complete a health verification form prior to the start of their externship. Students must locate an externship which will be approved by Penn Foster.
Students must complete two basic skills assessments before beginning the program — one for math and one for reading. These assessments are randomized and must be taken online. Students who do not pass one or both of these assessments will be required to take online remedial courses to ensure their preparedness for the program curriculum. Upon completing your basic skills assessments, your first course will be sent immediately. Other courses will follow as you complete your exams, so that you will always have training materials to work with.
Computer Specifications
You will need access to a Microsoft® Windows®-based computer running Windows Vista® or later, 2.6 GHz processor (minimum), 1 GB available hard drive space and 2 GB of RAM. You will also need high-speed Internet, Microsoft® Office 2010, and an email account to enroll in this program. Note: Windows® XP is not supported.
Online Library and Librarian
Students at Penn Foster College have
access to an online library during
their college studies. Students can
use the library to do the required
course research or for general reference
and links to valuable resources. The
library contains helpful research assistance,
articles, databases, books, and Web
links. A librarian is available to
answer questions on general research-related
topics via email and will assist students
in research activities.
General Studies for Medical Assistants (15 Credits) |
Basic Skills Assessment
All degree applicants are required to complete two Basic Skills Assessments, one in reading and one in math, to determine the level of readiness for beginning their selected program. Additional studies may be required.
CSC104 — Computer Applications (3 credits)
Computer and Internet basics; computer hardware and software; digital electronics and file management; introduction to Windows®; PC applications in word processing, spreadsheets and presentation software.
Science Elective (3 credits) (choose one):
SCI120 – Introduction to Biology
An introductory course that explains the origin of life and the relationships between all living things. It describes how a significant number of organisms are structured and how they work, in order to enable students to discuss intelligently the various forms of life and their processes
SCI110 – Earth Science
Surveys a broad range of topics within the fields of geology, meteorology, oceanography, and astronomy.
SSC130 — Essentials of Psychology (3 credits)
Biology and behavior; consciousness; memory; thought and language; intelligence; personality and gender; stress; community influence.
Arts and Humanities Elective (3 credits) (choose one):
HUM102 – Art Appreciation
Artistic media; historical periods and artistic movements; roles of the artist and the viewer; art criticism.
HUM104 – Music Appreciation
Appreciating music; roles of composer and listener; principles of music theory and instrumentation; historical periods; varying styles of music.
ENG115 — Introduction to Literature
Reading and analysis of the main genres of literature; poetry, fiction and drama; themes and forms of literature.
ENG100 — English Composition (3 credits)
Develops the basic principles of good writing. Students learn to write clear, coherent, and structurally varied sentences, providing details to support their ideas. Also teaches how to revise and edit writing. (Required textbook included with this course.)
Proctored Final Examination* |
Medical Assistant A.S. Degree - Semester One (17 Credits) |
HIT100 — Introduction to Allied Health (1 credit)
This course is an introduction to health care, health information management, and the role of health information technicians in the world of allied health. The course provides an overview of the history of
medicine and documentation, health-care reimbursment, technology applications in health care, professional skills, and professional organizations.
ENG103 — Information Literacy (1 credit)
Teaches students to become effective in finding and utilizing information at libraries and other information centers, and through electronic resources available in libraries and on the World Wide Web.
HIT105 — Law and Ethics in Medicine (3 credits)
Legal and ethical issues in the delivery of health care are presented. A grounding in the parts of tort and contract law that affect health-care delivery is set forth along with broad ideas concerning the functioning of the legal system. Special attention is given to confidentiality, privileged communication, informed consent, the elements of and defenses against malpractice, legal and practical issues commonly encountered by medical assistants, end-of-life and beginning-of-life legal and ethical issues, and the effect of managed care on ethical issues faced by health-care practitioners. (Required textbook provided with the course.)
HIT107 — Medical Terminology (3 credits)
The development of a vocabulary used in medicine by acquiring skills to pronounce, define, and spell word terms. Students will analyze and interpret medical reports related to specific body systems.
SCI135 — Anatomy and Physiology 1 (3 credits)
The anatomy and physiology of the human body is presented as an integrated science. Each major body system is described and analyzed to illustrate normal function as well as pathology. Topics include basic biochemical elements, skin, bone, muscles, the nervous system, the senses, and the endocrine system.
SCI136 — Anatomy and Physiology 2 (3 credits)
A continuation of Anatomy and Physiology 1. Topics include the cardiovascular system, the lymphatic system, immunity and infection control, respiration, digestion, nutrition, the urinary system, reproduction, and genetics.
MAT106 — Math for Business and Finance (3 credits)
Percentages; discounts; interest; present worth; sinking funds; installment buying; pricing; depreciation; investments; insurance; use of symbols and their applications; equations and formulas; importance of statistics. (Required textbook provided with the course.)
Proctored Examination* |
Medical Assistant A.S. Degree - Semester Two (16 Credits) |
HIT115 — Reimbursement Methodologies (1 credit)
This course is designed to introduce the health information technology student to major reimbursement systems in the United States. Focus is on prospective payment system, third-party payers, and billing and insurance procedures. The course also covers additional information including prepaid health plans, fee-for-service methodologies, chargemasters, fee schedules, and managed care.
ALH201 — Pharmacology (3 credits)
Introduces the students to the essentials of drugs and pharmaceuticals. The course covers drug classifications, dosage calculations, mechanisms of action, therapeutic effects, and adverse reactions of drugs commonly used in medical offices.
ENG121 — Business and Technical Writing (3 credits)
Writing styles; ABC method of organizing material; grammar (parts of speech, active and passive voice, complete sentences vs. sentence fragments; parallel construction); using action verbs; constructing paragraphs; writing memos, business letters, and emails; organizing material; conducting research; documenting sources; outlining; providing illustrations; writing reports, proposals, descriptions, instructions, articles, and manuals.
HIT203 — Medical Coding 1 (3 credits)
The basics of coding, exploration of the ICD-9-CM and CPT manuals, examination of specialty areas such as cardiology and obstetrics/gynecology, radiology, pathology, and laboratory work.
HIT207 — Medical Transcription 1 (3 credits)
An introduction to the technical and legal aspects of medical transcription, as well as career opportunities available in the field. The student will begin to transcribe and format various types of medical records.
Core Elective — Choose one (3 credits)
HIT109 - Confidentiality of Health Information
HIT204 - Medical Coding 2
ALH215 - HIPAA Compliance
HIT208 - Medical Transcription 2
NTR203 - Sports Nutrition
Proctored Examination* |
Medical Assistant A.S. Degree - Semester Three (15 Credits) |
Students must show proof of active health-care provider CPR prior to beginning the third semester.
SCI140 — Nutrition (3 credits)
Personal decision making about nutrition; nutrition science; water; exercise; human growth and aging; safety of the food supply; the global view.
HUM106 — Interpersonal Communication (1 credit)
Developing more effective personal communication skills to increase chances for professional success; increasing skills levels involving the use and selection of words, gestures, tone of voice, facial expressions, listening skills, as well as overall physical appearance.
HIT130 — Electronic Medical Records (3 credits)
The Electronic Medical Records Management Certificate program provides a basic overview on how to successfully manage electronic medical records (EMRs) in different health care settings. Students will learn EMR concepts, terminology, regulations, and procedures, and receive hands-on training using an electronic medical record.
ALH210 — Clinical Procedures Theory (3 credits)
The role of pathogenic organisms in disease; how to control and prevent infection; assessing patients; the three components of patient examination; assessing vital signs; diagnostic tests; treatment procedures, major drug and medication categories.
Proctored Examination* |
This program requires the student to enroll in an externship in Semester Three.
* At this point in your program, you will take a proctored examination. We make it easy because you pick the location and the person you want to supervise the exam, as long as Penn Foster College's established policy and qualifications are met. Complete information packets with procedures will be provided well in advance.
Note: Advanced standing student shipments may vary from the above schedule.
A High School Diploma or GED
is required to enroll in this degree program. Although
this outline covers
all three semesters of the Medical Assistant
Degree Program, you receive lesson materials for
each semester as you enroll.
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