Medical Assisting (DMA)

Courses Required for all Medical Assisting Programs:

Medical Sciences

MS 109 Clinical Assisting I

This course will provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to relate to patients and to work with the physician in the medical clinic setting. This course will cover the following topics and procedures: taking and documenting vital signs; doing anthropometric measurements; preparing the exam room and the patient for examinations; assisting the physician with examinations; performing audiometry, vision screening, otoclysis, spirometry and peak flow meter testing; assisting with gynecological exams and sigmoidoscopy; health maintenance; communication principles and telephone technique; patient education; medical emergencies; and psychology. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisites: SC 245 Anatomy and Physiology II, MS 144 Medical Terminology, and MS 146 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology.

MS 113 Medical Business Operations

This course introduces the student to the administrative portion of the health care environment as well as important legal and ethical guidelines. Students will become familiar with health information systems including interpersonal communication and customer service techniques, and appointment scheduling. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: None.

MS 121 Clinical Assisting II

This course provides students with techniques that enable the physician and medical assistant to work as a team in the clinical setting. Topics include infection control, sanitization, disinfection and sterilization, identification of surgical instruments, autoclaving, surgical scrub, sterile gloving, catheterization, sterile tray set up and assisting with minor surgical procedures, sterile skin scrub, suture removal, dressings and bandaging, drug administration including oral and parenteral methods, dosage calculations, drug categories, use of controlled substances, referencing of commonly used drugs, immunizations, and practice of vital signs. 4.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: MS 109 Clinical Assisting I.

MS 129 Medical Office Procedures

This course provides an overview of administrative tasks performed in a medical office. Students will learn about office financial management including accounting concepts, about the types of medical record keeping, accepting and entering payments, and human resource management. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: None.

MS 131 Clinical Laboratory Procedures I

This course is designed for persons interested in a medical assisting career. It is an introduction to diagnostic procedures routinely performed in the physician’s office laboratory setting. Student will learn to perform electrocardiography on patients, specimen collection, routine urinalysis, and body fluid analysis. Federal laboratory guidelines and laboratory safety will be presented. This course will also cover the principles of radiology. 4.0 credit hours. Prerequisites: SC 245 Anatomy and Physiology II, MS 144 Medical Terminology, and MS 146 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology.

MS 141 Clinical Laboratory Procedures II

This course is a continuation of physician’s office laboratory procedures, including phlebotomy, hematology, blood chemistries, basic principles of microbiology, and serology. 4.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: MS 131 Clinical Laboratory Procedures I

MS 144 Medical Terminology

This course introduces the foundations of the language of medicine and develops medical vocabulary through the study of the structures, functions, diagnostic procedures, pathology, and treatment procedures of the body systems. 1 credit hour. Prerequisite: None.

MS 146 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology

This course provides instruction in the study of human diseases with focus on the symptoms, signs, causes, and diagnosis of disease. Additionally, students will learn about pharmacology, drug categories, and pharmacological treatment related to human diseases. 2.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: None.

MS 161 Medical Billing and Insurance Procedures

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the basic types of medical insurance programs available in today’s health care system. It also acquaints students with billing formats using the universal claim form and provides the skills necessary to master the basic aspects of medical insurance billing. Current reimbursement methodologies (i.e., RBRVS, APC’s) and compliance will also be covered. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: None.

MS 207 Program Review

This course provides the medical assistant student an introduction to medical law and the legal responsibilities of the physician and the allied health care professional. Medical ethics and bioethical topics are discussed. Professional credentialing opportunities are addressed. 2.0 credit hours, 30 clock hours. Prerequisite: All didactic course work with a GPA of 2.0.

MS 294 Internship

During the internship phase of training, the student will experience various aspects of working in the actual field that they have trained for. The internship will provide the student with the opportunity to experience and participate in the duties typical to a real work place setting. Instruction centers on observing experienced personnel, as well as, participating in actual procedures under close supervision of trained professionals. This portion of training must be completed within one year of completion of didactic training. 4.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: All didactic course work with a GPA of 2.0 and CPR.

Natural Sciences

SC 145 Anatomy and Physiology I

This course will provide students with information about Anatomy and Physiology relating to each of the following body systems: Integumentary, Skeletal, Muscular/joints, Nervous, and Blood and Lymphatic systems. 3.0 credit hours. Co-requisite: SC 145L Anatomy and Physiology I Lab.

SC 145L Anatomy and Physiology I Lab

This is the lab portion of SC 145. 1.0 credit hour. Co-requisite: SC 145 Anatomy and Physiology I.

SC 245 Anatomy and Physiology II

This course will provide students with information about Anatomy and Physiology relating to each of the following body systems: Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Digestive, Endocrine, Special Senses, Urinary, and the Male and Female Reproductive systems. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: SC 145 Anatomy and Physiology I.  Co-requisite: SC 245L Anatomy and Physiology II Lab.

SC 245L Anatomy and Physiology II Lab

This is the lab portion of SC 245. 1.0 credit hour. Co-requisite: SC 245 Anatomy and Physiology II.

Personal and Professional Development

IS 102 Computers and Application Software

This course provides an introduction to operating systems, browsers, and email as well as word processing, presentation, spreadsheets, and database applications. 4.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: None.

MO 110 Keyboarding

This course includes the development of keyboarding skills through touch, mastery of the keyboard, speed building, and preparation of office documents. 1.0 credit hour. Prerequisite: None.

PD 100 Student Success Skills

This course provides instruction in the both theory and practice of personal growth that lead to successful life experience. Topics include research in critical self-analysis of student habits and attitudes; and psychological impediments to successfully setting and achieving personal goals. 1.0 credit hour. Prerequisite: None.

PD 200 Career Development Seminar

This seminar provides an opportunity for the student to apply critical self-examination techniques and processes for developing a career path and an awareness of the need to embed life-long learning into career management. Topics include career planning research, job searching, developing career search documents, and refining interview and communication skills within an awareness of psychological boundaries implicit in this process. Successful completion of this course requires the creation of a professional resume suitable for email. 1.0 credit hour. Prerequisite: None.

Additional Course Required for the Associate and Bachelor of Science Degrees:

General Education Requirements

Students enrolled in Associate degrees must complete a minimum of 25 semester credit hours in general education distributed among the following disciplines. Refer to the General Education section of the course catalog for Herzing University courses that would satisfy these requirements.

• 3 Semester Credit Hours in English Composition
• 1 Semester Credit Hour in Information Literacy and Research Writing
• 3 Semester Credit Hours in Speech
• 4 Semester Credit Hours in Computer Applications
• 4 Semester Credit Hours in Mathematics (College Algebra or Above)
• 3 Semester Credit Hours in Social or Behavioral Science
• 3 Semester Credit Hours in Science or Humanities with a Critical Thinking Focus
• 4 Semester Credit Hours in Natural Science with Lab (Anatomy and Physiology)

Additional Course Required for the Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management Degree

Business

AC 103 Accounting I

This introductory accounting course provides the practical application of the concepts and principles of the accounting cycle for service businesses. Topics include an overview of accounting concepts and procedures; analyzing and recording transactions; beginning the accounting cycle by journalizing, posting, and working with the trial balance; using worksheets, financial statements, and adjusting entries; completing the accounting cycle with adjusting, closing, and post-closing trial balance; working with cash and its control; working with accounting systems, journals, internal controls and an introduction to cash flow management. 4.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: IS 102 Computers and Application Software.

AC 205 Accounting II

This accounting course provides practical application of the concepts and principles of the accounting cycle for merchandising businesses with an emphasis upon partnerships and the analysis of financial statements. Topics include accounting for partnerships, accounting for long-term assets and liabilities, managing inventory, investing in capital assets, preparing and using cash flow statements; and the analysis and interpretation of financial statements. 4.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: AC 103 Accounting I.

AC 220 Finance

This course introduces corporate financial management and analysis. Topics include evaluating financial performance; measuring cash flow; forecasting and planning; and capital budgeting and the cost of capital. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: AC 103 Accounting I.

AC 305 Managerial Accounting

This course focuses on managerial accounting concepts by determining costs of products and services for planning and controlling business operations. Topics include management accounting concepts; working with cost concepts, cost behavior, product costing, and costing systems; accounting for planning and control through the master and flexible budgets; and capital budgeting and related business decisions. 4.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: AC 103 Accounting I.

BU 105 Business Principles and Management

This course introduces the environment of American business with an overview of various topics that serve as a foundation for further study of business. Topics include the environments that businesses operate in; the organizational structures of businesses; management functions in enterprises; and the challenges of managing marketing, operations, information technology, finance, and human resources. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: None.

BU 203 Business Law

This course provides a study of the American legal system and its effect on business and business organizations, as well as an overview of the ethical issues that businesses encounter. Topics include business law and ethics, contracts and sales, consumer protection issues, agency and employment issues, the regulation of business organizations, analyzing risk-bearing devices, and dealing with real property issues. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: None.

BU 326 Marketing and Sales

This course provides a practical and managerial approach to the principles and applications of marketing in organizations and in the marketplace. Topics include the marketing process and strategic planning; the global marketing environment; developing marketing opportunities and strategies; developing the marketing mix through product development, pricing strategies, distribution channels, and promotion techniques; and managing marketing through customer relationships, social responsibility, and marketing ethics. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: BU 105 Business Principles and Management.

BU 405 Team Development and Group Management

This course provides guidelines for building and managing teams. Topics include teamwork development, group organization, assessing team requirements, support role development, and how to work together in a diverse environment. The opportunity to experience teamwork concepts is provided through running meetings and presenting reports. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: PS 101 Psychology.

BU 426 Organizational Behavior

This course examines the nature of organizational behavior through the study of group and inter-group relations, organizational design, and the structure and factors affecting organizational design. Topics include the external environment; the impact of technology, power, and politics; and organizational change and development. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: BU 105 Business Principles and Management.

BU 435 Project Management

This course provides instruction in the principles and concepts of project management. Topics include project management concepts; needs identification techniques; proposed solutions preparation; the project life cycle; the project manager’s responsibilities and skills; the effective project team; types of project organizations; project communications and documentation; project planning, scheduling, and control; resource considerations; and cost planning and performance evaluation. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: Senior year.

EC 101 Principles of Economics

This course presents an overview of the American economic system. Topics include the principles of economics; the elements of supply and demand; the concepts of money, spending, output, and income; national income analysis; inflation, unemployment and related stabilization factors; the impact of trade and the function of prices in markets; and the relationship of economics to environmental issues. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: None

Health Care Management

HC 310 Medical Law and Ethics

This course introduces the medical professional to the law and ethics pertaining to the medical office. Topics include the law and the courts, contracts, professional liability, medical malpractice, defenses to liability suits, workplace legalities, HIPAA, and medical ethics. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: None.

HC 315 Medical Personnel Management

This course uses a practical approach to emphasize knowledge of employee benefits, salary administration, psycho-psychological needs, and written communications systems. Labor management relations and relationships in a medical office will be reviewed. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: BU 105 Business Principles and Management.

HC 401 Current Issues in Health Care Management

This course is designed to provide a forum for the contemporary issues related to health care management. Regulatory changes, developments in management of human resources, and other current concepts in general health care management are addressed. The importance of a systems approach to change management is covered. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: None.

Electives

A total of 6 semester credits of open electives is required.

Additional General Education Requirements

Students enrolled in bachelor degrees must complete a minimum of 16 semester credit hours in general education above and beyond the general education courses completed for their associate degree. These credits must be distributed among the following disciplines and a minimum of 9 semester credit hours must be upper level (300-400 level courses). Refer to the General Education section of the course catalog for Herzing University courses that would satisfy these requirements.

• 3 Semester Credit Hours in English Composition or Literature
• 3 Semester Credit Hours in Mathematics (College Algebra or above)
• 4 Semester Credit Hours of Natural Science with a Lab Component
• 3 Semester Credit Hours in Cultural Diversity
• 3 Semester Credit Hours of General Education Electives

Medical Assisting — Career Outlook

Medical Assisting is one of the fastest growing careers in the United States. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statics, employment in this career field is project to grow at the explosive rate of 35% between 2006-2016.

Salary Surveys*

While incomes vary depending on experience, employer, and location, the average reported earnings for Medical Assistants in May 2006 was $26,290. Below is a breakdown by employer type:

Hospital$27,340
Outpatient facility 26,840
Offices of Physicians26,620
Chiropractors22,940
Optometrists22,850