Medical Assistant
Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical duties under the direction of physicians in their offices or other
medical settings. The medical assistant curriculum is a two-year associate of applied science degree program. This
program offers the student a broad foundation in basic medical assisting skills including an externship (practicum) in a
medical facility under the supervision of clinic personnel and the Medical Assistant Program Director. Basic medical
assistant training and education consist of learning experiences in communication skills, examination room procedures,
clinical laboratory skills, and general office practices.
Admission to the second year of the program is on a competitive basis.
The Arkansas Tech University Medical Assistant Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied
Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review
Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment (AAMAE). Students who successfully complete the
associate degree program for medical assistants will be eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
examination.
Students who are pursuing a program of study where admission is limited (Cardiovascular Technology, Cosmetology,
Medical Assistant, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Physical Therapist Assistant, Practical Nursing and Registered
Nursing), will be assigned a major of Associate of General Studies until admitted into their selected program.
Medical Assistant
Curriculum in Medical Assistant Associate of Applied Science Degree
(60 Semester Credit Hours)
Course #
Course Name
Semester Hours
Fall
BST 1303
Introduction to Computers
3
EMTP 1001
CPR and First Aid for Health Care Providers
1
ENGL 1013
Composition I
3
HIT 1103
Health Data Content and Structure
3
HIT 1113
Medical Terminology
3
HIT 1123
Human Anatomical Structure
3
Total
16
Spring
ENGL 1023
Composition II
3
HIT 1213
Legal Aspects of Health Information
(prerequisite: HIT 1103)
3
HIT 1243
Human Anatomy and Physiology
(prerequisite: HIT 1113)
3
MA 1023
Basic Pharmacology with an Overview of Microbiology
3
TMAT 1203
Technical Mathematics II (or higher math)
3
Total
15
Fall
BST 1043
Professional Communication
3
HIT 2223
Diagnostic (ICD-10) Coding
3
MA 2022
Medical Laboratory Orientation and Instrumentation LAB
2
MA 2023
Medical Laboratory Orientation and Instrumentation
3
PSY 2003
General Psychology
3
Total
14
Spring
HIT 1203
Computers in Healthcare
(prerequisite: HIT 1103)
3
HIT 2323
Procedural (CPT) Coding
3
INT 2903
Internship
3
MA 2032
Medical Assistant Clinical Practice Laboratory
2
MA 2034
Medical Assistant Clinical Practice
4
Total
15