Medical Assisting - Associate of Applied Science
Doña Ana Community College
2024-2025 Catalog
Medical assistants work alongside physicians primarily in outpatient or ambulatory care facilities, such as medical offices, clinics, and urgent care centers. Medical assistants who earn their AAS in Medical Assisting are cross trained to perform administrative and clinical duties, whereas medical assistants who earn their certificate in medical assisting will be trained for clinical duties only.
Clinical duties include but are not limited to taking medical histories; explaining treatments and procedures to patients; collecting and preparing lab specimens; preparing and administering medications; performing electrocardiograms; and assisting physicians during examinations.
Administrative duties include but are not limited to answering telephones; updating and filing patient medical records; scheduling appointments; billing and bookkeeping.
Mandatory Attendance
Students must attend all class meetings and lab sessions to be eligible for national certification testing. Clinical courses take place off-campus, students will need to have personal transportation.
(62 credits)
NOTE: Students must earn a final grade of C- or better in all required courses and achieve a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.0. A grade of C- or better is required in ENGL 1110G Composition I and designated Mathematics courses.
Clinical Clearance Packet
Students registering for a course that has a clinical component (NA 109 Phlebotomist Basic, NA 110 Electrocardiogram Technician Basic, NA 214 Medical Assistant Practicum) are required to complete a clinical clearance packet and submit online to CastleBranch for the director's approval to register.
Students must complete all University degree requirements, which include: General Education requirements and elective credits to total at least 62 credits. Developmental coursework will not count towards the degree requirements and/or elective credits but may be needed in order to take the necessary English and Mathematics coursework.
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| Select one course from four of the following six content areas for a total of 12-14 credits 1, 2 | 12-14 | |
Area I: Communications | ||
| Composition I 3 | 4 | |
Area II: Mathematics | ||
| College Algebra 6 | 3 | |
Area III: Laboratory Sciences | ||
| Introductory Anatomy & Physiology (non-majors) | 4 | |
Area IV: Social/Behavioral Sciences | ||
| Human Growth and Behavior 3 | 3 | |
| General Education Elective | ||
| PHLS 1110G | Personal Health & Wellness | 3 |
| Major Requirements | ||
| Technical Requirements | ||
| AHS 120 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| AHS 250 | Spanish for Health Professionals | 3 |
| HIT 110 | Electronic Health Records | 3 |
| HIT 120 | Health Information Introduction to Pharmacology | 3 |
| NA 114 | Patient Care Fundamentals | 4 |
| NA 109 | Phlebotomist Basic (Special Permission) 4 | 4 |
| NA 110 | Electrocardiogram Technician Basic (Special Permission) 4 | 4 |
| NA 212 | Medical Assistant Capstone Course (Special Permission) | 6 |
| NA 214 | Medical Assistant Practicum (Special Permission) 4 | 6 |
| OATS 208 | Medical Office Procedures | 3 |
| OATS 228 | Medical Insurance Billing | 3 |
| HIT 248 | Medical Coding I | 3 |
| Total Credits | 62 | |
- 1
Each course selected must be from a different area and students cannot take multiple courses in the same area.
- 2
See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list of courses.
- 3
Courses are identical to those offered at New Mexico State University Las Cruces (main) Campus.
- 4
Clinical course requires clinical packet be complete and uploaded to CastleBranch and program director's permission to register for course.
- 5
For students who elect to take (or have taken) CHEM 1120G they will also need to take BIOL 2210 and BIOL 2225 in order to meet the degrees requirement for Anatomy & Physiology. (Note - the CHEM 1120G will be the portion of the required course combination that meets the General Education Area III requirement, taking only the BIOL courses will require an additional "G" course to be taken).
- 6
MATH 1220G College Algebra is required for the MA degree but students may need to take prerequisites. *Note: select the course to see it's prerequisites in the course bubble.
(62 credits)
A Suggested Plan of Study
The contents of this roadmap may vary depending on initial student placement in mathematics and English. This is only a suggested plan of study for students, and is not intended as a contract. Individual student academic plans may vary. Please contact your academic advisor to create a plan that works for you. Course availability may vary from fall to spring semester and may be subject to modification or change.
NOTE: Students must earn a final grade of C- or better in all required courses and achieve a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.0. A grade of C- or better is required in ENGL 1110G Composition I and designated Mathematics courses.
Students must complete all University degree requirements, which include: General Education requirements and elective credits to total at least 60 credits. Developmental coursework will not count towards the degree requirements and/or elective credits, but may be needed in order to take the necessary English and Mathematics coursework.
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| FALL | ||
| ENGL 1110G | Composition I | 4 |
| AHS 120 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| NA 114 | Patient Care Fundamentals | 4 |
| PHLS 1110G | Personal Health & Wellness | 3 |
| HIT 110 | Electronic Health Records | 3 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| SPRING | ||
| BIOL 1130G | Introductory Anatomy & Physiology (non-majors) | 4 |
| OATS 208 | Medical Office Procedures | 3 |
| OATS 228 | Medical Insurance Billing | 3 |
| NA 109 | Phlebotomist Basic | 4 |
| HIT 120 | Health Information Introduction to Pharmacology | 3 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| FALL | ||
| NA 212 | Medical Assistant Capstone Course | 6 |
| HIT 248 | Medical Coding I | 3 |
| NA 110 | Electrocardiogram Technician Basic | 4 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| SPRING | ||
| NA 214 | Medical Assistant Practicum | 6 |
| MATH 1220G | College Algebra | 3 |
| CEPY 1120G | Human Growth and Behavior | 3 |
| AHS 250 | Spanish for Health Professionals | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 62 | |