The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Medical Assisting is designed to provide education and training for employment as Medical Assistants along with a transfer pathway to a Baccalaureate degree. Medical assistants are integral members of the administrative and clinical healthcare team in various healthcare settings. Medical assistants act as liaisons between the healthcare providers and patients, and are of vital importance to the success of the medical practice. Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible to take the national certification exam. In addition, obtaining the Associate's degree is designed to provide an opportunity for advancement in the healthcare field. Certificates of Completion (CCL) in Medical Assisting and Medical Administrative Assisting are also available.
Details
Important information you’ll need when applying for admission:This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:
- Value empathy, compassion, cultural sensitivity and respect for diversity in the healthcare setting.
- Demonstrate professional behaviors and accountability.
- Apply ethical and legal guidelines and scope of practice to administrative and clinical settings, including use of technology and management of medical documents.
- Perform administrative skills and procedures in an ambulatory healthcare environment.
- Apply knowledge of medical terminology and anatomy and physiology as a healthcare professional.
- Use critical thinking to follow current best practices in healthcare.
- Communicate effectively in a culturally responsive manner with patients and the healthcare team.
- Utilize numerical concepts and data relevant to the healthcare field.
- Perform various clinical and laboratory procedures using safety protocols under supervision of the healthcare provider.
- Evaluate appropriate types of information relevant to the healthcare field.
Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based annual median wages* for this program. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information.
Medical Assistants
$34,000 Show expanded career information for Medical Assistants
Formal application and admission to the program is required. Students must be at least 18 years of age to apply for admission. Must be a high school graduate or equivalent. Submit current CPR/BLS Provider card (American Heart Association approved) and maintain current status throughout the practicum(s). Complete and submit the Allied Health Student Health and Safety Documentation Checklist, with included documentation, signed by a licensed healthcare provider.
Background Check Requirements
Admission to an Allied Health program requires that students be in compliance with the Maricopa County Community College District Supplemental Background Check policy. Program applications will not be accepted without a copy of an Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card. Students must maintain current fingerprint clearance throughout the practicum(s). Upon conditional program admission, the student must comply with all requirements of the current MCCCD background check policy.
The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:
- Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
- The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
- Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
- Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include AAA/CPD150, AAA/CPD150AC, CPD104, and AAA115/CPD115. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
- Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.
Option 1 Sequence
Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAS101 | Introduction to Medical Assisting | Critical course Gateway course Students must meet all the Learning Outcomes to continue the Medical Assisting program. | 2 | ||
| MAS102 | Fundamentals of Administrative Medical Assisting | 6 | |||
| MAS103 | Basic Anatomy, Physiology, and Medical Terminology | 6 | |||
| MAS104 | Medical Administrative Assisting Practicum | Critical course All health and safety documents must remain current and in good standing, especially TB screening and CPR BLS provider, throughout the MAS104 Practicum. | 4 | ||
| AAA/CPD115 or AAA/CPD150 or AAA/CPD150AC or CPD104 | Creating College Success or Strategies for College Success or Educational and Career Planning or Career and Personal Development | 0–3 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAS201 | Fundamentals of Clinical Medical Assisting | 6 | |||
| MAS202 | Laboratory Testing in Ambulatory Healthcare Settings | Critical course Students must pass all lab competencies and the clinical final exam with a minimum of 85% to pass the course. (MAERB Policy 215) | 3 | ||
| MAS203 | Medical Assisting Pharmacology | Critical course Students must pass all dosage calculation tests and the clinical final exam with a 100% to pass the course. | 3 | ||
| MAS204 | Clinical Medical Assisting Practicum | Critical course All health and safety documents must remain current and in good standing, especially TB screening and CPR BLS provider, throughout the MAS204 Practicum. | 4 | ||
| MAS205 | Medical Assisting Program Review | 2 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 | Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication | Recommended: COM100 or COM110. COM225 is recommended for students who wish to transfer to NAU BS in Health Sciences - Medical Assisting | SB or L | 3 | |
| SB | Social & Behavioral Sciences | PSY101 recommended for students interested in transferring to the NAU BS in Health Sciences - Medical Assisting. | SB | 3 | |
| MA | Mathematics | Any approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area MAT14+ recommended for students who are interested in transferring to university | MA | 3–6 | |
| ENG101 or ENG107 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC | 3 | ||
| BIO160 or BIO201 | Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology or Human Anatomy and Physiology I | BIO201 should be taken by students selecting the BIO201 and BIO202 option for this program. | SQ or SG | 4 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elective | Elective | Select additional courses 100-level or higher to complete the 60 minimum credits required for this degree. Consult with the Program Director or an Academic Advisor for recommendations. | 0–2 | ||
| BIO202 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | This course should be taken if BIO201 was completed in Term 3. | SG | 0–4 | |
| CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 | |
| HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HU | 3 | ||
| ENG102 or ENG108 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC | 3 |
Option 2 Sequence
This option may include variable full-time (12 to 18 credits per semester) and/or part-time (11 credit hours or less per semester) status by term due to course prerequisites and scheduling.
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAS101 | Introduction to Medical Assisting | Critical course Gateway course Students must meet all the Learning Outcomes to continue the Medical Assisting program. | 2 | ||
| MAS102 | Fundamentals of Administrative Medical Assisting | 6 | |||
| MAS103 | Basic Anatomy, Physiology, and Medical Terminology | 6 | |||
| MAS104 | Medical Administrative Assisting Practicum | Critical course All health and safety documents must remain current and in good standing, especially TB screening and CPR BLS provider, throughout the MAS104 Practicum. | 4 | ||
| AAA/CPD115 or AAA/CPD150 or AAA/CPD150AC or CPD104 | Creating College Success or Strategies for College Success or Educational and Career Planning or Career and Personal Development | 0–3 | |||
| Term 1 is full-time status only. MAS courses are delivered online only. | |||||
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAS201 | Fundamentals of Clinical Medical Assisting | 6 | |||
| MAS202 | Laboratory Testing in Ambulatory Healthcare Settings | Critical course Students must pass all lab competencies and the clinical final exam with a minimum of 85% to pass the course. (MAERB Policy 215) | 3 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAS203 | Medical Assisting Pharmacology | Critical course Students must pass all dosage calculation tests and the clinical final exam with a 100% to pass the course. | 3 | ||
| MAS204 | Clinical Medical Assisting Practicum | Critical course All health and safety documents must remain current and in good standing, especially TB screening and CPR BLS provider, throughout the MAS204 Practicum. | 4 | ||
| MAS205 | Medical Assisting Program Review | 2 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENG101 or ENG107 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC | 3 | ||
| MA | Mathematics | Any approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area MAT14+ recommended for students who are interested in transferring to university | MA | 3–6 |
Term 5
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 | Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication | Recommended: COM100 or COM110. COM225 is recommended for students who wish to transfer to NAU BS in Health Sciences - Medical Assisting | SB or L | 3 | |
| SB | Social & Behavioral Sciences | PSY101 recommended for students interested in transferring to the NAU BS in Health Sciences - Medical Assisting. | SB | 3 |
Term 6
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO160 or BIO201 | Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology or Human Anatomy and Physiology I | BIO201 should be taken by students selecting the BIO201 and BIO202 option for this program. | SQ or SG | 4 | |
| ENG102 or ENG108 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC | 3 |
Term 7
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO202 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | This course should be taken if BIO201 was completed in Term 6. | SG | 0–4 | |
| HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HU | 3 |
Term 8
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 | |
| Elective | Elective | Select additional courses 100-level or higher to complete the 60 minimum credits required for this degree. Consult with the Program Director or an Academic Advisor for recommendations. | 0–2 |
Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.
Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.
- FYC = First Year Composition
- HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
- L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
- MA = Mathematics
- SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
- SG = Natural Sciences General
- SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.
Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.
View MCCCD’s curriculum website for the Associate in Applied Science in Medical Assisting (http://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm3?id=157103).
At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.
The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. Other versions of this pathway map from different catalog years are available below:
| Catalog Year | Effective Dates |
|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 5/26/2020 – 12/18/2020 |