Skip to main content

Associate of Science in Medical Assisting

Section Menu
  • You are on...
    Main Page for Medical Assisting A.S.

APPLY NOW

Success starts here!

START NOW

Make College Affordable

Learn More

Make A Smooth Transition to GCC

Transfer Information

[title]
DEGREE

Associate of Science in Medical Assisting

Total Credit Hours: 63-66


About Associate of Science in Medical Assisting

Medical Assistants are the only allied health professionals specifically trained to work in ambulatory settings, such as physicians’ offices, clinics, and group practices. These multi-skilled personnel can perform administrative and clinical procedures. Physicians value this unique versatility more and more, as managed care necessitates the need to contain costs and manage human resources efficiently. Medical Assistants are trained allied health professionals who work primarily in physicians’ offices, outpatient clinics, but also in hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. Medical Assistants are trained to perform clinical back office procedures and administrative tasks. In contrast to most other allied health professionals who work in inpatient hospital settings, Medical Assistants, work primarily in outpatient clinics under the direct supervision of a physician. One portion of his or her training that concentrates on administrative medical assisting provides suitable background for employment in health maintenance organizations, home health care organizations, and nursing homes. Their training as clinical medical assistants creates a well-rounded Medical Assistant that can perform a variety of tasks both administrative and clinical. The most common task performed by the medical assistant is recording patient history and personal information, measuring vital signs (such as blood pressure), helping the physician with patient examinations, giving patients injections or medications as directed by the physician, scheduling patient appointments, drawing and preparing blood samples for laboratory tests, and entering patient information into medical records. Once a student has successfully completed the Medical Assisting Program, he or she will be prepared to take the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) national certification examination through American Medical Technologists (AMT). The Guam Community College is an affiliated partner with the American Medical Technologist (AMT).

10700 West Higgins Rd, Suite 150

Rosemont, IL 60018

Phone: 847.823.5169

Fax: 847.823.0458

With the exception of enrollment in MS101 Introduction to Medical Assisting, admission to the Medical Assisting program is required before enrollment in any Medical Assisting technical requirement course. Admission to the Medical Assisting program includes:

  • Advisement from Allied Health faculty.
  • Completion of English and mathematics placement tests with minimum scores or completion of English and mathematics development courses and attainment of passing scores.
  • Health Clearance, which includes physical immunization (PPD, Hep B, 1, 2, 3).

Note: The student must have a “C” or better in all courses to receive a certificate in Medical Assisting. Students must pass each course with a “C” or better to continue toward the next course in the program. Those students who do not successfully complete a core technical or related technical requirement course will have to wait a minimum of one year for reentry. For further information, please refer to the Medical Assistant Program Handbook.

Pre-requisite courses are not required for program entry, but must be completed for approval for entry into the program learning group or cohort.  When the student enters the learning group, he/she will begin the Medical Assisting Program.

Other Prerequisite:

  • Health clearance to include physical and immunizations- PPD, with the addition of a Hepatitis B vaccine or declination form.
  • Police and court clearance will be required for acceptance into Medical Assistant cohort.

Program Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):

Upon successful completion of the AS in Medical Assisting program, students will be able to:

  1. Describe legal and ethical principles that affect the role of a medical assistant.
  2. Demonstrate proficiency in administrative medical office procedures.
  3. Demonstrate proficiency in clinical procedures.
  4. Perform medical laboratory procedures.


 

General Education Requirements

Course

Course Name

Credits

English (Choose 1)

EN110A

Freshman Composition with Instructional Lab

4

EN110

Freshman Composition

3

Course

Course Name

Credits

MA___

Mathematics Requirement

3-4

 

Literacy for Life Requirement

3

 

Humanities & Fine Arts Requirement

3-4

 

Social & Behavioral Sciences Requirement

3

HL190

Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology for Allied Health Professionals

4

Total

19-22

Major Requirements

Course

Course Name

Credits

HL120

Medical Terminology

2

HL131

Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers

1

HL150

Study of Disease

3

HL201

Medical Law and Ethics

3

HL202

Nutrition

3

HL252

Pathology for Health Professions

3

MS125

Clinical Medical Assisting: Clinical 

1

MS101

Introduction to Medical Assisting 

3

MS120

Clinical Medical Assisting: Theory

3

MS121

Clinical Medical Assisting  Laboratory 

2

MS140

Administrative Medical Assisting: Theory

2

MS141

Administrative Medical Assisting: Laboratory

2

MS145

Administrative Medical Assisting: Clinical 

1

MS160

Pharmacology:  Dosage and Calculations

2

MS161

Administration of Medications Laboratory

1

MS180

Introduction to Clinical Laboratory 

2

MS210

Medical Assisting Critique 

1

MS220

Medical Assisting Specialties 

3

MS225

Medical Assisting Specialties Clinical 

1

MS292

Medical Assisting Practicum 

5

Total

44

Program Total

63-66



 

 

Course Sequence by Semester

Year 1

Semester 1

Semester 2

Course #

Course Name

Credits

Course #

Course Name

Credits

EN110 OR EN110A

Freshman Composition OR Freshman Composition with Instructional Lab

3-4

MS101

Introduction to Medical Assisting 

3

MA___

Mathematics Requirement

3-4

MS140

Administrative Medical Assisting: Theory

2

HL150

Study of Disease

3

MS141

Administrative Medical Assisting: Laboratory

2

CS___

Literacy for Life Requirement

3

MS145

Administrative Medical Assisting Clinical 

1

HL190

Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology for Allied Health Professionals

4

HL131

Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers

1

 

 

 

HL120

Medical Terminology

2

 

 

 

HL202

Nutrition

3

Total

16-18

 Total

14

Year 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Course #

Course Name

Credits

Course #

Course Name

Credits

HL201

Medical Law & Ethics

3

MS120

Clinical Medical Assisting: Theory 

3

MS160

Pharmacology:  Dosage and Calculations

2

MS121

Clinical Medical Assisting Laboratory 

2

MS161

Administration of Medications Laboratory

1

MS 125

Clinical Medical Assisting: Clinical 

1

 

Humanities & Fine Arts Requirement

3-4

MS220

Medical Assisting Specialties 

3

 

Social & Behavioral Sciences Requirement

3

MS225

Medical Assisting Specialties Clinical 

1

 Total

12-13

 Total

10

Year 3

Semester 5

 

Course #

Course Name

Credits

Course #

Course Name

Credits

MS180

Introduction to Clinical Laboratory 

2

   

MS210

Medical Assisting Critique 

1

   

MS292

Medical Assisting Practicum 

5

   

HL252

Pathology for Health Professions

3

   

 Total

11

 Total

 

Program Total

63-66


General Education Requirements
CourseCourse NameCredits
English (Choose 1)
EN110AFreshman Composition with Instructional Lab4
EN110Freshman Composition3
CourseCourse NameCredits
MA___Mathematics Requirement3-4

 
Literacy for Life Requirement3

 
Humanities & Fine Arts Requirement3-4

 
Social & Behavioral Sciences Requirement3
HL190Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology for Allied Health Professionals4
Major Requirements
CourseCourse NameCredits
HL120Medical Terminology2
HL131Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers1
HL150Study of Diseases3
HL201Medical Law and Ethics3
HL202Nutrition3
HL252Pathology for Health Professions3
MS 125Clinical Medical Assisting: Clinical1
MS101Introduction to Medical Assisting3
MS120Clinical Medical Assisting: Theory3
MS121Clinical Medical Assistant: Laboratory2
MS140Administrative Medical Assisting: Theory2
MS141Administrative Medical Assisting: Laboratory2
MS145Administrative Medical Assisting: Clinical1
MS160Introduction to Pharmacology2
MS161Administration of Medications: Laboratory1
MS180Introduction to Clinical Laboratory2
MS210Medical Assisting Critique1
MS220Medical Assisting Specialties3
MS225Medical Assisting Specialties Clinical1
MS292Medical Assisting Practicum5
Program Total63-66


2024-2025 College Catalog


Recognizing the necessity for students to succeed in the complex and rapidly changing workplace, Guam Community College offers a general education curriculum that introduces students to major areas of knowledge and methods of inquiry. All degree programs require an interdisciplinary general education component that promotes the development of intellectual skills that enable students to become effective learners and informed citizens. Critical thinking, the use of language and computation, appropriate social skills, global awareness and respect for diverse opinions are among the learning outcomes provided in the general education requirements of each program.

Guam Community College believes that general education provides the academic foundation necessary for students to achieve their life goals. General education is intended to offer students a breadth of quality student learning experiences, encourage their respect for cultural heritage, promote their ethical and responsible social behavior and facilitate their life-long learning.

The General Education program strives to foster student learning and skill development in civic engagement, critical thinking, understanding of the relationship between the individual and society, information literacy, oral communication, quantitative reasoning, and written communication.

Guam Community College believes that high quality general education opportunities for all citizens are necessary for democratic principles and practices to exist and for a sound economy to flourish. The College continually scrutinizes the general education curriculum in order to assure that all degrees and certificates granted by the College support this vision of general education and that it serves as a means to inspire hope, opportunity and responsibility in all its constituencies.

Requirements for General Education follow the options described below. Students declared prior to fall 2010 will follow the requirements indicated in the applicable catalog in which they first declared their major program at the College.
 

Notes on General Education requirements

Students are advised to check the requirements for their specific programs before taking General Education courses.
Courses chosen to meet the general education requirements may not be used to meet the Major Requirements of a student’s specific degree program.

The list contains courses with pre-requisites, so students should make their choices carefully and thoughtfully. Students may consult a counselor or an academic advisor for guidance in choosing any of the course options listed.


IMPORTANT NOTE: Some programs require different levels of coursework to meet General Education requirements, please review the individual programs for more information.

GENERAL EDUCATION
Scope 1: Skills for and Application of Lifelong Learning
Freshman Composition (Choose one course from the following to meet the required 3-4 credits)
Course #Course NameCredits
EN 110Freshman Composition3
EN110AFreshman Composition with Instructional Lab4
EN 111Writing for Research3
Mathematics (Choose one course from the following to meet the required 3-4 credits)*
Course #Course NameCredits
MA 110AFinite Mathematics3
MA 115Fundamentals of College Algebra3
MA 161ACollege Algebra & Trigonometry I3
*Any college level math will be considered for the completion of this category
Literacy for Life Skills (Choose one course from the following to meet the required 3 credits)
Course #Course NameCredits
CO 110Critical Thinking for Civic Engagement3
CS 151Windows Applications
CS 152Macintosh Applications
Scope 2: Broad Comprehension of the Development of Knowledge, Practice and Interpretation
Humanities & Fine Arts (Choose one course from the following to meet the required 3-4 credits)*
Course #Course NameCredits
ASL 100American Sign Language I4
CH 110Chamorro I4
ED 265Culture & Education in Guam3
CO 125Introduction to Human Communication and Speech3
EN 210Introduction to Literature3
HI 121World Civilization (Pre-historic Time to 1500)3
HI 122World Civilization (1500 to Present Time)3
HI 176Guam History3
HM 110Introduction to Community Services3
HM 201Social Welfare & Development: Global Challenges3
HU 120Pacific Cultures3
HU 220Guam Cultures & Legends3
JA 110Japanese I4
KE 110Korean I4
PI 101Introduction to Philosophy3
TH 101Introduction to the Theater3
VC 101Introduction to Visual Communications3
*Any foreign language, humanities, or fine arts course will be considered for the completion of this category
Natural & Physical Sciences (Choose one course and the corresponding lab from the following to meet the required 4 credits)**
Course #Course NameCredits
SI 101/101LIntroduction to Chemistry: Theory (3) & Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory (1)4
SI 103/103LIntroduction to Marine Biology: Theory (3) & Introduction to Marine Biology Laboratory (1)
SI 105/105LIntroduction to Physical Geology (3) & Introduction to Physical Geology Laboratory (1)
SI 110/110LEnvironmental Biology: Theory (3) & Environmental Biology Laboratory (1)
SI 141Applied Physics I
SI 150/150LIntroduction to Microbiology: Theory (3) & Introduction to Microbiology Laboratory (1)
SI131/131LHuman Anatomy & Physiology I: Theory (3) & Human Anatomy & Physiology I Laboratory (1)
SI132/132LHuman Anatomy & Physiology II: Theory (3) & Human Anatomy & Physiology II Laboratory (1)
**The exception to this would be SI141 which does not include a laboratory requirement
Scope 3: Preparation for and Acceptance of Responsible Participation in Civil Society
Social & Behavioral Sciences (Choose one course from the following to meet the required 3 credits)
Course #Course NameCredits
EC 110Principles of Economics3
PS140American Government3
PY 100Personal Adjustment3
PY 120General Psychology3
PY 125Interpersonal Relations3
SO 130Introduction to Sociology3
CJ 100Introduction to Criminal Justice3
WG 101Introduction to Women and Gender Studies3
*Any social and behavioral science course will be considered for the completion of this category
Minimum General Education Requirements19

2024-2025 College Catalog


This suggested sequence of courses is based on the 2024-2025 College Catalog. 
 

Year 1
Semester 1Semester 2
CourseCourse NameCreditsCourseCourse NameCredits
EN___English Requirement3-4MS101Introduction to Medical Assisting3
MA___Mathematics Requirement3-4MS140Administrative Medical Assisting: Theory2
HL150Study of Diseases3MS141Administrative Medical Assisting: Laboratory2
 Literacy for Life Requirement3MS145Administrative Medical Assisting Clinical1
HL190Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology for Allied Health Professionals4HL131Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers1

 

 

 
HL120Medical Terminology2

 

 

 
HL202Nutrition3
Total16-18Total14
Year 2
Semester 3Semester 4
CourseCourse NameCreditsCourseCourse NameCredits
HL201Medical Law and Ethics3MS120Clinical Medical Assisting: Theory3
MS160Introduction to Pharmacology2MS121Clinical Medical Assistant: Laboratory2
MS161Administration of Medications: Laboratory1MS225Medical Assisting Specialties Clinical1

 
Humanities & Fine Arts Requirement3-4MS220Medical Assisting Specialties3

 
Social & Behavioral Sciences Requirement3MS 125Clinical Medical Assisting: Clinical1
Total12-13Total10
Year 3
Semester 5
 
CourseCourse NameCreditsCourseCourse NameCredits
MS180Introduction to Clinical Laboratory2
 

 

 
MS210Medical Assisting Critique1
 

 

 
MS292Medical Assisting Practicum5
 

 

 
HL252Pathology for Health Professions3
 

 

 
Total11Total 
Program Total63-66


2024-2025 College Catalog




Upon successful completion of the AS in Medical Assisting program, students will be able to:

  1. Describe legal and ethical principles that affect the role of a medical assistant.                         

  2. Demonstrate proficiency in administrative medical office procedures.

  3. Demonstrate proficiency in clinical procedures.

  4. Perform medical laboratory procedures.


HL131 Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers

This course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary in an emergency such as rescue breathing and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This course is a related technical requirement for the Certificate and Associate of Science in Medical Assisting.


Have Questions? Chat with our Virtual Assistant! Start Chat Now