Distance Education

Health Information
Medical Administrative Assistant

The Medical Administrative Assistant option is designed to prepare students in the understanding of and competency in medical terminology, medical transcription, insurance practices, diagnostic and procedural coding practices, other specialized medical skills and working cooperatively with a variety of people. Students must also recognize that their position is of a highly confidential nature.

Graduates gain employment in a variety of health care settings: medical administrative assistant, ward clerk, or medical insurance clerk in doctors’ offices, clinics, hospitals, various government agencies, insurance companies, research foundations, publishers and other healthcare facilities.

Students are provided computer application experiences using office equipment and current software in problem solving, developing organizational skills, prioritizing tasks, and decision making in business and personal settings. In addition, they take general education classes and participate in an internship experience, which will enhance their marketability in the business environment.

Healthcare facilities may require the student undergo a criminal background check prior to accepting them on professional practice/internship experiences. A previous felony conviction may affect placement. The applicant must visit with the department chair if this applies.

Employment opportunities for successful graduates of this option have been, and continue to be, excellent on a local, regional, and national basis.

Course Code Course Title Credits
BOTE 108 Business Mathematics 3
BOTE 111 Introduction to Business Proofreading and Formatting 2
BOTE 112 Transcription and Editing 2
BOTE 142 Office Procedures II 3
BOTE 146 Word Processing I 2
BOTE 147 Word Processing 2
BOTE 148 Keyboard Speedbuilding 2
BOTE 152 Keyboarding II 2
BOTE 171 Medical Terminology 4
BOTE 172 Medical Terminology III 2
BOTE 217 Records Management 3
BOTE 220 Fundamentals of Medical Transcription 2
BOTE 221 Applied Medical Transcription I 3
BOTE 277 Medical Office Procedures 4
BOTE 297 Office Administration Internship 4
Related/General Education Courses
BIOL 115 Human Structure and Function 3
BIOL 115L Human Structure and Function Lab 1
BIOL 213 General Pathology 3
CIS 105 Microcomputer Spreadsheet 3
COMM 110 Fundamentals of Public Speaking 3
ENGL 110 College Composition I 3
HPER 210 First Aid and CPR 2
PHRM 100 Basic Pharmacology for Allied Health 2
PSYC 100 Human Relations in Organizations 2
Elective Social Science 3
Total Required Credits 65
Suggested Sequence of Study 
1st Semester 2nd Semester 
BIOL 115 BIOL 213 
BIOL 115L BOTE 146 
BOTE 111 BOTE 147
BOTE 112 BOTE 172 
BOTE 148 BOTE 217 
BOTE 152 ENGL 110 
BOTE 171 PHRM 100 
3rd Semester 4th Semester 
BOTE 108 BOTE 142 
BOTE 220 BOTE 277 
BOTE 221 BOTE 297 
CIS 105 COMM 110 
HPER 210 Social Science Elective 
PSYC 100   
    

Delivery Options

The program is available both online and in a traditional campus environment. Online students complete all courses online, while on-campus students complete major courses online and several of the related/general education courses in a traditional classroom.

Biology labs can be taken from other accredited colleges or online through colleges in the North Dakota University System. Course descriptions must be approved by the NDSCS Registrar prior to taking the course.

Admission Requirements

The applicants must be high school graduates or equivalent. Helpful preparation for this program is a variety of courses in communications/English, keyboarding speed and accuracy, computer literacy, medical terminology, and human relations.

Program Fees

Students in this program will be charged a $50 per semester program fee. This is based on a full-time (12 credits) enrollment. The program fee will be prorated for students enrolled in less than 12 credits per semester.

Award

Upon successful completion of the required courses, students will be awarded an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Health Information with an emphasis in Medical Administrative Assistant.

Curriculum Requirements

A minimum keyboarding competency of 45 words per minute in a five-minute timing is required before a student may be allowed to register for BOTE 152, Keyboarding II.
A grade of ‘C’ or above must be maintained in all medical classes before advancement to subsequent medical classes. To be eligible for BOTE 297, a cumulative GPA of 2.3 is required.

Contact:

Corinne Wolf
1-800-342-4325, ext. 3-2848 or e-mail.

Updated March 2007
Effective Fall 2007/Nov 07