Medical Assisting (A.S.)
Associate in Science
BCC Program Advisor: Frank Schickor
413-236-4564 • fschicko@berkshirecc.edu
McCann Program Advisor: Terry LeClair 413-663-5383, ext. 182 • tleclair@mccanntech.org
Note: Medical Assisting Studies (AHS-170) is offered only at McCann Technical School.
Medical assistants work in a physician’s office or health care facility performing both business administrative and clinical medical office skills. Business aspects include correspondence, medical records management, insurance billing, and appointment scheduling and medical transcription. Clinical aspects include preparing the patient for, and assisting with, physical examinations and treatment, assessment of vital signs, patient education, preparation and administration of medications, and routine laboratory procedures, including drawing blood and performing electrocardiography.
Medical assisting offers many opportunities for advancement. Certified medical assistants can advance to office manager, clinical supervisor, or a variety of administrative positions.
The McCann Medical Assisting program, established in 1962, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, 25400 US Highway 19 North, Suite 158, Clearwater, FL, 33763. Graduates are eligible to take the national certification examination given by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Those who pass the examination may use the designation of Certified Medical Assistant CMA (AAMA).
Students already enrolled in the McCann program may begin taking BCC courses concurrent with their medical assisting coursework and then continue either as full- or part-time students to complete required BCC courses for the associate degree. Other students may wish to pursue some or all of the associate degree requirements at BCC before applying to McCann for the medical assisting program. Previous graduates of the McCann program are encouraged to contact BCC for specific advising regarding the courses necessary to qualify for the associate degree.
Expected Outcomes
- Information Literacy:
- Navigate rapidly growing information environment through use of digital technology, purpose-driven inquiry, and research.
- Locate, evaluate, and effectively use information from a broad range of discipline-appropriate sources.
- Scientific Literacy:
- Comprehend, interpret, and present scientific data, and draw conclusions based on scientific reasoning and evidence.
- Engage in lab to understand experimental design and analyze and interpret data.
- Critical, Creative, and Strategic Thinking:
- Form relevant, focused, grounded, and challenging questions that guide academic inquiry.
- Consider, analyze, synthesize, and respond to diverse viewpoints in a variety of academic settings.
- Develop innovative strategies for problem solving using original and predictive thinking.
- Work independently and collaboratively to solve problems.
- Extrapolate from known material to predict outcomes and create scenarios.
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Use and develop formulas to analyze data in a variety of fields and real world situations.
- Translate English into mathematical expressions, equations, and inequalities.
- Solve equations for an unknown quantity in order to understand complex situations.
- Analyze and interpret the relationships among data sets via graphs, tables, and equations.
- Written and Oral Communication:
- Write with clarity and purpose, demonstrating an awareness for rhetorical context and audience.
- Present clearly reasoned and persuasive academic arguments with effective use of evidence in a variety of discipline specific formats.
- Effectively and constructively communicate ideas in individual, small, and large group settings.
- Global Awareness and Historical Context:
- Demonstrate knowledge of world cultures and histories.
- Cultivate familiarity with major artistic, philosophical, and literary movements throughout history.
- Develop a sense of personal awareness in the context of historical movements and structures and their influence on contemporary live.
- Develop a foundational understanding of physical, emotional, psychological, and intellectual wellness
Graduation Requirements
To earn a degree in this program, a student must complete all program and general education credits, plus the following Additional Requirements.
Program Courses
| AHS-103 | Nutritional Awareness | 1 |
| AHS-170 | | |
| BIO-150 | Introduction to the Human Body | 3 |
| BIO-207 | Microbiology | 4 |
| PSY-204 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 43 |
General Education Courses
| CHM-150 | Essentials of Chemistry | 3 |
| COM- | Communication | 3 |
| ENG- | English Composition/Writing | 6 |
| MAT-136 | Mathematics for the Health Sciences | 3 |
| PSY-107 | Introductory Psychology | 3 |
| - | General Education Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 21 |
General Education Elective: See footnote 2
Additional Requirements
| Core Competencies Portfolio |
4 items |
| Forum |
4 units |
| Health/Fitness |
30 hours |
Current AAMA Certification or Certification Eligibility
| Minimum Cumulative Average Overall |
2.000 |
Health/Fitness: See footnote 3
Suggested Pathway to Graduation
- Information Literacy:
- Navigate rapidly growing information environment through use of digital technology, purpose-driven inquiry, and research.
- Locate, evaluate, and effectively use information from a broad range of discipline-appropriate sources.
- Scientific Literacy:
- Comprehend, interpret, and present scientific data, and draw conclusions based on scientific reasoning and evidence.
- Engage in lab to understand experimental design and analyze and interpret data.
- Critical, Creative, and Strategic Thinking:
- Form relevant, focused, grounded, and challenging questions that guide academic inquiry.
- Consider, analyze, synthesize, and respond to diverse viewpoints in a variety of academic settings.
- Develop innovative strategies for problem solving using original and predictive thinking.
- Work independently and collaboratively to solve problems.
- Extrapolate from known material to predict outcomes and create scenarios.
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Use and develop formulas to analyze data in a variety of fields and real world situations.
- Translate English into mathematical expressions, equations, and inequalities.
- Solve equations for an unknown quantity in order to understand complex situations.
- Analyze and interpret the relationships among data sets via graphs, tables, and equations.
- Written and Oral Communication:
- Write with clarity and purpose, demonstrating an awareness for rhetorical context and audience.
- Present clearly reasoned and persuasive academic arguments with effective use of evidence in a variety of discipline specific formats.
- Effectively and constructively communicate ideas in individual, small, and large group settings.
- Global Awareness and Historical Context:
- Demonstrate knowledge of world cultures and histories.
- Cultivate familiarity with major artistic, philosophical, and literary movements throughout history.
- Develop a sense of personal awareness in the context of historical movements and structures and their influence on contemporary live.
- Develop a foundational understanding of physical, emotional, psychological, and intellectual wellness
Required
Footnotes — Medical Assisting Option
- Medical Assisting Studies are only offered at McCann Technical School in North Adams, Massachusetts.
- General Education Elective chosen from History, Humanities, or Fine Arts.
- Fulfilled by successful completion of AHS-170.