2015-2016

Health Sciences - Medical Assisting, Bachelor of Science

Department of Health Sciences

College of Health and Human Services

Flexibility is a hallmark of this degree, which offers online coursework and accepts a significant block of transfer credit for those who are completing or who have completed appropriate community college (or university) medical assisting programs. A strong group of health sciences courses includes grounding in human diseases, health-care ethics, and more.

This plan will not be available to new students after Summer 2020

  • To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.

    • All of Northern Arizona University's diversity, liberal studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
    • At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
    • At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
    • A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.

    The full policy can be viewed here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Students may transfer up to 90 units of community college and/or university credit from regionally accredited institutions of higher education.

  • At least 30 units of major requirements from NAU

  • Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.

  • Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion 120
Major GPA 2.0
Highest Mathematics Required MAT 114
Additional Admission Requirements Required
Some online/blended coursework Required
Progression Plan Link Not Available
Student Learning Outcomes

Medical Assisting

  • Graduates will demonstrate foundational knowledge of health promotion and disease prevention concepts.
    • Recognize and define medical terminology as it relates to the study of diseases.
    • Identify risk factors, signs and symptoms, and treatment programs associated with specific diseases
    • Cite the major historical events that have shaped the study of human diseases.
    • Describe the basic functions of the human body as they relate to certain human disease processes (anatomy and physiology).
    • Identify and locate information concerning the identification and recognition of disease.
    • Interpret and critically analyze sources of health information related to disease topics.
    • Develop an informational brochure or pamphlet on a disease topic.
    • Describe and demonstrate primary, secondary, and tertiary disease prevention.
    • Analyze disease/condition surveillance, screening, and reporting to determine best methods for prevention.
    • Describe distinctions among selected measures of disease, including morbidity and mortality data, incidence and prevalence, and overall and secondary attack rates.
  • Graduates will demonstrate writing and communication skills required for effective health care practice.
    • Learn and apply wiki technology to create research-based resources in transformational practices.
    • Implement various methods, techniques and activities designed to reduce or manage stress.
    • Research, prepare, and present a scholarly paper regarding a topic in mind-body health critically review classmates' research papers for writing, style, and content.
    • Critically review classmates' research papers for writing, style, and content.
    • Perform individual research of epidemiologic literature on a disease topic of the student’s choice in an international context and evaluate its potential application to U.S. public health situations.
  • Graduates will demonstrate understanding of the interconnectedness of personal, family, organizational, community, and societal health.
    • Demonstrate evidence of informational knowledge of the effects of attitudes, emotions, and relationships in the mind-body-spirit relationship to health.
    • Report on possible personal and professional applications of transformational practices explore the relationship between individual transformational change and societal change.
    • Describe the stress-related consequences of personality and temperament.
    • Recognize and interpret the influence of political, socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental influences on disease and population statistics. 
    • Analyze and synthesize issues related to course topics in leadership skills and inter-professional teamwork identified during the observational experiences
    • Submit a summative portfolio of important concepts and skills acquired throughout the degree program (foundational knowledge of health promotion and disease prevention concepts, professional communication skills necessary in health care settings, knowledge of health disparities, knowledge and skills needed for personal health and well-being, leadership and inter-professional teamwork concepts in health-related settings.
  • Graduates will demonstrate understanding of health disparities.
    • Recognize and interpret the influence of political, socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental influences on disease and population statistics. 
    • Apply critical thinking and analysis skills to discussion of these topics as they relate to epidemiologic investigations in various community contexts.
    • Descriptive epidemiology (person, place, and time) and contexts of disease occurrence.
    • Distinctions among selected measures of disease, including morbidity and mortality data, incidence and prevalence, and overall and secondary attack rates.
    • Disease/condition surveillance, screening, and reporting.
    • Demonstrate knowledge of health disparities related to access to health care, geographic location, and ability to pay for health care, both within the U.S. and internationally.
    • Research, analyze, and compare the USA's health care delivery system to that of a selected international country.
  • Graduates will demonstrate awareness and skills needed to sustain personal health and well-being.
    • Demonstrate evidence of informational knowledge of the effects of attitudes, emotions, and relationships in the mind-body-spirit relationship to health.
    • Review and analyze research regarding practices in transformational change.
    • Report on possible personal and professional applications of transformational practices.
    • Explore the relationship between individual transformational change and societal change.
    • Describe the stress-related consequences of personality and temperament.
    • Describe the role that physical exercise plays in reducing the stress response.
    • Evaluate various methods, techniques and activities designed to reduce or manage stress.

Additional Admission Requirements
  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

  • To be eligible for this academic plan, students must be admitted to, enrolled in, or be graduates from an associate's degree program at a regionally accredited community college or university in an allied health discipline corresponding with your certification/licensure:
    • Medical assisting
  • Additionally, a 2.5 or higher cumulative GPA in your associate degree is required for admission to this degree plan.

Major Requirements
  • Northern Arizona University will accept up to 90 units of transfer credit toward the completion of this degree.  

    Take the following 30 units with a Grade of "C" or better in each course:

    Health sciences courses (30 units)

  • In addition, complete the Medical Assisting requirements from a nationally accredited program at a regionally accredited community college or university. This block includes courses that meet the requirements for graduation and for national certification or licensure in the discipline.

  • Note: Prior to beginning the HS 460C capstone course, students must have completed their Associate's degree and hold a current certificate or licensure in Medical Assisting. The student is also required to have a current cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher to be eligible to enroll in HS 460C.

General Electives
  • Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.

    You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.

    We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.

Additional Information
  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.