Program Goals and Outcomes

Medical Assistant Associate Degree Goals and Outcomes

Penn Foster's online Medical Assistant Associate Degree Program can help prepare students to begin a rewarding career in the medical field. You'll learn the basic skills and first aid necessary to work in doctors' offices, health clinics, and hospitals serving as a guide between patients and their healthcare providers.

Medical Assistant

Associate Degree

6 months per semester

As low as $59/mo

Full Program Overview

1-800-471-3232 (9AM - 9PM ET)

Program Goal

To provide students with the concepts and skills to gain employment in an outpatient setting. Students will be prepared to perform administrative and clinical duties under the direction of a physician, mid-level provider, or licensed nurse.

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to...

Demonstrate a high-level of proficiency in analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills
Demonstrate computer and information literacy
Demonstrate effective written and interpersonal communication skills using correct medical terminology
Discuss elements of the liberal arts and social sciences as they relate to human behavior and expression
Explain the role, responsibilities, scope of practice, standards of care, and credentials of medical assistants
Using correct terminology, differentiate among the structures and their functions within the six levels of structural organization of the human body
Explain the importance of diet and nutrition including the elements of a proper diet, nutrition guidelines, and options for patients that require special diets or diet modifications
Identify etiology, processes, symptoms, and treatments for common diseases
Apply ethical standards and legal responsibilities, including those related to the confidentiality of personal health information, to patient care
Perform clinical and laboratory procedures applicable to the role of medical assistant in medical office and laboratory settings
Perform administrative duties applicable to the role of a medical assistant in medical office and laboratory settings