Medical Assistant Course Descriptions

Medical assistants help doctors by performing administrative duties, as well as handling basic clinical tasks. They can work in doctors' offices, hospitals and medical clinics, helping to keep things running smoothly and efficiently. Many colleges across the nation offer courses in becoming a medical assistant.

Pharmacology

• Schools such as Tidewater Community College in Virginia offer classes such as pharmacology. Pharmacology teaches students how to properly administer medications, how the drugs act and side effects.

Administration and Clinical Skills

• LCO Ojibwe Community College in Wisconsin offers a course that teaches the student about hands-on skills regarding patient care. The student learns to assist physicians with certain procedures in specialized areas, including cardiovascular, dermatology, ophthalmology and pediatrics. The student also learns advanced clinical techniques, including medication administration and assisting with minor surgical procedures.

Anatomy and Physiology

• This course is a basic prerequisite for many science-related degrees, including medical assisting. Anatomy and Physiology provides a basic overview of human anatomy with an emphasis on the structures and functions of systems, such as the cardiovascular system and the respiratory system.

Medical Terminology

• One of the courses that students must complete to become a medical assistant is a course in medical terminology. Durham Technical Community College in North Carolina describes this course as an in depth study of the terminology used in the medical field and how it relates to the anatomy, physiology and treatment of selected body systems.