Graduate Degrees
Medical assistants are on the front lines of patient care. They work directly with patients, explaining physician instructions, measuring and recording vital signs and collecting lab specimens. These and many other duties often require the medical assistant to spend more time with the patient than with the doctor.
Careers for medical assistants
At the Brooklyn Center, MN, campus of Globe University/Minnesota School of Business (GU/MSB) we prepare students to become medical assistants. Students learn medical terminology, office procedures, lab techniques and more in our associate degree and diploma programs. In addition to working with patients in doctors’ offices, medical assistants establish rewarding careers as:
- Limited scope radiology technicians
- Lab technicians
- Office administrators and managers
- Medical coding specialists
- Patient records managers
Medical assistants work in all types of medical specialties and in large and small medical organizations. In larger operations, they may specialize in one or two functions; in a small office, they may do a little of everything.
Diploma or associate degree?
Medical classroom at the Brooklyn Center campus
Associate degree students take a four-credit course in radiology that prepares them for the ARRT Limited Scope of Pratice certification exam, while diploma students take four credits of interpersonal relations. Both programs require nine credits of clinical training that give students extensive practical experience before they enter the workforce. Both programs prepare students to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam, offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants. Students may apply for the Professional Certification Scholarship to cover the costs of certification tests.
Time required to earn these credentials
Earning a diploma usually requires a minimum of 15 months. Completing an associate degree usually takes at least 21 months of full time study. Students in the associate degree program complete 30 credits of eneral education. These classes strengthen students’ communication and presentation skills. They also provide students with the knowledge they will need to work with multi–cultural patient populations.
Call GU/MSB-Brooklyn Center to learn more
Completing an associate’s degree or a diploma in medical assistant is the first step to a fulfilling career. Contact the Brooklyn Center campus of GU/MSB to learn about admissions, financial aid, and credit for prior learning and experience.* Call us toll-free at 877-655-7676.
*Please contact your campus dean about the process of applying for credit.