Associate in Applied Science - Medical Assistant

at MSM Group - Spokane Community College USA

The associate in applied science degree in Natural Resource Management prepares students to work in the forestry area. This program is conditionally accredited by the Society of American Foresters. Two additional options are available: Parks and Recreation or Wildlife Fisheries. The Parks and Recreation option prepares students for park maintenance and/or interpretive positions.  The Wildlife/Fisheries option prepares students to perform field sampling as well as habitat restoration work.

All students must complete an internship of at least 400 hours to complete the degree.  Second year: Student may remain in the main program which is forestry based, or they may select one of the two options for an AAS degree which requires a total of 105 credits.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify selected forest trees, shrubs, and forbs native to the Pacific Northwest.
• Use various instruments to measure the height, diameter and age of trees and apply this data to volume, site and growth determinations.
• Identify species and habitat needs of common northwest freshwater fish, birds and wildlife.
• Operate hand compasses, level, global positioning systems, and electronic instruments in determining slopes, turning angles, running traverses, locating ownership boundaries, and determining locations.
• Utilize maps and aerial photographs in the management of natural resources, including through the use of geographic information systems.
• Recognize common diseases and insect pests of forest trees and assess their damage.
• Use the computer as a tool for solving natural resources problems.
• Apply field techniques to sample, measure, and monitor wildlife, birds and fish species and their habitat.
• Demonstrate human relationship skills and professional behavior needed for successful job performance.
• Parks maintenance and equipment.
• Recognize and apply the various silvicultural systems and techniques used in ecosystem management.
• Understand concepts of ecology, conservation and management for fish and wildlife species and their habitats.
• Understand concepts involved in soil science including soil management, conservation, and use of soils in forestry and agriculture.
• Maintain and safely operate a chainsaw.
• Write technical reports and give presentations.

The associate in applied science degree in Natural Resource Management prepares students to work in the forestry area. This program is accredited by the Society of American Foresters. Two additional options are available: Parks and Recreation or Wildlife Fisheries. The Parks and Recreation option prepares students for park maintenance and/or interpretive positions.  The Wildlife/Fisheries option prepares students to perform field sampling as well as habitat restoration work.

All students must complete an internship of at least 400 hours to complete the degree.  Second year: Student may remain in the main program which is forestry based, or they may select one of the two options for an AAS degree which requires a total of 105 credits.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify selected forest trees, shrubs, and forbs native to the Pacific Northwest.
• Use various instruments to measure the height, diameter and age of trees and apply this data to volume, site and growth determinations.
• Identify species and habitat needs of common northwest freshwater fish, birds and wildlife.
• Operate hand compasses, level, global positioning systems, and electronic instruments in determining slopes, turning angles, running traverses, locating ownership boundaries, and determining locations.
• Utilize maps and aerial photographs in the management of natural resources, including through the use of geographic information systems.
• Recognize common diseases and insect pests of forest trees and assess their damage.
• Use the computer as a tool for solving natural resources problems.
• Apply field techniques to sample, measure, and monitor wildlife, birds and fish species and their habitat.
• Demonstrate human relationship skills and professional behavior needed for successful job performance.
• Parks maintenance and equipment.
• Recognize and apply the various silvicultural systems and techniques used in ecosystem management.
• Understand concepts of ecology, conservation and management for fish and wildlife species and their habitats.
• Understand concepts involved in soil science including soil management, conservation, and use of soils in forestry and agriculture.
• Maintain and safely operate a chainsaw.
• Write technical reports and give presentations.

This program prepares individuals for employment in medical offices. Spokane is a major regional center for medical care offering many opportunities for employment. Positions are available in medical clinics, medical insurance companies private physician’s offices, and many other healthcare settings.

Students completing the Medical Office Specialist degree also earn the medical Clerical Certificate and the Medical Reception Certificate, which are embedded in the degree.

Completion of two courses (MSEC 120 and MSEC 121) within the Medical Office Specialist degree allow students to earn and apply for the Peace Studies Certificate at SCC.

Learning Outcomes

• Receive patients and visitors.
• Appropriately manage telephone and electronic communications.
• Schedule appointments and procedures including office, diagnostic, and surgical procedures.
• Apply legal and ethical standards.
• Develop keyboarding skills and use of computer applications.
• Create and maintain patient records.
• File, rebill, and troubleshoot insurance claims for the medical office to include government, PPO, and HMO insurance.
• Code using CPT and ICD-10-CM coding systems.
• Perform typical medical office financial activities using applicable software.
• Correlate knowledge of general anatomy and medical terminology to perform administrative medical assistant duties, as above.

As a paraprofessional in the accounting field, the accounting assistant analyzes and interprets the essential information about the operations of a business and contributes vitally to important policies and decisions.

An accounting assistant should have an above-average aptitude for working with numbers and the ability to concentrate and communicate. Accounting affords a continuing challenge to creative, alert minds.

In addition to earning and AAS at the completion of the six-quarter program, students will earn an Accounting Clerk Certificate after completing the first three-quarters of the AAS degree, and an Accounting Assistant AAS after completing the full six quarters of the program. All students graduating from this program must have a minimum grade of 2.0 in each of the accounting, business, economics, and management courses. Students must also have a 2.0 cumulative minimum grade point average in all required courses in this program.

This degree is non-transferable to a four-year university. Students working toward the associate in arts degree for transfer to a four-year institution should consult individually with an advisor or counselor for planning the Business DTA or AA degree program. For information on Business DTA and AA degree requirements, refer to the Degree and Certificate Requirements section of the CCS catalog. More information on specific transfer programs can be found in the Academic Programs section of the CCS catalog.

Learning Outcomes

• Analyze financial data and prepare statistical comparisons for use in the budgeting process.
• Assist in determination of inventory order quantities, cash requirements, capital investment decisions, and break-even analysis.
• Use various types of office machines.
• Post and/or supervise the posting of accounts receivable and payable.
• Help maintain data processing applications of routine accounting systems.
• Have a basic comprehension of business operations, a knowledge of business vocabulary, and an understanding of economic systems.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly or annual business and payroll tax reports.
• Process payroll related transactions.

The objective of this program is to permit the student maximum flexibility in designing a two-year program of study in business. The student may specialize in a particular area of business such as marketing, management, project management or entrepreneurship; or select courses that provide a general exposure to several areas of business.

The AAS in Business curriculum serves the student by offering modalities for most every course within the degree path for student convenience.

All students graduating from this program must have a minimum grade of 2.0 on each of the Management, Accounting, Economics, and Business required courses. Students must also have a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average on all required courses in the program.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand the nature of operations, ownership, marketing, business environmental factors, ethics, human resources, finances, regulations, research methodology, and decision-making processes of business.
• Understand realistic mathematical problems relating to the various segments of today's business world.
• Use desk-top calculators efficiently and demonstrate computer user skills including Internet applications.
• Understand the theory of occupation behavior, the basis of human motivation, cultural diversity, organizational structure, and the leader/manager's role in developing a sound behavioral climate in the business organization.
• Communicate effectively--verbal and written--in order to function in the world of work.
• Emphasize skills in one or more areas of business as well as possess "generalist" skills.
• Participate in a supervised volunteer community service experience.
• Understand international business concepts.

The Arboriculture program provides a study of ornamental trees; from selection and installation to irrigation, fertilization, pruning and care. Students learn how to identify, assess, diagnose and treat tree problems, as well as learn how to use the advanced arboriculture equipment and techniques. At the successful completion of the second year, passing all required coursework, the student will receive the associate in applied sciences degree.

The following is a typical student schedule. Individual student schedules may differ slightly depending on course availability. Courses may only be offered in the quarter indicated.  Outlined curriculum assumes students begin the program fall quarter and continue winter and spring quarters, with summer quarter off.  It is recommended that students work closely with the program advisor when planning classes.

Learning Outcomes
 Apply planting and maintenance practices to lawns, trees and shrubs during the course of a year.

• Apply concepts of landscape design, construction, and installation of residential and small commercial projects.
• Understand and apply the concepts of residential irrigation.
• Diagnose causes of plant problems (i.e. insect, disease, and abiotic problems) and suggest appropriate remedies.
• Understand and apply the principles of weed science to landscape weed management.
• Understand and apply the principles of business management and human relations to agribusiness management.

Basic and advanced procedures in food preparation are included in the two-year Culinary Arts program. A detailed study is made of the various cooking methods for meats, fish, poultry, vegetables, soups and sauces. Menu terminology and cooking terms are defined and illustrated. Students are given the opportunity to study management factors affecting food cost control, specifications and standards for foods, sanitation, kitchen planning, kitchen equipment, and personnel policies.

Learning Outcomes

• Prepare and serve food in a first class restaurant environment.
• Develop menus listing menu items for a food service operation.
• Practice safe and sanitary work habits in a first class restaurant establishment.
• Produce menu items accurately from standardized recipes.
• Order, purchase and store foods in a commercial kitchen facility.
• Inventory food products.
• Operate commercial kitchen machinery in a safe manner.
• Calculate the costs of a standardized recipe.
• Prepare fine desserts for a first class restaurant.
• Hire and supervise kitchen employees.

The Pharmacy Technician program trains students in all phases of the pharmacy field: drug products, calculations, dosages, dispensing techniques, inventory management, and Washington pharmacy law. Graduates will be prepared to work in both community and hospital pharmacy settings.

Each required course for graduation must be completed with a 2.0 grade or better before proceeding to the next quarter and must be maintained in all classes. The student may enroll in liberal arts either preceding or following the professional curriculum. For an associate in applied science degree, the student must complete 25 credit hours of required courses and 7 hours of department approved electives numbered 100 or above in addition to the one-year professional curriculum.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate accountability as a health care professional.
• Communicate effectively in a professional manner with members of the healthcare team.
• Able to solve math-oriented problems posed to the technician by a pharmacist.
• Practice principles of implementing physician orders in a pharmacy setting.
• Demonstrate standards of aseptic technique and safety in a pharmacy setting.
• Demonstrate knowledge of legal requirements involved in a pharmacy operation.
• Identify appropriate information regarding standard dosing, generic versus trade name and other drug information.
• Understand the role of the technician – the pharmacist/patient/tech interaction; i.e. confidentiality.

The Water Science program is designed to prepare students for employment in water resources, including water and wastewater operations, hydrology, and water quality for local, state and federal agencies, and private industry.

Learning Outcomes

• Install, operate and maintain instruments used in stream gaging and discharge measurement.
• Collect samples, complete field surveys, analyze, and report water quality parameters in the field and laboratory using standard chemical, biological, physical, and field survey techniques commonly utilized in water resource studies.
• Collect, recognize and identify aquatic organisms from invertebrate insects to fish species, relating what is found to the habitat and aquatic ecosystem conditions.
• Install, operate, and maintain instruments used in collecting hydro-meteorological measurements.
• Set up monitoring plans and schedules to collect, measure, analyze and report ground water levels and water quality parameters.
• Be familiar with restoration practices used to improve fish habitat and water quality, including techniques to stabilize slopes, recover degraded lakes and stream courses.
• Utilize, interpret and analyze maps and aerial photographs in the characterization and management of water resources, including through the use of geographic information systems (GIS).
• Operate a hand compass, level, global positioning systems (GPS) and electronic instruments in determining slopes, running traverses, locating ownership boundaries, and determining locations.
• Work safely in a variety of adverse conditions and environments, including obtaining 40-hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) certification according to the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.120.
• Have knowledge and understanding of Federal and State laws that pertain to water and the aquatic environment including a good working knowledge of water rights laws.
• Use the computer as a tool for solving water resources problems.
• Record, report, analyze and store data gathered according to established protocol.
• Write technical reports and give presentations.
• Demonstrate human relationship skills and professional behavior needed for successful job performance.

The software development program trains students in current web and desktop application development using diverse industry technologies. Software development is an evolving field of study requiring continuing education and the ability to adapt to constant change. Graduates from this program acquire problem solving skills, are encouraged to work independently and as a team, and be ethical in all interactions.

Learning Outcomes

• Learn programming concepts and techniques that enable students to be a lifetime learner as technology evolves.
• Understand and implement cost effective and efficient web sites.
• Understand how to properly create, store, and retrieve data from a normalized database.
• Solve problems while developing software or web sites.
• Communicate with clients while developing software or web sites.
• Demonstrate responsibility for meeting deadlines and addressing client needs.
• Understand how technology relates and impacts society.
• Design, develop, deploy and maintain software and web development projects specified by a client.
• Demonstrate professionalism and flexibility.
• Develop research skills and techniques.