Medical Coding - Major #4627

Certificate of Achievement Program Map
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The program map below represents an efficient and effective course taking sequence for this program. Individual circumstances might require some changes to this path. It is always recommended that you meet with your pathway counselor to develop a personalized educational plan.


The medical coding certificate program prepares students for a position as a coder in a hospital, physician office, clinic, long-term care facility, and other healthcare settings. Coders review patient health information, analyze and extract data, and ensure appropriate codes are assigned for internal and external data reporting, billing, research, and regulatory compliance. Students must earn a grade of "C" or higher in all major courses.

Notes: 1. Biology 20 and 22, Biology 21A and 21B, Biology 5 or Biology 55, may be substituted for Health 5. 2. Students are recommended to meet with a Health & STEM Pathway Counselor to develop a Student Education Plan (SEP). This major has several prerequisite courses that must be taken in a specific order. Certain courses are only offered once a year.


Upon completion of the program, students will:
  1. 1. Evaluate the content of patient health records and assign diagnostic and procedure codes following regulatory guidelines.
  2. 2. Integrate technology and applications within the scope of practice for a medical coding professional for HIM functions such as electronic health record, encoding, abstracting, billing, and revenue management.
Effective Term: 2023 Fall Semester

Term 1

12 units

HIT 1
Introduction to Health Information Management

3 units
Effective Term: 2024 Spring Semester
This course is an introduction to Health Information Technology. Topics include health care delivery systems, hospital organization, the medical record, the processes of health information management, accreditation, licensure, and regulatory requirements. The professional application is to comprehend the role of the health information management professional. (A, CSU)
Course Details:
  1. Advisory: CIT 15
  2. Advisory: ENGL 1A
    1. CSU Transfer Course

      HIT 10
      Medical Terminology

      3 units
      Effective Term: 2024 Spring Semester
      This course will cover medical vocabulary with a concentration on prefixes, suffixes, and word roots. Word dissection and definitions will be highlighted as applied to the body system, including the terminology used in examinations, diagnoses, and procedures. (A, CSU)
      Course Details:
      1. Advisory: ENGL 1A
        1. CSU Transfer Course

          HLTH 5
          Structures and Function

          3 units
          Effective Term: 2023 Fall Semester
          This introductory course covers principles, concepts, structures and functions associated with the body. This course will cover functional body anatomy and physiology as it relates to movement. (A, CSU, UC)
          Course Details:
              1. CSU Transfer Course
              1. E2 - Lifetime Skills

              MA 2
              Pharmacology

              3 units
              Effective Term: 2024 Spring Semester
              This course is designed to analyze pharmacology as it relates to the clinical medical assistant profession and patient care. The topics of study include a detailed explanation of topics essential to understanding drug sources, legislation relating to drugs, drug reference and classification, and drug actions and administration. The clinical application is to master mathematical concepts needed to calculate a patient's medication dosage correctly. (A, CSU)
              Course Details:
              1. Advisory: HIT 10
                1. CSU Transfer Course

                  Term 2

                  9 units

                  HIT 4
                  Disease Process

                  3 units
                  Effective Term: 2024 Spring Semester
                  This course covers general principles of pathophysiology. Topics include systematic study of symptoms, signs, etiology, course, complications, prognosis and prevention of human diseases. (A, CSU)
                  Course Details:
                  1. Prerequisite: HIT 10
                  2. Prerequisite: HLTH 5
                  3. Advisory: ENGL 1A
                    1. CSU Transfer Course

                      HIT 5
                      ICD Coding: Diagnoses

                      3 units
                      Effective Term: 2024 Spring Semester
                      This course will cover medical coding of diagnoses using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Topics will include an overview of nomenclatures and classification systems with subtopics of coding rules, principles, and guidelines. State and federal regulations impacting coding will be covered along with an introduction to coding software applications. (A, CSU)
                      Course Details:
                      1. Prerequisite: HIT 1
                      2. Prerequisite: HIT 10
                      3. Corequisite: HIT 4
                      4. Advisory: ENGL 1A
                        1. CSU Transfer Course

                          HIT 11
                          CPT Coding

                          3 units
                          Effective Term: 2024 Spring Semester
                          This course covers Common Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding; Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS), and Ambulatory Payment Classifications (APCs) with emphasis on application of coding conventions and guidelines. Students will take an applied approach to billing processes and reimbursement issues and use of manual and electronic coding systems. (A, CSU)
                          Course Details:
                          1. Prerequisite: HIT 1
                          2. Prerequisite: HIT 10
                          3. Advisory: ENGL 1A
                            1. CSU Transfer Course

                              Term 3

                              4 units

                              HIT 6
                              ICD Coding: Procedures

                              3 units
                              Effective Term: 2024 Spring Semester
                              This course will review medical coding of procedures using the International Classification of Diseases - Procedure Coding System. Topics will include coding rules, principles, guidelines, and regulations impacting coding. (A, CSU)
                              Course Details:
                              1. Corequisite: HIT 5
                              2. Advisory: ENGL 1A
                                1. CSU Transfer Course

                                  HIT 15
                                  Medical Coding Directed Practice

                                  1 unit
                                  Effective Term: 2024 Spring Semester
                                  This course will include supervised practice of diagnostic and procedure coding where students demonstrate their knowledge of regulatory compliance, revenue cycle, and reimbursement methodologies. Students will practice with AHIMA Virtual Lab encoding and revenue cycle applications. (A, CSU)
                                  Course Details:
                                  1. Prerequisite: HIT 5
                                  2. Advisory: ENGL 1A
                                    1. CSU Transfer Course
                                      Total: 25 units