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.

Course Substitutions:

  1. Biology 20 or Biology 21A may be substituted for Biology 5, Biology 55, or Health 5.

Increased Student Success:

  1.  Students are recommended to meet with a Health & STEM Pathway Counselor to develop a Student Education Plan (SEP).
  2. 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: 2024 Fall Semester

Term 1

12-13 units

AHLTH 12
Pharmacology

3 units
Effective Term: 2024 Fall Semester
This course is designed to analyze pharmacology as it relates to the healthcare profession and patient care. The topics of study include 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

      HIT 1
      Introduction to Health Information Management

      3 units
      Effective Term: 2025 Fall 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)

      HIT 10
      Medical Terminology

      3 units
      Effective Term: 2025 Fall 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)

      AHLTH 5, BIOL 5, or BIOL 55

      3-4 units

      Select one of the following:

      BIOL 5
      Human Biology

      4 units
      Effective Term: 2025 Fall Semester
      An overview of the cellular, molecular, genetic, and systems basis of life with an emphasis on the human body. For allied health majors. Fulfills prerequisites for Biology 20, 21A, and 31. (A, CSU, UC, Cal-GETC)
      Course Details:
      1. Advisory: ENGL C1000
      2. Advisory: MATH 201
      1. B: Biological Science
      2. C: Science Laboratory
      1. B2 - Life Science
      2. B3 - Laboratory Activity
      3. CSU Transfer Course
      1. A: Natural Sciences

      BIOL 55
      Introduction to the Biology of Humans

      3 units
      Effective Term: 2025 Fall Semester
      An introductory human biology class without a laboratory. Designed for students planning to enter medical coding or HIT programs. Not an acceptable prerequisite for Biology 20 or Biology 21A. (A, CSU, UC, Cal-GETC)
      Course Details:
      1. Advisory: ENGL C1000
      1. B: Biological Science
      1. B2 - Life Science
      2. CSU Transfer Course
      1. A: Natural Sciences

      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

          Term 2

          9 units

          HIT 4
          Disease Process

          3 units
          Effective Term: 2025 Fall 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)

          HIT 5
          ICD Coding: Diagnoses

          3 units
          Effective Term: 2025 Fall 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)

          HIT 11
          CPT Coding

          3 units
          Effective Term: 2025 Fall 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)

          Term 3

          6 units

          HIT 6
          ICD Coding: Procedures

          3 units
          Effective Term: 2025 Fall 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)

          HIT 15
          Medical Coding Directed Practice

          1 unit
          Effective Term: 2025 Fall 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)

          HIT 16
          Healthcare Reimbursement

          2 units
          Effective Term: 2025 Fall Semester
          This course will explore the functions and history of healthcare payment systems, including insurance plans, government healthcare programs, and managed care. Topics covered will be fraud and abuse compliance, along with revenue cycle management. (A, CSU)
          Total: 27-28 units