• This program is offered online.

  • Associate of Applied Science in Medical Transcription

    As a medical transcriptionist, you'll be responsible for turning doctors' daily dictation tapes into clear, concise print and electronic documents. Such records are the main reference for health care decisions made by patients and their physicians. They must be produced in a timely, accurate, and confidential manner. Employment of medical transcriptionists is expected to grow 6 percent from 2010 to 2020 as health care and insurance providers transition to electronic documentation systems that allow more efficient access to patient records.* Now is the time to prepare for your future as a medical transcriptionist.

    Associate of Applied Science in Medical Transcription Program Highlights

    The Associate of Applied Science in Medical Transcription is designed to help you achieve the specialized skills and knowledge you need to become a certified professional online. In addition to helping you develop self-discipline and ethical standards, the curriculum focuses on:

    • Developing typing accuracy, speed and competency with the software applications most commonly used in medical transcription
    • Strong communications skills, including writing, editing, proofreading, and preparing office correspondence
    • Transcribing health care dictation for use in patient records and other documentation
    • Understanding medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and pharmacology

    Gain Real-World Experience

    Prior to graduation, you will be required to complete a practicum experience.† You will experience life as a medical transcriptionist working from home and dealing with a variety of specialties, accents, and turnaround times.

    Prepare for Certification

    Certification is often a requirement for employment as a medical transcriptionist. When you graduate from this program and meet the requirements of the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity, you may sit for the Registered Medical Transcriptionist examination.‡ 

    The Associate of Applied Science in Medical Transcription program is approved by the Approval Committee for Certificate Programs (ACCP), a joint committee established by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI). AHDI can be contacted at:

    4230 Kiernan Avenue, Suite 130
    Modesto, CA 95356-9322
    Tel: 209.527.9620 

    What are the Career Opportunities?

    Medical transcriptionists enjoy exposure to many different medical disciplines. They work in hospitals, physicians' offices, and a broad range of other medical facilities. Work is frequently outsourced to independent contractors who operate their businesses from home.

  • Kaplan University offers multiple start dates, giving you greater flexibility with your education, life, and work schedules.

    Jun 05

    Online Start Date
    Jun 05, 2013

    Jul 03

    Online and Hagerstown Start Date
    Jul 03, 2013

    View the Academic Calendar

  • Curriculum: All Tracks

    Core

    100/200 LEVEL: COMMUNICATION COURSE (5  Credits)

    Total Core Credits: 15
    Total Program Credits: 90

    100/200 LEVEL: MATHEMATICS COURSE (5 Credits)

    Total Core Credits: 15
    Total Program Credits: 90

    200 LEVEL: COMMUNICATION COURSE (5 Credits)

    Total Core Credits: 15
    Total Program Credits: 90

    Major

    HS 100: INTRODUCTION TO HEALTH SCIENCE (5 Credits)

    In this required introductory course, students will identify current issues in health science and how they relate to chosen health science professions. Educational and credentialing requirements will be defined for health science occupations. Students will create a personal education plan, choosing appropriate electives and identifying specific career optionsbased on personal goals and research of the profession. Professional traits and skills for success in the field will be explored as well as discussion of roles and responsibilities of selected health professionals.

    Total Major Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 90

    HS 101: MEDICAL LAW AND BIOETHICS (5 Credits)

    This course emphasizes the basic principles and applications of law, ethics, and bioethics as they relate to the medical arena. It covers legal terms, consent, contracts, physician/patient relationships, professional liability, and various medical issues. Through lectures, class discussions, case studies, and library research, students acquire knowledge of the importance of their professional, legal, and ethical responsibilities.

    Total Major Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 90

    HS 111: MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY (5 Credits)

    This course provides a logical understanding of the language of medicine. Basic prefixes, suffixes, word roots, and rules for taking a singular term and making it plural are studied, along with word analysis, word building, spelling, and pronunciation. These principles are applied to study the following systems: integumentary, skeletal, muscle/joints, blood and lymphatic, nervous, respiratory, and cardiovascular. Each body system is reviewed with anatomy and physiology; diagnostic, lab, and surgical procedures; as well as pharmacology for interest and knowledge.

    Total Major Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 90

    HS 115: SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS (3 Credits)

    This course introduces and provides basic practice in the three most commonly used applications in health care: word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation. Emphasis is placed on the utilization of these programs in a health care environment and by health care professionals.

    Total Major Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 90

    HS 120: ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (5 Credits)

    This course is an integrated study of the human body. The focus is on understanding the interrelated nature of the systems of the body. This includes the concept of homeostasis as well as the relationship between structure and function. This course encompasses the anatomy of selected systems as well as the physiology and terminology as applied to the body. The course presents the chemical basis of life and provides a basic understanding of cells, cellular metabolism, and tissue composition and functions. The course also includes the study of the structures and functions of the following systems: integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, and senses.

    Total Major Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 90

    HS 130: ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II (5 Credits)

    This course is the continuation of integrated study of the human body. This course encompasses the anatomy of selected systems as well as the physiology and terminology as applied to the body. The course also includes the study of the structures and functions of the following systems: circulatory, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive.

    Prerequisites Required:

    HS 120

    Total Major Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 90

    HS 200: DISEASES OF THE HUMAN BODY (5 Credits)

    Studies include the most common diseases of bodily systems, including disease etiology, symptoms, diagnostic tests, therapeutic methods, and disease prognosis. Students also study alternative treatments and pain management.

    Prerequisites Required: HS 130 or PU 120

    Total Major Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 90

    MR 105: KEYBOARDING I-FUNDAMENTALS (2 Credits)

    This course is an introduction to the study of keyboarding and language arts activities. The students learn hand position and typing acuity, including building straight-copy skills and number-typing skills, as well as document processing skills and language arts skills. The course concentrates on principles of learning, especially those related to the acquisition of psychomotor skills, and typing speed and acuity.

    Prerequisites Required:

    HS 111

    Total Major Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 90

    MR 110: KEYBOARDING II-ADVANCED TECHNIQUES (3 Credits)

    This keyboarding course emphasizes advanced formatting features used in business and medical documents, as well as speed and accuracy development. Advanced keyboarding skills are critical for medical transcriptionists and valuable for other medical professionals. These skills are especially important when learning to type by touch, as they directly determine speed and accuracy.

    Prerequisites Required:

    Total Major Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 90

    MR 160: PHARMACOLOGY AND LABORATORY MEDICINE (5 Credits)

    This course focuses on the broad field of pharmacology. Students study drug classes with an emphasis on the most commonly prescribed drugs including their indication, mechanism of action, and doses. Methods and routes of administration are explored. The course also covers diagnostic tests and laboratory procedures for common diseases. The identification of normal laboratory values and how to select and interpret an appropriate reference source are also included.

    Prerequisites Required: 100/200-level mathematics course and HS 200

    Total Major Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 90

    MR 250: MEDICAL RECORDS TRANSCRIPTION I (5 Credits)

    Medical Records Transcription I offers students the opportunity to begin transcribing basic health care documents from dictation and integrates the application of English language skills, medical terminology, proofreading, editing, research, and technology. Accuracy rates and productivity standards consistent with beginning transcription will be adhered to in this course.

    Prerequisites Required:

    HS 111 and HS 200

    Total Major Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 90

    MR 260: MEDICAL RECORDS TRANSCRIPTION II (5 Credits)

    Medical Records Transcription II builds on students' previous mastery of basic health care dictation by advancing the knowledge base to the intermediate skill level of dictation, proofreading, and editing. Utilizing resource materials and industry-specific software and equipment, students will meet increasingly demanding accuracy and productivity standards.

    Prerequisites Required:

    MR  250

    Total Major Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 90

    MR 270: MEDICAL RECORDS TRANSCRIPTION III (5 Credits)

    This course builds on students' mastery of intermediate health care dictation. Using industry-specific software and equipment, students progress in their knowledge of proper format, grammar, and punctuation as well as refine proofreading and editing skills. Students transcribe a variety of advanced difficulty specialty reports by health care providers with and without accents, and increase their familiarity with industry reference materials. Students implement realistic productivity and accuracy standards via a multistep approach of quality control, turn-around time, and records management.

    Prerequisites Required:

    MR  260

    Total Major Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 90

    MR 275: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONISTS (2 Credits)

    This course encompasses the development of professional skills in the medical transcription work environment. Topics include ethics as they relate to medical transcription, components of increased job performance, credentialing, career opportunities, and continuing education.

    Total Major Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 90

    MR 290: MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION PRACTICUM (5 Credits)

    This course provides students with a simulated practicum experience to prepare for work in the field of medical transcription. Students will experience life as a medical transcriptionist working from home and dealing with a variety of specialties, accents, and turnaround times.

    Prerequisites Required: MR 270; final term of study

    Total Major Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 90

    Open Elective

    OPEN ELECTIVES (10 Credits)

    Total Open Elective Credits: 10
    Total Program Credits: 90

    Tuition & Fees: All Tracks

    The 25% tuition reduction applies only to international students living outside of the United States. This discount does not apply to military students. Please check with your advisor to see if you are eligible. 

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    Tuition and Fees

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    Notice to Learning Center Students

    Kaplan University Learning Center students will only complete a portion of this program on site. You will need to complete at least 50% of the program requirements online, or through transfer credit awarded via prior learning assessment. If you have any questions about these requirements, please speak with an admissions advisor.

    Scholarships and Grants

    Learn more about grants and Kaplan University Scholarships and that may help reduce the cost of your education.

    Kaplan University tuition reductions (including active-duty, spouse, and veterans military tuition rates; scholarships; grants; vouchers; and alumni and alliance reductions) cannot be combined. 

    Tuition Rates for Military Students and Spouses

    Kaplan University has significantly reduced many of our tuition rates and fees for active-duty servicemembers, their spouses, and veterans. Click here for more information.
     

  • Some states have additional curricular requirements. Check the University Catalog or speak with an Admissions Advisor.

  • * Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010–2011 Edition, Medical Transcriptionists, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-transcriptionists.htm (accessed April 2012). Expected national growth rate through the year 2020. National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, and do not guarantee actual job growth.

    † Some Kaplan University programs are not 100 percent online; some programs require you to gain hands-on experience in a real-world work environment.

    ‡ Although certain programs at Kaplan University are designed to prepare students to take various certification or licensing exams, the University cannot guarantee the student will pass those exams. In some cases, field experience, additional coursework, and/or background checks may be necessary to take or to successfully pass the exams.

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