This course is credit eligible through Doane University's Open Learning Academy. The Open Learning Academy's 3-4 credit hour courses are designed to provide learners with foundational coursework for undergraduate level programs. It is strongly encouraged that you consult with your institution of choice to determine how these credits will be applied to their degree requirements prior to transferring the credit. Medicine has a very distinct and highly specialized language. It is necessary for any student wishing to pursue a successful career in the medical field to acquire comprehension in this system of communication, including Allied Healthcare professionals. Learners will receive thorough instruction in developing fluency with medical terms. Medical vocabulary will be taught with specific emphasis on root (or stem words), prefixes, suffixes and abbreviations. By the end of this course learners will be expected to have a basic comprehension of medical terms and be able to communicate accurately to their peers in the field. Terms associated with anatomy, physiology, pathology and diagnostic tests of different systems are discussed but no previous knowledge of these topics is necessary.