Overview

This is an introduction course into the language of medicine.

In this course, students will learn the basic parts of common medical terms and how to put them together to form words. Students will memorize many combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes, which are used to build common medical terms. Students will practice these word-building skills using reading review activities during each week. The readings from I-Learn and the textbook will also help students practice these skills. The textbook readings, along with the end-of-chapter activities, will help students learn how to use the words in context and communicate with other medical professionals.

Requirements

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Required Resources

Resource Title and Description (books, software, etc.)	Author or Provider	Edition or Volume	13-Digit ISBN (if applicable)
The following textbook is required to complete your assignments for this course. It is available for free online through the BYU-Idaho library at this link: Medical Terminology Systems: A Body Systems Approach A digital version is also available for purchase.	Barbara A. Gylys and Mary Ellen Wedding	8th	978-0-8036-5867-7

Students who want a physical copy of the book can compare prices for your textbooks through the University Store Price Comparison site. They show all of the options from the University Store, plus several online options to help students find the best price. See the link above to price comparison tool for the current price.

Proctored Exams and Assessments

This course will use an online proctoring software called Proctorio. This makes it possible for students to take assessments and exams without a human proctor present. Proctored exams can be accessed like any other exam, once the software has been installed. Exams will be recorded by Proctorio and reviewed by the BYUI Testing Center. Any questionable exams will be forwarded to the instructor for further review.

For step-by-step instructions on Proctorio installation, please refer to the Student Help: Proctorio in Canvas help page.

Structure

Course Outcomes (CO)

In this course, students will learn to do the following:

1. Identify the four word elements used to build medical terms.
2. Divide medical terms into their component parts.
3. Apply the basic rules to define and build medical terms.
4. For each system, pronounce, spell, and build medical terms.
5. For each system, describe pathological conditions, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and other terms related to the system.

Major Assignments

The table below is meant to help students see the relevance of each major assignment as it pertains to the course outcomes (CO).

Major Assignment	Description	CO#
Exams	Comprehensive tests	1, 2, 4
Clinical Context	Authentic connections	3
Helpful Hints Discussion Posts	Teaching One Another	3
Gospel Insight Posts	Teaching One Another	5
Reading Review Quizzes	Application of learned principles	1, 2, 3, 5
Chapter Quizzes	Application of learned principles

Weekly Patterns

The table below displays typical weekly activities, due dates, and activity descriptions. 

Due Date	Learning Model	Activity Title	Description
Midweek	Prepare	Reading	Reading and studying medical terms related to specific body systems
Midweek and End of Week	Teach One Another	Discussion	Connecting the medical terminology with the gospel
Midweek	Teach One Another	Helpful Hints Post	Teaching medical terms to one another
Midweek	Prove	Reading Review	Checking understanding of the content in the reading material
End of Week	Prove	Clinical Context	Applying medical terminology with real-world scenarios
End of Week	Prove	Quiz	Checking memorizing skills of different medical terms

NOTE: Set your time zone within user preferences so the dates and times for course activities will display correctly for your time zone.

Late Work Policy

Life is full of challenges, ranging from a rough day or computer trouble to urgent emergencies. Students will be allowed to turn in assignments late during the semester up through Week 12, but there will be a 15% reduction in grade for every day the assignment is late up to 7 days. Full credit may be given to assignments that are submitted late due to unexpected emergencies or for extenuating circumstances and students will need to inform their instructor of these incidents as soon as possible.  Discretion in allowing full credit will be up to the instructor in this case.  Late assignments must be turned in within seven days of the due date. All assignments during Week 13 must be completed on time. The Mid Term Exam and the Final must be completed on time.  Late submissions for these exams will not be allowed. No extra credit is available. 

Suggested Materials and Resources

Students will need to learn to use resources to look up information about words during this course. Students will need to look up words to verify that they are building real words and to check meanings. There are many online dictionaries and resources which students can use. Many of them are listed below. Students can also do an internet search for a word. Students can get the information they need from the online sources. If students want a physical copy of a dictionary, Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary is an often-used source. It is also available for purchase in a digital format. The University Bookstore can help with sources and price comparison to purchase the dictionary. See the link above listed with the required textbook.

• Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, 23rd Edition.
• ISBN-13: 978-0-8036-5904-9.
• The 22nd edition will be equally helpful. Students do not need the current edition.
• Taber's Dictionary Online.
• Medline Plus Encyclopedia.
• Dictionary.com.
• Scribd: Merriam-Webster's A Dictionary of Prefixes, Suffixes, and Combining Forms.
• Medical Dictionary.
• Macroevolution—Suffix Prefix Dictionary.
• PrefixSuffix.com.
• Online Etymology Dictionary.

Online Practice Resources

Many students find online practice tools helpful as they memorize terms. Here are some which past students have found useful. Students are encouraged to share other sources they find useful on the Helpful Hints Discussion Board and look there for sources that other students are using.

• Quizlet.
• ANKI.
• Study Blue.

Grading

Grading Scale

Letter Grade	Percentage Range
A	100–93
A-	92–90
B+	89–87
B	86–83
B-	82–80
C+	79–77
C	76–73
C-	72–70
D+	69–67
D	66–63
D-	62–60
F	>60

University Policies

Students with Disabilities

Brigham Young University-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. Students who have a disability and require accommodations should contact the Disability Services Office at 208-496-9210 or visit their website and follow the Steps for Receiving Accommodations. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with students and instructors by the Disability Services Office.

This course may require synchronous meetings. Students who are currently registered with the Disability Services Office and need an interpreter or transcriber for these meetings should contact the deaf and hard of hearing coordinator at 208-496-9219.

Other University Policies

Student Honor and Other Policies

Please read through the document called University Policies. It gives important information about the following topics:

• Student Honor.
  • Academic Honesty.
  • Student Conduct.
    • Sexual Harassment.
• Student with Disabilities.
• Complaints and Grievances.
• Copyright Notice.

Go to the Student Resources module to review further resources and information.