Students will learn medical terminology relevant to clinical healthcare settings and the practice of child life in hospitals. Students will learn parts of words (roots; combining forms; suffixes; prefixes) to prepare for terminology in subspecialties of pediatric healthcare and will practice using developmentally appropriate language for children of different ages.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students: Graduate students will complete additional assignments relevant to child life practice. Some examples of assignments that graduate students may complete are: 1) demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of medical terminology by participating in a diagnosis education simulation; 2) create a developmentally appropriate teaching tool to incorporate into their diagnosis education simulation; or 3) write a research paper on how child life interventions (e.g., procedural preparation or diagnosis education) can promote health literacy.
Athena Title
Medical Terminology for Health
Non-Traditional Format
This course will be taught 95% or more online.
Undergraduate Prerequisite
HDFS 2200 or HDFS 2200E or HDFS 2200H or HDFS 2950 or HDFS 2950E
Graduate Prerequisite
Permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered summer semester every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will demonstrate mastery of common medical terms (including diseases, treatments, and medical equipment) in pediatric healthcare.
By the end of this course, students will define common medical terms in specific specialty areas of pediatric healthcare.
By the end of this course, students will define common medical procedures used in pediatric healthcare.
By the end of this course, students will explain medical terminology and medical procedures to children and adolescents of different ages using developmentally appropriate language.
Topical Outline
I. Introduction to medical terminology
II. Medical terminology for specific body systems
a. The human body
b. The skeletal system
c. The muscular system
d. The cardiovascular system
e. The lymphatic and immune systems
f. The respiratory system
g. The digestive and urinary systems
h. The nervous system
i. The eyes, ears, and skin
j. The endocrine system
k. The reproductive system
III. Medical terminology related to specific hospital units, procedures, and equipment
a. Radiology unit
b. Emergency unit
c. Cardiology unit
d. Hematology/oncology unit
e. Transplant unit
f. Neurology unit
g. General pediatrics unit
h. Endocrine unit
i. Intensive care unit
IV. Final case study and learning activity projects
