Medical Coding Specialist

Program Overview

Degree Type: Certificate

The Health Information Technology Program of Southern University offers a Certificate of Applied Science as a Medical Coding Specialist which prepares students for an entry level position as a coder in an acute care hospital, ambulatory care, physician offices, and other health care settings. Dedicated to quality education and the advancement of best practices, the program promotes the development of technical competencies, critical-thinking, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills in a fostering learning environment.

Medical Coding Specialists serve the healthcare industry through the practice of coding, classifying, and indexing diagnoses and procedures for reimbursement purposes, standardization, retrieval, and statistical analysis. If your interests are directed at learning the skills required to review patients' records and assign alphanumeric codes for diagnoses and procedures utilizing the ICD and CPT coding systems then the Medical Coding Specialist is an excellent career choice. Medical Coding Specialists are employed in both traditional and non-traditional healthcare settings.

Program Mission & Vision

Dedicated to quality education in a fostering learning environment that develops technical competencies, critical-thinking, and interpersonal skills that support continuous learning to prepare graduates for entry-level positions as competent and skilled professionals in a global health information management industry.

The program is committed to accomplishing its mission through the use of effective and diverse instructional and technology-based methods (traditional, hybrid, online, simulated lab activities) conducive to access and success for the traditional and non-traditional student.

Our vision is to inspire students to commit to life-long learning and ethical values while also promoting service with integrity and honor as competent and skilled professionals in the health information management industry.

Hybrid Program

The HIT Program at SUSLA is a hybrid program. A hybrid program combines elements of online learning and traditional learning. The curriculum combines the classroom setting, web-enhanced/online coursework, work in a simulated laboratory, and hands-on experience in the clinical setting.

For additional information related to how courses are offered in the HIT Program, please click on the “Course Content Delivery” tab.

Performance Data

Academic reporting period of August 1, 2025 - July, 31, 2026

Job Placement Rate: 100%

Graduation Rate: 100%

Employer Surveys: 100%

Contact Information

LaChandra Wells
Program Director/Assistant Professor
610 Texas St., Shreveport, LA 71101
Phone: 318-670-9645
Office: Suite 333 - Metro Center
Email: lwells@susla.edu

Venus Ammons
Professional Practice Experience Coordinator/Instructor
610 Texas St., Shreveport, LA 71101
Phone: 318-670-9643
Office: Suite 100 - Metro Center
Email: ammons@susla.edu