Nov 21, 2024

Fall 2024 Academic Catalog

Health Sciences, A.A.S.

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Vickie Findley, Health Sciences Program Coordinator
Advanced Technology Center / (304)367-4716
Vickie.Findley@pierpont.edu

Program Purpose

The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Health Science provides students with the opportunity to build upon the knowledge gained in a professional skill set or certificate degree program and earn an associate’s degree. Students may complete some of the requirements toward the A.A.S. degree while enrolled in the skill set or certificate degree curriculum. Students with current national certification or state licensure/certification may also be able to transfer credits to fulfill the required area of emphasis in the curriculum. The credits earned through national certification can be from a variety of careers, including but not limited to emergency medical technician, medical administrative assistant, phlebotomy, laboratory assistant, and licensed practical nurse.

Admission Requirements

All students entering the A.A.S degree Health Sciences must meet the following criteria:

Have completed or be enrolled in a health care related skill set or Certificate of Applied Science (CAS) program in order to fulfill the area of emphasis requirement in the curriculum. Admission to a specialty area is not guaranteed
Must pass a criminal background clearance, meet health and immunization requirements and essential functions, and provide their own transportation to assigned clinical sites, if accepted into a skill set or CAS program

NOTE: Completion of all or part of the A.A.S. degree in Health Sciences does not guarantee selection into any of the other health sciences associate degree programs offered at Pierpont Community & Technical College.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the A.A.S. degree in Health Sciences, graduates will be able to do the following:

Demonstrate knowledge of and competence in a chosen field of state or national certification
Communicate verbally and in writing with patients, clients, health care delivery personnel and peers in an effective, appropriate, and capable manner
Use critical thinking, technological, and mathematical skills to complete work assignments and solve work problems
Demonstrate professional behavior that meets legal, ethical, responsible, and safe standards with respect for individuals and cultures

Opportunities

The associate’s degree can provide students with greater flexibility in their professional field of study as well as opportunities for job advancement. Graduates of the Health Science A.A.S. degree have a wide range of career options within the healthcare setting, including hospitals, clinics, home health agencies, and physician offices as well as scientific, sales or technical services firms within the health science industries.

Required Courses (60 Hrs)

General Studies (19 Hrs)

BIOY 1170 - Human Anatomy and Physiology 3 hr(s).
BIOY 1171 - Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab 1 hr(s).
COM 2200 - Introduction to Human Communications 3 hr(s).
~ENGL 1104 - Written English I 3-4 hr(s). (“C” or higher required for graduation)
~ENGL 1108 - Written English II 3 hr(s). (“C” or higher required for graduation)
~MTH 1207 - Fundamental Concepts of Mathematics 3-4 hr(s).
OFAD 1150 - Computer Concepts and Applications 3 hr(s).

Required Core Courses (19 Hrs)

EMMS 1109 - Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) & Workplace Safety 1 hr(s).
HLCA 1100 - Medical Terminology 3 hr(s).
HLCA 1101 - Intro to Hlth Profes & Careers 1 hr(s).
HLCA 1200 - Health Assessment and Physical Examination 3 hr(s).
HLCA 2995 - Healthcare Management Capstone 2 hr(s). Note: A skillset or certificate must be awarded prior to enrolling in HLCA 2995 .
HLCA 2200 - Interpretation of Diagnostic Data 3 hr(s).
-OR
BIOY 1115 - Pathophysiology 3 hr(s).
HLCA 2210 - Bioethics 3 hr(s). (Equivalent to HUMN 2210)
-OR
~HUMN 2200 - Bridging Cultures: Work and Identity in a Global Perspective 3 hr(s).
-OR
INTR 2200 - Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality 3 hr(s).
-OR
HLIN 1110 - Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Information 3 hr(s).
FOSM 1110 - Nutrition 3 hr(s).
-OR
FOSM 1120 - Nutrition in Childhood & Adolescence 3 hr(s).

Electives (16 Hrs)

Students may choose to fulfill part of the 16 required elective credits from the following courses, provided the courses were not used as one of the required courses in the “Required Courses” section. Note that all prerequisite and selective admission requirements must be met for all courses used as electives.

Skill Set/Certificate Requirements (6 Hrs)

Only specific courses from a skill set will satisfy this section of the degree requirement. If completing the skill set simultaneously with the AAS Degree, students must adhere to the model schedule for their respective skill set. Students completing Licensed Practical Nurse or Laboratory Assistant Certificate of Applied Science (CAS) degrees, must declare that major as the primary major and should complete those programs before entry into the Health Science program (change of major may need to take place).

Electrocardiograph (ECG) Technology

HLCA 1150 - Electrocardiograph Technology 3 hr(s).
HLCA 1151 - Electrocardiograph Technology Laboratory 1 hr(s).
HLCA 1152 - Electrocardiograph Technology Practicum 1 hr(s).
HLCA 1189 - Guided Experience I 1 hr(s).

Electronic Health Record Specialist

HLIN 1105 - Computers in Health Care 3 hr(s).
HLIN 1110 - Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Information 3 hr(s).

Laboratory Assistant

LABA 2206 - Advanced Lab Skills Theory 2 hr(s).
LABA 2207 - Advanced Lab Skills 1 hr(s).

Licensed Practical Nurse

LPNC 1101 - Fundamental Nursing for the Practical Nurse 6 hr(s).

Medical Administrative Assistant

HLIN 1100 - Fundamentals of Health Information 3 hr(s).
HLIN 1112 - Introduction to Medical Administrative Assistant 3 hr(s).

Medical Billing & Coding

MBC 2213 - Outpatient Procedural Medical Coding 5 hr(s).
MBC 2214 - Medical Billing and Coding Practicum 1 hr(s).

Phlebotomy

LABA 1110 - Basic Phlebotomy and Lab Techniques 3 hr(s).
LABA 1111 - Basic Phlebotomy & Lab Techniques Lab 1 hr(s).
LABA 2205 - Phlebotomy Practicum 2 hr(s).

Veterinary Assistant

Additional course options that satisfy this requirement include

EMT-Basic Current Certification

HLCA 1179 - Ntnl/State Cert/Lcns Skill Set 6 hr(s).

Model Schedule (60 Hrs)

First Semester (13-16 Hrs)

~ENGL 1104 - Written English I 3-4 hr(s). (“C” or higher required for graduation)
OFAD 1150 - Computer Concepts and Applications 3 hr(s).
Health Sciences Core 4-6 hr(s). *
Discipline specific skill set or CAS courses or HLCA 1179 3-4 hr(s).

Second Semester (12-15 Hrs)

~MTH 1207 - Fundamental Concepts of Mathematics 3-4 hr(s).
Health Sciences Core 6 hr(s). *
Discipline specific skill set or CAS course or HLCA 1179 3-6 hr(s).
~ENGL 1108 - Written English II 3 hr(s). (“C” or higher required for graduation)
-OR
~ENGL 1109 - Technical Report Writing 3 hr(s). (“C” or higher required for graduation)

Third Semester (15-17 Hrs)

COM 2200 - Introduction to Human Communications 3 hr(s).
General Science Elective 3-4 hr(s).
Health Sciences Core 6 hr(s). *
Discipline specific skill set or CAS courses or HLCA 1179 3-4 hr(s).

Fourth Semester (11-14 Hrs)

HLCA 2995 - Healthcare Management Capstone 2 hr(s).
Health Sciences Core 6 hr(s). *
Health Care Related, Social Science or General Science Electives 3-6 hr(s) **

Grade Requirement

A “C” or better is required for General Education courses and Health Sciences core courses.

Notice to All Students

Annual Notification: All career and technical education courses and programs are offered at Pierpont regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, or disability.
Advanced Skill Set and Skill Set programs do not qualify for financial aid. Students seeking financial aid eligible degrees may incorporate the classes as electives when their schedule allows or may declare an associate or certificate degree in which the skill set and advanced skill set courses are embedded.
Students are reminded to review campus policies and procedures as stated in the catalog.

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