Associate in Arts Degree

Health Sciences

Overview

This concentration is designed for the student who is interested in establishing the groundwork for a health career or is interested in pursuing an A. A. degree, and/or planning to transfer to a 4-year college. To optimize the student's experience and success, the student is encouraged to work with an advisor or transfer counselor to select the appropriate elective courses for the career the student wishes to pursue. Successful completion of this concentration is not a guarantee of admission into a selective health program.

Students who place into developmental math and/or English should begin the course sequence in the first semester. Please see an advisor with questions.

First Semester Credits
ENL101 M 3
    Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (MAT150) 3
COM103  
Human Communication (or)
Humanities & Fine Arts

COM103 Human Communication

This course fosters and improves competence in intrapersonal, interpersonal, group and public communication situations. Students demonstrate skills necessary to communicate effectively through exercises and presentations that reflect practical, real-world situations. The purpose of the course is to improve the student's skill in communication by providing relevant knowledge and opportunity to apply that knowledge.

Prerequisite: ENL010 or ESL102 or satisfactory basic skills assessment score

Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Note: Satisfies a Humanities and Fine Arts general education requirement.

For a complete listing of Humanities & Fine Arts courses, see: General Education Courses

3
PSY101 M 3
  M
Elective (CHM109, CHM151, BIO151)

CHM109 Chemistry for the Health Sciences I

An introductory course for students in various health-related programs. Emphasis is placed on practical aspects of inorganic chemistry. Some organic chemistry is introduced. (3 class hours/2 laboratory hours)

Prerequisite: (MAT030 or MAT035), ENL020, and ENL050 or satisfactory basic skills assessment scores

Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Note: Satisfies a Natural or Physical Science general education requirement.

CHM151 General Chemistry I

This course emphasizes the atomic nature of matter, fundamental laws and theories of mass and energy, the periodic classification of elements, chemical bonding, nomenclature, kinetic molecular theory applied to solids, liquids and gases, solution chemistry, and descriptive chemistry. Laboratory studies reinforce the principles and concepts studied in lecture and will initiate the student to sound methods of scientific investigation. (3 class hours/3 laboratory hours)

Prerequisite: (MAT040 or MAT045), ENL020, and ENL050 or satisfactory basic skills assessment scores

Offered: Fall, Summer

Note: Satisfies a Natural or Physical Science general education requirement.

BIO151 General Biology I

This first course in a two-semester sequence in introductory biology for science majors or science-interested students is designed to acquaint the student with foundational principles of biology with an emphasis on cellular structure and function. Topics covered will include the basic chemical properties of living things, cellular metabolism, molecular genetics, gene expression and Mendelian genetics. The laboratory features activities and experiments that reinforce the concepts presented in lecture. (3 class hours/3 laboratory hours)

Prerequisites: MAT045, ENL020 and ENL050 or satisfactory basic skills assessment scores

Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Note: Satisfies a Natural or Physical Science general education requirement.

4
Second Semester Credits
ENL102   3
BIO251 M 4
PSY233   3
    Humanities & Fine Arts 3
   
Concentration Elective (NUR100 suggested)
  • BIO161 The Microbial World
  • BIO204 Introduction to Public Health
  • BIO241 Cell Biology
  • BIO281 Microbiology
  • COM201 Interpersonal Communication
  • CNA117 Tri-level Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide (6 credits)
  • HEA120 Stress Management for Optimal Health
  • HEA130 Standard First Aid & Basic Life Support (1 credit)
  • HEA132 Advanced First Aid & Emergency Care
  • HEA134 Essential Skills for Health Care Professionals
  • HEA135 Introduction to Complementary Healing Practices
  • HEA201 Nutrition
  • NUR100 Pharmacology Calculations
  • SPN105 Elementary Spanish I for Health Professionals
1-3
Third Semester Credits
BIO252   4
    Humanities & Fine Arts 3
    Behavioral & Social Science 3
   
Concentration Elective
  • BIO161 The Microbial World
  • BIO204 Introduction to Public Health
  • BIO241 Cell Biology
  • BIO281 Microbiology
  • COM201 Interpersonal Communication
  • CNA117 Tri-level Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide (6 credits)
  • HEA120 Stress Management for Optimal Health
  • HEA130 Standard First Aid & Basic Life Support (1 credit)
  • HEA132 Advanced First Aid & Emergency Care
  • HEA134 Essential Skills for Health Care Professionals
  • HEA135 Introduction to Complementary Healing Practices
  • HEA201 Nutrition
  • NUR100 Pharmacology Calculations
  • SPN105 Elementary Spanish I for Health Professionals
3/4
    Elective 1-3
Fourth Semester Credits
   
Concentration Elective
  • BIO161 The Microbial World
  • BIO204 Introduction to Public Health
  • BIO241 Cell Biology
  • BIO281 Microbiology
  • COM201 Interpersonal Communication
  • CNA117 Tri-level Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide (6 credits)
  • HEA120 Stress Management for Optimal Health
  • HEA130 Standard First Aid & Basic Life Support (1 credit)
  • HEA132 Advanced First Aid & Emergency Care
  • HEA134 Essential Skills for Health Care Professionals
  • HEA135 Introduction to Complementary Healing Practices
  • HEA201 Nutrition
  • NUR100 Pharmacology Calculations
  • SPN105 Elementary Spanish I for Health Professionals
3/4
   
Concentration Elective
  • BIO161 The Microbial World
  • BIO204 Introduction to Public Health
  • BIO241 Cell Biology
  • BIO281 Microbiology
  • COM201 Interpersonal Communication
  • CNA117 Tri-level Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide (6 credits)
  • HEA120 Stress Management for Optimal Health
  • HEA130 Standard First Aid & Basic Life Support (1 credit)
  • HEA132 Advanced First Aid & Emergency Care
  • HEA134 Essential Skills for Health Care Professionals
  • HEA135 Introduction to Complementary Healing Practices
  • HEA201 Nutrition
  • NUR100 Pharmacology Calculations
  • SPN105 Elementary Spanish I for Health Professionals
3/4
    Elective 3
    Elective 3
    Elective (if needed) 1-3
Total Credits 60

M Designates a Milestone course. A milestone course must be completed in the semester indicated to ensure that you remain on track to continue on in your program and graduate on time.

The Associate in Arts degree does not indicate a specialized degree in a concentration. Students who complete this concentration will satisfy the requirements of MassTransfer. For additional information pertaining to degree requirements, please refer to Degree Requirements.

Career Outlook

Health career roles continue to be in high demand in our service area and beyond. This concentration provides the student with a strong basic education on which to build knowledge for the specific healthcare profession of choice.

This occupational profile is provided by O*NET.

Program Outcomes

With advisor consultation and upon successful completion of the selected courses, students are able to: