Health Sciences, A.S.

Program Description

In this program, students learn to write effectively, use qualitative and quantitative reasoning to solve problems, apply mathematical concepts, and learn about major psychological, sociological, and biological concepts and theories.  The impact of culture on communication and the dimensions/concepts of wellness and personal and community health are examined. 

The Health Sciences Associate of Science program meets the needs of students who plan to graduate and transfer to a college or a university to complete a bachelor’s degree or higher in various areas of Health Sciences. The program also serves as the curriculum for the Academy of Health Sciences @ PGCC (early/middle college program).  The program builds upon the Health Sciences certificate program. 

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Health Sciences, A.S. will be able to:

• Write effectively for a variety of purposes, audiences, and contexts.
• Use qualitative and quantitative reasoning to interpret, analyze, and solve problems.
• Use mathematical concepts and methods with an emphasis on real world applications.
• Examine the impact culture has on communication.
• Explain major psychological concepts, theories, and perspectives.
• Apply major sociological concepts, theories, and perspectives.
• Examine the dimensions/concepts of wellness and personal and community health.
• Evaluate relationships between structure and function of human body systems.

Sequence of Study

Below are the required courses for your program arranged in a suggested sequence. Please note that the sequence does not include developmental coursework. See Academic Preparation  for the developmental course sequence if applicable to you.

Required Courses (in expected order)

• PAS-1000 First Year Experience Credits: 1 (Institutional Requirement)
• EGL-1010 Composition I: Expository Writing Credits: 3 (English General Education Requirement)

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• MAT-1250 Applied College Algebra Credits: 3 (Mathematics General Education Elective)  or
• MAT-1140 Introduction to Statistics Credits: 3 (Mathematics General Education Elective) 

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• BIO-1010 General Biology Credits: 4 (Program Elective) or
• BIO-1050 Human Biology Credits: 4 (Program Elective) 

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• PSY-1010 General Psychology Credits: 3 (Social Science General Education Requirement)

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• COM-1010 Foundations of Communication Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities General Education Elective)  or
• COM-1090 Interpersonal Communication Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities General Education Elective) 

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• BIO-2050 Human Anatomy & Physiology I Credits: 4 (Science w/ Lab General Education Requirement)

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• EGL-1020 Composition II: Writing About Literature Credits: 3 (English General Education Elective) or
• EGL-1100 Composition II: Writing About Issues and Ideas Credits: 3 (English General Education Elective) or
• EGL-1320 Composition II: Writing for Business Credits: 3 (English General Education Elective) or
• EGL-1340 Writing About Technical Topics Credits: 3 (English General Education Elective)

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• HLE-1150 Personal and Community Health Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• NTR-1010 Introductory Nutrition Credits: 3 (Science, No Lab General Education Requirement)

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• PSY-2070 Human Growth & Development Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• INT-1010 Introduction to Information Technology Credits: 3 (Computer Literacy Institutional Requirement)

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• BIO-2060 Human Anatomy and Physiology II Credits: 4 (Program Requirement) 
• SOC-1010 Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3 (Social Science General Education Requirement)

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• BIO-1210 Sustainability in Healthcare Credits: 4 (Program Elective) or
• BIO-2010 Microbiology Credits: 4 (Program Elective)

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• 
  Academy of Health Sciences students only:

• MUS-1010 Music Appreciation Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities General Education Requirement) 
• HLE-2260 Applied Personal and Community Health Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• HST-1320 Modern History Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• HLE-2930 Health Promotion & Wellness Internship III Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• PED-1000 Lifetime Fitness and Leisure Activities Credits: 1 (Program Requirement)

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• All Other Health Sciences students:

• PHL-1010 Introduction to Philosophy: The Art of Questioning Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities General Education Elective)  or
• PHL-1330 Ethics Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities General Education Elective)

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• HLE-2010 Health Issues in a Culturally Diverse Society Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

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• The following program electives apply to non-AHS students only

  
  Select 7 credits from the list below:

• *Note: Students may not receive credit for both HIM-1530 and HIM-1800

• CHM-1010 General Chemistry I Credits: 4 (Program Elective)
• SOC-2010 Social Problems Credits: 3 (Program Elective)
• SOC-2090 Sociology of Minorities Credits: 3 (Program Elective)
• SOC-2400 Introduction to Public Health and Health Care Policy Credits: 3 (Program Elective)
• HST-1530 History of African Americans since 1877 Credits: 3 (Program Elective)
• HLE-2410 Health Communications Credits: 3 (Program Elective)
• HLE-2420 Health Education Credits: 3 (Program Elective)
• HIM-1530 Medical Terminology Credits: 3 (Program Elective) *
• HIM-1800 Introduction to Medical Terms for Health Professionals Credits: 1 (Program Elective) *
• NUR-1010 Introduction to Nursing - RN Credits: 1 (Program Elective)
• PED-1020 Circuit Weight Training Credits: 1 (Program Elective)
• PED-1080 Weight Training Credits: 1 (Program Elective)

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Program Total: 60 Credits

Transferability

Credit earned at any public institution in the state shall be transferable to any other institution if the:

• Credit is from a college or university parallel course or program;
• Grades in the block of courses transferred average 2.00 or higher; and
• Acceptance of the credit is consistent with the policies of the receiving institution governing students following the  same program. Refer to ARTSYS at artweb.usmd.edu and the receiving institution’s catalog to select transferable courses.

Need Help?

For help selecting an academic program or courses, consider using Career Coach, available at www.pgcc.edu/go/careercoach.