Health Science Option (A.S.)

Associate in Science

Lori Moon, Dean of Nursing
[e-mail]
413-236-4720

The Health Science option is designed for students who are tracking toward a Nursing or Allied Health programs, or who wish to increase their knowledge and skills in health care as a generalist. This option makes it possible for students to complete an associate degree in Health Science.

Expected Outcomes

Graduates of this program should be able to:

• Use communication effectively to provide information to clients in the health care environment;
• Be employed in entry level, non-technical health areas;
• Identify skills and knowledge necessary for the health care worker;
• Use critical thinking and problem solving skills in health care environments;
• Acquire skills and information to help students be better health care consumers; and
• Transfer to a four-year institution in areas of health care administration, health or nursing program at Berkshire Community College or elsewhere.

Graduation Requirements

To earn a degree in this program, a student must complete all program and general education credits, plus the following Additional Requirements.

Program Courses

AHS-111	Introduction to Patient Care Skills & Health Career Exploration	3
AHS-129	Medical Terminology	3
AHS-150	Introduction to Nutrition	3
BIO-201	Anatomy & Physiology I	4
BIO-202	Anatomy & Physiology II	4
PSY-107	Introductory Psychology	3
SOC-105	Introductory Sociology	3
-	Program Electives	12
Total Credit Hours:		35

Program Electives: See footnote 1

General Education Courses

COM-	Communication	3
ENG-	English Composition/Writing	6
MAT-136	Mathematics for the Health Sciences	3
-
CHM-150	Essentials of Chemistry	3
-	Or
PHY-111	The Ideas of Physics	3
-
-	General Education Electives	9
-	Program Electives	5
Total Credit Hours:		29

MAT-136: Mathematics for the Health Sciences or other MA designated math course
PHY-111: See footnote 2
General Education Electives: See footnote 3
Program Electives: See footnote 1

Additional Requirements

Core Competencies Portfolio	4 items
FORUM	4 units
Health/Fitness	30 hours

Minimum Cumulative Average

Overall	2.000
Program requirements	2.000

Health/Fitness: See footnote 4

Suggested Pathway to Graduation

The following is a suggestion for completing this program in four years. The actual time needed to complete the program will vary according to each student’s individual needs.

First Semester

AHS-111	Introduction to Patient Care Skills & Health Career Exploration	3
AHS-129	Medical Terminology	3
-
CHM-150	Essentials of Chemistry	3
-	Or
PHY-111	The Ideas of Physics	3
-
ENG-101	Composition I	3
PSY-107	Introductory Psychology	3
Total Credit Hours:		15

PHY-111: See footnote 2

Second Semester

ENG-102	Composition II	3
MAT-136	Mathematics for the Health Sciences	3
SOC-105	Introductory Sociology	3
-	General Education Elective	3
-	Program Elective	4
Total Credit Hours:		16

General Education Elective: See footnote 3
Program Elective: See footnote 3

Third Semester

AHS-150	Introduction to Nutrition	3
BIO-201	Anatomy & Physiology I	4
-	General Education Elective	3
-	Program Electives	6
Total Credit Hours:		16

General Education Electives: See footnote 3
Program Electives: See footnote 1

Fourth Semester

BIO-202	Anatomy & Physiology II	4
COM-	Communication	3
-	Program Electives	7
-	General Education Elective	3
Total Credit Hours:		17

General Education Electives: See footnote 3
Program Electives: See footnote 1

Footnotes

1. Program electives can be taken from departments in Health and/ or Sciences. It is recommended that you consult with your advisor for appropriate selection of courses.
2. Students interested in the Physical Therapist Assistant program should take PHY-111.
3. General education electives chosen from two or more of the following: History, Humanities and Fine Arts, or Environmental Studies.
4. Fulfilled by successful completion of AHS-111.