2024-2025 Catalog

Health Science Option (A.S.)

Associate in Science

Lori Moon, Dean of Nursing
lmoon@berkshirecc.edu
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-111Introduction to Patient Care Skills & Health Career Exploration

3

AHS-129Medical Terminology

3

AHS-150Introduction to Nutrition

3

BIO-201Anatomy & Physiology I

4

BIO-202Anatomy & Physiology II

4

PSY-107Introductory Psychology

3

SOC-105Introductory 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-136Mathematics for the Health Sciences

3

- 

CHM-150Essentials of Chemistry

3

-Or

PHY-111The 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-111Introduction to Patient Care Skills & Health Career Exploration

3

AHS-129Medical Terminology

3

- 

CHM-150Essentials of Chemistry

3

-Or

PHY-111The Ideas of Physics

3

- 

ENG-101Composition I

3

PSY-107Introductory Psychology

3

Total Credit Hours:15

PHY-111: See footnote 2

Second Semester

ENG-102Composition II

3

MAT-136Mathematics for the Health Sciences

3

SOC-105Introductory 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-150Introduction to Nutrition

3

BIO-201Anatomy & 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-202Anatomy & 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.