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-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 |
-
| Free Elective | 5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 29 |
MAT-136: Mathematics for the Health Sciences or other MA designated math course
PHY-111: See footnote 2
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 |
-
| | |
| PSY-107 | Introductory Psychology | 3 |
-
| English Composition | 3 |
Second Semester
| MAT-136 | Mathematics for the Health Sciences | 3 |
| SOC-105 | Introductory Sociology | 3 |
-
| General Education Elective | 3 |
-
| Program Elective | 4 |
-
| English Composition | 3 |
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 |
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 |
General Education Electives: See footnote 3
Program Electives: See footnote 1
Footnotes
- Program electives can be taken from AHS, BIO, CHM, ENV, GEY, LPN, MBW, NUR, PHY, PTA, RSP, and SCI.
- Students interested in the Physical Therapist Assistant program should take PHY-111.
- General education electives chosen from two or more of the following: History, Humanities, or Environmental Studies.
- Fulfilled by successful completion of AHS-111.
Total Credit Hours: 35