2024-2025 Catalog 
  
    May 06, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog

Health Professions AAS - Health Science Program


Code: AAS.HP.HSC

This is a post certification course of study to earn an associate’s degree for those individuals who have received education in a hospital sponsored program and are certified (or registered professionals) and are seeking degrees. The specific certification/ registration and the accreditation of program attended of the discipline MUST be the same bodies that accredit and certify programs at Bergen Community College. Bergen Community College awards thirty credits for the certification/ accreditation after the completion of the coursework in the general education courses required for an Associate’s Degree.

GPA for admissions eligibility: 2.50

Application Deadline: February 1

Program Admits: Fall and Spring semester

Note: Qualified students will be awarded 30 transfer credits. The credits will be applied to the degree in Health Science upon the completion of the curriculum. It is essential to understand that this program does not entitle the graduate eligibility to advanced certification or licensure within the Health Professions discipline.

Students who enter into this program must be aware of the Bergen Community College policy on the number of credits that must be taken at the College. Students enrolled in the AAS degree in Health Sciences must satisfy the English, Mathematics, and Algebra basic skills requirements.

Applicant must have graduated from a program that has acceptable accreditation agencies that is comparable to our Health Professions disciplines. Transcripts and credentials will be evaluated by an appointed admissions committee.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

  1. Explain the impact of the economy on ability to deliver health care.
  2. Identify the legal doctrines that affect the patient, his or her care and ethical decision making.
  3. Apply basic principles of management to the daily business operations of the medical facility.
  4. Explain methods to manage diverse cultural populations.
  5. State the meaning of different pathologies using medical terminology principles.
  6. Compare and contrast socialized from non-socialized medical practices.
  7. Explain the impact of third party payment, or lack thereof, on health care.
  8. Identify the fields of medical communication, administration, counseling and education.
  9. Listen and respond to points and replies of the patient, their families, the community, faculty, and students.

Career Pathways

Wellness Center Administrator Hospital Administrator Community Health Educator

Recommended Semester Sequence


First Semester


Subtotal: 14 Credits


Second Semester


Subtotal: 16 Credits


Subtotal: 30 Credits


General Education Requirements


Subtotal: 6 Credits


Humanities and Social Sciences*†


Two general education courses selected from the following fields, with no more than one course in any one field: Arts (Art [ART], Music [MUS], Theatre Arts [THR], Cinema Studies [CIN]); History (HIS); Literature (LIT); Philosophy and Religion (PHR); World Languages and Cultures (LAN); Economics (ECO); Geography (GEO); Political Science (POL); Psychology (PSY); Sociology (SOC) and Anthropology (ANT).

Subtotal: 6 Credits


Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Technology*


  • Natural Science Electives 8 Credit(s) *‡

Subtotal: 8 Credits


Subtotal: 20 Credits


Program Requirements


  • 30 credits are to be transferred into this program 30 Credit(s)
  • Natural Science Electives 8 Credit(s)
  • Humanities Elective 3 Credit(s)
  • Social Science Elective 3 Credit(s) *†
  • Mathematics/Computer Science Elective 3 Credit(s) *

Free Elective


see footnotes

Subtotal: 6 Credits


Total Credit Hours: 60


Specific Program Notes

Students are encouraged to take their courses in semester sequence order.

Please note that required courses may have prerequisites. Click on each course to view details.

*General Education Course List .

†Recommended Social Science Electives: PSY-101 General Psychology , PSY-102 Introduction to Abnormal Psychology , SOC-101 Sociology , SOC-103 Sociology of the Family , SOC-113 Social Problems .

‡Recommended Natural Science Electives: BIO-103 The Human Body , BIO-104 Microbiology , BIO-109 Anatomy and Physiology I , BIO-203 General Biology II , BIO-209 Anatomy and Physiology II ,

CHM-100 Introduction to Chemistry , CHM-112 College Chemistry , PHY-185 Introduction to Physics .

**Recommended Free electives: HSC-100 , HSC-101 , HSC-102  

**IST-123  will fulfill 3 credits of Free Electives for students who place into the course

Upon completion of the first and second semester courses, the 30 credits accepted for licensure/certificate will be granted. Students will have earned 65 credits necessary to complete the degree requirements.

Students enrolled in this program ARE REQUIRED to successfully complete a course in basic algebra if indicated by Placement Testing.