College of the Great Smoky Mountains - Southwestern Community College, serving Jackson, Macon, and Swain Counties and Cherokee/ Qually Boundary

 

 




Meet the Faculty:
Tony Belcher
Tony Belcher, Co-Program Coordinator/Instructor
A.A.S., Southwestern Community College
828.586.4091, ext. 309
800.447.4091, ext. 309
Balsam Center, Room 339

mbelcher@southwesterncc.edu

 

Eric Hester
Eric Hester, Co-Program Coordinator/Instructor
BS, Western Carolina University
828.586.4091, ext. 277
800.447.4091, ext. 277
Balsam Center, Room 339

ehester@southwesterncc.edu

 

 

FACTS about Emergency Medical Science
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Emergency Medical Science

 

Transfer agreements between Southwestern Community College and other colleges or universities allow graduates of certain SCC programs to transfer credits towards a Bachelor of Science degree to the participating university or college. The amount of transferable credit varies among programs and colleges. Please refer to the specific agreements for details on transferable credits.The Emergency Medical Science curriculum is designed to prepare graduates to enter the workforce as paramedics. Additionally, the program can provide an Associate Degree for individuals desiring an opportunity for career enhancement.

The course of study provides the student an opportunity to acquire basic and advanced life support knowledge and skills by utilizing classroom instruction, practical laboratory sessions, hospital clinical experience, and field internships with emergency medical service agencies.

Students progressing through the program may be eligible to apply for both state and national certification exams. Employment opportunities include ambulance services, fire and rescue agencies, air medical services, specialty areas of hospitals, industry, educational institutions, and government agencies.

Associate in Applied Science Degree - A45340

Prefix Number Title
Class
Lab
Clin
Credit
Fall Semester 1        
click on title for course description
BIO 168 Anatomy and Physiology I 3 3 0 4
EMS 110 EMT-Basic 5 6 0 7
EMS 150 Emergency Vehicles & EMS Communication 1 3 0 2
ENG 111 Expository Writing 3 0 0 3
MAT 110 Mathematical Measurements 2 2 0 3
      ___ ___ ___ ___
    Totals 14 14 0 19
             
Spring Semester 1        
BIO 169 Anatomy and Physiology II 3 3 0 4
EMS 120 Intermediate Interventions 2 3 0 3
EMS 121 EMS Clinical Practicum I 0 0 6 2
EMS 130 Pharmacology I for EMS 1 3 0 2
EMS 131 Advanced Airway Management 1 2 0 2
EMS 220 Cardiology 2 6 0 4
      ___ ___ ___ ___
    Totals 9 17 6 17
             
Summer Semester 1        
CIS 110 Introduction to Computers 2 2 0 3
EMS 221 EMS Clinical Practicum II 0 0 9 3
ENG 114 Professional Research and Reporting 3 0 0 3
      ___ ___ ___ ___
    Totals 5 2 9 9
             
Fall Semester 2        
EMS 140 Rescue Scene Management 1 3 0 2
EMS 210 Advanced Patient Assessment 1 3 0 2
EMS 231 EMS Clinical Practicum III 0 0 9 3
EMS 250 Advanced Medical Emergencies 2 3 0 3
EMS 260 Advanced Trauma Emergencies 1 3 0 2
PSY 150 General Psychology 3 0 0 3
      ___ ___ ___ ___
    Totals 8 12 9 15
             
Spring Semester 2        
EMS 235 EMS Management 2 0 0 2
EMS 240 Special Needs Patients 1 2 0 2
EMS 241 EMS Clinical Practicum IV 0 0 9 3
EMS 270 Life Span Emergencies 2 2 0 3
EMS 285 EMS Capstone 1 3 0 2
*** *** Humanities Elective 3 0 0 3
      ___ ___ ___ ___
    Totals 9 7 9 15
             
Total Semester Hour Credits: 75  
Award: Associate in Applied Science Degree

DIPLOMA D45340 - EVENING PROGRAM
Prefix Number Title
Class
Lab
Clin
Credit
Fall Semester 1        
click on title for course description
BIO 163 Basic Anatomy and Physiology 4 2 0 5
EMS 110 EMT-Basic 5 6 0 7
MAT 110 Mathematical Measurements 2 2 0 3
      ___ ___ ___ ___
    Totals 11 10 0 15
             
Spring Semester 1        
EMS 120 Intermediate Interventions 2 3 0 3
EMS 121 EMS Clinical Practicum I 0 0 6 2
EMS 130 Pharmacology I for EMS 1 3 0 2
EMS 131 Advanced Airway Management 1 2 0 2
      ___ ___ ___ ___
    Totals 4 8 6 9
             
Summer Semester 1        
EMS 220 Cardiology 2 6 0 4
EMS 221 EMS Clinical Practicum II 0 0 9 3
      ___ ___ ___ ___
    Totals 2 6 9 7
             
Fall Semester 2        
EMS 231 EMS Clinical Practicum III 0 0 9 3
EMS 250 Advanced Medical Emergencies 2 3 0 3
EMS 260 Advanced Trauma Emergencies 1 3 0 2
      ___ ___ ___ ___
    Totals 3 6 9 8
             
Spring Semester 2        
EMS 240 Special Needs Patients 1 2 0 2
EMS 270 Life Span Emergencies 2 2 0 3
EMS 285 EMS Capstone 1 3 0 2
      ___ ___ ___ ___
    Totals 4 7 0 7
             
Total Semester Hour Credits: 46  
Award: Diploma
* Clinical may be completed on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, or Sunday for a total of 96 hours
** Clinical may be completed Sunday-Satuday for a total of 144 hours
*** Clinical may be completed Sunday-Saturday for a total of 144 hours.
Prerequisite: SCC’s EMS Evening Diploma program is an EMT-Intermediate through Paramedic curriculum.

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA

The admission requirements for the Emergency Medical Science program are as follows:

Phase I - To be completed by May 15
The applicant must:
1. Complete an application for admission to the College.
2. Be a high school graduate or have earned a high school equivalency diploma (GED).
3. Submit official copies of all transcripts (high school and college). Transcripts must be sent directly from the institution. It is the responsibility of the applicant to assure that all necessary records are sent to the College Admissions Office.
4. Have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale of the most recent academic transcript (high school or postsecondary).
5.
Meet the Southwestern Community College Placement Test requirement. This may be met by one of the following methods:
a) Take and pass the basic components of the Computerized Placement Test. These consist of algebra, arithmetic, reading comprehension and grammar. The test is administered several times each week on the Jackson Campus and is free of charge. To schedule a test session, contact Testing Services at extension 332. If you do not pass the basic components of the placement test, it is recommended that you enroll in and successfully complete the appropriate developmental course work. If you are unsuccessful in achieving the appropriate cut-off scores in any component of the test, please see the academic retest policy.
b) Appropriate SAT or ACT scores. See Admissions section additional details.
c) Successful completion of a college-level math and English course.
6. Submit a copy of a current/valid North Carolina drivers license.
7. Be 18 years of age by the end of the first semester of the program.
8. Special legal requirements exist which may limit the ability of an individual to obtain clinical experience, employment, or certification in this field. Prospective students should obtain additional information from a program faculty member prior to seeking admission.

Phase II
Those individuals who have completed all the components of Phase I requirements are notified of provisional acceptance status and will be provided with SCC health forms to be completed by the appropriate medical personnel. The completed medical forms must indicate that you are capable of meeting the physical requirements for the program. These forms should be sent to the program director. Once satisfactory health forms have been received, the Admissions Office will send a letter of acceptance.

Notes:
1. The EMS program has a limited enrollment and only admits a class in the fall of each year. Applications must be completed and supporting documents submitted by May 15 of the year in which the student wishes to enroll in the program. If all slots have not been filled after the above deadline, there may be extensions to the deadline. Please check with the Admissions Office about the status of the program. Further more, if the number of prospective students who complete Phase I requirements exceeds the number of available slots, the college may use a competitive admission/ selection process to include a personal interview.
2. Selected learning experiences (clinical education) will be provided at cooperating emergency medical care providers. Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to these sites.
3. The program requires that students maintain a high level of academic and clinical performance. Failure to meet these standards will prevent normal progression through the program.
4. Applicants are responsible for submitting all the necessary records to the Admissions Office.
5. Applications must be updated annually by applicants who were not accepted the previous year.
6. Applicants may take non-EMS, general education and related course work prior to being accepted into the program.
7. All students accepted into the program must successfully obtain EMT-Basic certification upon completion of the first semester. Failure to do so will prevent progression through the program.
8. Students who already hold current EMT-Basic or EMT Intermediate (state or national) may be eligible for advanced placement credit.

Emergency Medical Science Bridging Program Course Work

The Emergency Medical Science Bridging program is designed to allow a currently certified, non-degreed EMT paramedic to earn a two-year associate of applied science degree in Emergency Medical Science. Bridging students have attained a Paramedic certification through a continuing education certificate program and passed the North Carolina National Registry, or another state certification examination.
To be eligible for the program, students must:
1. Meet SCC’s institutional requirements for admission as an EMS student.
2. Hold current certification as an EMT-Paramedic.
3. Hold current certificate in the following:
  A. Advanced Cardiac Life Support ACLS);
  B. Basic Trauma Life Support or Prehospital Trauma Life Support (BTLS- PHTLS);
  C. Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
  (The certifications above are core competency skills in EMS that are the equivalent of 45 semester hours of EMS credit.)
4. Two letters of reference will be required: one from an immediate supervisor and one from the service’s Medical Director attesting to the individual’s competence.
5. Minimum 1,000 hours as field medic completed at time of application.

BRIDGING PROGRAM		        
Prefix Number Title
Class
Lab
Clin
Credit
General Education Courses        
click on title for course description
BIO 168 Anatomy and Physiology I 3