Certificate in Emergency Medical Services
The Certificate in Emergency Medical Services will enable students to acquire useful skills and life-saving training to function as expert, licensed, first responders. The curriculum is built upon and enhances the fundamental knowledge base of the emergency medical technician. Students attracted to the growing number of job opportunities in emergency management and emergency care could pursue the certificate program in order to become, or remain, competitive in this job market. All courses are for credit and are transferable once a student is admitted into a degree-seeking program.
Certificate Requirements
Course Descriptions
Admission Requirements
Apply to the Certificate
Tuition
Certificate Requirements
The certificate program in Emergency Medical Services requires six courses. Courses are offered in the 16 week format. Classes are offered during the day at the Lake Shore Campus. Some requirements may be fulfilled by transfer credit. Please speak to an SCPS academic advisor about prior credits.
- HEM 100 Emergency Medical Technician – Basic (4)
- BIOL 209 Biological Basis of Health and Illness (3)
- HEM 201 Introduction to Emergency Management (3)
- GNUR 207 Individual, Family, Community Wellness and Health (3)
- HSM 230 Health Care of Vulnerable Populations (3)
- HEM 240 Public Health Emergency Planning (3)
HEM 100 Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (4)
This course is designed to instruct a student to the level of Emergency Medical Technician-Basic, who serves as a vital link in the health care team. This includes all skills necessary to provide emergency medical care and a basic life support (BLS) level with an ambulance or other specialized service. Student must maintain active CPR recognition throughout the course.
BIOL 209 Biological Basis of Health and Illness (3)
This course will examine biological determinants of health and illness. Basic biological concepts of evolution, classification, ecology and genetics will be studied in order to understand effects on human health for individuals, families and communities. The importance of Microorganisms to health and illness will be emphasized.
HEM 201 Introduction to Emergency Management (3)
This course presents the theories, principles, and approaches to emergency management. The philosophy of Comprehensive Emergency Management will be discussed with the four attendant steps formalized by FEMA. These include: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. An analysis of past disasters will be presented along with their impacts on policy formation leading up to the current FEMA all-hazards approach, and with particular attention to the role of acute care facilities and trauma centers. The role, duties, and importance of the Emergency Manager will be discussed throughout the term. Finally, legal issues involving emergency management will be presented. Students will also be expected to complete FEMA’s independent study course, IS-1, “The Emergency Program Manager.” Materials for this will be presented by the instructor.
GNUR 207 Individual Family Community Wellness & Health (3)
This course focuses on the concepts of culture, family, community, and health, exploring the complex relationships that exist among these concepts in the context of health and wellness. Students will explore cultural aspects of a community and the resultant impact on health beliefs and practices. Principles of epidemiology will be explored.
HSM 230 Health Care Vulnerable Populations (3)
This course will provide students with an examination of health status and health access issues among diverse, vulnerable populations in the United States. The primary objective of the course is to build on previous content related to the policies, epidemiological, cultural, and linguistic factors that influence the etiologies of diseases within vulnerable subpopulations and contribute to health disparities. The approach will serve to analyze the health care access problems faced by vulnerable populations that constrain efficient management of services and equitable delivery of health care. This course will concentrate on filling the void that exists surrounding the lack of information available for those concerned with the health access and status of vulnerable populations in the United States. In addition, students will also benefit from learning the importance of linguistically appropriate considerations regarding health care. This course is designed to provide insight into how the health care system can better facilitate positive outcomes of issues related to vulnerable population-specific health access and status. The course will include a service experience for the students.
HEM 240 Public Health Emergency Planning (3)
Prerequisite: HEM 201. The class will consider risk analysis and vulnerability assessment in the context of public health and emergency management in acute care settings, trauma units, and other healthcare settings. This course will also include discussion of concepts in basic science, human responses to injury and illness, public health systems, and public policy. Major topics include types of disasters and their consequences; the role of public health systems in disasters; hazard assessment and community vulnerability analysis; data collection and evaluation; communications systems and risk management; system design, planning, and management; and mental health and environmental health issues in disasters. Practical applications of the concepts developed will be emphasized, as will both the similarities and differences between domestic and foreign disaster management.
Tuition
Certificate students pay $560 per credit hour. Most courses are three credit hours, with the exception of a few math courses. Please double check the credit hours for each course.
Please visit the SCPS Tuition & Fee page for general information.
