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Health Science Overview & Course Information

HEALTH SCIENCE

The mission of South Carolina secondary health science education programs is to prepare high school students with broad foundational knowledge and skills needed by all healthcare professionals. Programs are tailored to meet the needs of individual students and postsecondary education requirements. Through HOSA Future Health Professionals, a career and technical student organization that supports the health science career cluster, students have opportunities to develop their leadership skills, participate in community service, and apply for scholarship awards. Community resources and healthcare industry partnerships strengthen the delivery of the health science program of study that integrates academics, specific health science courses, and portfolio development, along with a variety of work-based learning opportunities. Work-based learning experiences may include job shadowing, internships, and other clinical experiences that allow students to observe and learn from healthcare professionals. Students enrolled in a health science program of study leave high school better prepared for further education and/or immediate employment in the healthcare field.

COURSE OFFERINGS 

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

Course Description: Medical terminology is designed to develop a working knowledge of the language of health professions. Students acquire word-building skills by learning prefixes, suffixes, roots, combining forms, and abbreviations. Utilizing a body systems approach, students will define, interpret, and pronounce medical terms relating to structure and function, pathology, diagnosis, clinical procedures, and pharmacology. Students will use problem-solving techniques to assist in developing an understanding of course concepts. In addition to traditional classroom instruction, Medical Terminology may be offered as dual enrollment, virtual, online, or independent study courses.

Standards

HEALTH SCIENCE 1

Foundations of Healthcare Professions

Course Description: Health Science 1, Foundations of Healthcare Professions, is an introductory course designed to provide students with an overview of healthcare careers and foundational skills to begin their journey toward the future as healthcare professionals.

Course objectives: Upon completion of this course, proficient students will be able to identify careers in these fields, compare and contrast the features of healthcare systems and begin to provide foundational health care skills. This course will serve as a foundation for all Health Science programs of study. The skills and knowledge that students learn in Health Science 1 serve to prepare them for future clinical experiences such as job shadowing or internships as they advance through the Health Science courses. To advance to Health Science 2, students must achieve a score of 75% or higher in Health Science 1. General Requirements – This course is designed for students in grades 9-12. Students must have completed Biology 1 or be enrolled concurrently in Biology 1 to take this course.

Standards 

HEALTH SCIENCE 2

Advanced Healthcare Applications

Course Description: Health Science 2, Advanced Healthcare Applications. The course is designed to provide for the development of advanced knowledge and skills related to a wide variety of health careers. Students will employ hands-on experience for continued knowledge and skill development.

Course objectives: Upon completion of this course, proficient students will be able to build on foundational standards from Health Science 1 and incorporate patient care skills learned within a classroom and lab setting. Students will also become CPR-certified.

Standards 

HEALTH SCIENCE 3

Health Science Human Structure, Function, and Disease acquaints students with the basic anatomy and physiology of the human body. Students learn how the human body is structured and the function of each of the 12 body systems. Students will study the relationship that body systems have with disease from the healthcare point of view. This is a very “hands-on” course, and students will learn through projects and activities in the classroom. Skill procedures and foundation standards are reviewed and integrated throughout the program. Job shadowing is encouraged. 

Standards

CLINICALS

Health Science Clinical Study is a course that guides students to make connections from the classroom to the healthcare industry through clinical experiences/activities. This course is designed to provide for further development and application of knowledge and skills common to a wide variety of healthcare professions. The students in this course will review and build on all the information and skills presented in the previously required course foundation standards. The students will relay these skills to real-life experiences. The student, teachers, and work-based learning coordinators will work together to create opportunities for the students to get the best experience available in the district's geographic region. Students in this course must be BLS Healthcare Providers CPR certified and HIPAA trained before participating in any healthcare experience outside the classroom. 

Standards

CERTIFICATIONS