Associate of Science in Allied Health Science Overview

The field of healthcare is rapidly growing and constantly in need of skilled healthcare professionals. For those considering a career in healthcare, our Health Science programs may be an option. Our Associate of Science in Allied Health Science program online can enable you to get started in the right direction. Focusing on the important role of professionalism in healthcare, curriculum blends the teaching of theory with industry-related technical information.

Our Health Science courses are designed to expose students to a broad education in general studies combined with an emphasis on life science subjects such as anatomy and physiology, chemistry, nutrition, and pathophysiology. The Associate of Science in Allied Health Science degree program online offers students interested in healthcare careers a knowledge base from which they may pursue their professional goals. After successful completion of the Health Science classes and all other graduation requirements, you would receive an Associate of Science in Allied Health Science.

Graduates are prepared to pursue a number of entry-level careers within the broad field of allied health.

Employment Opportunities

Employment of medical and health services managers is expected to grow by 22 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations. As the large baby-boom population ages and people remain active later in life, the healthcare industry as a whole will see an increase in the demand for medical services. Managers will be needed to organize and manage medical information and healthcare staffs in all areas of the industry. Learn more.

Academic Requirements

To be admitted to any of the programs at South University online programs, the prospective student must be a high school graduate from an acceptable high school or the equivalent (e.g. GED) with a minimum CGPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, and be required to complete the University administered placement test during their first session of attendance, or meet the criteria established for acceptance as a transfer student. South University accepts the International Baccalaureate Program diploma as meeting the requirement for high school graduation.

Associate of Science in Allied Health Science - 90 Total Hours

Students pursuing the Associate of Science in Allied Health Science are required to take a total of 24 courses as follows:

• 10 general education courses - 40 credits
• 5 foundation courses- 20 credits
• 9 major courses- 30 credits

General Education Curriculum - 40 Credits
Students are required to take 10 general education courses as follows:

Professional Development - 8 Credits
Students are required to take 2 professional development courses as follows:

ITS1000 - Computer and Internet Literacy

This course is for students to obtain basic knowledge and skills in using computer office production software and internet features. A broad range of software applications, such as word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software, and internet usage concepts will be covered. Students will also use computer and communications technology to develop information literacy skills.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

UVC1000 - Strategies for Success

Designed to help entering students develop a more effective approach to college success, this course emphasizes positive self-evaluation, goal-setting, and motivation; practical skills of successful students; effective use of the library and the many sources of information available; and the concepts and tools of critical thinking, and their applications.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

Basic Communications - 16 Credits
Students are required to take 4 basic communications courses as follows:

ENG1001 - Composition I

Students will be introduced to college-level writing processes, including theme, composition, and research. Emphasis will be placed on refining individual skills, writing styles and voices, and on writing procedures. Selected readings in prose, drama, and poetry supplement the course and provide topics for discussion and writing assignments.

Prerequisite(s): ENG0099 or Exemption

Credits: 4

ENG1002 - Composition II / Literature

This course is designed to introduce the student to fiction, poetry, and drama and, through literary analysis and interpretation, to develop the life skills of critical thinking and written expression.

Prerequisite(s): ENG1001

Credits: 4

ENG2001 - Composition III

The goal of this course is to refine the student's reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. By analyzing ineffective arguments and constructing effective ones, the student will discover how ambiguity, evasiveness, vagueness, and obscurity weaken his or her credibility as a writer.

Prerequisite(s): ENG1001

Credits: 4

SPC1026 - Public Speaking

Students will develop and refine presentation skills focusing on compiling, organizing and outlining the research material in preparation for the assignments.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

Mathematics and Statistics - 4 Credits
Students are required to take 1 mathematics and statistics course as follows:

MAT1005 - College Algebra

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits:

Natural Sciences - 4 Credits
Students are required to take 1 natural sciences course as follows:

CHM1010_S - Chemistry (11- week course)

CHM1010 is a survey course of general chemistry, organic chemistry and biochemistry. Fundamental concepts and principles will be presented including atomic theory, bonding, nomenclature, solutions, acids and bases, and an introduction to organic chemistry and biochemistry. Emphasis will be placed on the application of these topics in various health fields. This overview provides the health-care worker the ability to appreciate physiological and therapeutic processes at the molecular level. The course will also explore the role of chemistry in society today by applying a problem solving approach to understanding chemistry.

Prerequisite(s): MAT 1001 or MAT1002 with a C or better

Credits: 4

Arts and Humanities - 4 Credits
Students are required to take 1 arts and humanities course as follows:

ENG2002 - World Literature

This course focuses on world literary selections. Topics include the critical evaluation of the literary genres: story, poetry and drama.

Prerequisite(s): ENG1002

Credits: 4

Social and Behavioral Sciences - 4 Credits
Students are required to take 1 social and behavioral sciences course as follows:

SOC1001 - Introduction to Sociology

This course, a scientific study of human social activity, will provide the student with a new way of looking at the world. In learning about the sociological perspective, the student will be challenged to see the general in the particular, the strange in the familiar, and the importance of the global perspective.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

Foundation Curriculum - 20 Credits
Students are required to take 5 foundation courses as follows:

AHS1001 - Medical Terminology

This course presents a study of basic medical terminology. Prefixes, suffixes, combining forms, plural forms, abbreviations, and symbols are included in the content. Emphasis is placed on spelling, definition, usage, and pronunciation. This course is designed for health profession students who require study in the fundamentals of medical terminology as part of their professional curriculum.

Prerequisite(s): ENG0099

Credits: 4

MAT1001 - Intermediate Algebra

Concepts of algebra including linear and quadratic equations, polynomials, exponents, logarithms and functions. Emphasis on graphical representations of functions. This course is designed to build an adequate background for the college-level mathematics, science and business courses.

Prerequisite(s): and ENG1001 Co/Pre-Requisite MAT0099 or Exemption

Credits: 4

MAT2058 - Statistics

This course introduces the student to fundamental laws of probability, levels of measurement, measures of central tendency and variance, random variables, hypothesis testing, correlation, regression, small sample techniques and non-parametric methods.

Prerequisite(s):
MAT1005, or MAT1001 and MAT1500

Credits: 4

PHI2301 - Introduction to Philosophy

This course introduces students to critical philosophical thinking. Students will confront fundamental questions of self and identity, of freedom and determinism, of belief and truth, and of ethics and morality. Critical thinking activities will challenge students to incorporate philosophy into their daily lives by applying the questions of philosophy to themselves and their world. As a methodology, this course will use the specifics of current events in the world to give a concrete context for the philosophic topics covered in the study materials.

Prerequisite(s): ENG1002 or ENG2001

Credits: 4

PSY1001 - General Psychology

The fundamental questions guiding this course are relatively simple. In what ways are we all alike and in what ways are we different? And why? Although these questions may be simple, the answers, as we shall see, are complex, interconnected, and too often invisible to the untrained eye. Different families... different backgrounds...different sexes... different cultures...different ethnic groups...different ways of looking at things...different behaviors...different values—how are we to understand this incredible diversity of human experience so that we can navigate successfully in an increasingly chaotic and shrinking world? The intent of this course is to examine the psychological foundations underlying the identity of the "self," "identity" and "world view" in an effort to understand the differences that exist from culture to culture, from generation to generation, from family to family, from profession to profession, and from individual to individual.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

Major Curriculum - 30 Credits
Students are required to take 9 major courses as follows:

BIO1011 - Anatomy and Physiology 1 (11- week course)

Anatomy and Physiology I is an introduction to the structures and functions of the human body including the characteristics of life, homeostasis, organizational levels, basic metabolism, the cell, tissues, organs, organ systems, the organism, integumentary system, skeletal system, muscular system, nervous system, and the special senses.

Prerequisite(s): ENG0099 MAT0099
AHS1001 with a C or better Co-requisites: BIO1012, ENG0099, and MAT0099.

Credits: 4

BIO1012 - Anatomy and Physiology I Lab (11- week course)

BIO1012, Anatomy and Physiology I Lab is designed to support, amplify, and clarify the material presented in the theory class BIO1011 through demonstration and exercises utilizing charts, models, tissues, and organs, as well as typical laboratory equipment. Laboratory topic content shall follow the theory class very closely.

Prerequisite(s): ENG099 MAT0099
AHS1001 with a C or better. Concurrent enrollment in BIO1012 or the equivalent.

Credits: 2

BIO1013 - Anatomy and Physiology II (11- week course)

Anatomy and Physiology II is a continuation of Anatomy and Physiology I. BIO1013 is an introduction to the structure and functions of the human body with emphasis on the endocrine system, circulatory system, respiratory system, gastro intestinal system, urinary system, reproductive system, and genetics.

Prerequisite(s): ENG099 MAT0099
AHS1001, BIO1011, and BIO1012 with a C or better. Concurrent enrollment in BIO1014 or the equivalent.

Credits: 4

BIO1014 - Anatomy and Physiology II Lab (11- week course)

Anatomy and Physiology II Lab is designed to support, amplify, and clarify the material presented in the theory class BIO1013 through demonstration and exercises utilizing chart, models, tissues, and organs, as well as typical laboratory equipment. The second part of the term will include a whole specimen dissection, which will assist the comprehensive review of both BIO1011 and BIO1013. Laboratory topic content shall follow the theory class very closely.

Prerequisite(s): BIO1011 ENG099 MAT0099
Concurrent enrollment in BIO1013. AHS1001 and BIO1012 with a grade of C or better.

Credits: 2

BIO1015 - Pathophysiology (11- week course)

Pathophysiology is an introductory study of disease processes in humans. Etiology, clinical manifestations, complications, common treatments, and diagnostic findings are reviewed by body systems and developmental stages.

Prerequisite(s): BIO1013 AND BIO1014 with grades of "C" or better

Credits: 4

BIO2070 - Microbiology (11- week course)

Microbiology introduces the student to microorganisms with particular emphasis on their role in health, wellness and disease. Economic, social and cultural issues related to utilization, control, and research of the monera, protista, fungi, bacteria and viruses are also considered. BIO2070 must be taken concurrently with BIO2071.

Prerequisite(s): BIO1013 BIO1014
Co-requisite BIO2071 BIO1013, BIO1014, and CHM1010 with a C or better.

Credits: 4

BIO2071 - Microbiology Lab (11- week course)

Microbiology introduces the student to microorganisms with particular emphasis on their role in health, wellness and disease. In this course students perform laboratory exercises, experiments and tests that correlate with the lecture material of BIO2070. Emphasis is placed on aseptic technique, proper handling of lab specimens, universal precautions and proper waste disposal. BIO2071 must be taken concurrently with BIO2070.

Prerequisite(s): BIO1013 BIO1014
BIO1013, BIO1014, and CHM1010 with a C or better. Co-requisite: BIO2070.

Credits: 2

NTR2050 - Nutrition (11-week course)

This course surveys the principles necessary to promote optimum nutrition throughout the life cycle. Consideration is given to informed evaluation of areas of controversy, as well as influence of socioeconomic and culture on nutritional practices.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

PSY2022 - Human Growth and Development

In Human Growth and Development, students will learn the normal developmental stages of the human life cycle. The stages of human development will be examined within the context of the biological, psychological, sociological, intellectual, and emotional processes. Relevant cross-cultural comparisons are used to illustrate the unity and diversity of human life.

Prerequisite(s): PSY1001

Credits: 4

Developmental Courses

Placement tests in Algebra and English are administered to determine if a student needs additional preparation in either of these areas.  If a need is indicated, accepted applicants are placed in developmental courses on the basis of their entrance/placement test scores and/or transfer credit.  Students must successfully complete or place out of developmental courses in order to progress in the program. Developmental course credits do not count towards the total number of credits for graduation however, they do count in determining the maximum time frame and incremental completion rate calculations.

ENG0099 - Principles of Composition

Principles of Composition provides students with a brief review of grammar and mechanics, and an in-depth introduction to writing. The focus is on writing as a process, finding and organizing ideas, composing a first draft, and rewriting subsequent drafts and proofreading.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

MAT0099 - Principles of Algebra

This course introduces those principles of algebra that are needed for intermediate and college algebra. Students must earn the grade of C to pass this course. Note: This course is offered for institutional credit only.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

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