Health Studies

90% or more of this program can be completed online.

Take a big step toward a bachelor’s degree — and a career in health

Monroe Community College’s Health Studies AS degree offers a great foundation for various health-related careers. You’ll get a broad, practical education in multiple domains of health, enabling you to explore different career paths in the field of health.

MCC’s Health Studies classes are taught by experienced professors who have spent many years working in their health specialty. You’ll build high-quality credits that you can apply toward health-related bachelor’s degrees.

Health-related careers continue to grow at a faster than average rate. Chronic disease, an aging population, and rising healthcare costs have created the need for a strong workforce that is able to address prevention, treatment, and coordination of care. The Health Studies program offers different track options with coursework that is tailored to your interest and career goals. Whether you picture yourself working in the community, a corporate facility, or a health-related organization, the health studies degree from MCC is a solid foundation for your career.

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School of Health Sciences & Physical WellnessThe School of Health Sciences & Physical Wellness prepares you to deliver quality patient/client care, and improve the health of individuals and communities through education and service.

Health Studies Degree - Three Program Track Options

  • Clinical (Healthcare Careers): The Clinical track offers a pathway to apply for programs in clinical healthcare careers. The Clinical track includes quality point courses for competitive health-related programs at MCC, as well as courses that are needed in order to apply for BSN and other health-related programs at transfer schools.
  • Community Health: The Community Health track offers the flexibility to prepare for transfer into a number of health-related career programs such as Counseling, Healthcare Studies, Health Education, and Public Health.
  • Healthcare Administration: For students who have interest in management within healthcare, there is also a Healthcare Administration track that prepares students for transfer into Bachelor's degree programs in Healthcare Administration.

By working closely with advisors at MCC, electives can be tailored to optimize transfer into your desired program at your transfer school.

MCC’s Health Studies Associate Degree Gets You Halfway Toward a Bachelor’s Degree

The health studies associate degree at Monroe Community College includes courses in liberal arts, biology, psychology, social science, humanities and mathematics. The core program requirements include introductory health courses such as foundations in personal health and wellness, and other health courses tailored to the needs of the career path chosen.

Graduates from our health studies associate degree program have an outstanding record of continued education and career success. Our students have gone on to pursue health care bachelor’s degrees in many leading health sciences programs, including Ithaca College, the University of Rochester, multiple SUNY campuses, and the St. James School of Radiological Science.

Graduates with the Health Studies degree will be prepared to apply to transfer programs and complete bachelor’s degrees that can lead to health-related careers such as:

  • Community Health
  • Counseling
  • Health care administration
  • Medical and health services
  • BS Nursing
  • Public Health/Global Health
  • Substance abuse counseling
  • Wellness promotion/Health coaching

For more information about the health care career opportunities you can pursue with a health studies associate degree, contact Monroe Community College’s admissions office at (585) 292-2200 or admissions@9925zc.com.

HEALTH STUDIES

A.S. Degree - Transfer Program

Department:Health and Physical Education

School(s): Health Sciences & Physical Wellness

MCC Program Code: HS01

90% or more of this program can be completed online.

Description
The Health Studies program includes courses in liberal arts, natural science, psychology, social science, world history and global awareness, diversity, humanities, and mathematics, and prepares students for transfer into a variety of health-related career paths. The program offers three different track options from which students may choose; Clinical, Community Health, and Healthcare Administration.
The Clinical Track is designed for students interested in preparing to apply to healthcare career programs, such as Nursing, Radiological Technology, Respiratory Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Dental Hygiene, Surgical Technology, and other select clinical careers. This track includes point-bearing quality point courses, such as anatomy and physiology, that are required in order to apply to a number of competitive health-related programs. The Clinical Track can also be utilized to prepare for transfer into bachelor’s degree programs in fields such as Public Health and Nursing (BSN).
Students interested in careers in Community Health, Health and Wellness Coaching, Care Coordination, Community Health Navigation, Counseling, Social Work, Consumer Health, or Public Health can utilize the Community Health Track. This track can serve as a foundation for transfer to programs leading into these health-related careers.
Students who are interested in careers involving management in healthcare can complete the Healthcare Administration Track. This track serves as preparation for transfer to bachelor’s degrees in Healthcare Administration.
With specific elective selection, students in all three tracks have the opportunity to earn stackable credentials such as Health and Wellness Coaching Certification, a Certificate in Care Coordination/Community Health Navigation, or a Multicultural/Diversity-World Health Perspective Microcredential.
With selection of online or remote course options, the Health Studies Community Health degree track and Healthcare Administration degree track could be completed 100% online. The Health Studies Clinical track could be completed 90% online.

Program Learning Outcomes
PLOs for Health Studies, Clinical Track
1. Describe personal health behaviors within integrative dimensions of health that promote prevention of common illness, injury, addiction, disease, disability or death.
2. Use critical thinking skills to differentiate between unreliable and accurate, evidence-based health information.
3. Identify factors that may influence health and wellness within diverse cultures and communities
4. Evaluate healthcare/community issues or options related to quality of life, chronic disease, or death.
5. Demonstrate skills for addressing life threatening situations.

PLOs for Health Studies, Community Health Track:
1. Describe personal health behaviors within integrative dimensions of health that promote prevention of common illness, injury, addiction, disease, disability or death.
2. Use critical thinking skills to differentiate between unreliable and accurate, evidence-based health information.
3. Identify factors that may influence health and wellness within diverse cultures and communities
4. Evaluate healthcare/community issues or options related to quality of life, chronic disease, or death.

PLOs for Health Studies, Healthcare Administration Track
1. Describe personal health behaviors within integrative dimensions of health that promote prevention of common illness, injury, addiction, disease, disability or death.
2. Use critical thinking skills to differentiate between unreliable and accurate, evidence-based health information.
3. Identify factors that may influence health and wellness within diverse cultures and communities
4. Identify influences on the creation and maintenance of health policies impacting the health and wellness of diverse cultures and communities.

Employment Potential
For related jobs: Career Coach
Occupational Resource: http://www.onetonline.org

Requirements for Program Entrance
Intermediate Algebra with Trigonometry (or Math 104 at MCC). Biology and Chemistry recommended.

HEALTH STUDIES: CLINICAL TRACK:

Credit Hours
FIRST SEMESTER
ENG 101 College Composition OR
ENG 200 Advanced Composition
3
MTH 160 Statistics I
3
BIO 144 Human Anatomy and Physiology I *
4
HED 130 Foundations of Health and Wellness
3
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology
3
First Semester Total:
16
SECOND SEMESTER
BIO 145 Human Anatomy and Physiology II *
4
HED 115 Death and Dying
3
PHL 103 Introduction to Ethics OR
PHL 250 Professional Ethics
3
PSY 101 Introduction to Psychological Science
3
OPEN ELECTIVE
3
Second Semester Total:
16
THIRD SEMESTER
BIO 202 Microbiology OR
HED 208 Chronic and Communicable Disease **
3-4
PSY 212 Developmental Psychology - Lifespan
3
HEG 215 - Global Health and Culture
3
ANY HED, HEG, PEC OR PPE ELECTIVE
3
PROGRAM ELECTIVE ***
3-4
Third Semester Total:
15-17
FOURTH SEMESTER
BIO 217 Nutrition OR
MTH 165 College Algebra ****
3
BIO 217 Nutrition OR
MTH 165 College Algebra OR
CHE 124 General, Organic, and Biochemistry OR
CHE 151 General College Chemistry I ****
3-4
HED 101 Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Care OR
HED 114 Health and Safety in the Workplace OR
HED 118 Introduction to Safety and Emergency Care OR
HEG 200 Multicultural and Diversity Influences In Health and Wellness
1-3
ANY SUNY GENERAL EDUCATION ELECTIVE
3-4
OPEN ELECTIVE
3
Fourth Semester Total:
13-17
TOTAL CREDITS:
60-66
Clinical Track
Clinical Track:
*Dental Hygiene and Clinical Lab Technician intent students may opt to take BIO 134 and 135 for BIO 144 and 145; see advisor to discuss course substitution and verify minimum program credits.

**Nursing, Surgical Technology, Clinical Lab Technician, and Dental Hygiene intent students should choose BIO 202.
***Choose from BIO 120, BIO 132/133, BIO 155, CHE 100, 145, MTH 104, MTH 175/higher, PHY 145, or any HED/HEG. Consult an advisor before making course selection.
****Nursing and Dental Hygiene intent students should choose CHE 124 and BIO 217; Radiologic Technology intent students should choose MTH 165; Clinical Lab Technician intent students should choose CHE 124/151 and MTH 165.



HEALTH STUDIES: COMMUNITY HEALTH TRACK:
Credit Hours
FIRST SEMESTER
ENG 101 College Composition OR
ENG 200 Advanced Composition
3
HED 209 Drugs and Behavior
3
HED 130 Foundations of Health and Wellness
3
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology
3
HIM 104 Medical Terminology OR
MTH 104 Intermediate Algebra OR
ANY HED OR HEG ELECTIVE +++
3-4
First Semester Total:
15-16
SECOND SEMESTER
BIO 134 Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology I OR
BIO 144 Human Anatomy and Physiology I OR
BIO 133 Human Biology AND
BIO 132 Laboratory to Accompany Human Biology OR
BIO 120 Essentials of Life Science
3-4
MTH 160 Statistics I
3
PSY 101 Introduction to Psychological Science
3
PHL 103 Introduction to Ethics OR
SUNY GENERAL EDUCATION - HUMANITIES (SUNY-HUMN) ELECTIVE
3
HEG 200 Multicultural and Diversity Issues in Health and Wellness OR
HED 115 Death and Dying ++
3
Second Semester Total:
15-16
THIRD SEMESTER
HED 207 Emotional Wellness OR
HED 212 Women's Health and Wellness OR
HEG 211 Black Women's Mental Health and Wellness ++
3
HUM 210 Disability Across the Lifespan-Strategies OR
HUM 217 Skills for Mental Health Services OR
HUM 218 Working with Trauma Informed Care Skills OR
PSY 212 Developmental Psychology-Lifespan ++
3
BIO 135 Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology II OR
SUNY GENERAL EDUCATION - NATURAL SCIENCES (and Scientific Reasoning) (SUNY-NSCI) ELECTIVE
3-4
HEG 215 Global Health and Culture
3
HED 210 Integrative Health and Wellness Behavior Methods OR
SPC 142 Public Speaking +
3
Third Semester Total:
15-16
FOURTH SEMESTER
HED 208 Chronic and Communicable Disease OR
BIO 117 Basic Consumer Nutrition OR
BIO 217 Nutrition
3
OPEN ELECTIVE
3
OPEN ELECTIVE
3
PPE 240 Practicum in Professional Skills OR
PPE 275 Physiology of Exercise OR
ANY HED, HEG, PEC, OR PPE ELECTIVE +
3-4
HIM 140 Survey of Health Information Technology Concepts OR
ANY HED OR HEG ELECTIVE +++
3
Fourth Semester Total:
15-16
TOTAL CREDITS:
60-64
Community Health Track:
+For Health and Wellness Coaching Certification/Microcredential, select HED 210 and PPE 240. HED 130 also required for this microcredential.

++For Multicultural Diversity - World Health Perspective Microcredential, select HEG 200 and one of the following: HEG 211/HED 115/HUM 218. HEG 215 is also required for this microcredential.

+++For Care Coordination/Community Health Navigation Certificate, all courses listed above for Health and Wellness Coaching and Multicultural Diversity - World Health Perspective are required, in addition to HIM 104 and HIM 140.

Distribution Requirements
Credit Hours
HEALTH STUDIES: HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION TRACK:
FIRST SEMESTER
ENG 101 College Composition OR
ENG 200 Advanced Composition
3
HED 209 Drugs and Behavior
3
HED 130 Foundations of Health and Wellness
3
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology
3
HIM 104 Medical Terminology OR
MTH 104 Intermediate Algebra OR
ANY HED or HEG Elective
3-4
First Semester Total:
15-16
SECOND SEMESTER
MTH 160 Statistics I
3
PSY 101 Introduction to Psychological Science
3
PHL 103 Introduction to Ethics OR
SUNY GENERAL EDUCATION - HUMANITIES (SUNY-HUMN) ELECTIVE
3
HED 208 Chronic and Communicable Disease
3
HEG 200 Multicultural and Diversity Influences in Health and Wellness OR
HED 115 Death and Dying #
3
Second Semester Total:
15
THIRD SEMESTER
ACC 101 Accounting Principles I (grade of C or higher required)
4
CRC 125 Microsoft Office
4
HED 207 Emotional Wellness OR
HED 212 Women's Health and Wellness OR
HEG 211 Black Women's Mental Health and Wellness #
3
SPC 141 Interpersonal Speech Communication OR
SPC 142 Public Speaking OR
SPC 143 Small Group Communication OR
SPC 144 Communication and Crisis
3
BUS 104 Introduction to Business OR
ANY HED, HEG, PEC OR PPE ELECTIVE
1-3
Third Semester Total:
15-17
FOURTH SEMESTER
ACC 102 Accounting Principles II
4
HEG 215 Global Health and Culture
3
OPEN ELECTIVE
3
OPEN ELECTIVE
2-3
HIM 140 Survey of Health Info Tech Concepts OR
ANY HED, HEG, PEC OR PPE ELECTIVE
3
Fourth Semester Total:
15-16
TOTAL CREDITS:
60-64
Healthcare Administration Track:
# For Multicultural Diversity - World Health Perspective Microcredential, take HEG 200 and HEG 211. HEG 215 also required for this microcredential.


revised 2/15/2024