Health Science Technology
Launch your healthcare career with versatile, job-ready training for a variety of medical fields, including aging, recovery, administration and nursing.
What is Health Science Technology?
The medical field is one of the most rewarding fields that one can choose to enter. Our Health Science Technology (HST) program is designed to prepare students for entry-level career opportunities in the field of healthcare and health-related services. The program is structured for those students who seek entry-level jobs, as well as for the currently employed individual wishing to broaden skills for career enhancement. Graduates will possess marketable skills sets for direct care services as well as the foundation needed to understand current health care delivery.
Medical careers are very portable. Jobs may be found throughout the country. You can work in places like doctor's offices, assisted living/retirement facilities, clinics, the health department, hospitals, laboratories, or pharmacies. Students can come out of the program employable, or choose to complete additional education at the bachelor or masters level, where more focused opportunities will become available.
Employment outlook for 2014 to 2024, much faster than average for all occupations
as is projected to grow by 26.2 percent.
Other areas of employment include the administration/billing areas of hospitals, urgent
care clinics, insurance providers, labs, chiropractors, long term care residences,
and most facilities delivering health care services.
Local employers who have hired graduates with this degree include Henderson Methodist Hospital, local doctors' offices in Henderson, Evansville and Owensboro, as well as other local medical facilities.
Getting Started
What are my degree, diploma, and certificate options?
| Associate in applied science (AAS) Health Science Technology: 60-65 Total credit hours | Requirements |
| certificate - Kentucky Medication Aide - Practical Nursing: 5 TOTAL CREDIT HOURS | Requirements |
| certificate - Kentucky Medication Aide - Integrated Nursing: 5 TOTAL CREDIT HOURS | Requirements |
| certificate - Aging Services: 18 TOTAL CREDIT HOURS | Requirements |
| certificate - Electrocardiograph Technician: 17-22 Total credit hours | Requirements |
| certificate - Entry Level Pharmacy Technology: 21-24 Total credit hours | Requirements |
| certificate - MOAA Medical Office Administrative Assistant: 15-19 Total credit hours | Requirements |
| certificate - Medical Office Insurance Billing and Coding: 12-16 Total credit hours | Requirements |
| certificate - Physician's Office Laboratory: 8-9 Total credit hours | Requirements |
| certificate - Phlebotomist: 4-9 Total credit hours | Requirements |
| certificate - Phlebotomy for the Health Care Worker: 4-5 Total credit hours | Requirements |
| certificate - Psychiatric Mental Health Technician: 27 Total credit hours | Requirements |
| certificate - Recovery Coach: 24 Total credit hours | Requirements |
How Do I Pay For This?
Worry no more. With the lowest tuition in Kentucky, financial aid options, and a helping hand to guide you through the application process, HCC has you covered. We'll help you reach your dreams at a price that won't break the bank.
What Else Do I Need to Know?
Program Information
The HST program requires the completion of a minimum of three certificates within the health care field, which may be earned while completing the academic courses required. These certificates will afford the student an opportunity to seek employment within the health care field while completing the HST degree. The certificates, which are chosen by the student from HCC’s allied health division programs based on personal interest, serve as career choice enhancements that may lead to entrance in a specific field of study, or given the student flexibility in choosing varying health care institutions in which to work.
The HST provides a smooth transition or career pathway to an Allied Health or nursing selective admission program once a student is accepted. A grade of “C” or better is required in each biological science and quantitative reasoning course. Application and acceptance into a selective admissions program are separate processes from the HST program. Prior to clinical attendance in any course students are required to provide documentation of required immunizations, background check and drug screens as a requirement for clinical agencies.
What classes do I have to take?
The HST program includes a general education core (25-29 credits) and technical core (29-30 credits). The following requirements for completion of the program are:
- Digital literacy requirement.
- Complete an anatomy and physiology course (BIO 135 or the two semester sequence of BIO 137 and 139) with a grade of “C” or higher.
- Complete an approved math course (MAT 110 or MAT 150 or higher) with a grade of “C” or higher.
- Finish all program courses with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- To see a complete course listing for each credential use the KCTCS Course Catalog.
Where do I start?
Apply for admission to HCC to receive information from the Admissions Office about submitting your placement test scores (ACT or COMPASS exams) and to schedule a meeting with an advisor to register for your classes.
Faculty
Various faculty from the Allied Health Division teach in the program depending on certificate selection by the student.
Transfer Opportunities
Graduates can seek four-year degrees in Health Sciences from WKU, NKU and Indiana State University as well as other four year institutions.
Length of Program
You can earn an associate in applied science degree in two years if you maintain full-time status.
This information should not be considered a substitute for the KCTCS Catalog. You should always choose classes in cooperation with your faculty advisor to ensure that you meet all degree requirements.
