Health and Natural Sciences

Health and Natural Sciences at Southwest has five academic areas. This division offers a wide range of A.A.S. and A.S. degrees and technical certificates for students seeking knowledge and skills to enter today’s health services field.

Academic Areas

Allied Health Sciences includes associate of applied science degree and technical certificate programs designed to prepare students for licensure and employment right away after graduating. Program admission is limited and competitive. Academic requirements vary with each program. Students who exceed the minimum requirements for each program are selected first. Allied Health students gain clinical skills at area medical centers, hospitals, and other health care centers. The Union Avenue Campus is the primary location for classrooms and labs. Programs include Medical Laboratory Technician (A.A.S.), Physical Therapist Assistant (A.A.S.), Radiologic Technology (A.A.S.), Laboratory Phlebotomy Technician (certificate), and Pharmacy Technician (certificate).

Allied Health

Emergency Medical Services includes three certificate programs: Emergency Medical Technician — Basic, Emergency Medical Technician — Advanced and Paramedic. After completing the EMT-Basic and EMT-Advanced certificates, students can pursue an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree to become a Paramedic. These programs instruct students on how to provide care for people experiencing injuries and medical emergencies. Graduates enjoy fulfilling careers with local fire departments and ambulance services.

Emergency Medical Services

The Associate of Applied Science degree in Funeral Service Education prepares students for a career as funeral directors and embalmers. Coursework equips students with a broad understanding of funeral home operations, funeral directing, public health and embalming. This program covers everything from the business fundamentals of the industry to grief counseling.

Funeral Service Education

Natural Sciences at Southwest provides access to educational excellence in the sciences to help students meet prerequisites for a number of health science careers. It also offers science courses that can transfer to four-year degree programs. Courses are offered in Anatomy and Physiology (BIOL), Biology (BIOL), Chemistry (CHEM), Physical and Meteorological Geography (ESCI), Microbiology (BIOL) and Physics (PHYS). This department also includes the Biotechnology Program, which offers two A.A.S. degrees — Biotechnology Technician and Forensic Science Technician. Lastly, Natural Sciences offers an Associate of Science transfer degree in Agricultural Sciences.

Natural Sciences

The Nursing Program prepares students for licensure and employment right away after graduating. It also provides coursework needed for students to transfer to a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program. Southwest offers courses leading to an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Nursing by means of two options — Generic Track and LPN Mobility Track. Being accepted into one of these options depends on your grades in certain prerequisite courses, your overall G.P.A. and your performance on the National League of Nursing (NLN) exam. Once accepted, classes begin in either the Fall or Spring semesters. Upon graduation, you would be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Nursing