Health Sciences & Medical Terminology

Health Sciences
Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in Medical Terminology

This course introduces the student to a variety of healthcare careers and develops basic skills required in all health and medical sciences. It is designed to help students understand the key elements of the U.S. healthcare system and to learn basic healthcare terminology, anatomy and physiology for each body system, pathologies, diagnostic and clinical procedures, therapeutic interventions, and the fundamentals of traumatic and medical emergency care. Throughout the course, instruction emphasizes safety, cleanliness, asepsis, professionalism, accountability, and efficiency within the healthcare environment. Students also begin gaining job-seeking skills for entry into the health and medical sciences field. In addition, instruction may include the basics of medical laboratory procedures, pharmacology fundamentals, biotechnology concepts, and communication skills essential for providing quality patient care.

Medical Terminology
Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in Health Sciences

Medical Terminology is designed to help students learn health care language. Topics are presented in logical order, beginning with each body system’s anatomy and physiology and progressing through pathology, diagnostic procedures, therapeutic interventions, and finally pharmacology. Students learn concepts, terms, and abbreviations for each topic.

• College credit: This course may be dual-enrolled at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) as HIM 111 for a total of 3credits at NOVA. The NOVA entrance requirements must be met before registering. The content of this course is taught at the college level. Please consult with your counselor for more details.