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A challenging curriculum and dedicated teachers help Academy students reach their highest potential.
Courses Offered
Health Occupations
INTRODUCTION TO HEALTH OCCUPATIONS I is a semester course, open to freshmen through seniors, which offers information on a variety of health care/medical career fields and is designed to help the student determine the health care career most suited to her goals by learning the specifics of each role. The required education and responsibilities of various health careers will be explored, along with basic concepts common to all health careers: the health care team, health delivery systems, professionalism, human growth and development, communication, cultural diversity in health care, and an introduction to the history of health care. Opportunities for interactions with health care professionals and a field trip to a health care facility will be provided. A fee of approximately $20 will be charged. Prerequisites: None
HEALTH SCIENCE I is a first semester course for sophomores through seniors who wish to continue to pursue a career in one of the medical/health related occupations and get ready for an internship at a medical facility. Topics of study include ethical and legal matters, patient and employee safety, and computer technologies used in today’s health care system. Students explore and apply their knowledge of medical terms and the body systems. Basic skills of bed making, range of motion exercises, measuring heights and weights, intake and output, and vital signs are practiced. This course prepares students for their internship which will follow this class. This course must be scheduled the same year as the Health Occupations Internship I class. A fee of approximately $45 will be charged for materials and scrubs. Prerequisites: Introduction to Health Occupations I, Biology I and/or concurrent enrollment in either, cumulative GPA of 2.0, director approval through application process and interview, and updated immunization and health records. (Students should take Health Science I, Internship I, and Medical Terminology during the same year. Students who can only take 1 elective should take Medical Terminology before Health Science and Internship.)
HEALTH SCIENCE I-HONORS is a first semester course for sophomores through seniors that covers the same topics as the Health Science I class; however, the honors section is more in-depth and demands a critical thinking approach and strong writing skills. Medical terminology with reference to the human body and pathologies are learned. Basic skills of patient care are practiced, and this course prepares students for their Internship I class. This course must be scheduled the same year as the Health Occupations Internship I class. A fee of approximately $45 will be charged for materials and scrubs. Prerequisites: Introduction to Health Occupations I, Biology I and/or concurrent enrollment in either, cumulative GPA of 3.0, director approval through application process and interview, and updated Immunization and health records. (Students should take Health Science I, Internship I, and Medical Terminology during the same year. Students who can only take 1 elective should take Medical Terminology before Health Science and Internship.)
HEALTH OCCUPATIONS INTERNSHIP I is a second semester course for sophomores through seniors and is taken after Health Science I and Introduction to Health Occupations I. This course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to apply learned skills in the workplace. An internship in a health care facility is a vital component of this class. Content research and reflective written work account for a significant portion of the course grade. Students are placed in their particular fields of interest and have the opportunity to explore a single potential career or a combination of careers they may be considering. Emphasis will be placed on developing leadership and interpersonal skills, oral and written communication skills, work ethics, relevant skills of the workplace, and an understanding of the individually chosen profession. Students will shadow health care professionals and observe medical personnel at West Jefferson Medical Center. A fee of approximately $20 will be charged. Prerequisites: Introduction to Health Occupations I and Health Science I, strong writing skills, and director approval. The Medical Terminology class must be taken before or concurrent with the Health Occupations Internship class. (Students should take Health Science I, Internship I, and Medical Terminology during the same year. Students who can only take 1 elective should take Medical Terminology before Health Science and Internship.)
MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY is a year course offered to sophomores through seniors that provides the students with a comprehensive knowledge of the construction, definition and use of terms related to all areas of medical science. These include, but are not limited to, words related to human anatomy and physiology, structures and functions of body systems, pathology, and diagnostic and treatment procedures. Students will also become familiar with the abbreviations and the meanings that are used in health care. This specialized language of health care workers enables students to communicate in an accurate, articulate, and concise manner and complements the health occupations classes. A fee of approximately $20 will be charged. The Medical Terminology class must be taken before or concurrent with the Health Occupations Internship class. (Students should take Health Science I, Internship I and Medical Terminology during the same year. Students who can only take 1 elective should take Medical Terminology before Health Science and Internship.) Prerequisites: Introduction to Health Occupations I
HEALTH OCCUPATIONS INTERNSHIP II-HONORS is a year course structured to address the needs of the whole patient within the clinical setting and provides the opportunity to gain knowledge, skills, and abilities to practice fundamental health care skills. Students will learn key terms and work through case studies while learning practical applications of communication, teamwork, and resource management of time and supplies. An internship in a health care facility is a vital component of this course. The students have the opportunity to explore more deeply the profession they are considering. Reflective written work and content research with application to patient care account for a significant portion of the course grade. A course fee of approximately $40 will be charged. Prerequisites: Introduction to Health Occupations I, Health Science I, Health Occupations Internship I, Medical Terminology, Anatomy and Physiology, and director approval
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY is a college prep course recommended for students interested in medical careers and the Health Connections Program. This course will focus on the structure and functions of the multiple systems of the human body. Applications to medical careers will be stressed. Dissections will include representative organs such as the brain, eye, heart, and kidney. This course does fulfill the TOPS requirements and does count for the LA. Core 4 requirements. A lab fee of approximately $30.00 will be assessed. Prerequisites: “C” in each semester of Biology I and previous or concurrent enrollment in Chemistry I
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY-HONORS is a college prep course recommended for students interested in careers in medicine, science and physical education. It is an advanced course in human biology which incorporates many activities. The structure (Anatomy) and the function (Physiology) of human cells, organs and systems are covered. Genetics, in particular, human genetic diseases are discussed. All students will be required to dissect a cat. This course does fulfill the TOPS requirements and does count for LA. Core 4 requirements. A lab fee of approximately $30.00 will be assessed. Prerequisite: “C” in each semester of Biology I-H or a “B” in each semester of Biology I and previous or concurrent enrollment in Chemistry I
