Health Science

This course focuses on microbial and physical safety for clinical practice. Emphasis is placed on guidelines established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Alabama State Department of Public Health; topics include prevention of transmission of blood-borne and airborne pathogens as well as prevention of injuries during clinical practice. Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to participate in the clinical setting implementing measures which will prevent injuries and using appropriate universal precautions.

This course is an application for the language of medicine. Emphasis is placed on terminology associated with health care, spelling, pronunciation, and meanings associated with prefixes, suffixes, and roots as they relate to anatomical body systems. Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to correctly abbreviate medical terms and appropriately use medical terminology in verbal and written communication.

This course provides an introduction to Spanish with a focus on the basic communication skills and vocabulary needed by health professionals when a non-English speaking Hispanic enters a health care setting. Topics include soliciting identification information, history taking, performance of physical exam and giving instructions on general care and follow-up.

This course is an introduction to basic pharmacology. Content includes classifications, indications, contraindications, desired effects, and side effects of medications used during diagnostic procedures and the prevention and treatment of common illnesses. Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to relate basic pharmacological concepts to the maintenance of health.