Paramedic, A.A.S.
Entry Time
Spring
Award
Associate of Applied Science degree
2 years (5 terms)
Paramedics provide the highest level of pre-hospital emergency care. The paramedic is an allied health professional whose primary focus is to provide advanced emergency medical care for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system. This individual possesses the complex knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation. Paramedics function as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under physician oversight. They perform interventions with the basic and advanced equipment typically found on an ambulance. The paramedic is a link between the scene and the health care system.
Paramedics provide advanced care in a variety of settings. Utilizing critical thinking skills, paramedics rapidly assess, treat and stabilize injured or ill patients and provide transport to or between hospitals. Settings may include ground and air ambulances, emergency departments, critical care units or cardiac cath labs. Along with advanced assessment techniques, paramedics utilize medications, cardiac monitoring and interpreting, defibrillation and advanced invasive skills as guided by state and local protocols, as well as the medical direction of each service.
The Paramedic program follows the current National Emergency Medical Services Education Standards from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The standards prepare the EMT and AEMT for the more advanced scope of practice of the paramedic. This allied health program has a mandatory background check for clinical purposes.
Career Opportunities
- ambulance services
- fire departments
- hospitals
- law enforcement agencies
- other health care facilities
Degree Requirements
| Term 1 | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisites * | ||
| Select one of the following: 1, 2 | 8.5 | |
| EMT I and EMT II and EMT II Clinical | ||
| Advanced Emergency Medical Technician | ||
| MAT-772 | Applied Math 4 | 3 |
| Term Totals: | 11.5 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| EMS-601 | Paramedic Operations 1 | 3 |
| EMS-602 | Cardiorespiratory Prep 1 | 3.5 |
| EMS-656 | Clinical Introduction 1 | 1 |
| PSY-111 | Intro to Psychology 3, 4 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: 4 | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Oral Comm 3 | ||
| Public Speaking 3 | ||
| Interpersonal Communication 3 | ||
| Communication for Health Care Professionals 3 | ||
| Term Totals: | 13.5 | |
| Term 3 | ||
| EMS-658 | Cardiorespiratory Emergencies 1 | 4 |
| EMS-659 | Paramedic Clinical I 1 | 4 |
| EMS-813 | ACLS & PALS 1 | 1.5 |
| Select one of the following: 4 | 3 | |
| Composition I 3 | ||
| Comp II: Technical Writing 3 | ||
| College Writing 3 | ||
| Term Totals: | 12.5 | |
| Term 4 | ||
| EMS-691 | Medical Emergencies I 1 | 3.75 |
| EMS-692 | Medical Emergencies II 1 | 3.75 |
| EMS-693 | Gyn/OB/Neonatology 1 | 2.5 |
| EMS-696 | Paramedic Clinical II 1 | 4 |
| BCA-189 | Microcomputer Literacy 3, 4 | 1 |
| Term Totals: | 15 | |
| Term 5 | ||
| EMS-697 | Trauma Emergencies 1 | 3.5 |
| EMS-698 | Paramedic Clinical III 1 | 3 |
| EMS-701 | Paramedic Test Prep 1 | 1.5 |
| EMS-822 | PHTLS & AMLS 1 | 1.5 |
| EMS-699 | Paramedic Capstone 1 | 3 |
| Humanities or History/Culture Course 3, 4 | 3 | |
| Term Totals: | 15.5 | |
| Program Totals: | 68 | |
- *
A current Iowa EMT License is required before acceptance into the technical portion of the program.
- 1
Minimum C- required to graduate.
- 2
Students are recommended to take EMS-255 EMT I, EMS-350 EMT II and EMS-365 EMT II Clinical. EMS-300 Advanced Emergency Medical Technician may be taken instead.
- 3
Course may be taken before the technical portion of the program with program director's permission.
- 4
Does not need to be taken in this specific term. Course can be moved throughout the program.