Associate Degree in Emergency Medical Science

Emergency Medical Science – Paramedic
Associate in Applied Science Degree (A45340)

Overview

The Emergency Medical Science curriculum is designed to prepare graduates to enter the workforce as paramedics. Additionally, This program provides an Associate Degree for individuals desiring an opportunity for career enhancement.

The course of study provides the student an opportunity to acquire basic and advanced life support knowledge and skills by utilizing classroom instruction, practical laboratory sessions, hospital clinical experience, and field internship with emergency medical services agencies.

Accreditation and Program Standards

The Gaston College EMS Program is accredited by the North Carolina Office of EMS and is approved by the North Carolina Community College System. The EMS program meets the current standards of the national standard paramedic training curriculum .

The Paramedic Program is structured into five semesters of EMS theory and practice courses additional EMS course and related courses to complete the Emergency Medical Science Degree. The EMS courses must be taken sequentially. Classroom and laboratory instruction is reinforced through hospital clinical and field experience on an advanced life support unit.

Upon completion of the EMS education program, the expectation is that the graduate possesses the skills, knowledge, and attitudes to enter the workforce. The safety of the public greatly depends on the competence of all health care providers. The Department for EMS Education also believes in fostering professional identity, ethical standards, scholarly concern for improvement, motivation for continued learning, and career marketability.

Career Outline

Students progressing through the program may be eligible to apply for both state and national certification examinations. Employment opportunities include ambulance services, fire and rescue agencies, air medical services, specialty areas of hospitals, industry, educational institutions, and government agencies.

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Curriculum

The Emergency Medical Science curriculum is designed to prepare graduates to enter the workforce as paramedics. Additionally, the program can provide an Associate Degree for individuals desiring an opportunity for career enhancement.

The Paramedic Program is structured into five semesters of EMS theory and practice courses additional EMS course and related courses to complete the Emergency Medical Science Degree. The EMS courses must be taken sequentially. Classroom and laboratory instruction is reinforced through hospital clinical and field experience on an advanced life support unit.

Emergency Medical Science - Paramedic Program
Associate Degree
A45340

Admission Information

Students applying for admission to the Gaston College Emergency Medical Science Program MUST meet the following requirements for GENERAL ADMISSION to the college:

• Complete general admission application
• Completion of Compass test. The compass test may be waived of any person who has completed a College level English and Math or scored 520 on the verbal section and 500 on the math section of the SAT. Compass test and completion of any identified developmental courses or remediation are required prior to acceptance in the EMS program.
• Submit an official transcript from home school, adult high school, international
  correspondence school, or high school with graduation date or G.E.D. scores (minimum score of 225 and no sub score less than 35.)
• Submit official college transcript(s), when applicable
• Applicants from countries whose language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by scoring no less than 540 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Additional Requirements To Be Eligible For Admission To The EMS Program:

• Must complete separate application to enter the Paramedic Program.
• Must have a minimum of grade “C” in all courses listed as part of the EMS Degree
  program.
• Must have completed the related BIO courses within 10 years of the date of enrollment in the EMS prefix courses..
• A completed North Carolina Community College Student Medical Form documenting satisfactory emotional, physical health and immunizations is required.
• Criminal Background Checks and Drug Screening:
  • In order to comply with current Student Affiliation Agreements students accepted into the Emergency Medical Science Program will be required to submit a Criminal Background Check and Drug Screening according to Gaston College procedures prior to placement in a clinical facility.
  • The facility reserves the right to deny the student access to the facility. If the student is denied access, the student will not be allowed to enroll in the program.
  • Completion of clinical experiences is required for the satisfactory completion of the program. More information will be provided upon conditional acceptance into the program.

ADMISSIONS SELECTION PROCESS

The EMS program director considers the following in the selection process for acceptance
into the Emergency Medical Science program:

• EMS Program Application and Supporting Documents.
• Previous coursework
• Placement Scores

The selection of applicants is based on the above criteria. Students will be notified regarding their admission status.

The required related courses will be offered on either the Gaston College Dallas campus or the Gaston College Lincolnton campus.

Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from all clinical, laboratory,
and class activities. Clinical and EMS field internship experiences may be scheduled
mornings, afternoons or evenings and weekends.

Students who seek credit for EMT-Basic Certification, taken through continuing education,
may petition the EMS program director for permission to seek Course Credit by
examination, transfer credit, or experiential credit with National Registry of EMT-Basic
or Intermediate registration.

Graduation Requirements

Students must complete all cognitive, affective, and psychomotor objectives including classroom, laboratory, and clinical experience.  Students must also successfully complete all core course and related course requirements with a minimum of C or 2.0 grade.  All graduation candidates must attend an exit interview with the program director.

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Contacts

Department for EMS Education
Phone: 704.922.6241
Fax: 704-922-2336
Email:  gcems@gaston.edu

Kent Spitler, EMS Director           APS 103         704-922-6249     
spitler.kent@gaston.edu

Velma Stafford, EMS Secretary  APS 104         704-922-6241     
stafford.velma@gaston,edu

Mike Keller, EMS Faculty               APS 108         704-922-2232     
keller.michael@gaston.edu

Carrie Stevenson, EMS Faculty   APS 109          704-922-6242     
Instructor/Coordinator
Clinical Education      
stevenson.carrie@gaston.edu

Bill Faust, EMS Faculty                 APS 109               704-922-6590
faust.bill@gaston.edu

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