Mar 29, 2024  
2018-2019 Online Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Online Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Paramedic Emergency Health Science, A.A.S.


Program Description


Robert and Freda Brown Paramedic Program

This program is intended for students who are interested in helping and treating patients to achieve the highest level of care outside of the hospital. Prospective students should have an interest in the pathophysiology of disease, mathematic competence, and should be able to function effectively in a dynamic work environment.

Paramedics must be confident leaders who can accept the challenge and high degree of responsibility that is required for the position. They must have excellent judgment and be able to prioritize decisions and act quickly in the best interest of the patient. In addition, paramedics must be self-disciplined, utilize communication skills to develop rapport with patients/significant others from diverse ages and cultural groups, and function independently at an optimum level in a nonstructured, changing environment.

The program meets or exceeds the National Standard Curriculum set forth by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and adheres to New Jersey State Paramedic Regulations NJAC 8:41 and 8:41A. The program is approved and sanctioned by the New Jersey Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Emergency Medical Services www.state.nj.us/health/ems/.

The Union County College Paramedic Emergency Health Science Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

Commission on Accreditation of

Allied Health Education Programs

1361 Park Street

Clearwater, FL 33756

727-210-2350

www.caahep.org

To contact CoAEMSP:

8301 Lakeview Parkway Suite 111-312

Rowlett, TX 75088

214-703-8445

Fax: 214-703-8992

www.coaemsp.org

Program Director Contact Information:

Jessica Dean, Paramedic Program Director
Plainfield Campus
Office: 908-791-4917
Fax: 908-412-3548
jessica.dean@ucc.edu

Prospective students must meet the following requirements to be accepted into the degree program:

  • Have a current New Jersey EMT and Health Care Provider CPR certification.
  • Have a New Jersey Driver’s License with clean record.
  • Obtain the age of 18 by the first day of Paramedic I.

PMD course enrollment requires:

  • Completion of all remedial math and English courses;
  • Receipt of hospital sponsorship from a New Jersey Department of Health approved Mobile Intensive Care Unit Hospital. All students should refer to the program website for the specific application process here;
  • Two (2) applications for acceptance into the Paramedic Degree Program. The first application is submitted to the College. The second application is submitted to the Paramedic Program to obtain hospital sponsorship, which is then sent directly to the clinical site. The program application, directions and timeline for submission can be obtained here or from the Paramedic Program website;
  • Attendance at a mandatory orientation, once a student has been accepted by a hospital for sponsorship. The exact date will be provided upon offering of the clinical sponsorship. There is no make-up session for this mandatory session;
  • Students are required to submit a clear criminal background check, demonstration of vaccination status, proof of a two-step PPD skin test, and a clean 5-panel drug screen result at the time of the orientation. The fees associated with these tests are paid by the student;
  • There is a sponsorship fee, which is paid directly to the clinical site upon acceptance of sponsorship;
  • There is a Paramedic Program Manual which has policies and procedures that are specific to the program because of State and/or National mandates. http://www.ucc.edu/acadmics/paramedic

Advanced Placement in Paramedic:  There is a process in place for advanced placement for currently certified NJ Paramedics in good standing.  Applicants for advanced placement into the paramedic program may contact the program director for more information.  Alumni of the UCC Paramedic Program holding a Certificate in Paramedic will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the program director.  Prospective students must provide copies of college transcripts indicating paramedic coursework, current NJ paramedic certification, current CPR, ACLS, PALS, and PHTLS certifications.

The program has the following goal(s) defining minimum expectations for graduates:

  • To prepare competent entry-level Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains, with or without exit points at the Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate, and/or Emergency Medical Technician-Basic, and/or First Responder levels;
  • Manage pre-hospital patient care based on appropriate evidence-based emergency medicine and paramedic science;
  • Demonstrate critical thinking in decision-making processes to improve the health and welfare of pre-hospital patients;
  • Communicate effectively with patients and their family members/significant others, and professional colleagues.

After Union County College


Graduates of the program will obtain national and New Jersey Paramedic Certification making them eligible for a Paramedic service nationally. Graduates can transfer to a four-year institution for continuation in a bachelor’s degree program.

For additional program information, visit www.ucc.edu/academics/paramedic

Recommended Sequence


Prior to enrollment in the Paramedic Program, students need to have completed all developmental course work in English and math, and received sponsorship from a clinical hospital site.

Students are encouraged to complete the general education requirements prior to enrollment, as the Paramedic Program is a rigorous and time-intensive curriculum.  Anatomy and Physiology I is a mandatory prerequisite of Paramedic I.  Anatomy and Physiology II is a mandatory co-requisite of Paramedic I.

First Year


Fall Semester


Semester Total: 13

Spring Semester


Semester Total: 15

Summer I Semester


Semester Total: 5

Summer II Semester


Semester Total: 3

Second Year


Fall Semester


Semester Total: 16

Spring Semester


Semester Total: 11

Total Program Credits: 63


Advanced Placement:

  • Up to 38 credits awarded for prior PMD coursework with current CPR, ACLS, PALS, and PHTLS certifications
  • PMD 214 - Paramedic Clinical III (Offered Fall/Spring semester) 5 credit hours.
  • Students must complete general education coursework as listed.

Milestone Courses


The milestones (in bold) identify critical courses for timely progress and the semester in which the course should be completed for on-time graduation.  Milestone course grades < 2.0 should be discussed with an advisor.

Career and Transfer Information