Medical Assisting - Associate of Science

Medical assistants are multi-skilled allied health professionals specifically trained to perform administrative and clinical procedures and work in ambulatory settings, such as physicians' offices, clinics and group practices.

The medical assisting program is established based upon the Standards and Guidelines for Medical Assisting Educational Programs (2003 Revisions) which emphasizes a competency-based skills, as well as general knowledge. Student competencies are validated through performance on written and practical exams, skills performance assessments and a clinical internship.

Graduates of the program are prepared to assist physicians in examining and treating patients, performing laboratory testing, and managing the administrative and clinical responsibilities associated with efficient physician office operations. The curriculum does not train students for employment in medical laboratories in the state of Tennessee or any other state.

Pharmaceutical Science - Bachelor of Science*

The Bachelor of Science (BS) degree program in Pharmaceutical Science is a unique degree program in the Knoxville and surrounding area. This program of study is designed to prepare students who have the goal of either seeking admission into professional and graduate degree programs or applying for entry-level positions in the pharmaceutical, biomedical/ biotechnology, and chemical industries.

While the BS in Pharmaceutical Science does not allow one to be licensed as a pharmacist, it does prepare students to apply for admission into a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree program, the degree required for licensure as a pharmacist. Students with an interest in scientific research may choose to apply for admission into a graduate degree program.

For students seeking entry-level positions with both private and public employers in the pharmaceutical and related sciences industries, diverse employment opportunities exist, including positions such as:

• Food scientist and technologist
• Biological scientist
• Pharmaceutical sales representative
• Chemist and material scientist
• Biological technician

Physical Therapist Assistant - Associate of Science

The physical therapist assistant (PTA) is a technically educated health provider who assists the physical therapist in the provision of physical therapy and may perform physical therapy interventions selected by the supervising physical therapist. Duties may include helping manage conditions such as:

• Back and neck injuries
• Sprains/strains
• Fractures
• Arthritis
• Burns
• Amputations
• Stroke
• Multiple sclerosis
• Birth defects
• Injuries related to work and sports

The South College physical therapist assistant program is a 24-month program leading to an Associate of Science degree. Classes are taught in the morning and afternoons, Mondays through Fridays. Class schedules may change at the discretion of the institution. Students should be committed to considerable out of classroom preparation and study.

Physician Assistant - Master of Health Science*

The Master of Health Science - Physician Assistant program is designed to provide a competency-based graduate educational program with an ongoing commitment to academic excellence and patient-focused care. This comprehensive, competency-based graduate program is designed to be the starting pathway in the professional career for future health care providers. The program is planned to include a 15-month didactic phase and a 12-month generalist clinical learning phase.

The program offers a comprehensive curriculum that begins with a didactic phase designed to provide a solid foundation in basic medical science. This phase is planned to include a variety of learning strategies including formal lectures, problem based learning, practical hands-on clinical laboratory classes, and clinical simulation assessment and procedure laboratory classes, objective structured clinical examinations with a continuous focus on competency-based clinical skills. Students will also develop strong patient communication skills and advanced clinical critical thinking problem solving skills.

The clinical learning phase of the Masters of Health Science program in Physician Assistant Studies will continue for 12 months following the didactic phase. Clinical learning rotations will be divided into 6 week blocks ending with a Comprehensive Summative course prior to graduation.

Seven core clinical learning rotations will be required including:

• Primary Care/Geriatrics
• Internal Medicine
• Emergency Medicine
• Surgery
• Pediatrics
• Women's Health
• Behavioral Medicine

The clinical learning phase involves clinical practice experience in a variety of in-patient and out-patient settings and specialties.

Radiography - Associate of Science

The Associate of Science degree program in Radiography will prepare students to become members of the health care team in a variety of settings. The program of study correlates didactic and clinical instruction enabling the student to become competent health professionals with a humanistic approach. This approach enables graduates to competently perform tasks as identified in their scope of practice as autonomous health care providers.

Building on a foundation of general education in areas such as oral and written communication, mathematical reasoning and science, the program of study emphasizes the attainment of knowledge and skills as they relate to:

• Human relations
• Communication
• Ethics
• Critical and analytical thinking
• Reasoning skills

Radiologic technologists must be sensitive to patients' physical and psychological needs, pay attention to detail, follow instructions, work as part of a team and demonstrate mechanical ability and manual dexterity.

*It is important to remember that completion of any undergraduate program does not guarantee successful admission into or completion of professional and scientific graduate degree programs. Admission to graduate degree programs is competitive and typically based upon a combination of requirements that includes cumulative grade point average, program-specific admission tests, letters of recommendation and, in some cases, related experience outside the classroom. It is the student's responsibility to contact the graduate degree program for current information regarding requirements and application deadlines.