Associate of General Studies in Health Professions Exploration
Overview
The Associate of General Studies in Health Professions Exploration (AGS–Health Professions Exploration) degree is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare and want to explore a variety of options within the field. The curriculum includes general education and introductory coursework that allows students to build a foundation while identifying areas of interest in health professions.
This degree is often a good option for students who are considering applying to healthcare programs but have not yet selected a specific pathway. It provides flexibility to complete prerequisite coursework commonly required for admission to selective programs.
Many healthcare programs at MHCC have separate application processes and prerequisite requirements, which may change over time. Students are strongly encouraged to work with an academic advisor to plan appropriate coursework and stay informed about program requirements. Completion of the AGS–Health Professions Exploration degree does not guarantee admission to any specific program.
Students who are interested in pursuing careers such as medicine, dentistry, chiropractic, pharmacy, or veterinary medicine should consider working with an advisor to determine whether the Associate of Science (AS) or Associate of Science Transfer in Biology (AST–Biology) degree is a better fit for their goals.
Refer to the tabs above for additional information about:
- Requirements - outlines all courses required for completion of the degree
- Education Plan - provides a sample term-by-term sequence of courses
- Career Info - includes information on potential occupations, employment trends, and earnings
Program Requirements
The degree requirements below outline the courses and credit categories required to complete the Health Professions Exploration AGS degree, including Healh Professions core and general education requirements. Expand each section to view eligible courses that may be used to fulfill specific requirements.
For a suggested term-by-term sequence, refer to the Education Plan tab.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Health Professions Exploration Core, Group 1 | 24 | |
| Health Professions Exploration Core, Group 2 | 1-5 | |
| Human Anatomy & Physiology, 1 sequence | 8-12 | |
| Mathematics - course placement or completion from list below | 0-4 | |
| Written Communication, 2 courses | 8 | |
| Composition I | ||
| Composition II | ||
or WR227Z | Technical Writing | |
| Oral Communication, 1 course from AGS list | 3-4 | |
Recommended Course | ||
| Introduction to Intercultural Communication (Cultural Literacy course) | ||
| Health & Physical Education, 1 credit from AGS list | 1 | |
Recommended Course | ||
| CPR - Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation | ||
or HE252 | First Aid: Responding to Emergencies | |
| Arts & Letters / Social Science (8 or more credits from AGS list, with at least 1 course from each category) | 8 | |
| Electives to reach 90 applicable degree credits | 36 | |
| Total Credits | 90 | |
Health Professions Exploration Core
Group 1
Complete a minimum of 24 credits:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BI100 | Survey of Body Systems | 4 |
| BI112 | Biology for Health Professions | 5 |
| or BI102 | General Biology: Molecular Biology | |
| or BI222Z | Principles of Biology: Organisms | |
| BI234 | Microbiology | 4 |
| CH104Z & CH124Z | Introduction to Chemistry and Introduction to Chemistry Lab | 5 |
| CH106 | Biological Chemistry for Health Professions | 5 |
| FN/HE225 | Nutrition | 4 |
| HE202 | Adult Development and Aging | 1 |
| HE208 | HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections | 1 |
| MO111 | Medical Terminology | 4 |
| MO117 | Hospital Administrative Procedures | 3 |
| MO136 | Healthcare Documentation | 3 |
| MO140 | Understanding Medical Insurance | 3 |
| MO250 | Medical Law and Ethics | 3 |
| NAX10 | Basic Training: Nursing Assistants | 8 |
Group 2
Complete a minimum of one (1) course from Group 2:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BA111 | Introduction to Accounting | 4 |
| BA131 | Introduction to Business Computing | 4 |
| CIS120L | Computer Concepts Lab I | 1 |
| HD209RES | Developing Your Resume | 1 |
| MTH058 | Quantitative Reasoning I | 4-6 |
| or MTH065 | Beginning Algebra II | |
| MTH098 | Quantitative Reasoning II | 4 |
| or MTH095 | Intermediate Algebra with Right Triangle Trigonometry | |
| MTH105Z | Math in Society | 4 |
| or MTH111Z | Precalculus I: Functions | |
| PSY201Z | Introduction to Psychology I | 4 |
| SOC204Z | Introduction to Sociology | 4 |
| SOC205Z | Social Change and Institutions | 4 |
| STAT243Z | Elementary Statistics I | 4 |
Human Anatomy & Physiology Sequence
Complete one (1) sequence:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| For Respiratory Care or Medical Office Specialist. | ||
| BI121 & BI122 | Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 8 |
| For Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Physical Therapist Assistant, Surgical Technology or applying to a health profession program at another institution. | ||
| BI231Z & BI232Z & BI233Z | Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Human Anatomy and Physiology II and Human Anatomy and Physiology III | 12 |
Mathematics
Many Health Professions programs require minimum math completion as part of the application process. Meet with an adviser to plan accordingly.
Complete one (1) of the following options:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Math Placement Level at: | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning I | ||
| Completion of: | ||
| Applied Arithmetic and Pre-algebra | ||
- *
MTH020 must be completed with a minimum grade of "C" or higher.
Additional Mathematics
The following courses may also need to be completed in order to apply for the following Health Professions programs:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Hygiene, Funeral Services, Physical Therapist Assistant, Respiratory Care, or Surgical Technology | ||
| Beginning Algebra II (or higher, excluding MTH098) | ||
or MTH058 | Quantitative Reasoning I | |
| Nursing | ||
| Intermediate Algebra with Right Triangle Trigonometry (or higher, excluding MTH098) | ||
| Transfer to a bachelor's degree program | ||
| Math in Society | ||
or STAT243Z | Elementary Statistics I | |
Electives
Complete electives to reach a total of 90 degree credits. Elective courses for the AGSH may be any course numbered 100 or above, not including developmental education courses. No more than 30 credits of one discipline may apply as elective. A maximum of 8 credits of PE185, 25 credit hours of IECC courses numbered 100 or higher, and 12 credits of Cooperative Education Internship may be applied to the AGSH degree as elective credit.
Education Plan
This sample Education Plan illustrates one possible course sequence. Students should consult an advisor to create a personalized plan.
Career Information
Explore potential careers related to this program, including typical job roles, employment trends, and projected growth. This information can help you better understand how your education may align with future career opportunities.
Cultural Literacy course