Health Science (HSCI)

HSCI 008     Medical Terminology     3 Units

Students will receive a thorough grounding in basic medical terminology through a study of root words, prefixes and suffixes. Medical terminology is the study of the principles of medical word building to help the student develop the extensive medical vocabulary used in health care occupations. The study focuses on correct pronunciation, spelling and use of medical terms. Students will develop a base knowledge of body systems through the further study of pathology, laboratory tests, and diagnostic and treatment procedures.


Lecture Hours: 3  Lab Hours: None  Repeatable: No  Grading: L

Advisory Level: Read: 3 Write: 3 Math: None

Transfer Status: CSU     Degree Applicable: AA/AS

CSU GE: None   IGETC: None   District GE: None

HSCI 138     Work Experience     1-8 Units

Work Experience is designed for students who work or volunteer in a field related to a health sciences career. Students are required to provide evidence that they are enrolled in a career program (e.g., education plan or coursework in a career/technical subject area). Students can earn one unit of credit for each 60 hours of unpaid volunteer time or 75 hours of paid work during the semester. Students can repeat Career/Technical Work Experience, combined with General Work Experience, or alone, 1 to 8 units allowed per semester, for up to a maximum of 16 units total. Internship/job placement is not guaranteed.


Lecture Hours: None  Lab Hours: 2.07  Repeatable: Yes  Grading: O

Corequisite: Be employed or a volunteer at an approved work-site for the minimum number of hours per unit as stipulated for paid and unpaid status.

Advisory Level: Read: 3 Write: 3 Math: None

Transfer Status: CSU     Degree Applicable: AA/AS

CSU GE: None   IGETC: None   District GE: None

HSCI 500     COVID-19 Contact Tracing     0 Units

Students will learn the primary protocols of contact tracing for COVID-19. Topics will include: a background of epidemiology and understanding of emergency response, an overview of public health terminology, an understanding of COVID-19 (ie. transmission prevention, symptoms, social distancing, quarantine isolation, and the incubation and infectious period.), basic steps of contact tracing, skills and qualities necessary for contact tracers, an overview of health information privacy and security, and the ethics of data collection during an outbreak. Students will gain hands-on skills and training for contact tracing scenarios of someone showing no signs vs. someone showing signs of COVID-19. Students will receive training on documenting calls, working with non-English speaking contacts, working with contacts that have communication impairments, providing follow-up resources, and insights shared from contact tracers in the field.


Lecture Hours: 2  Lab Hours: None  Repeatable: Yes  Grading: N

Advisory Level: Read: 2 Write: 2 Math: 2

Transfer Status: None     Degree Applicable: NC

CSU GE: None   IGETC: None   District GE: None

HSCI 501     Infectious Disease Case Investigator     0 Units

Students will learn the primary protocols of infectious disease case investigation for COVID-19. Topics will include: the primary steps for case investigation (ie. identification, prioritization, notification of results, interviewing, follow-up and next steps) and skills and qualities necessary for case investigators. Students will gain hands-on skills and training for interview contacts, explaining confidentiality to contacts, completing health risk assessment, self-isolation tools and supports assessment, contact elicitation, and protocols for investigation under varying scenarios. Students will be trained on confidentiality and privacy requirements, documenting calls, working with non-English speaking contacts, working with contacts that have communication impairments, providing follow-up resources, field investigations, and insights shared from case investigators in the field.


Lecture Hours: 2  Lab Hours: None  Repeatable: Yes  Grading: N

Advisory Level: Read: 2 Write: 2 Math: 2

Transfer Status: None     Degree Applicable: NC

CSU GE: None   IGETC: None   District GE: None

HSCI 502     Work Place Safety - Infectious Disease     0 Units

This course will cover basic steps that every employer can take to reduce the risk of worker exposure to infectious disease, such as SARS-CoV-2. Content covers limiting exposure, communication with workforce, employer responsibilities, and support for operations. Additionally, specific guidance relating to: focusing on jobs classified as having low, medium, high, and very high exposure risks and providing specific recommendations for employers and workers within specific risk categories.


Lecture Hours: 2  Lab Hours: None  Repeatable: Yes  Grading: N

Advisory Level: Read: 2 Write: 2 Math: None

Transfer Status: None     Degree Applicable: NC

CSU GE: None   IGETC: None   District GE: None