HEALTH SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY

Health Science is traditionally the most popular career cluster chosen by students in Upstate South Carolina. In fact, the healthcare industry employs more than 14 million workers in over 300 different health careers! If a career in the healthcare industry interests you, the Health Science Technology (HST) program at Swofford is a great place to begin your journey. All HST instructors at Swofford are Registered Nurses, who have years of experience and knowledge to share with students. The rigorous curriculum offers essential content and skills that are needed by healthcare providers. Students also learn about the wide variety of careers in healthcare, as the instructors assist each student in career planning.

Students who complete all three HST courses at Swofford will have an opportunity to earn their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license as well as 3 hours of college credit through Spartanburg Community College.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE:

 

  • Athletic Trainer

  • Anesthesiologist

  • Biomedical Engineer

  • Chiropractor

  • Dental Assistant

  • Dental Hygienist

  • Dietician

  • Health Educator

  • Lab Technician

  • Nursing Assistant

 

CURRICULUM

 

Health Science Technology I

Grades: 10-12 / Approximate Fees: $27 (includes First Aid/CPR)
Prerequisite: Minimum 3.00 GPA; minimum 80 in English; Biology is strongly encouraged
Students are introduced to healthcare history, careers, safety, law and ethics, cultural diversity, healthcare terminology and abbreviations, medical math, infection control, professionalism, body systems, communication, basics of the organization of healthcare facilities, and types of healthcare insurance. Students are taught Heartsaver CPR/AED. 

Health Science Technology II *DUAL ENROLLMENT THROUGH SPARTANBURG COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Grades: 10-12 / Approximate Fees: $177 (includes tuition and book; must be paid on or before the first day of class)
Prerequisite: Minimum 3.00 GPA; completion of HST I with minimum grade of 80 or Director approval; Anatomy is strongly encouraged.
HST II will introduce students to basic patient care skills, advanced medical terminology, medical math, and pharmacology and will further their knowledge of body systems.

If students meet all requirements, they will also earn 3 hours of college credit in AHS 102 Medical Terminology through Spartanburg Community College.

 

HEALTH SCIENCE CLINICAL STUDY

Grade: 12 / Approximate Fees: $307 (includes fees for clinical experience) Fees will be discussed during an orientation program during the fall semester (prior to this course) and must be paid on or before the first day of the course.
Prerequisites: Completion of HST II with minimum grade of 80 or Director approval; Social Security Card; reliable transportation to clinical site; Tuberculosis test (TB test). Students must pass a background check and drug screen before being allowed to work with patients.

This course allows students to make connections from the classroom to the healthcare industry through work-based learning experiences/activities.  Students will complete class time and 40 hours of clinical time in a local nursing home facility. Typically, the hours for these clinical days are from 6:45 am until 10:30 am (Mon-Thurs) and two Saturdays from 6:45 am until 3:00 pm.  Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from the designated nursing home facility and for purchasing uniforms for clinical rotations (which will be discussed at orientation).  At the completion of this course, students will be CPR certified and are eligible to take the Certified Nurse Aid Exam provided by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing at Swofford Career Center, a state-approved test site.