Clark State Community College has received official approval from the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) to offer an Associate of Applied Science degree in Health Sciences.
“We are absolutely overjoyed to have received approval to offer the Associate of Applied Science in Health Sciences degree by the Ohio Department of Higher Education,” said Dr. Tiffany Hunter, vice president of academic affairs for Clark State. “This degree will allow Clark State to offer students interested in a career in a health care field an opportunity to earn a degree, with several track options, that will successfully prepare them to work in a variety of health care agencies and hospitals.”
Hunter said this new degree will provide the foundational coursework that will set students up for success as they move throughout their courses while earning certificates embedded in the degree. “This degree is a positive addition for our students, Clark State and the community as it will allow us to help fill voids that exist in the workforce,” she said.
Dr. Rhoda Sommers, dean of health, human and public services at Clark State, said the Associate of Applied Science degree in Health Sciences provides another option for students seeking to gain admission into Clark State’s many healthcare programs.
“The foundational course work students complete in this degree program will help them transition into our healthcare programs requiring applications due to limited space and accreditation requirements,” said Sommers. “It has built-in certificates and suggested courses for students to take depending on their desired healthcare program of study.”
Sommers explained that students who complete this degree will have a variety of career options including registered nursing, direct patient care, emergency care, chemical dependency, medical coding and healthcare management. She said the degree is beneficial to students because it allows them to declare a major in the health sciences that branches off into different certifications in healthcare.
Clark State is aiming to have the new degree in Health Sciences available to students by spring of 2021.
“I’m really pleased to offer this degree to our students interested in healthcare,” said Sommers. “Too often college students aren’t aware of all the healthcare career options. This degree allows students to earn certificates and become employable, gain a broader understanding of healthcare options and make more informed longer-term career decisions.”