Health and Life Sciences Majors at IUPUI

Undergraduate Majors : Paramedic Science (Associate degree)

Description

Paramedics have fulfilled prescribed requirements by a credentialing agency to practice the art and science of out-of-hospital medicine in conjunction with medical direction. Through performing assessments and providing medical care, their goal is to prevent and reduce mortality and morbidity due to illness and injury. Paramedics primarily provide care to emergency patients in an out-of-hospital setting. Paramedics possess the knowledge, skills, and attitudes consistent with the expectations of the public and the profession. Paramedics recognize that they are an essential component of the continuum of care and serve as linkages among health resources.

Admission

The application deadline is October 1st each year with entry into the program in the spring, or February 1st each year with entry into the program in the fall semester. The professional program lasts for 12 months. 24-26 credits are needed prior to entrance with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.3, and a minimum 2.0 in prerequisite courses. An interview is required. All applicants must be Indiana or nationally certified as an Emergency Medical Technician-Basic and document 20 hours of patient contact in an ambulance as an EMT-B.

What can you do with this major?

The EMT-Basic certificate and the Associate of Science in Paramedic Science are designed to prepare the EMT to deliver emergency patient care in the pre-hospital setting. Graduates of both programs primarily provide emergency care in ambulance or fire services at their level of training, while nontraditional areas of employment are available in hospitals and industry. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 4 out of 10 graduates become employees of private ambulance services, about 3 out of 10 find work in local government for fire departments, public ambulance services, and EMS, and another 2 out 10 were found in hospitals, working full time within the medical facility or responded to calls in ambulances or helicopters to transport critically ill or injured patients. The remainder worked in various industries providing emergency services (OOH, 2004-05).