Emergency Medical Science Bridging Program (A45340BR)
Associate in Applied Science
The Emergency Medical Science (EMS) Bridge Program is designed to allow currently certified non-degree paramedics to earn an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in Emergency Medical Science. The EMS Bridge AAS degree requires 70 semester credit hours (SHC). Through the bridging program, current credentialed EMT-Paramedic will be awarded 45 semester credits toward the AAS degree upon completion of EMS 235 and EMS 280. Credit is awarded for the following courses: EMS 110, EMS 122, EMS 130, EMS 131, EMS 160, EMS 220, EMS 221, EMS 231, EMS 240, EMS 241, EMS 250, EMS 260, EMS 270, and EMS 285. The remaining course work to complete the AAS in Emergency
Medical Science requires 25 additional semester hours of coursework.
Admissions Requirements
Admission requirements must be met prior to matriculation.
Students meeting the following criteria are eligible for the EMS Bridge program:
Students meeting the following criteria are eligible for the EMS Bridge program:
- 500 hours of documented patient contact at the paramedic level as evidenced by the signature of the director of the EMS agency with which the paramedic is affiliated and the medical director of the ALS system with which the paramedic is affiliated.2.
- Two (2) letters of recommendation from an EMS agency on agency letterhead3.
- Copy of the paramedic education program transcript and all current certifications on file in the EMS Department.
- North Carolina EMT-Paramedic or National Registry Paramedic;
- Current Healthcare Provider CPR certification or equivalent;
- Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification or equivalent;
- Current Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification or equivalent;
- Current Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) or International Trauma Life Support(ITLS) certification or equivalent;
- Current North Carolina driver’s license
- Completed interview with EMS Program Director Program Curriculum
Approval Agency
The Emergency Medical Services Program is approved by the
North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation Office of Emergency Medical Services
Physical Address: 1201 Umstead Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27603-2008
Mailing Address: 2707 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-2707
919-855-3935
www.ncems.org
North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation Office of Emergency Medical Services
Physical Address: 1201 Umstead Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27603-2008
Mailing Address: 2707 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-2707
919-855-3935
www.ncems.org
Course Sequence
Eligible students will receive 45 semester hours of credit for prior learning for the following EMS major courses:
| EMS 110 | EMT | 9 SHC |
| EMS 122 | EMS Clinical Practicum I | 1 SHC |
| EMS 130 | Pharmacology | 4 SHC |
| EMS 131 | Advanced Airway Management | 2 SHC |
| EMS 160 | Cardiology I | 3 SHC |
| EMS 220 | Cardiology II | 3 SHC |
| EMS 221 | EMS Clinical Practicum II | 2 SHC |
| EMS 231 | EMS Clinical Practicum III | 3 SHC |
| EMS 240 | Patients with Special Challenges | 2 SHC |
| EMS 241 | EMS Clinical Practicum IV | 4 SHC |
| EMS 250 | Medical Emergencies | 4 SHC |
| EMS 260 | Trauma Emergencies | 2 SHC |
| EMS 270 | Life Span Emergencies | 4 SHC |
| EMS 285 | EMS Capstone | 2 SHC |
| Total EMS | 45 SHC | |
| Fall Semester | Class | Lab | Credit | |
| EMS 235 | EMS Management | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| ENG 111 | Writing and Inquiry | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| PSY 150 | General Psychology | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Mathematics Elective | 2-3 | 2 | 3-4 | |
| 10-11 | 2 | 11-12 | ||
| Spring Semester | ||||
| BIO 163 | Basic Anatomy & Physiology | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| EMS 280 | EMS Bridging Course | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| ENG 112 | Writing/Research in the Disciplines | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Humanities/Fine Arts Elective | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| 12 | 4 | 14 | ||
| SEMESTER HOURS: | 25-26 | |||
| CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING: | 45 | |||
| TOTAL PROGRAM: | 70-71 | |||
Mathematics Elective – Choose one of the following:
UGETC: MAT 143, MAT 152, MAT 171
Admission Notes:
- In order to meet the institution’s residency requirement, a minimum of 25% of the total hours required for the degree must be awarded by Rockingham Community College. This requirement may be met by the following: Complete 25%, a minimum of 17 credits at RCC, of the 25 remaining credits required for the EMS Bridge program of study;
- EMS 280 and EMS 235 must be taken at Rockingham Community College. Once a student has successfully completed EMS 280, 45 semester hours of credit will be credited to the student’s transcript.
- The humanities/fine arts elective requirements can be satisfied by completing one of the following: ART 111, ART 114, ART 115, ENG 231, ENG 232, MUS 110, MUS 112, PHI 215, PHI 240, and REL 110.
Employment Competencies
- Apply advanced knowledge and understanding of managing an emergency medical services system.
- Examine and analyze the complex nature and seriousness of the patient’s condition or extent of injuries to assess the need for advanced emergency medical care, and perform complex medical care based on assessment findings of the patient’s condition and/or situation.
- Demonstrate an increased depth and breadth of patient care in the prehospital setting by applying principles from evidence-based research in emergency medicine.
- Demonstrate appropriate solutions to ethical situations in the prehospital setting.
Employment Outlook
Employment of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics is projected to grow 6 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations. Emergencies, such as car crashes, natural disasters, and acts of violence, will continue to require the skills of EMTs and paramedics.
