EMT Paramedic
Effective Spring 2018, the EMT Paramedic certificate program will consist of 16 courses for a total of 41 semester credit hours; the current program is a total of 30 semester credit hours. This option is a 2 semester program (Fall & Spring). Classroom instruction covers anatomy, physiology, patient assessment, advanced airway shock/trauma management, cardiovascular disease recognition and management, advanced treatment protocols for trauma, medical/special patient emergencies, clinical and field internship, and a final field practicum. Successful completion of the program requirements prepares a student for the National Registry of EMTs cognitive and psychomotor examinations. The department also offers this program in a condensed, full-time format for fire departments/EMS agencies/military under special arrangements not open to the general public.
Admissions Requirements
Interested applicants should consult the department website for the most current modifications to these requirements, deadlines, and upcoming programs.
All applicants must meet the basic requirements for admission to the Department of Emergency Health Sciences. Admission to any EHS program does not guarantee eligibility for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians or certification by Texas Department of State Health Services.
All application materials must be received by the Office of the University Registrar by the application deadlines listed below. Applicants are encouraged to seek advisement from the School of Health Professions Office of Admissions and Special Programs.
Application Deadlines:
For EMT-Paramedic certificate program:
- June 15 for August enrollment (Fall semester)
- Other dates as advertised or arranged for additional offerings
In addition to non-academic factors that are considered, admission requirements for all EHS programs include:
- Completion of the Texas Common Application.
- Criminal background check.
- Some clinical sites may require students to pass a drug screen or require additional immunizations (e.g., H1N1, annual seasonal flu). Applicants/students must cover the costs of the background check, drug screen, medical insurance, and immunizations.
- First-time College Students: Submit documentation of high school diploma or GED. Note: The EMT Basic and Paramedic programs are exempt from the Texas Success Initiative requirements.
- Official transcripts from each college and university currently or previously attended.
- Applicants who are enrolled in college courses at the time of application should submit an official transcript showing courses in progress. An updated transcript must be submitted upon completion of the courses. Note: Transfer credits indicated on another school’s transcript are not accepted in lieu of submitting the original institution record for that coursework. Transcripts from institutions outside the United States must be submitted in the original language and must be accompanied by a NACES Members evaluation agency English translation.
- Minimum overall GPA of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
- Documentation of EMT certification for Paramedic Program enrollment. Students who currently are enrolled in an EMT course or who have completed EMT course work and are engaged in the credentialing process should provide a statement to this effect.
- International Applicants only: Submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores: minimum: 560 (paper), or 68 (internet).
Degree Requirements
Effective Spring 2018, the EMT Paramedic Certificate program will consist of 16 courses for a total of 41 semester credit hours; the current program is a total of 31 semester credit hours. Students are required to complete all didactic, laboratory, EMS, and clinical requirements.
Plan of Study for Fall 2017
| EMSP 1201 Anatomy and Physiology for Paramedic Practice | 2 | |
| EMSP 1238 Introduction to Paramedic Practice | 2 | |
| EMSP 1248 Emergency Pharmacology | 2 | |
| EMSP 1256 Airway Management and Patient Assessment | 2 | |
| EMSP 1344 Cardiology | 3 | |
| EMSP 1161 Clinical 1 | 1 | |
| EMSP 1162 Clinical 2 | 1 | |
| EMSP 2138 EMS Operations | 1 | |
| EMSP 2255 Trauma Management | 2 | |
| EMSP 2334 Medical Emergencies 1 | 3 | |
| EMSP 2230 Special Populations | 2 | |
| EMSP 2243 Assessment-Based Management | 2 | |
| EMSP 2164 Paramedic Practicum | 1 | |
| EMSP 1137 Emergency Procedures 1 | 1 | |
| EMSP 2237 Emergency Procedures 2 | 2 | |
| EMSP 2300 Preparation for Professional Practice | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
Plan of Study for Spring 2018
| EMSP 1301 | Anatomy and Physiology for Paramedic Practice | 3 |
| EMSP 1338 | Introduction to Paramedic Practice | 3 |
| EMSP 1348 | Emergency Pharmacology | 3 |
| EMSP 1356 | Airway Management and Patient Assessment | 3 |
| EMSP 1444 | Cardiology | 4 |
| EMSP 1161 | Clinical 1 | 1 |
| EMSP 1162 | Clinical 2 | 1 |
| EMSP 2238 | EMS Operations | 2 |
| EMSP 2355 | Trauma Management | 3 |
| EMSP 2434 | Medical Emergencies 1 | 4 |
| EMSP 2330 | Special Populations | 3 |
| EMSP 2443 | Assessment-Based Management | 4 |
| EMSP 2164 | Paramedic Practicum | 1 |
| EMSP 1137 | Emergency Procedures 1 | 1 |
| EMSP 2237 | Emergency Procedures 2 | 2 |
| EMSP 2300 | Preparation for Professional Practice | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 41 | |
Objectives/Program Outcomes
Students graduating from a Department of Emergency Health Sciences program must meet the essential function requirements of the academic program and profession. The program consists of academic study and clinical experience. The student will possess the skills and attributes necessary to perform as a professional before graduation from the program.
Students who graduate from the Emergency Health Sciences programs will be able to:
- communicate effectively, think critically, and assimilate into their community successfully
- demonstrate personal behaviors and attitudes consistent with and appropriate to the delivery of pre-hospital emergency medical care
- meet the community’s need for advanced life support personnel in a variety of settings
- work in various occupational settings relating to emergency health services
- understand theoretical foundations of the profession, and
- synthesize knowledge from the basic sciences, social sciences, humanities, and pre-hospital emergency science to conceptualize and resolve patient and health care delivery problems
Program Policies
Credit by Exam/Challenge Exam (BS-EHS)
A student may be eligible to earn credit for a course by passing the examination designated and administered by the department.
The Department of Emergency Health Sciences offers two categories of students the opportunity to obtain academic credit by examination:
-
certified/licensed EMS personnel who completed EMT-Basic and/or Paramedic coursework for non-credit through the Department of EHS; and students admitted to the EHS Bachelor of Science degree program.
Previous professional employment can potentially be accepted for EHS clinical course credit. A student’s work experience will be reviewed on an individual basis by the course directors and the department’s academic team. If the student fails a challenge examination/evaluation, he/she may enroll in and attend the corresponding course only during regularly scheduled course offerings in order to receive credit.
Students who wish to obtain credit by examination should contact the Department of Emergency Health Sciences at (210) 567-8760 [Call: (210) 567-8760] for further information.
Program Costs
In addition to required tuition and fees, there are costs for textbooks, scrubs, and equipment. There are also costs for criminal background checks, immunization, and drug screens (if required by clinical facilities). The full-time clinical fieldwork experiences included in the curriculum may require that students relocate and/or travel outside of San Antonio for the duration of the rotations. Fieldwork expenses will vary according to individual arrangements depending on the cost of travel, temporary housing, maintenance of local accommodations, etc. Students are encouraged to budget for major expenditures that could be associated with these assignments. Detailed information about program costs can be found on the Department of Emergency Health Sciences website.
Courses
EMSP 1137. Emergency Procedures 1. 1 Credit Hour.
Application of emergency medical procedures.
EMSP 1161. Clinical 1. 1 Credit Hour.
This course is a method of instruction providing detailed education, training, and work-based experience and direct patient/client care at a clinical site.
EMSP 1162. Clinical 2. 1 Credit Hour.
This course is a method of instruction providing detailed education, training, and work-based experience and direct patient/client care at a clinical site.
Prerequisites: EMSP 1161.
EMSP 1301. Anatomy and Physiology for Paramedic Practice. 3 Credit Hours.
A study of the structure and function of the human body, emphasis will be given to the study of cells and tissues, and anatomical and physiological interrelationships of the skeletal, muscular, nervous, and endocrine systems. This course is designed primarily for Paramedic students.
EMSP 1338. Introduction to Paramedic Practice. 3 Credit Hours.
This course is an exploration of the foundations necessary for mastery of the advanced topics of clinical practice out of the hospital. Course Learning Outcomes: At the completion of this module, the student will be required to understand the roles and responsibilities of a paramedic within the EMS system, apply the basic concepts of development and pathophysiology to assessment, and management of emergency patients.
EMSP 1348. Emergency Pharmacology. 3 Credit Hours.
This course is a comprehensive course covering all aspects of the utilization of medications in treating emergencies. The course is designed to complement Cardiology, Special Populations, and Medical Emergency courses. Course Learning Objectives: The student will be required to display a command of general pharmacological terminology, general drug mechanisms, administration routes and administration procedures, and drug dose calculations. Students will be required to demonstrate understanding of the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, indications, contraindications, possible side effects, and common drug interactions of a variety of medications used in out-of-hospital medical care.
EMSP 1356. Airway Management and Patient Assessment. 3 Credit Hours.
This course is a detailed study of the knowledge and skills required to reach competence in performing patient assessment and airway management. Course Learning Outcomes: At the completion of this module, the student will be required to take a proper history and perform a comprehensive physical exam on any patient, develop a patient care plan, communicate with others, and establish and/or maintain a patent airway, oxygenate, and ventilate a patient.
Course fees: Lab materials fee $ 225.
EMSP 1444. Cardiology. 4 Credit Hours.
This course is a detailed study of the knowledge and skills necessary to reach competence in the assessment and management of patients with cardiac emergencies.
Prerequisite: EMSP 1244.
EMSP 2164. Paramedic Practicum. 1 Credit Hour.
Practical, general workplace training supported by an individualized learning plan developed by the employer, college, and student.
EMSP 2237. Emergency Procedures 2. 2 Credit Hours.
Application of emergency medical procedures.
EMSP 2238. EMS Operations. 2 Credit Hours.
This is a course of study to prepare the paramedic to safely manage medical incidents, rescue situations, hazardous materials, and crime scenes.
EMSP 2300. Preparation for Professional Practice. 3 Credit Hours.
Theory and skills necessary for the management of cardiac, medical, trauma and pediatric patients specified by American Heart Association and National Association of EMTs guidelines. May be repeated multiple times to improve student proficiency.
EMSP 2330. Special Populations. 3 Credit Hours.
This course is a detailed study of the knowledge and skills necessary to reach competence in the assessment and management of ill or injured patients in nontraditional populations.
EMSP 2355. Trauma Management. 3 Credit Hours.
This course is a detailed study of the knowledge and skills necessary to reach competence in the assessment and management of patients with traumatic injuries and to safely manage the scene of an emergency. At the completion of this module, the student will be required to integrate the pathophysiological principles and assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement the treatment plan for the trauma patient.
EMSP 2434. Medical Emergencies 1. 4 Credit Hours.
This course is a detailed study of the knowledge and skills necessary to reach competence in the assessment and management of patients with medical emergencies. At the completion of this module, students will be required to integrate pathophysiological principles and assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement a treatment plan for the medical patient.
EMSP 2443. Assessment-Based Management. 4 Credit Hours.
This course is designed to provide for teaching and evaluating comprehensive assessment-based patient care management.