“If you are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare, Prairie State College is a great place to start,” said PSC President Dr. Terri L. Winfree. “Between our career degree and certificate programs, or through our short-term vocational programs, everyone can find a pathway to a healthcare career, making a difference in our community and beyond.”
Editor’s note: This article is the eighth in a series of stories that originally were published in the Chronicle’s March 1 health and wellness supplement sponsored by Franciscan Health.
“If you are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare, Prairie State College is a great place to start,” said PSC President Dr. Terri L. Winfree. “Between our career degree and certificate programs, or through our short-term vocational programs, everyone can find a pathway to a healthcare career, making a difference in our community and beyond.”
Whether it’s a certificate program, a degree program or a two-year start to an advanced degree, PSC has a full range of options, from the traditional nursing and dental assistant programs, to its newest offering that helps students work toward a pharmacy degree.
The Allied Health and Emergency Services Department at PSC encompasses a broad range of degree and certificate programs in a variety of healthcare fields, including Associate in Applied Science degrees in nursing, dental hygiene, and surgical technology. Certificate program options include dental assistants, certified nursing assistants and advanced bedside care providers.
The fire science program prepares students for employment with municipal fire departments, ambulance companies or emergency rooms. Students can earn an Associate in Applied Science degree in Fire Science Technology as well as certificate programs in Basic Firefighter Operations, Emergency Medical Technician, Fire Science Technology, Firefighter/EMT and First Responder.
PSC’s Dental Hygiene Clinic offers an extensive range of treatments and oral healthcare services for adults and children. Because PSC is primarily an educational facility, prospective patients are generally selected based on their teaching potential.
They receive a medical history review, intra/extra oral review and identification of urgent treatment needs. Patients are treated by dental hygiene students who are under the supervision of PSC faculty dentists and hygienists. If you are interested in becoming a patient in the student education program, call 708-709-3707 to schedule an appointment.
The college also participates in a variety of articulation agreements with area colleges and universities, giving PSC graduates an opportunity to continue their education through bachelor’s and even doctoral degrees.
PSC offers an Associate in Science transfer degree option for students wishing to earn a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree at a four-year college or university. PSC has articulation agreements with senior institutions, including Saint Xavier University, Olivet Nazarene University, Purdue University and Governors State University.
High school seniors or first-year PSC students interested in becoming pharmacists can consider the Early Assurance Program offered through Midwestern University’s Chicago College of Pharmacy (CCP). Students who complete their prerequisite courses at PSC and fulfill all program requirements will have the PCAT exam waived and an assured seat to begin a three- or three-and-a-half-year Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum at CCP.
Prairie State College also offers a variety of non-credit, continuing education and short-term career programs.
Vocational training provides the opportunity for students to launch a career in less than a year. Programs include training for clinical medical assistants, dialysis technicians, health unit coordinators, medical administrative assistants, medical billing and coding specialists, medical central service technicians and pharmacy technicians. PSC offers information sessions for these programs.
Visit https://prairie state.edu/previewpsc for more information.
e Well 2020:
- Sandy, a doggone good de-stressor at GSU (March 17, 2020)
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