Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic, AAS

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Program Overview

Career opportunities for professionally trained emergency medical personnel are growing. The need to stabilize accident victims and others in medical crisis at the scene-prior to transport to a health care facility-makes paramedics integral members of the health care team.

In cooperation with Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital and the McHenry Western Lake County EMS System, MCC provides specialized emergency medical technician courses for those interested in entering this vital field. The Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic Program leads to an associate’s degree; there are also certificate programs to provide education and development opportunities for those currently working in emergency health care.

For more information, visit: www.mchenry.edu/ems

The primary purpose of an Associate in Applied Science degree is to prepare students for employment. The AAS degree is not designed specifically for transfer; however, there are opportunities to apply some coursework or the whole degree to a bachelor’s degree program. For more information, see an academic advisor and the department chair.

Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic, AAS Sample Semester Pathway

Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic, AAS Degree Requirements

Curriculum: OCC 500

General Education

Arts, Humanities, Social Science, Behavioral Science, Mathematics, Physical Science, Life Science: 3 Credit Hours

Select one Arts, Humanities, Social Science, Behavioral Science, Mathematics, Physical Science, Life Science Course

Total General Education: 15 Credit Hours

Program Core: 41 Credit Hours

CDM 110 - Computer Literacy for Windows 3 Credits
EMS 110 - Emergency Medical Technician 10 Credits
EMS 120 - Paramedic Module I 10 Credits
EMS 121 - Paramedic Module II 5 Credits
EMS 122 - Paramedic Module III 5 Credits
EMS 123 - Paramedic Internship 2 Credits
MGT 150 - Principles of Management 3 Credits
PSY 250 - Human Development Over the Life Span 3 Credits

Program Electives: 6 Credit Hours

CJS 131 - Emergency Dispatcher 3 Credits
EMS 105 - First Responder Emergency Aid 3 Credits
FRS 100 - Introduction to Emergency Services 2 Credits
FRS 101 - Introduction to Fire Science 3 Credits
FRS 150 - Basic Operations Firefighter 15 Credits
FRS 222 - Fire Service Instructor I 3 Credits
FRS 290 - Topics in Fire Science 3 Credits
HFE 120 - Physical Fitness 1 Credits
MGT 205 - Creative Leadership 3 Credits
MGT 210 - Human Resources Management 3 Credits
PHI 161 - Introduction to Ethics 3 Credits
PHI 255 - Living with Death 3 Credits

Total Minimum Degree Credits: 62

Other Requirements:

NOTE: Enrollment in EMS 110 , EMS 120 , EMS 121 , EMS 122 and EMS 123 is limited to students who meet the following qualifications:

For EMS 110 : Criteria 1, 2, and 3.
For EMS 120 EMS 121 , EMS 122 and EMS 123 : Criteria 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Enrollment Criteria

Evidence of high school diploma/GED and 18 years of age to be eligible for state of Illinois licensure exam
Evidence of recent physical exam (within last six months) and proof of immunization for measles (rubeola), tetanus, TB, hepatitis B, chicken pox (varicella), influenza, and COVID-19.
Evidence of current health care provider CPR certification
Illinois licensed EMT-B: six months pre-hospital patient experience required
Completion of entrance pretest with a score of 75% or greater, EMT-B Skill Validation and interview

Other AAS Graduation Requirements:

2.0 minimum cumulative GPA at MCC upon completion of program
15 semester hours of program-specific coursework taken at MCC
Completion of graduation application
Completion of end-of-program assessment as directed by this department