Career Cluster : Health Science
Planning, managing, and providing therapeutic services, diagnostic services, health informatics, support services, and biotechnology research and development.
Workforce Region(s): Statewide Data - All Districts
Health Science Pathways
Pathway Description: Careers in the Biotechnology Research and Development pathway involve bioscience research and development as it applies to human health. These scientists may study diseases to discover new treatments of invent medical devised used to directly assist patients or to improve the accuracy of diagnostic tests.
Secondary CTE Courses
Health Science I: Introduction to Health Science: Instructional content will focus on healthcare communications, leadership and teamwork, and reinforce, expand and enhance biology content specific to human structure and function. Instruction will use interest inventories and observations to introduce students to careers in healthcare and will incorporate project- and problem-based healthcare practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these knowledge and skills. This course will build an understanding of the academic, communication, and technical skills in all aspects of the industry. Students will learn how healthcare workers fit within the overall health care environment and will identify how key systems affect quality of care and other services they perform.
Health Science II: Health, Safety and Ethics in the Health Environment: Instructional content will focus on healthcare safety, health maintenance practices and environmental safety processes and procedures, ethical and legal responsibilities as well as reinforce, expand and enhance biology content specific to diseases and disorders. Instruction will incorporate project and problem-based healthcare practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these knowledge and skills. Students will develop basic technical skills required for all health career specialties including understanding occupational safety techniques and obtaining their CPR and First Aid certifications.
Health Science III: Employment in Health Occupations: Instructional content will focus on healthcare information technology applications, employability and career development, and technical skill preparation. These knowledge and skills will provide guidance for career selection and application for both entry-level employment and post-secondary preparation. Instruction will incorporate project- and problem-based healthcare practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these knowledge and skills.
Information Technology Applications: This course is designed for those students who have not mastered knowledge and skills related to technology applications prior to entry into high school. Students will use technology tools to manage personal schedules and contact information, create memos and notes, prepare simple reports and other business communications, manage computer operations and file storage, and use electronic mail, Internet applications and GIS to communicate, search for and access information. Students will develop skills related to word processing, database management, and spreadsheet applications.
Health Science IV: Introduction to Health Informatics: Instructional content will introduce students to health informatics career options and opportunities, accompanying educational requirements, employment projections, analysis, abstracting and coding, operations, documentation and storage. Instructional content will enhance, expand and reinforce communication and confidentiality as introduced in Health Sciences I and II. With input and participation of health informatics professionals, instructional content will incorporate project- and problem-based support services practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these knowledge and skills.
Other Courses and Elective Activities: Local student organization activities, including public speaking, record keeping and work-based experiences.
Pathway Description: Careers in the Diagnostic Services pathway use tests and evaluations that aid in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, injuries or other physical conditions.
Secondary CTE Courses
Health Science I: Introduction to Health Science: Instructional content will focus on healthcare communications, leadership and teamwork, and reinforce, expand and enhance biology content specific to human structure and function. Instruction will use interest inventories and observations to introduce students to careers in healthcare and will incorporate project- and problem-based healthcare practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these knowledge and skills. This course will build an understanding of the academic, communication, and technical skills in all aspects of the industry. Students will learn how healthcare workers fit within the overall health care environment and will identify how key systems affect quality of care and other services they perform.
Health Science II: Health, Safety and Ethics in the Health Environment: Instructional content will focus on healthcare safety, health maintenance practices and environmental safety processes and procedures, ethical and legal responsibilities as well as reinforce, expand and enhance biology content specific to diseases and disorders. Instruction will incorporate project and problem-based healthcare practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these knowledge and skills. Students will develop basic technical skills required for all health career specialties including understanding occupational safety techniques and obtaining their CPR and First Aid certifications.
Health Science III: Employment in Health Occupations: Instructional content will focus on healthcare information technology applications, employability and career development, and technical skill preparation. These knowledge and skills will provide guidance for career selection and application for both entry-level employment and post-secondary preparation. Instruction will incorporate project- and problem-based healthcare practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these knowledge and skills.
Information Technology Applications: This course is designed for those students who have not mastered knowledge and skills related to technology applications prior to entry into high school. Students will use technology tools to manage personal schedules and contact information, create memos and notes, prepare simple reports and other business communications, manage computer operations and file storage, and use electronic mail, Internet applications and GIS to communicate, search for and access information. Students will develop skills related to word processing, database management, and spreadsheet applications.
Health Science IV: Introduction to Diagnostic Services: Instructional content will introduce students to diagnostic services career options and opportunities, accompanying educational requirements, employment projections, diagnostic assessment and reporting, positioning, transferring and transporting of patients, and procedure implementation. Instructional content will enhance, expand and reinforce multidisciplinary communication and patient interaction as introduced in Health Science I. With input and participation of diagnostic services professionals, instructional content will incorporate project- and problem-based diagnostic services practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these knowledge and skills.
Other Courses and Elective Activities: Local student organization activities, including public speaking, record keeping and work-based experiences.
Pathway Description: Careers in the Health Informatics pathway include many different levels of health care related employment. This pathway includes health care administrators who manage health care agencies as well as those individuals who are responsible for managing all of the patient data and information, financial information, and computer applications related to healthcare processes and procedures.
Secondary CTE Courses
Health Science I: Introduction to Health Science: Instructional content will focus on healthcare communications, leadership and teamwork, and reinforce, expand and enhance biology content specific to human structure and function. Instruction will use interest inventories and observations to introduce students to careers in healthcare and will incorporate project- and problem-based healthcare practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these knowledge and skills. This course will build an understanding of the academic, communication, and technical skills in all aspects of the industry. Students will learn how healthcare workers fit within the overall health care environment and will identify how key systems affect quality of care and other services they perform.
Health Science II: Health, Safety and Ethics in the Health Environment: Instructional content will focus on healthcare safety, health maintenance practices and environmental safety processes and procedures, ethical and legal responsibilities as well as reinforce, expand and enhance biology content specific to diseases and disorders. Instruction will incorporate project and problem-based healthcare practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these knowledge and skills. Students will develop basic technical skills required for all health career specialties including understanding occupational safety techniques and obtaining their CPR and First Aid certifications.
Health Science III: Employment in Health Occupations: Instructional content will focus on healthcare information technology applications, employability and career development, and technical skill preparation. These knowledge and skills will provide guidance for career selection and application for both entry-level employment and post-secondary preparation. Instruction will incorporate project- and problem-based healthcare practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these knowledge and skills.
Information Technology Applications: This course is designed for those students who have not mastered knowledge and skills related to technology applications prior to entry into high school. Students will use technology tools to manage personal schedules and contact information, create memos and notes, prepare simple reports and other business communications, manage computer operations and file storage, and use electronic mail, Internet applications and GIS to communicate, search for and access information. Students will develop skills related to word processing, database management, and spreadsheet applications.
Health Science IV: Introduction to Health Informatics: Instructional content will introduce students to health informatics career options and opportunities, accompanying educational requirements, employment projections, analysis, abstracting and coding, operations, documentation and storage. Instructional content will enhance, expand and reinforce communication and confidentiality as introduced in Health Sciences I and II. With input and participation of health informatics professionals, instructional content will incorporate project- and problem-based support services practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these knowledge and skills.
Other Courses and Elective Activities: Local student organization activities, including public speaking, record keeping and work-based experiences.
Pathway Description: Careers in the Support Services pathway provide a therapeutic environment for the delivery of health care. Support Services offers a full range of career opportunities from entry level to management, including technical and professional careers.
Secondary CTE Courses
Health Science I: Introduction to Health Science: Instructional content will focus on healthcare communications, leadership and teamwork, and reinforce, expand and enhance biology content specific to human structure and function. Instruction will use interest inventories and observations to introduce students to careers in healthcare and will incorporate project- and problem-based healthcare practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these knowledge and skills. This course will build an understanding of the academic, communication, and technical skills in all aspects of the industry. Students will learn how healthcare workers fit within the overall health care environment and will identify how key systems affect quality of care and other services they perform.
Health Science II: Health, Safety and Ethics in the Health Environment: Instructional content will focus on healthcare safety, health maintenance practices and environmental safety processes and procedures, ethical and legal responsibilities as well as reinforce, expand and enhance biology content specific to diseases and disorders. Instruction will incorporate project and problem-based healthcare practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these knowledge and skills. Students will develop basic technical skills required for all health career specialties including understanding occupational safety techniques and obtaining their CPR and First Aid certifications.
Health Science III: Employment in Health Occupations: Instructional content will focus on healthcare information technology applications, employability and career development, and technical skill preparation. These knowledge and skills will provide guidance for career selection and application for both entry-level employment and post-secondary preparation. Instruction will incorporate project- and problem-based healthcare practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these knowledge and skills.
Information Technology Applications: This course is designed for those students who have not mastered knowledge and skills related to technology applications prior to entry into high school. Students will use technology tools to manage personal schedules and contact information, create memos and notes, prepare simple reports and other business communications, manage computer operations and file storage, and use electronic mail, Internet applications and GIS to communicate, search for and access information. Students will develop skills related to word processing, database management, and spreadsheet applications.
Health Science IV: Introduction to Health Informatics: Instructional content will introduce students to health informatics career options and opportunities, accompanying educational requirements, employment projections, analysis, abstracting and coding, operations, documentation and storage. Instructional content will enhance, expand and reinforce communication and confidentiality as introduced in Health Sciences I and II. With input and participation of health informatics professionals, instructional content will incorporate project- and problem-based support services practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these knowledge and skills.
Other Courses and Elective Activities: Local student organization activities, including public speaking, record keeping and work-based experiences.
Pathway Description: Careers in the Therapeutic Services pathway are focused primarily on changing the health status of the patient over time. Health professionals in this pathway work directly with patients; they may provide care, treatment, counseling and health education information.
Secondary CTE Courses
Health Science I: Introduction to Health Science: Instructional content will focus on healthcare communications, leadership and teamwork, and reinforce, expand and enhance biology content specific to human structure and function. Instruction will use interest inventories and observations to introduce students to careers in healthcare and will incorporate project- and problem-based healthcare practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these knowledge and skills. This course will build an understanding of the academic, communication, and technical skills in all aspects of the industry. Students will learn how healthcare workers fit within the overall health care environment and will identify how key systems affect quality of care and other services they perform.
Health Science II: Health, Safety and Ethics in the Health Environment: Instructional content will focus on healthcare safety, health maintenance practices and environmental safety processes and procedures, ethical and legal responsibilities as well as reinforce, expand and enhance biology content specific to diseases and disorders. Instruction will incorporate project and problem-based healthcare practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these knowledge and skills. Students will develop basic technical skills required for all health career specialties including understanding occupational safety techniques and obtaining their CPR and First Aid certifications.
Health Science III: Employment in Health Occupations: Instructional content will focus on healthcare information technology applications, employability and career development, and technical skill preparation. These knowledge and skills will provide guidance for career selection and application for both entry-level employment and post-secondary preparation. Instruction will incorporate project- and problem-based healthcare practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these knowledge and skills.
Information Technology Applications: This course is designed for those students who have not mastered knowledge and skills related to technology applications prior to entry into high school. Students will use technology tools to manage personal schedules and contact information, create memos and notes, prepare simple reports and other business communications, manage computer operations and file storage, and use electronic mail, Internet applications and GIS to communicate, search for and access information. Students will develop skills related to word processing, database management, and spreadsheet applications.
Introduction to Therapeutic Services: Instructional content will introduce students to therapeutic services career options, opportunities, accompanying educational requirements, employment projections, therapeutic treatment planning and implementation, information collection, and monitoring and evaluating patient status. Instructional content will enhance, expand and reinforce intra-team communication and patient interaction as introduced in Health Science I. With input and participation of therapeutic services professionals, instructional content will incorporate project and problem-based therapeutic practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these knowledge and skills. Students will study strategies for client interaction and learn how to explain planned procedures to patients and health professionals, including goals, side effects and coping strategies. Students will use various strategies to respond orally, and with written communication, to questions and concerns of patients within their scope of practice.
Other Courses and Elective Activities: Local student organization activities, including public speaking, record keeping and work-based experiences.
The Perkins crosswalk of educational programs of study to occupations identifies a number of programs relevant to this career cluster: