Course Catalog

EMS Professions, Diploma (EP12)  Diploma


Campus Locations: Valdosta, Coffee

Students who complete the EMS Professions diploma will be able to fluidly move into the paramedicine program at the diploma level. Successful completion of the program allows the graduate to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians AEMT certification examination and to apply for Georgia licensure as an AEMT. The primary focus of the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician is to provide basic and limited advanced emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system. This individual possesses the basic knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation. Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians function as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under medical oversight. Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians perform interventions with the basic and advanced equipment typically found on an ambulance. The Advanced Emergency Medical Technician is a link from the scene to the emergency health care system. Criminal background checks and drug screens may be required based on the requirements for participation in clinical experiences.

Program Outcomes: Upon graduation, students will have acquired the academic, occupational, and professional knowledge necessary for job acquisition, retention, and career advancement.

Careers: Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians (AEMTs)


Start Terms:

  • Ben Hill-Irwin Campus: Spring 2024, Spring 2025
  • Valdosta Campus: Spring 2024, Spring 2025

Length of Program: 4 Terms

Admission Requirements:

Program-Specific Admission Requirements:

  • To enroll in EMSP classes, students must maintain good academic standing at Wiregrass; those on academic warning, probation, or suspension are ineligible. Additionally, all registration holds must be cleared for registration eligibility.
  • To complete the AEMT portion, students must submit:
    • documentation of current certification and/or licensure as an: EMT or EMT-Basic (with successful completion of Georgia State Office of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma (SOEMST) EMT-B to EMT update course) OR
    • proof of successful completion of EMT Courses.

Program Information

  • All programs within the EMS/Paramedicine department program operates on a cohort basis, requiring students to take EMSP classes as prescribed by the program.
  • Health Science students must meet additional requirements. See the Health Science Program Advising Packet for more information.
  • Clinical experience is required to complete the program, and students must meet all clinical requirements defined by the clinical facility. No student will be denied admissions to a program due to these requirements; however, the clinical partner requirement may prevent a student from completing the program. Clinical requirements may include, but not limited to, some or all of the following: American Heart Association Provider CPR certification, physical examination or proof of ability to perform required duties, Tuberculin skin test, up-to-date immunizations, mandatory vaccinations, and/or titers. A criminal background check and drug screen are required prior to performing the clinical rotation. Students unable to meet clinical requirements may not be able to graduate from the program. Alternate clinical locations may not be offered or available if a student is unable to meet clinical requirements.
Curriculum Outline (42 hours)
General Education Core 9
AY25 Curriculum 9
ENGL 1010

Emphasizes the development and improvement of written and oral communication abilities. Topics include analysis of writing, applied grammar and writing skills, editing and proofreading skills, research skills, and oral communication skills. Approved Course Substitution: ENGL 1101

3
MATH 1012

Emphasizes the application of basic mathematical skills used in the solution of occupational and technical problems. Topics include fractions, decimals, percents, ratios and proportions, measurement and conversion, geometric concepts, technical applications, and basic statistics.

3
PSYC 1010

Presents basic concepts within the field of psychology and their application to everyday human behavior, thinking, and emotion. Emphasis is placed on students understanding basic psychological principles and their application within the context of family, work and social interactions. Topics include an overview of psychology as a science, the nervous and sensory systems, learning and memory, motivation and emotion, intelligence, lifespan development, personality, psychological disorders and their treatment, stress and health, and social psychology.

3
AY26 Curriculum 9
Choose One English Course 3
ENGL 1010

Emphasizes the development and improvement of written and oral communication abilities. Topics include analysis of writing, applied grammar and writing skills, editing and proofreading skills, research skills, and oral communication skills. Approved Course Substitution: ENGL 1101

3
ENGL 1101

Explores the analysis of literature and articles about issues in the humanities and in society. Students practice various modes of writing, ranging from exposition to argumentation and persuasion. The course includes a review of standard grammatical and stylistic usage in proofreading and editing. An introduction to library resources lays the foundation for research. Topics include writing analysis and practice, revision, and research. Students write a research paper using library resources and using a formatting and documentation style appropriate to the purpose and audience.

3
Choose One Math Course 3
MATH 1012

Emphasizes the application of basic mathematical skills used in the solution of occupational and technical problems. Topics include fractions, decimals, percents, ratios and proportions, measurement and conversion, geometric concepts, technical applications, and basic statistics.

3
MATH 1111

Emphasizes techniques of problem solving using algebraic concepts. Topics include fundamental concepts of algebra, equations and inequalities, functions and graphs, and systems of equations; optional topics include sequences, series, and probability or analytic geometry.

3
Choose One Psychology Course 3
PSYC 1010

Presents basic concepts within the field of psychology and their application to everyday human behavior, thinking, and emotion. Emphasis is placed on students understanding basic psychological principles and their application within the context of family, work and social interactions. Topics include an overview of psychology as a science, the nervous and sensory systems, learning and memory, motivation and emotion, intelligence, lifespan development, personality, psychological disorders and their treatment, stress and health, and social psychology.

3
PSYC 1101

Introduces the major fields of contemporary psychology. Emphasis is on fundamental principles of psychology as a science. Topics include research design, the organization and operation of the nervous system, sensation and perception, learning and memory, motivation and emotion, thinking and intelligence, lifespan development, personality, psychopathology and interventions, stress and health, and social psychology.

3
Occupational Courses 33
AY25 Curriculum 33
ALHS 1090

Introduces the elements of medical terminology. Emphasis is placed on building familiarity with medical words through knowledge of roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Topics include: origins (roots, prefixes, and suffixes), word building, abbreviations and symbols, and terminology related to the human anatomy.

2
ALHS 1011

Focuses on basic normal structure and function of the human body. Topics include general plan and function of the human body, integumentary system, skeletal system, muscular system, nervous and sensory systems, endocrine system, cardiovascular system, lymphatic system, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system, and reproductive system.

5
EMSP 1110

This course serves as the introductory course to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) profession. It orients the student to the prehospital care environment, issues related to the provision of patient care in both in-hospital and out-of-hospital circumstances. It further provides foundational information upon which subsequent curriculum content is based so that successful completion of this content increases the potential for success in subsequent courses and should allow students to apply the fundamental knowledge, skills, and attitudes gained in order to effectively communicate and function safely, ethically and professionally within the emergency medical services environment. Topics include: Anatomy and Physiology, Medical Terminology, Pathophysiology, CPR for HCP, EMS Systems, Research, Workforce Safety and Wellness, Documentation, EMS System Communication, Therapeutic Communication, Medical/Legal and Ethics, Public Health, Principles of Safely Operating a Ground Ambulance, Incident Management, Multiple Casualty Incidents, Air Medical, Vehicle Extrication, HazMat, MCI due to Terrorism/Disaster, and Life Span Development.

3
EMSP 1120

This course prepares students for initial scene management and assessment of patients as well as management of the airway. Introduction to pharmacology is also covered. Includes application of scene information and patient assessment findings (scene size up, primary and secondary assessment, patient history, and reassessment) to guide emergency management. Topics include: Scene Size-Up; Primary Assessment; History Taking; Secondary Assessment; Monitoring Devices; Reassessment; Airway Management; Respiration; Artificial Ventilation; Principles of Pharmacology; Medication Administration; and Emergency Medications.

3
EMSP 1130

This course integrates pathophysiological principles and assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement the treatment plan of cases involving non-traumatic medical emergencies. Topics include: Medical Overview; Neurology; Abdominal and Gastrointestinal Disorders; Immunology; Infectious Disease; Endocrine Disorders; Psychiatric; Cardiovascular; Toxicology; Respiratory; Hematology; Genitourinary/Renal; Non-Traumatic Musculoskeletal Disorders; Diseases of the Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat; and Medical Assessments.

3
EMSP 1140

This course provides a fundamental knowledge of growth, development, and aging and assessment findings to provide basic emergency care and transportation for a patient with special needs. Topics include: Obstetrics, Gynecology, Neonatal Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Patients with Special Challenges, and Special Patient Populations - Assessments.

3
EMSP 1150

This course is designed to prepare the EMT student to apply pre-hospital emergency care to patients who have sustained injuries resulting from various mechanisms of injury including: Abdominal and Genitourinary trauma; Orthopedic trauma; Soft Tissue trauma; Head, Facial, Neck, and Spine Trauma and Nervous System trauma. Special considerations in trauma related injuries will be presented including the physiology of shock as well as multi-system trauma and environmental emergencies. Topics include: Shock and Resuscitation; Trauma Overview; Bleeding; Chest Trauma; Abdominal and Genitourinary Trauma; Orthopedic Trauma; Soft Tissue Trauma; Head, Facial, Neck, and Spine Trauma; Nervous System Trauma; Special Considerations in Trauma; Environmental Emergencies; and Multi-System Trauma.

3
EMSP 1160

This course provides supervised clinical experience in various clinical settings as well as opportunities to demonstrate critical thinking skills and assessment based management techniques through competency based evaluations relevant to the practice of an EMT. Topics include: Clinicals and Assessment Based Management.

1
EMSP 1510

This course serves as the introductory course to the advanced level practice of the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT). It expands on the information attained at the EMT level. Topics include: EMS Systems; Documentation; EMS System Communication; Therapeutic Communication; Principles of Pharmacology; Medication Administration; Emergency Medications; Airway Management; Respiration; Artificial Ventilation; Primary Assessment; and Secondary Assessment.

3
EMSP 1520

This course provides opportunities to apply fundamental knowledge of basic and selected advanced emergency care and transportation based on assessment findings for the following: an acutely ill patient; a patient in shock, respiratory failure or arrest, cardiac failure or arrest, and post resuscitation management; and an acutely injured patient. In addition it provides a fundamental knowledge of growth, development, and aging and assessment findings to provide basic and selected advanced emergency care and transportation for a patient with special needs. Topics include: Geriatrics; Patients with Special Challenges; Medical Overview; Neurology; Immunology; Infectious Disease; Endocrine Disorders; Cardiovascular; Toxicology; Respiratory; Hematology; Genitourinary/Renal; Shock and Resuscitation; Chest Trauma; Abdominal and Genitourinary Trauma; Orthopedic Trauma; Head, Facial, Neck, and Spine Trauma: Nervous System Trauma; and Integration of Medical/Trauma Assessments.

3
EMSP 1530

This course provides supervised clinical experience in various clinical settings. Topics include: Clinicals.

1
EMSP 1540

This course provides supervised clinical experience in various clinical settings as well as opportunities to demonstrate critical thinking skills and assessment based management techniques through competency based evaluations relevant to the practice of an AEMT. Topics include: Clinicals and Assessment Based Management.

3
AY26 Curriculum 28
ALHS 1090

Introduces the elements of medical terminology. Emphasis is placed on building familiarity with medical words through knowledge of roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Topics include: origins (roots, prefixes, and suffixes), word building, abbreviations and symbols, and terminology related to the human anatomy.

2
EMSP 1210

This course serves as the foundational introduction to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) profession, orienting students to both in-hospital and out-of-hospital prehospital care environments. It covers essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for effective, safe, ethical, and professional communication and functioning within the EMS environment. Furthermore, the course prepares students to apply pre-hospital emergency care to trauma patients, focusing on injuries from various mechanisms including Abdominal and Genitourinary Trauma, Orthopedic Trauma, Soft Tissue Trauma, Head, Facial, Neck, and Spine Trauma, and Nervous System Trauma. Topics include but not limited to, Anatomy and Physiology, Medical Terminology, Pathophysiology, CPR for HCP, EMS Systems, Research, Workforce Safety and Wellness, Documentation, EMS System Communication, Therapeutic Communication, Medical/Legal and Ethics, Public Health, and Principles of Safely Operating a Ground Ambulance. Additionally, the course introduces students to critical scene management and patient assessment, airway management, and the basics of pharmacology, with topics such as Scene Size-Up, Primary Assessment, History Taking, Secondary Assessment, Monitoring Devices, Reassessment, Airway Management, Respiration, Artificial Ventilation, Principles of Pharmacology, Medication Administration, and Emergency Medications.

3
EMSP 1211

This course allows students to master psychomotor and affective skills required to perform as an EMT. The student must master various skills and assessment from content previous taught within EMSP 1210 using scenario-based learning. The student must demonstrate proficiency in the required skills as dictated by the GA EMS Office, Student Minimum Competencies (SMCs) documents.

2
EMSP 1220

This course integrates pathophysiological principles and assessment findings to formulate field impressions and implement treatment plans for a wide range of non-traumatic medical emergencies. It provides a comprehensive understanding of medical conditions and patient care across all stages of life, from birth through aging. Topics covered include Medical Overview; Neurology; Abdominal and Gastrointestinal Disorders; Immunology; Infectious Disease; Endocrine Disorders; Psychiatric; Cardiovascular; Toxicology; Respiratory; Hematology; Genitourinary/Renal; NonTraumatic Musculoskeletal Disorders; Diseases of the Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat; Obstetrics; Gynecology; Neonatal Care; Pediatrics; Geriatrics; Patients with Special Challenges; and Special Patient Populations - Assessments. This course equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide effective emergency care and transportation for diverse patient populations, including those with special needs.

3
EMSP 1221

This course builds upon EMSP 1220 and allows students to master the psychomotor and affective skills required to perform as an EMT. Students must master the affective skills and assessments from content previously taught within EMSP 1220 using scenario based learning. The students must demonstrate proficiency in the required skills as dictated by the GA EMS Office, Student Minimum Competencies documents.

3
EMSP 1230

This clinical practicum course provides Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) students with hands-on, real-world experience in various healthcare and pre-hospital settings. Under the supervision of licensed medical professionals, students will apply classroom knowledge and skills to assess, treat, and transport patients in emergency situations. The course emphasizes patient assessment, basic life support (BLS), airway management, trauma care, and communication in diverse clinical environments, such as emergency departments, ambulance services, and community health settings. Students will complete a series of clinical rotations, demonstrating competency in essential EMT skills, including patient interaction, vital signs monitoring, and basic interventions. By the end of the course, students will be able to perform the duties of an EMT with confidence and professionalism in real-time emergency scenarios.

1
EMSP 1550

This course builds on the previous EMT program courses and provides a broader depth and breadth of learning to the following topics. It introduces additional topics following the National EMS Education Standards outline the minimal competencies for entry-level EMS clinicians to perform their roles as outlined in the 2021 revisions. Topics Include: EMS System, Public Health, Assessment, Pharmacology, etc.

2
EMSP 1550L

This course allows students to master the psychomotor and affective skills required to perform as an AEMT. Students also mast the affective skills of patient communications and assessments using scenario-based learning. The student must demonstrate proficiency inn the required skills as dictated by the GA EMS Office, Student Minimum Competences documents.

1
EMSP 1560

This course builds on the previous EMT program and EMSP 1550 course and provides a broader depth and breadth of learning to the following topics. It introduces additional topics following the National EMS Education Standards outline the minimal competencies for entry-level EMS

2
EMSP 1560L

This course builds upon EMSP 1550L and allows students to master the psychomotor and affective skills required to perform as an AEMT. Students also mast the affective skills of patient communications and assessments using scenario-based learning. The student must demonstrate proficiency inn the required skills as dictated by the GA EMS Office, Student Minimum Competences documents.

1
EMSP 1570

This course provides the student with opportunities to put didactic and lab skills learned into real world environment under the careful direct observation of a clinical preceptor. The minimum number of patient contact hours is dictated by the GA EMS Office, Student Minimum Competencies documents (SMC).

2
EMSP 1580

This course provides the student the opportunity to demonstrate proficiency as an entry level AEMT, in management of patient in the role of team leader. This is performed under the direct observation of clinical preceptor. The student must demonstrate competency in the following areas: 1) Performance of Patient Assessments 2) Direction of Medical Care and 3) performs items 1 and 2 with minimal to no assistance from the Preceptor. The minimum number of patient contacts is dictated by the Georgia Department of Public Health EMS Office, Student Minimum Competences documents. (SMC)

1
Choose either ALHS 1101 or all 4 BIOL courses 5
ALHS 1011

Focuses on basic normal structure and function of the human body. Topics include general plan and function of the human body, integumentary system, skeletal system, muscular system, nervous and sensory systems, endocrine system, cardiovascular system, lymphatic system, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system, and reproductive system.

5
BIOL 2113

Co-requisite(s): BIOL 2113L, ENGL 1101 Introduces the anatomy and physiology of the human body. Emphasis is placed on the development of a systemic perspective of anatomical structures and physiological processes. Topics include body organization, cell structure and functions, tissue classifications, integumentary system, skeletal system, muscular system, and nervous and sensory systems.

3
BIOL 2113L

Co-requisite(s): BIOL 2113, ENGL 1101 Selected laboratory exercises paralleling the topics in BIOL 2113. The laboratory exercises for this course include body organization, cell structure and functions, tissue classifications, integumentary system, skeletal system, muscular system, and nervous sensory systems.

1
BIOL 2114

Pre-requisite(s): BIOL 2113, BIOL 2113L Co-requisite(s): BIOL 2114L Continues the study of the anatomy and physiology of the human body. Topics include the endocrine system, cardiovascular system, blood and lymphatic system, immune system, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system,and reproductive system.

3
BIOL 2114L

Pre-requisite(s): BIOL 2113, BIOL 2113L Co-requisite(s): BIOL 2114 Selected laboratory exercises paralleling the topics in BIOL 2114. The laboratory exercises for this course include the endocrine system, cardiovascular system, blood and lymphatic system, immune system, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system, and reproductive system.

1
Faculty
Advisor

EMS/Paramedicine Instructor
Valdosta Campus

Advisor

Director of EMS/Paramedic and Fire Science Programs
Valdosta Campus

Advisor

EMS Paramedic Program Instructor
Coffee Campus

Up one level
Programs of Study