Health Science and Fitness

Health Science & Fitness

Care, Heal, Healthy, Wellness, Long-term Care

About This Pathway

The Health Science & Fitness pathway prepares you for a career helping others heal or stay physically healthy and strong. Career choices include becoming  a nurse or working in a medical office, lab, or surgery setting.  You could join a dental office team as a dental hygienist, draw blood for analysis as a phlebotomist, or treat people’s breathing problems. This pathway also leads to jobs helping others stay physically fit or providing care for people as they age.

Programs of Study

Athletic Coaching

The Athletic Coaching Certificate is for individuals interested in coaching athletics for all ages and abilities. 

Dental Assistant

The Dental Assistant program prepares the student, as a member of the dental health team, to assist the dentist in all phases of dentistry. 

Dental Hygiene

The Dental Hygiene curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for positions in general and specialty dental offices, hospitals, schools, public health agencies and industrial agencies.

Exercise Science & Kinesiology: Transfer Major

This Associate of Arts transfer degree is designed for students transferring to Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa or the University of Iowa to study Exercise Science & Kinesiology. 

Fitness/Exercise Management

Fitness/Exercise Management degree is designed to be a two-year degree for individuals who would like to pursue a career in the fitness, exercise or related health fields. 

Health Administration Specialist

Health Administration Specialists are integral to the evolving healthcare industry.  They plan, lead, manage, and supervise the day-to-day operations of healthcare facilities, ensuring a smooth administrative process and delivery of high-quality patient care. 

Medical Assistant

Medical assistants are the only allied health professionals specifically trained to work in ambulatory settings, such as physicians’ offices, clinics and group practices and perform a variety of administrative and clinical procedures in these settings.

Medical Billing and Coding

In the Medical Billing and Coding program students learn to translate medical diagnoses and procedures into numbers or codes for reimbursement and statistical purposes.

Medical Laboratory Technology

The Medical Laboratory Technology program prepares the student to perform complex laboratory procedures with a limited amount of supervision. 

Nursing

The Associate Degree Nurse utilizes more complex nursing knowledge and skills to assess, plan, provide, evaluate and manage nursing care for patients in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and a variety of community-based healthcare settings.

Patient Access Specialist

The Patient Access Specialist is the initial point of contact for registering patients who are entering a health care facility and serve as an advocate for both the patient and the organization.  

Phlebotomy

A Phlebotomist draws blood from patients for diagnostic medical laboratory tests and most phlebotomists are employed in hospitals and blood collection facilities. 

Respiratory Therapy

The Respiratory Therapy program provides students the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to begin successful careers as registered respiratory therapists. 

Surgical Technolo​​gy

The Surgical Technology program prepares students for national certification and the ability to earn the credential Certified Surgical Technologist (CST).

Liberal Arts

Students planning on transferring to a four-year college/university may complete their freshman and sophomore requirements at Des Moines Area Community College.

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Nondegree Training

High School Programming

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Pathway Success Team​

Each Pathway has experts ready to support your success at DMACC.

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Award Information

AA: Associate in Arts Degree. An AA is a degree made up of 64 credits you can earn at DMACC with the intent of continuing your education at a 4-year college or university. An AA is a relatively inexpensive way to take care of your general education requirements.

AS: Associate in Science Degree. An AS is also a degree made up of 64 credits you can earn at DMACC with the intent of continuing your education at a 4-year college or university. An AS is a relatively inexpensive way to take care of your general education requirements.

AAS: Associate in Applied Science Degree. An AAS is a degree made up of 64-86 credits you can earn at DMACC that prepares you to be ready to enter the related market or industry.

Certificate: A Certificate of Specialization has a maximum of 48 credits and can typically be completed in 52 weeks that prepares you to be ready to enter the related market or industry. Certificates are not intended to have a general education component.

Diploma: A Diploma has 30-48 credits and can typically be completed in 52 weeks that prepares you to be ready to enter the related market or industry. Diploma’s are primarily discipline specific, with a small amount of general education required.

Nondegree: Continuing education coursework to support your desire to update or learn new skills, advance in your current job, or renew a professional license.

A field of study without any award type listed after the discipline indicates coursework opportunities available at DMACC.

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