The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Health Occupations provides foundational knowledge and experience in a chosen health occupation, featuring a registered apprenticeship or comparable educational program as central to the degree.  The AAS provides students with a strong liberal arts background that develops prized skills such as effective communication and critical thinking, along with core professional skills in the health care professions, in order to contribute and grow capacity particularly in Alaska’s health care organizations.

In this degree program, the student completes an approved apprenticeship or comparable certificate program as a Concentration in the Major Studies and takes a national certification exam, administered by the National Healthcareer Association, related to the concentration. National certification is not required for employment, but it is a required component of the academic program. Currently approved and registered apprenticeships are offered in conjunction with the Alaska Primary Care Association. They include programs for the following health occupations: Community Health Worker; Billing and Coding  Specialist; Medical Administrative Assistant; Electronic Health Record Specialist; and Clinical Medical Assistant.  Apprenticeships involve required numbers of hours of instruction and mentoring in the job or position (across 1 or 2 years as determined by the apprenticeship requirements) as well as a coordinated didactic component which includes a synchronous online class session each week. 

Students completing the AAS degree can apply for admission to related bachelor’s level degree programs at APU (check with Admissions or the Registrar’s Office for details regarding readmission upon completion of the AAS).  Courses completed at the associate’s level can apply to bachelor’s level requirements.

Learning Outcomes

As a graduate, the student will earn an Associate of Arts degree with foundational-to-integrated proficiency in APU’s Core Competencies:

1. Effective Communication [EC]:  Demonstrate the ability to get one’s point across in writing, presentations, and organizations in order to share information, teach others, and foster collaboration
2. Critical Thinking [CT]:  Demonstrate the ability to compute, analyze, make sense of information or data, and reach reasoned conclusions cognizant of possible bias or fallacies
3. Cultural & Historical Perspective [CH]:  Demonstrate the ability to effectively consider tradition and heritage in relation to decision-making in a world shaped by diverse cultures and abiding histories
4. Scientific Inquiry [SI]:  Demonstrate the ability to reach verifiable conclusions based on documented observations, findings, and recognized methods in order to know how things work in our world
5. Ethical Engagement [EE]:  Demonstrate ability to raise needed questions and apply ethical and effective problem-framing and problem-solving to make things better
    

The degree is designed to meet the following Professional Competencies with foundation-to-integrated proficiency:

1. Cultural Competency:  Synthesize and integrate knowledge from the natural and behavioral sciences; prioritize relationship-centered care [CH, EC, CT, EE]
2. Professional Communication and Collaboration:  Integrate principles of communication and collaboration in health care teams and professional settings to promote movement toward optimal levels of health for patients [EC, CH]
3. Professional Care:  Integrate and synthesize the concepts and principles of critical thinking into the health science professions to facilitate participation in effecting change in the delivery of health care to society; utilize holistic knowledge and refined critical thinking abilities in the provision of safe, effective, evidence-based professional care of communities, families and individuals [CT, SI]
4. Evidence-Based Assessment:  Integrate leadership and management skills utilizing ethical decision making and evidence-based practice; utilize evidence-based methods, assessments, technologies, and management systems to guide decisions that promote optimal outcomes [SI, CT]
5. Personal and Social Responsibility:  Develop individualized plan for personal continued learning and professional growth as a method for adjusting to changes occurring within the health care system; apply knowledge of health disparities to lead initiatives that optimize the health of communities, families and individuals; utilize both traditional and academic knowledge to advance the health of Alaska Native, indigenous, and underserved populations [EE, SI, CH]
    

Admissions:

The general requirements for admission to undergraduate professional studies at APU are found in the Admissions section of the catalog.  In addition, the following is required for admission to the Health Occupations AAS program:

• If the applicant has not yet completed an approved apprenticeship program  (Major Studies Concentration) or comparable academic program, the applicant must provide documentation of employment showing she/he is currently employed in an approved apprenticeship program.