10th Grade

  1. Health Careers Academy (HCA) Core:  This course provides a firm foundation for students planning to further their education in the health and medical fields.  Students receive instruction in career path options, employability skills and general and specific work place skills.  Basic health care skills, safe practices and confidentiality are emphasized.
  2. Communications:  This course is designed to help students improve both individual and group communication.  Students will be required to engage in activities to enhance their basic communication skills as well as interpersonal, group, public, and workplace communications.  Writing assignments, group activities, and projects will also help students learn conflict management, speaking skills, and how to communicate using technology such as email, the Internet, voice mail, and Web sites.  A member of Toastmasters teaches a session in public speaking and debate once a week.  Upon completion, students receive a Toastmasters certificate.
  3. A.P. Psychology:  This course is taught as a social science and will cover such topics as; history of the study of human behavior, child development, the link between biology and behavior, learning, motivation and emotion, stress and personality, psychological disorders, and social psychology.  Emphasis will be placed on learning the different theories behind human behavior and applying those theories to modern life.

11th Grade

  1. Allied Health Careers:  This course will focus on the concepts and principles of the structure, function, and systems of the human body in relationship to human growth and development.  Students will learn to recognize problem situations in health care settings as they relate to direct and indirect patient care.  Safety issues, ethical considerations, legal constraints and professional codes will be presented and discussed throughout the course.  An extensive unit on HIPAA requirements will be taught.  Students will use the knowledge of disease prevention for the maintenance of optimal health.  Students will learn foundation skills and be certified in CPR and First Aid.  In addition, students will be exposed to guest speakers from various health care fields.
  2. Medical Terminology AH 120 (SBCC):  This is an introductory college-level course focusing on common medical terminology.  Meets one hour a week.
  3. Advanced Health Careers:  The first part of this course will focus on nutrition.  For the remainder of the course, students will continue with studies of health care issues at an advanced level.  Students will develop a career portfolio and prepare and develop detailed plans for their post secondary education in the health care field.
  4. Medical Biology:  This is a course in basic biology with medical application for college preparatory students.  The laboratory-oriented course will cover concepts in basic biochemistry, cells, cellular energy, genetics, human biology, evolution, and ecology all with an emphasis on health and medicine meeting all the California state biology standards.  This course will meet the Life Science graduation requirement.

12th Grade

  1. Certified Nursing Assistant CNA 101 (SBCC):  This class is offered term 1 and term 2 of the senior year by Santa Barbara City College.  On completion of this course, the student meets California State requirements to become a Certified Nursing Assistant.  Basic nursing theory and nursing skills are taught in the classroom, and students are supervised in giving care to residents in a long-term facility.  Content follows the California State approved CNA curriculum.  Students also receive 6 units of SBCC credit.
  2. Kinesiology:  This course is designed to offer a 4th year of science credit for the students in the Health Careers Academy. Students will receive core classroom instruction in kinesiology, biomechanics, anatomy, physiology, health processes, injury evaluation, and basic knowledge of sports medicine, personal training, physical therapy and fitness instructor.  In addition, students will take part in labs in the classroom that will enable them to use a hand on approach to understanding lecture materials.
  3. CNA Internship:  Upon completion of the CNA program, students are required to complete an internship either term 3 or term 4 of the senior year.  These internships are done at Cottage Hospital and the students rotate on a weekly basis through 9 different departments.  Areas included in the internship are: NICU, Oncology, Endoscopy, Orthopedics, and Radiology.
  4. HCA Internship (non-CNA):  Students are placed in an internship opportunity for one term during the Spring semester.  The goal of the internship experience is to enhance the student's knowledge of a particular medical field or profession.  By participating in the internship, the student will obtain a perspective of the skills and tasks that are required of this particular job.  As a result of this experience the student will better understand what kind of training and education he/she will need in the future.  This experience allows the student to understand the connection between schoolwork and their future career.  Sites vary according to the student's interest and space availability.  Most students are placed at Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital, Pueblo Radiology, and an internal medicine site.

Elective Class

  1. Anatomy and Physiology:  This course is an in depth study of the human body.  Students focus on body systems, emphasizing the structure and function of organs; causes, symptoms and treatment of disorders of each system; and diagnostic techniques.  Topics to be covered will be: digestive, urinary, endocrine, nervous, skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, and reproductive.
  2. Sports Medicine:  This course is designed to help students develop an awareness of health careers within the physical therapy and sport medicine occupations.  Classroom instruction covers such topics as: medical terminology; human anatomy; emergency procedure; soft tissue and bone injuries; causes, symptoms, and management of injuries; nutrition; physical fitness; and career opportunities.  In addition to the classroom instruction, students will rotate through on-the-job training experiences with local physical therapists, chiropractors, athletic trainers, and physical education teachers.