Health Navigator

Health Navigator (CIP: 1351220800)

Through the Health Navigator Associate in Science (A.S.) degree program at Valencia College, you can gain the skills and knowledge to make a difference in the lives of those who need help navigating their health care or simply accessing community resources. From health insurance to hospitalization and from wellness to rehabilitation, our world-class health care system can be hard to navigate. Increased health literacy is consistently associated with better health outcomes and quality of life. You can make the difference in the lives of your family and community as a specially trained professional. Health Navigators may also facilitate access to care and follow-up for sick and complicated patients with cancer, HIV, and a range of other complex health problems. In addition, Health Navigators can assist with identifying and enrolling patients in various health insurance plans including ACA Exchanges, Medicaid, Medicare, and disability services.

The curriculum content provides students with technical skill proficiency and includes competency-based applied learning that contributes to the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills needed to be successful health navigators.  Students also explore work attitudes, general employability skills, and occupation-specific skills. Health Navigator is an open-access program, though a minimum grade of C or better is required in all professional coursework.

Health Care Specialist Technical Certificate (CIP# 0351070102)

The Health Care Specialist program is the perfect place to begin your health care career. This short certificate is designed to prepare students for employment as entry-level assistants in health care services settings while exploring pathways to a nursing, allied health, or transfer-focused associate's degree.

This program is for individuals who are currently employed in the health field or seeking employment in entry-level positions in doctor's offices, hospitals, pharmacies, clinicals, and community health organizations. The content includes college credit coursework for associate degree completion, along with an introduction to organizational structure of health care facilities, legal aspects of health care, communication skills and employability skills.

Students are strongly encouraged to meet with our highly experienced Student Success Coach's right away to ensure that you are on the right path for success. Make an appointment today by contacting our advisors in the Support Center by selecting the Allied Health Programs area.

Start Right

Degree-seeking students enrolling at Valencia for the first time will have a limited range of courses from which to choose for their first 18 college-level credits. Within the first 18 college credit hours, you will be required to take ENC1101 (3 credits), and if applicable, SLS 1122 (3 credits) and a mathematics course appropriate to your selected meta-major (3 credits).  The remaining courses will be chosen from the General Education Core Courses in humanities (3 credits), science (3 credits), or social science (3 credits), and/or the introductory courses within the A.S. degree programs. For specific courses see the Foundation Courses on the “Program Requirements” tab. For course sequencing recommendations, see your Student Success Coach or create an education plan by logging into Atlas, clicking on the LifeMap tab and clicking My Education Plan.

Salary & Earnings Information

For career information related to this program, please visit O*Net OnLine.

Contacts

Future Students

To learn more about this program, contact Enrollment Services at enrollment@valenciacollege.edu or 407-582-1507

Current Students

Your Student Success Coach contact information can be found in Atlas. Log into Atlas, click on the Courses tab, and check your Academic Profile information to find a link to your Coach. 

Program Chair
Barbara Pierre: 407-582-5363
bpierre31@valenciacollege.edu
 

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Examine the implication of insurance and health care delivery funding within public health.
• Use evidence to draw conclusions about disease etiology associated with wellness aspects, medical language, and anatomy and physiology.
• Apply the primary levels of prevention to public health.
• Analyze the major ethical theories and current events in the field of public health.
• Apply scientific methods in implementing the levels of prevention.
• Translate the implications of technology and communications on health related issues and their effects on society.

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This course must be completed with a grade of C or better.

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This course has a prerequisite; check description in Valencia College catalog.

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This is a general education course.

Health Care Specialist

Program Outcomes

• Examine health care delivery systems and health occupations.
• Communicate and use interpersonal skills effectively. 
• Discuss legal and ethical responsibilities in healthcare. 
• Recognize information technology applications in healthcare.
• Demonstrate employability skills in healthcare. 

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This course must be completed with a grade of C or better.

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This course has a prerequisite; check description in Valencia catalog.

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This is a general education course.

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Science electives are career pathway specific. Please work with advisor to ensure best alignment with current catalog requirements.