College/Career Question

[Dnosneh]

Hello everyone,
I am 20 yrs old and currently an active duty army at 3rd ranger battallion. I've been here for 2 years as an infantryman and through what training i've been able to receive in ranger first responder etc, i've become interested in trauma medicine. The army is going to pay for me completely to go to college and receive a bachelors degree, and so i think it would be stupid to settle for anything less, however the only degree's in indiana i have been able to find in paramedic science are associates. In all reality, i am also worried about the pay a paramedic receives, and will likely end up joining the indianapolis police department, but to be competitive for hiring there, you need a 4 year degree in any major, so i figure why not learn something i am interested in at school. What i would like to do is go to a paramedic certification program that lasts a year in indiana, turn around and go back to school taking the basic classes needed to receive an associates degree in paramedic science from IUPUI (another year). But does anyone know if it is possible to earn an associates in paramedic science, and apply it directly towards a 4 year degree in a related field, so that i dont end up spending 5 or 6 years to earn a bachelors? If so, what fields do you think might be directly related that i could ask the college about?

[FTMPTB15]

Do you have to stay in Indiana?

[Dnosneh]

it would definitely be nice if i could stay in indiana, family etc is there, as well as resources for housing, but i'd certainly be open to going out of state if it was necessary...

[emtcsmith]

there are plenty of medics who are cops and I would figure that degree counts as good as any other...

[FTMPTB15]

Here is a link that shows many of the Bachelor's Degree programs in Emergency Medical Care: http://info.jems.com/jems/2004resources/bach.html

I would start by exploring some of those options. Not sure if any have what might be considered at 2+2 degree program which would be taking a 2 yr. Associates Degree and going for 2 more years at a university to complete the Bachelors Degree.

Upon further review, there are some local community colleges here that offer that 2+2 degree program, in which your Associates Degree can be used towards getting your Bachelor's. Still not sure if that helps, considering it's not in Indiana! :cool:

One more thing.. the related fields that I found were BS Emergency Medical Care, BSN (Bachelor Science Nursing), BS Public Safety Management, BS Pulic Health Management. I'm sure there are others..

[firemedic146]

Probably too far away, but the Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Roanoke, VA, offers a 2 year Associates Degree in Paramedic, and you can apply that towards a Bachelors in Healthcare Management. The Website is
http://www.jchs.edu

Mike

[Dnosneh]

Thanks for all the replys, I actually found, by looking up the health management suggestion, that IU will allow you to convert a paramedic license into a year's worth of credits towards a paramedic science degree, leaving only some general ed courses, and allow you to turn that into a bachelors in health management,... that leaves me with one more question.

I was kinda planning on being able to immediately get out of the army and go to a program that offers EMS basic in two weeks, and then going straight into a paramedic course, and then go to college and get the assoicates degree...
What i think i might have overlooked is the possibility that no EMS training school is going to accept me into a paramedic program fresh out of EMS-B. Does anyone know if this is an unlikely goal? I was told by the school that the only prerequisites where having completed EMS-B and an interview with the administrator to decide if i get accepted. Even though that may be technically true, in all reality, are any schools going to actually accept me into a paramedic course straight out of EMS-B? Or am i probably looking at some required field work before im going to be accepted to go for my paramedic license?
If so, would doing the whole thing in college, and skipping a certification course be the best way to go?

Sorry for the long-windedness.. and thank you for all replys

[bossteen]

go to sfas, and if selected 18d q course, you'll get all the trauma education you want, and when it gets old, let uncle sam put you through the pa program....just my opinion of course....

[Dnosneh]

nah... I've had enough of special ops... or the army period, im definitely ready to get out in the civillian world.

[BruenRescue2003]

Thanks for all the replys, I actually found, by looking up the health management suggestion, that IU will allow you to convert a paramedic license into a year's worth of credits towards a paramedic science degree, leaving only some general ed courses, and allow you to turn that into a bachelors in health management,... that leaves me with one more question.

I was kinda planning on being able to immediately get out of the army and go to a program that offers EMS basic in two weeks, and then going straight into a paramedic course, and then go to college and get the assoicates degree...
What i think i might have overlooked is the possibility that no EMS training school is going to accept me into a paramedic program fresh out of EMS-B. Does anyone know if this is an unlikely goal? I was told by the school that the only prerequisites where having completed EMS-B and an interview with the administrator to decide if i get accepted. Even though that may be technically true, in all reality, are any schools going to actually accept me into a paramedic course straight out of EMS-B? Or am i probably looking at some required field work before im going to be accepted to go for my paramedic license?
If so, would doing the whole thing in college, and skipping a certification course be the best way to go?

Sorry for the long-windedness.. and thank you for all replys


some Paramedic programs include the EMT-Basic certification along with the rest of the curriculum. In my region's Associate Degree paramedic program you don't have to have any certifications. You take your EMT-B course your first year as well as some gen ed, science courses, and I think some riding time. Then your 2nd year you start the actual paramedic certification. If you're interested: https://www.hvcc.edu/hsc/par/index.html


This is in upstate New York in the Capital District around Albany.


Edit: the school is also part of the State University of New York system so you'll be able to transfer your credits into a 4 year SUNY school pretty easily if you want.

[croaker260]

I was kinda planning on being able to immediately get out of the army and go to a program that offers EMS basic in two weeks, and then going straight into a paramedic course, and then go to college and get the assoicates degree...
What i think i might have overlooked is the possibility that no EMS training school is going to accept me into a paramedic program fresh out of EMS-B. Does anyone know if this is an unlikely goal? I was told by the school that the only prerequisites where having completed EMS-B and an interview with the administrator to decide if i get accepted.

Unfortunatesly there are plenty of schools, especially non accredited, non degree schools that will take you if you have cash in hand.
Fortunately for you, at most colleges you should have a slight point based preference being a vet for most programs. Contact the department of vet affairs prior to ETS.


Also if you can get your EMT prior to ETS, and do some work at the local MEDDAC,,,especially the local MEDDAC amb. section..then that would be "experiance" you can put down.

WHen I was at Campbell, there were plenty of army sponsered high intensity EMT courses over 3 weeks, I would look for one of those. ALso we bth know what a small world the Army is, shouldnt be too hard for you to find a way into the hosptial ER or AMB section by calling in a favor or too. Especially being in a Ranger Bat. Thats How I ended up going to paramedic school...took me two years though to get there.

Any way...if you get your medic, and need a job, give me a call....I am always willing to point a vet in the right direction.

-Steve