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Health Education

Overview Courses Faculty

Health Education (HEED) Courses

HEED 300 Health Science

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Advisory:Eligible for ENGRD 310 or ENGRD 312 AND ENGWR 300; OR ESLR 340 AND ESLW 340.
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • General Education:AA/AS Area III(b); CSU Area E1
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2024

This course focuses on factors which influence the health status of both the individual and the community. Topics include personal fitness, nutrition, sexuality, sexually transmitted disease, drug dependence including alcohol and tobacco, as well as diseases related to lifestyle.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • explain the principles of healthy living.
  • analyze the relationship between lifestyle and a variety of diseases.
  • describe the process of making healthy lifestyle changes.
  • distinguish between myths and facts related to health and wellness.
  • evaluate personal health behaviors.

HEED 308 Environmental Health Science

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Advisory:Eligible for ENGRD 310 or ENGRD 312 AND ENGWR 300; OR ESLR 340 AND ESLW 340
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • General Education:AA/AS Area IV; CSU Area B2; IGETC Area 5B
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2024

This course covers society's interaction with the environment, current environmental factors, and the influence of these on human health. Topics include the scientific method, ecology, population dynamics, poverty, atmospheric pollution including climate change, the water cycle, water resources, water pollution, toxic substances, and environmental disease. It covers sustainable solutions to current environmental issues and environmentally related disease. Field trips may be required.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • describe and explain the scientific method and apply the scientific method to research involving human health and environmental factors.
  • examine and discuss various environmental issues and related environmental diseases.
  • analyze and integrate solutions to current environmental issues and environmental health problems.
  • evaluate and critique current solutions for creating a sustainable society and formulate new possible solutions.

HEED 310 Heartsaver First Aid, Adult and Pediatric CPR and AED

  • Units:1
  • Hours:18 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU; UC (UC Credit Limitation: HEED 310, HEED 311 and ECE 414 combined: maximum credit, 1 course (Rereviewed; approval reaffirmed 7/12/23))
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2024

This course meets the standards of the American Heart Association. It provides knowledge and skills for emergency life-saving techniques involving infants, children, and adults. Respiratory and cardiovascular distress, non-breathing, unconsciousness, choking, cardiac arrest, and first aid are addressed. The first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) for adult and pediatric certification examination are included. This course is specifically designed for the general population who are not seeking professional training in the healthcare industry including nurses, physicians, EMS professionals, and other healthcare and public safety personnel.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • identify and respond to life-threatening conditions (including breathing emergencies, cardiac emergencies, and severe bleeding).
  • analyze and implement triage techniques.
  • demonstrate infant, child, and adult CPR skills.
  • appraise disease transmission prevention techniques as they relate to CPR and first aid procedures.
  • demonstrate the use of an AED on children and adults.
  • demonstrate conscious and unconscious choke rescue techniques on infants, children, and adults.
  • identify and respond to first aid conditions (including medical, injury, and environmental emergencies).

HEED 311 Pediatric First Aid, CPR AED

  • Units:1.5
  • Hours:27 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU; UC (UC credit limitation: HEED 310, HEED 311 and ECE 414 combined: maximum credit, 1 course”. (Rereviewed; approval reaffirmed 7/12/23))
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2024

This course is rewritten to meet the requirements for the American Heart Association certification in child care, teachers, and camp counselors. It’s designed to prepare people to provide first aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) use in a safe, timely, and effective manner. The first aid, CPR, and AED pediatric certification examination is included.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • perform high-quality CPR for an adult, child, and infant.
  • give effective rescue breaths.
  • demonstrate how to use an AED on an adult and child.
  • describe and demonstrate how to help a choking adult, child and infant.
  • list the priorities, roles, and responsibilities of a rescuer providing first aid to a child or infant.
  • describe the 4 key steps in first aid for children and infants: prevent, protect, assess, and act.
  • describe the assessment and first aid actions for life-threatening conditions: difficulty breathing, choking, severe bleeding, and shock.
  • demonstrate control bleeding, bandaging, and use of epinephrine pen.
  • identify the elements of common injuries and illnesses.
  • describe the contents of an effective first aid kit.

HEED 315 First Aid

  • Units:0.5
  • Hours:9 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Advisory:ENGRD 116, or placement through the assessment process.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2024

This course provides guidelines that enable the citizen responder to give appropriate care to a victim who is injured or becomes suddenly ill. Topics include controlling bleeding, splinting, and treating seizures and heart attacks.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • recognize that an emergency has occurred
  • analyze and prioritize the injury, implementing triage techniques
  • evaluate and apply emergency procedures for sudden illness
  • evaluate and formulate emergency first aid techniques for injuries
  • appraise disease transmission prevention techniques as they relate to first aid procedures

HEED 323 Basic Life Support for the Healthcare Provider

  • Units:0.5
  • Hours:9 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2024

This course meets the requirements for American Heart Association certification as a Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Professional. It involves learning BLS skills that are applicable to any healthcare setting. Students will learn life-saving rescue techniques for adults, children, and infants individually and as part of a team dynamics, including performance of high-quality compressions, use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), ventilation techniques, opioid-associated emergencies, and choking. This course is specifically designed for those students who are going into training for healthcare professionals including nurses, physicians, EMS professionals, and other healthcare and public safety personnel.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • describe the importance of high-quality CPR and its impact on survival.
  • perform high-quality CPR for an adult, child, and infant.
  • describe and demonstrate appropriate use of an AED.
  • provide effective ventilation by using a barrier device.
  • perform as an effective team member during multi-rescuer CPR.
  • describe technique for relief of foreign-body airway obstruction for an adult, child, and infant.

HEED 494 Topics in Health Education

  • Units:0.5 - 3
  • Hours:9 - 54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2024

This course provides opportunities to study contemporary topics in health which are not included in current offerings or which require emphasis beyond existing courses.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • Explain basic health concepts pertaining to contemporary issues in health
  • Apply basic health concepts to examine and analyze contemporary issues in health
  • Examine, compare, and contrast various philosophies related to health
  • Discriminate between scientific fact and myth pertaining to various issues in health
  • Analyze health issues from various perspectives
  • Propose solutions to current issues in contemporary health

HEED 495 Independent Studies in Health Education

  • Units:1 - 3
  • Hours:54 - 162 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2024

Independent Study is an opportunity for the student to extend classroom experience in this subject, while working independently of a formal classroom situation. Independent study is an extension of work offered in a specific class in the college catalog. To be eligible for independent study, students must have completed the basic regular catalog course at American River College. They must also discuss the study with a professor in this subject and secure approval. Only one independent study for each catalog course will be allowed.


HEED 499 Experimental Offering in Health Education

  • Units:0.5 - 4
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2024

This is the experimental courses description.