EMS Major

Bachelor of Science in Emergency Medical Services:

This program is designed to give paramedics additional subspecialty EMS clinical training as well as the fundamental science, communications, math, language, leadership, and health care systems knowledge they will need to be the leaders of tomorrow's EMS systems. 

To enroll in this program students must hold a current national certification as a Paramedic. We recognize that paramedic training includes a large amount of fundamental healthcare knowledge and practical skills so we want to ensure that each student is given as much transfer credit as possible. Therefore, before starting this program, all potential students should email a program advisor who will identify any units that may be transferred from other institutions. Transfer units do not generally count for EMS Selective units.

Like the majority of other Bachelor of Science degree programs at the University of Arizona, this program requires a total of 120 units. Of those units, 42 must be upper-division and 30 units must be done as a UA student. The degree program requirements are listed below followed by a listing of other University of Arizona General Requirements. 

EMS Core Content (7-11 units)

  • EMD 310 - EMS Core Competencies (3)
  • EMD 350 - Advanced EMS Systems (3)
  • EMD 498 - EMS Capstone (1-4)

EMS Selective (min 11-15 units)

  • EMD 410 - Critical Care (3)
  • EMD 420 - Alternative Destinations (3)
  • EMD 430 - Wilderness Medicine (3)
  • EMD 440 - Advanced Pediatric Prehospital Care (3)
  • EMD 450 - EMS Special Operations (3)
  • EMD 460 - Disaster Medicine (3)
  • EMD 493A - EMS Internship (3)
  • EMD 493B  - EMS Leadership (3)

Core Science Selective (min. 11 units)

  • MCB 181R - Introductory Biology I (3)
  • PSIO 201 & 202 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I (8) or PSIO 380 - Fundamentals of Human PSIO (4)
  • CHEM 151 & 152 – General Chemistry I & II (8) or equivalent

Leadership Selective (min. 6 units)

  • AEDV 310 - Transitional Resiliency (3)
  • LDRV 302 - Leadership Function (3)
  • LDRV 304 - The Human Resource Function (3)
  • LDRV 401 - Leadership in a Diverse Environment (3)
  • LDRV 404 - The Business Function (3)
  • LDRV 397 - Workshops in Organizational Leadership (3)

Math Selective (min. 3 units)

  • SBS 200 – Introduction to Statistics for the Social Sciences (3)
  • MATH 263 - Introduction to Statistics and Biostatistics (3)
  • BIOS 376 – Introduction to Biostatistics (3)
  • CHS 476 – Research and Analysis of Health Data (3)
  • EPID 309 – Introduction to Epidemiology (3)

Communications Selective (min. 3 units)

  • ENGL 307 - Business Writing (3)
  • ENGL 308 - Technical Writing (3)

Healthcare Selective (min. 6 units)

  • CHS 306 - Interprofessional Care (3)
  • CHS 309 - Ethical Issues (3)
  • PHPM 310 - Health Care in the U.S. (3)
  • PHPM 407 - Health Care Economics and Policy (3)
  • EHS 375 - Introduction to Environmental and Occupational Health (3)
  • EHS 418 - Introduction to Human Health Risk Assessment (3)
  • EHS 484 - Fundamentals of Industrial and Environmental Health (3)
  • PHP 421 - Introduction to Health and Law Ethics (3)

University of Arizona General Degree Requirements: 

Foundation courses:

  • English/Writing Requirement & English Mid-Career Writing Assessment
  • Second language: 2nd Semester Proficiency
  • Math requirements: M-Strand (Math 112 or higher)

General education requirements:

  • 4 courses/ 12 units – Exploring Perspectives
  • 3 courses/ 9 units – Building Connections
  • UNIV 101/ 1 unit (optional for transfer students)
  • UNIV 301/ 1 unit (optional for transfer students)