Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) announced a new associate science degree in paramedic science, with classes set to begin January 2021. This new program is in response to high and increasing demand for paramedics. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the increase in demand through the next decade will be 7%, faster than average.
Brennan Randolph, vice president for enrollment management and institutional technology, said, “We are pleased to add this program to our growing area of healthcare education. This is a growing field and it really makes sense for SMWC to offer this program with the success that our nursing program has seen since we added it in 2014.”
This program coincides with the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course that was added in the fall 2020. Students eligible for the paramedic science program must hold a current EMT certification in Indiana or National Registry of EMT. This can lead to careers such as a first responder, ambulance paramedic or working in an emergency room.
Assistant professor and director of the paramedic sciences, Eric Shaughnessy, NRP, PI, is glad the program is becoming part of SMWC curriculum.
“We are delighted to receive our Letter of Review and are in the accreditation process for the paramedic science program,” Shaughnessy said. “It is exciting to go into the spring semester to study such an in-demand field. Our faculty can really prepare Woods students for careers directly out of college with our hands-on teaching.”