An important component of the Associate of Science program is the flexibility it offers students that have different educational objectives.  The wide variety of general education course available to A.S. students allows them to complete all of the general education requirements of the healthcare curriculum before they enter the healthcare curriculum.  The students are able to focus on and successfully complete the general education requirements of the healthcare curriculum before they enter that curriculum.  That accomplishment allows students to focus on the professional courses in a healthcare curriculum.  They will have completed most or all of their general education requirements in the A.S. program.  Many students take advantage of this flexibility.

Another advantage of the A.S. Program is it allows students to complete general education requirements while they wait for entrance into a healthcare curriculum.

When the student is granted admission into a healthcare curriculum, they are able to seamlessly move general education credit from the A.S. Program into the healthcare curriculum.  The same concept applies to A.S. students that have completed course work at other accredited institutions.  Those credits are transferred into the A.S. program and count toward fulfillment of A.S. requirements.

Students in the A.S. Program are able to qualify and receive support and financial aid as developed by the Office of Financial Aid.

The Associate of Science faculty is dedicated to the success of the student.  The focus is on accomplishment and on the successful completion of what the healthcare curricula call the core curriculum.  The faculty is highly credentialed and accredited in all areas of their responsibility.  They provide close supervision in the classroom and laboratory setting.  They are skilled at the use of technology.  Many of the courses are offered in the distance format.  The faculty is actively involved in student advising and supervision.

·         prepare students for other degree programs at the Jefferson College of Health Sciences,

·         provide opportunities for students who may need to complete prerequisite or developmental coursework prior to acceptance into a professional health sciences program at Jefferson College of Health Sciences, or to pursue post-secondary education,

·         prepare students to transfer to another college or university,

·         provide a strong foundation in general education, science, mathematics and health sciences,

·         provide comprehensive basic science education,

·         provide the first two years of coursework (pre-professional) for the Physician Assistant program.