Health

Why Health?

"The greatest wealth is health." ~ Virgil

At Heartland, students taking Health classes develop hands-on skills while preparing to transfer to four-year institutions in a variety of related majors. Health courses provide an introduction to careers in health sciences, community health and wellness, leisure and recreation, exercise science, nutrition, fitness, and dietetics, among others.

Even if you are not pursuing a health-related career, our Health courses can teach you how to apply credible research and practical strategies to make informed decisions about your own health and wellness.

We invite you to explore our courses and programs.

There are many reasons to study at Heartland Community College:

  • Affordable
  • Student-focused
  • Dedicated instructors
  • Small class sizes
  • Variety of class times, topics, and formats (classroom, hybrid, and online)

Program Details

Associate in Arts – Concentration in Health

Format
On Campus, Online, Hybrid
In-District Tuition
$169/credit hour
Out-of-District Tuition
$337/credit hour
Program Options
View Program Options
Financial Options
Financial Aid is available.

Program Highlights

Courses taken by students who wish to pursue health careers often include the following:

HLTH 110 – Medical Terminology

  • Students learn to define and use medical terms as they relate to the body’s structure and function, medical procedures, and disease processes.

HLTH 120 – Nutrition

  • Focuses on principles of nutrition, emphasizing the functions and sources of nutrients, potential nutrition problems, nutritional planning, and factors affecting nutrition throughout the lifespan.

HLTH 225 – Clinical Kinesiology

  • Students apply biomechanical and kinesiological principles to analyze human motion.
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Program Options

Associate in Arts – Concentration in Health 

If you plan to complete the first two years of study leading to a bachelor's degree at Heartland and then transfer as a Health major to a four-year college or university in Illinois, the Associate in Arts (AA) transfer preparation program is the path for you. This 60-credit hour area of concentration includes general education requirements, required core courses in Health, and recommended electives.

60 credit hours , Catalog Year 2025-2026, Communication 

Communication
Course Hours
ENGL 101 - Critical Reading & Writing 

3 (C or higher) 
ENGL 102 - Multimodal Composition 

3 (C or higher) 
COMM 101 - Introduction to Oral Communication 

3

Total Credit Hours 

9

Meet the Faculty

Vicky Applegate

Distinguished Adjunct Professor

Teaches: Health

Dameron Beverly

Associate Professor

Teaches: Nursing

Joe Company

Associate Professor

Teaches: Biology

Gina Greene

Instructor

Teaches: Health

Lucas Cook

Adjunct Instructor I

Teaches: Health

Kacie Lind

Assistant Adjunct Professor

Teaches: Health

Jill Mohr

Assistant Adjunct Professor

Teaches: Health

Katie Paul

Adjunct Instructor I

Teaches: Health

Beth Peterson

Adjunct Instructor I

Teaches: Health

Dawn Rendleman

Assistant Professor

Teaches: Physical Therapy Assistant Program

Dawn Rendleman

Assistant Professor

Teaches: Physical Therapy Assistant Program

Julie Schumacher

Distinguished Adjunct Professor,

Teaches: Health

Sarah Wright

Adjunct Instructor I

Teaches: Health

Humanities & Fine Arts
Course Hours
Humanities - Any one IAI Humanities course 

3
Fine Arts - Any one IAI Fine Arts course 

3
Humanities or Fine Arts - One additional IAI Humanities or Fine Arts course 

3

Total Credit Hours

9
Social & Behavioral Sciences
Course Hours
Social & Behavioral Science - 3 courses from at least 2 disciplines. 

3 each 

Total Credit Hours 

9
Life & Physical Sciences
Course Hours
Life Science -  Any one IAI Life Science course 

3-4 
Physical Science - Any one IAI Physical Science course 

3-4

Lab Requirement - At least one science course must have a lab component 

-

Total Credit Hours

7
Mathematics
Course Hours
Math - Any one IAI Math course 

3

Total Credit Hours 

3
IAI Electives
Course Hours

Different universities require different coursework in preparation to transfer. You should consult your Academic Advisor at Heartland and the registrar at the college or university you are considering to learn how courses you've taken at Heartland will transfer.

-

Total Credit Hours 

23

Suggested elective courses for students pursuing an Associate in Arts with a concentration in Health:

  • HLTH 110 – Medical Terminology
  • HLTH 118 – Personal Health and Wellness
  • HLTH 120 – Nutrition
  • HLTH 221 – Sports Nutrition
  • HLTH 225 – Clinical Kinesiology
  • BIOL 181 – Anatomy and Physiology I
  • BIOL 182 – Anatomy and Physiology II

Financial Considerations

Contact Financial Aid for information about scholarships or other assistance with program costs.

Career Options

Health students develop a diverse set of skills that are applicable in a wide variety of careers. With additional education and/or work experience, you may seek employment as a:

  • Food safety specialist
  • Wellness educator
  • Health information manager
  • Recreation specialist
  • Activities director

Health students often also pursue degrees and careers in nursing, radiography, physical therapy, physical therapist assistant, athletic training, lab technology, recreational therapy, wellness, exercise science, and personal training.