Health science core is the first course for students in the health sciences career cluster. Currently, students in both the health care and clinical services or sports medicine pathways must take the health science core class before moving on to their specific pathway’s material. This core class provides the students with a solid foundation to move ahead in any health care field of his or her choice. The topics covered include safety, infection control, legal and ethical practices, career exploration, communication and teamwork, medical terminology, body organization, and basic anatomy and physiology of each major body system, along with various common diseases and disorders associated with each system.

Health care and clinical services (HCCS) is one of the options for a second course for students in the health sciences career cluster. Health science core is the prerequisite for this class. The HCCS course includes classroom and hands-on experiences that will provide students with an overview of the health care field, as outlined according to the health science cluster in the National Career Clusters Framework and the National Consortium on Health Science Education. It will also begin to prepare students for careers in occupations predicted to have a high number of available jobs in the next 10 years.