Healthcare Navigator A.S.
Patient advocates, also known as healthcare advocates, assist clients in following prescribed treatment plans and improving overall health. Eastern Florida’s Healthcare Navigator Associate in Science degree program is a smart way to get into this fast-growing field.
Health Navigators help patients gain access to resources, such as needed medical care, rehabilitative therapy, and community services.
Patient advocacy training emphasizes communication, leadership, and computer literacy skills, along with medical and legal ethics and health and safety protocols.
Students graduating from EFSC’s six-semester, two-year Associate program have the critical skills and knowledge necessary to find entry-level jobs in a wide variety of public, private, and community healthcare settings.
Beyond that solid foundation, graduates can easily further their education, as our Healthcare Navigator A.S. pairs nicely with any of the nursing and health science degrees offered at Eastern Florida.
Note that prior completion of EFSC’s Healthcare Navigator Specialist certificate can serve as an acceleration method as those credits can apply to earning your A.S. degree and expanding your career potential as a patient advocate.
Healthcare Navigator A.S. COURSE CURRICULUM
While earning your A.S. degree in Eastern Florida’s Healthcare Navigator program, you will benefit from the following:
Healthcare Navigator A.S.
Program Overview
- Degree Type
- Associate in Science (A.S.)
- Delivery Method
- On-Campus, Hybrid
- Location
- Cocoa
- Total Credit Hours
- 60
- Academic Community
- Health Sciences
- Contact Information
-
Health Science Advising
Email Advising
321-433-7575
- Mixing on-campus, online, or hybrid courses to meet the needs of working students
- Personal health courses that include class time in an on-campus fitness facility for real-life learning
- The opportunity to make yourself stand out if you wish to pursue other health science degrees at Eastern Florida
- A field-experience course in which students work with an agency of interest to better meet the needs of the community, engage in patient advocacy, and practice program design
- Faculty broadly experienced in community health, higher education, worksite wellness programs, lactation consulting, dietetics, and health and fitness institute employment
Healthcare Navigator A.S. Admissions & Financial Aid Information
Eastern Florida’s Healthcare Navigator A.S. degree is an open-access program, and students may begin in any semester. It’s easy to apply through EFSC’s general application process. As you consider the program, also review frequently asked questions.
The program is eligible for financial aid and scholarships, which can reduce your out-of-pocket costs.
Select courses in the Healthcare Navigator sequence require prerequisites and/or pre-approval by the instructor for registration. Meet with a health science advisor to discuss course planning and any admission questions. It's especially important to work with a health science advisor in choosing elective courses if you plan to later apply to another health sciences or nursing program.
Current students with myEFSC Portal access should use EAB Navigate to schedule a Health Sciences Advising appointment. Future Students with no EFSC login, use the link below. You will then be contacted via email with confirmation of your appointment.
College Courses You Would Take
These are just a few of the courses that are part of the full curriculum.
HLP 1081 provides a foundational understanding of personal health and well-being related to physical activity and nutrition. Students have access to personalized health assessment and equipment to help them set health and fitness goals.
HUN 1201 includes an overview of nutrition across the lifespan. Students engage in a personal nutrition portfolio that helps to highlight potential nutrition deficits and create a more balanced, sustainable diet.
Connect with a community organization during HSC 2810 that provides patient advocacy and health care services. Students work with this agency to create a special project that helps the organization achieve its mission.
Healthcare Navigator Program Outcomes
Students with a Healthcare Navigator A.S. may find work in a variety of positions, including:
- Community Navigator
- Health technician
- Healthcare Host/Hostess
- Healthcare Customer Service Representative
- Healthcare advocate
- Health liaison
- Health technician
- Health outreach coordinator
- Health navigator coordinator
- Medical intermediary
- Medical liaison
- Patient/health navigator
- Patient advocate
- Registrar
- Transitional care Navigator
- Wellness Advocate
Students pursuing a Healthcare Navigator A.S. degree are also encouraged to explore becoming a Board Certified Patient Advocate. This certification can help set them apart from others in the patient advocacy field.