Malcolm X College offers the only paramedic program in the city of Chicago and is one of the few colleges in Illinois to offer an AAS degree in this professional specialty. Successful completion of the Paramedic Core Curriculum, in addition to complementary general education courses, enables the paramedic student to attain an AAS degree. Completion of the degree can broaden the student’s marketability as well as provide a strong basis for continued professional learning.

The program is presented as a collaborative effort by Malcolm X College,  Region 11 Chicago EMS, and the Chicago Fire Department. The Paramedic Program is approved and accredited by the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Emergency Medical Services and Highway.

The Malcom X College Paramedic Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). For CAAHEP contact information, please visit www.caahep.org. The program is approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Emergency Medical Services and Highway through JHS Cook County (Resource) Hospital.

This selective admissions program requires students to submit a separate application or to take additional action before enrolling.

For more information on the EMT II - Paramedic AAS at Malcolm X College, visit the program website.

Related Degrees and Certificates

• EMT-II Paramedic, Advanced Certificate
• EMT-II Paramedic, Associate in Applied Science

Program Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
General Education Coursework
ENGLISH 101	Composition (or higher general education English) 1	3
BIOLOGY 120	Terminology For Medical Careers	3
SPEECH 101	Fundamentals of Speech Communication	3
SOC 201	Intro To the Study Of Society (HD)	3
PSYCH 201	General Psychology	3
Physical Sciences or Life Sciences		3
Fine Arts & Humanities or Social and Behavioral Sciences		6
Required Program Core
EMT 221	Essentials of Paramedic Medicine I	9
EMT 223	Essentials of Paramedic Medicine II	9
Required Work-Based Learning Courses
EMT 222	Paramedic Medicine Practicum I	5.5
EMT 224	Paramedic Medicine Practicum II	7
EMT 227	Paramedic Medicine Field Internship	6
Total Hours		60.5

¹

"or higher" effective Spring 2024

Pathway

This is an example course sequence for students interested in  EMT (II)–Paramedic. If this pathway is followed as outlined, student will earn an Associate in Applied Science degree in EMT (II)–Paramedic. This does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability.

Semester-by-Semester Program Plan for Full-Time Student

All plans can be modified to fit the needs of part-time students by adding more semesters.

Plan of Study Grid

Semester 1		Hours
EMT 221	Essentials of Paramedic Medicine I	9
EMT 222	Paramedic Medicine Practicum I	5.5
	Hours	14.5
Semester 2
EMT 223	Essentials of Paramedic Medicine II	9
EMT 224	Paramedic Medicine Practicum II	7
	Hours	16
Semester 3
EMT 227	Paramedic Medicine Field Internship	6
	Hours	6
Semester 4
ENGLISH 101	Composition (or higher general education English) 1	3
BIOLOGY 120	Terminology For Medical Careers 1	3
Fine Arts & Humanities or Social and Behavioral Sciences course 1		3
SPEECH 101	Fundamentals of Speech Communication 1	3
	Hours	12
Semester 5
SOC 201	Intro To the Study Of Society 1	3
PSYCH 201	General Psychology 1	3
Physical Sciences or Life Sciences course 1		3
Fine Arts & Humanities or Social and Behavioral Sciences course 1		3
	Hours	12
	Total Hours	60.5

¹

General Education Requirement

Choose your courses with your College Advisor.

Program Admission Requirements

Courses run for three consecutive semesters starting each fall semester. Applications are accepted the previous spring. To be considered for admission the applicant must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Graduate from an accredited high school or earn a GED
• Be currently licensed by the State of Illinois as an EMT-B.
• Demonstrate an aptitude in college-level science course by earning a passing grade of C or better in 4 credit hour (with a lab) General Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, General Chemistry, articulated military course or successfully complete an equivalency exam. (CCC courses that apply include BIOLOGY 116 Introduction to Anatomy And Physiology,  BIOLOGY 121 Biology I,  BIOLOGY 226 Human Structure and Function I, and CHEM 201 General Chemistry I)
• Have a current CPR card.
• Achieve acceptable scores on admissions examination.
• Admissions cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
• Submit official college transcripts
• Submit, by deadline, completed program application with transcripts, to the Paramedic Program Director at Malcolm X College.
• Ambulance experience as an EMT-B by start of program is strongly recommended.

Students enrolled in a current Spring semester EMT class from any other college who have not passed the EMT licensing exam by the application deadline, are not eligible to apply. Students enrolled in the Spring semester EMT class at Malcolm X College are eligible to apply with a current course grade of B or better.

Applicant Interviews and Student Selection

Interviews with the EMS Region XI Admissions Committee are granted to those applicants who have met or exceeded admission criteria. Selection of candidates for this program is highly competitive and selections are made based on interview. Evaluation of applicant ability is based on academic history, EMS work experience, references, and communication skills. Emphasis is placed on academic history as demonstrated by GPA, and motivation as demonstrated by commitment and adaptability to the EMS field.

For more information on admissions requirements and the application process, visit the program website.

Careers

This program can prepare students for the jobs listed below. Click on each one to learn more, including average earnings, annual job openings, and how much education people in that field have. For additional guidance and resources on career options, current City Colleges students and alumni can contact the Career Services Office.

Emergency Medical Technicians

Job Description

Assess injuries and illnesses and administer basic emergency medical care. May transport injured or sick persons to medical facilities.

Salary Based on Experience Level

Take a look at the average hourly/annual earnings for this career in Cook County

Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES data from the BLS and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.

• View Annual Wages
• View Hourly Wages

Annual Wages

Entry-Level 10th Percentile	$31,162
Median 50th Percentile	$38,802
Senior-Level 90th Percentile	$133,474

Hourly Wages

Entry-Level 10th Percentile	$15
Median 50th Percentile	$19
Senior-Level 90th Percentile	$64

Annual Job Openings

172 annual openings in Cook County

National Education Attainment

Here, you can see the level of education that people in this career complete.

Degree Program	% of Jobs
A high school diploma or less	10.94%
A certificate	42.57%
Some college	29.85%
An Associate degree	11.75%
A Bachelor's degree	4.89%
A Master's or Professional degree	0.00%
A Doctoral degree or more	0.00%

4.89% continue their education beyond an associate degree

Paramedics

Job Description

Administer basic or advanced emergency medical care and assess injuries and illnesses. May administer medication intravenously, use equipment such as EKGs, or administer advanced life support to sick or injured individuals.

Salary Based on Experience Level

Take a look at the average hourly/annual earnings for this career in Cook County

Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES data from the BLS and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.

• View Annual Wages
• View Hourly Wages

Annual Wages

Entry-Level 10th Percentile	$39,649
Median 50th Percentile	$51,124
Senior-Level 90th Percentile	$114,408

Hourly Wages

Entry-Level 10th Percentile	$19
Median 50th Percentile	$25
Senior-Level 90th Percentile	$55

Annual Job Openings

78 annual openings in Cook County

National Education Attainment

Here, you can see the level of education that people in this career complete.

Degree Program	% of Jobs
A high school diploma or less	10.94%
A certificate	42.57%
Some college	29.85%
An Associate degree	11.75%
A Bachelor's degree	4.89%
A Master's or Professional degree	0.00%
A Doctoral degree or more	0.00%

4.89% continue their education beyond an associate degree