Polysomnographic Technology, Associate in Science Degree
Financial Aid Eligible
Banner Code: 1_AS_PSG
Control Number: 08658
Polysomnographic (PSG) Technology is an allied health specialty for the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of sleep and daytime alertness. The range of sleep disorders is varied but includes common disorders such as narcolepsy, sleep apnea, insomnias and many others. PSG technologists operate a variety of sophisticated electronic monitoring devices which record brain activity (EEG), muscle and eye movement, respiration, blood oxygen and other physiological events. Technologists are also involved in evaluation of various treatment methods.
PSG technologists are employed in Sleep Disorders Centers which can be located in medical centers, hospitals or clinic/office settings. The PSG program offers instruction which includes lecture, laboratory experience on campus, clinical experience at accredited sleep centers and physician lectures.
As a CAAHEP-accredited PSG Program, this course of instruction meets the eligibility requirements to take the PSG exam of the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) and The Medical Board of California Licensure as a “Registered Polysomnographic Technologist”.
Graduates from OCC’s Neurodiagnostic Technology or Respiratory Care programs may complete the PSG degree program with one additional year of study, as many courses from these programs are directly related to Polysomnography (see the Neurodiagnostic Technology and/or Respiratory Care sections of this catalog for more information). Students without these backgrounds can complete the AS degree in Polysomnographic Technology within two years. This program will accept new students to begin in the fall semester of odd years.
Program Admission
- Allied Health 010 course – application and orientation
- The student must complete Associate in Science degree General Education requirements and the program prerequisites prior to acceptance into the program.
Program Outcome
- The goal of the program is to meet the needs of the local health care community by preparing students for entry level employment as a professional and competent Polysomnographic Technologist.
Associate in Science Degree Requirements
- UNIT REQUIREMENT - 60 UNITS, with at least a 2.0 grade point average. At least 12 of the units must be earned at OCC, with a minimum of one course taken for a letter grade. At least 3 units in an advanced course from the program must be completed at OCC. A student must be enrolled at the time of application for graduation. Units earned at an accredited college or university on a credit/no credit basis will be counted toward the degree requirements of the college, to a maximum of 15 units.
- MAJOR REQUIREMENT - Complete the AA or AS major requirements as detailed in the Degree and Certificate section of this catalog.
- MATHEMATICS REQUIREMENT - Demonstrate competence in mathematics by either obtaining a satisfactory grade (grade of “C” or better or“pass”) in a mathematics course at or above the level of Intermediate Algebra as demonstrated by prior coursework, or by demonstrating competency that is comparable through the completion of a college-level math course that has Intermediate Algebra as a prerequisite: Psychology A160 or Math A100 or higher, with the exception of Math A220.
- GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT - Students may choose to complete Option 1 (OCC AA GE), Option 1 (OCC AS GE), Option 2 (CSU GE), or Option 3 (IGETC) to satisfy the general education requirement. See the General Education Patterns section of this catalog for more information.
Program Prerequisites
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ALH A010 | Health Occupations | 0.5 |
| ALH A111 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| BIOL A221 | Anatomy-Physiology 1 | 4 |
| Total Units | 7.5 | |
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Units | |
| ALH A115 | Patient Care | 2.5 |
| ALH A130 | Applied Pharmacology | 3 |
| NDT A110 | Basic Electroencephalography | 4 |
| RSPC A185 | Respiratory Anatomy and Physiology | 3 |
| Units | 12.5 | |
| Spring | ||
| ALH A120 | Human Diseases | 2 |
| HMDV A180 | Child Growth and Development 1 | 3 |
| NDT A115 | Advanced Electroencephalography | 4 |
| NDT A190 | Introduction to Neuro Anatomy and Physiology | 3 |
| PSG A100 | Polysomnography Basics | 1 |
| Units | 13 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSG A150 | Introduction to Polysomnography | 3 |
| PSG A160 | Polysomnography Testing | 2 |
| PSG A165 | Polysomnography Clinical 1 | 1 |
| PSG A170 | Polysomnographic Practice | 0.5 |
| RSPC A265 | Pulmonary Pathology | 3 |
| Units | 9.5 | |
| Intersession | ||
| PSG A175 | Polysomnography Clinical 2 | 1 |
| Units | 1 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSG A250 | Polysomnograpy Record Review | 2 |
| PSG A260 | Advanced Polysomnography | 2 |
| PSG A265 | Polysomnography Clinical 3 | 2 |
| PSG A270 | Physician Lecture Series | 1 |
| PSG A285 | Polysomnography Internship | 2 |
| Units | 9 | |
| Total Units | 45 | |
| 1 | BIOL A221 Anatomy-Physiology and HMDV A180 Child Growth and Development in program double count towards General Education Breadth. |
| Requirement | Units |
|---|---|
| Program Major Units | 52.5 |
| AS General Education Option 1, 2, or 3 | Varies |
| Total Minimum Degree Units | 64.5 |
Polysomnographic Technology Suggested Electives
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CMST A100 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| PHIL A120 | Ethics | 3 |
| PHYS A110 | Conceptual Physics | 3 |
| PSYC A255 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC A160 | Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences | 4 |