Hands-on Curriculum and Expanded Program Requirements Exceed Current Standards to Ensure Job Preparedness
Westwood College Launches School of Healthcare in California to Meet Rapid Industry and Jobs Growth
has launched the at each of its four California campuses to prepare students for quality jobs in the growing healthcare industry. Healthcare is the fastest growing industry in the U.S., expected to produce 5.6 million new jobs between 2010 and 2020*. California outpaces the national average in its demands for qualified healthcare workers and demand for healthcare jobs is on track to increase 27 percent from 2010 to 2020, compared to 19 percent for all other job sectors in California**.
Westwood’s new programs create additional opportunities for California workers to learn the skills to pursue a career in this growing sector. The School of Healthcare will feature three primary degree and diploma programs, including:
The associate degree programs for Medical Office Management and Medical Insurance Coding and Billing require students to complete seven terms of coursework, mixing core industry-related content with general education classes. The diploma for the Medical Assisting program includes five terms of coursework, totaling 955 clock hours, rather than the industry-standard of 720. These additional requirements are provided to give graduates the right set of classroom learning and practical skills to be immediately employable in the healthcare field.
“Healthcare employers have indicated that degrees themselves are not always enough to meet the immediate needs of the growing healthcare industry,” said John Keim, chief academic officer and provost for Westwood College. “Westwood College has tailored its programs to ensure students have the specific training they need to enter the workforce including the personal and professional skills necessary to achieve career success.”
The new School of Healthcare programs are available at including Anaheim, Inland Empire, Los Angeles and South Bay. The launch of the programs in California represents the first time Westwood has offered all three healthcare programs at individual campus locations, responding to California’s significant needs for qualified healthcare workers.
The first California students enrolled in the program are expected to graduate in March 2013. Individuals interested in any of the three healthcare programs may learn more at .
*Source: Employment by major industry sector, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2012
**Source: “Healthcare State Report,” Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, June 2012
Westwood College is an institution of higher learning with 14 campuses located in California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois and Virginia. Westwood offers a hands-on, career-focused curriculum in sought-after fields such as healthcare, technology and business. Westwood is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) A 2012 survey conducted by showed Westwood students are significantly more satisfied than the comparison group of approximately 125 public and private colleges, particularly in the areas of course content, quality of instruction and the school meeting their career goals. For more information, visit .