Respiratory Therapy, A.A.S.
A.A.S. Degree—72 credit hours
Curriculum Code 1241
This program prepares students as critical-care specialists to assist a primary-care physician in managing patients with serious heart and lung disorders. Respiratory therapists are responsible for administering medical gases, managing electronic monitoring equipment, controlling life-support systems, and handling various medical emergencies. Related responsibilities may include diagnostic testing of breathing disorders, rehabilitation of patients with long-standing pulmonary disease, and asthma education.
Admitted students who wish to earn an Associate in Science degree in addition to an Associate in Applied Science degree should consult with an advisor in the Academic Advising Center.
Job opportunities are expected to remain good. Employment of respiratory therapists is expected to increase much faster than average because of substantial growth of middle-aged and elderly populations.
Accreditation— Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
P.O. Box 54876
Hurst, TX 76054-4876
CoARC (817) 283-2835 coarc.com
Admission Requirements— See Admission to Health Science Programs in the Admission and Registration section.
Fees— Fees associated with the Respiratory Therapy Program include use of equipment, supplies, and malpractice insurance. Additional expenses include the cost of a uniform, transportation to and parking at clinical sites, physical examination, a CPR course, criminal background check, drug screening, and national board practice exams. Membership to the American Association for Respiratory Care is required to attend the Illinois Society for Respiratory Care Conference during the summer semester.
Health Physical— Prior to clinical placement, students must submit a complete health history and physical form including drug screening signed by the applicant and physician. The health physical includes laboratory tests and immunizations required by clinical affiliates. Questions about the health physical should be directed to the program coordinator. Health physical forms may be obtained from the Admissions Office. The student is encouraged to maintain a copy of all health physical information submitted to the program.
Re-Application— Applicants not selected for one starting class are individually responsible for reactivating and updating their application file for subsequent starting classes. Re-applicants must complete a new application form and submit it to the Admissions Office during the applicable time period.
Readmission— Upon withdrawal or failure to maintain a minimum grade of “C” in any required course in the Respiratory Therapy Program, students must receive permission from program faculty before they may be considered for readmission. They must also meet any current requirements for readmission contained in the Student Handbook issued to students upon beginning the program. If all stipulations are met, readmission is still contingent on space-available basis.
Credentials and Licensing— Graduates of the Respiratory Therapy Program must pass the Therapist Multiple Choice (TMC) Examination administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) in order to apply for an Illinois state license. After passing the TMC, the individual earns the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential and is eligible to take the second level of testing to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).
Program Requirements—
• Students must earn a minimum grade of “C” (2.0) in each required career course (theory and clinical).
• Students are responsible for transportation to and from clinical affiliates.
• Students are responsible for securing uniforms.
• A liability insurance fee is required.
• The college requires that students have minimal health insurance coverage.
• Successful completion of a criminal background check.
Additional Requirements— A current health care provider level CPR card from the American Heart Association is required for clinical placement. A criminal background check and drug screen are required by the clinical affiliate prior to clinical placement.
Program Calendar— The two-year program starts in the fall term and includes five semesters, including one summer term. Students may complete general education requirements prior to program enrollment. The required biology, chemistry and mathematics courses must be completed within five years of program admission. Exceptions may be granted on an individual basis by the program coordinator. The required career courses must be taken in sequence.
Required General Education Courses
30 credit hours as follows:
| BIO-119 | Introductory Microbiology | 4 |
| BIO-180 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 |
| BIO-181 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 |
| - | | |
| CHM-111 | Fundamentals of Chemistry | 4 |
| OR- | | |
| CHM-131 | Chemistry (University Oriented) I | 4 |
| - | | |
| COM-101 | Composition I | 3 |
| COM-103 | Speech Fundamentals | 3 |
| - | | |
| MTH-109 | Math for Allied Health | 2 |
| OR- | | |
| MTH-139 | Probability and Statistics | 4 |
| - | | |
| PSY-104 | Life-Span Developmental Psychology | 3 |
(Note: Take
MTH-109 or
MTH-139 or higher.)
A minimum level of competency in mathematics is required for graduation for all A.A.S. degrees.This minimum competency may be demonstrated in one of three ways:
- Placement into MTH-120 or higher; or
- Successful completion with a minimum grade of “C” in BUS-120, MTH-102, MTH-109, MTH-121, or MTH-133 or higher-level mathematics course for designated career programs; or
- An equivalent transfer course from another college with a minimum grade of “C”.
Select 3 credit hours from Humanities and Fine Arts:
ARB, ART, FRE, HUM, LIT, MUS, PHI, SPA, THE
Required Career Courses in Sequence
42 credit hours as follows:
| MRT-110 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| RES-101 | Foundations of Respiratory Care | 3 |
| RES-102 | Fundamentals of Medical Gas Therapy | 5 |
| RES-103 | Pharmacology for Respiratory Therapy | 3 |
| RES-104 | Airway Care and Gas Exchange | 4 |
| RES-105 | Respiratory Therapeutic Modalities | 5 |
| RES-106 | Patient and Ventilator Management | 3 |
| RES-107 | Managing the Critically Ill Patient | 2 |
| RES-154 | Respiratory Clinical Practice I | 1 |
| RES-157 | Respiratory Clinical Practice II | 1 |
| RES-201 | Neonatal/Advanced Respiratory Care | 3 |
| RES-202 | Respiratory Care Capstone | 3 |
| RES-250 | Respiratory Clinical Practice III | 2 |
| RES-251 | Respiratory Clinical Practice IV | 4 |
Suggested Schedule
Summer (7 credit hours)
| CHM-111 | Fundamentals of Chemistry | 4 |
| OR- | | |
| CHM-131 | Chemistry (University Oriented) I | 4 |
| - | | |
| MRT-110 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
Semester 1 (18 credit hours)
| BIO-180 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 |
| COM-101 | Composition I | 3 |
| RES-101 | Foundations of Respiratory Care | 3 |
| RES-102 | Fundamentals of Medical Gas Therapy | 5 |
| RES-103 | Pharmacology for Respiratory Therapy | 3 |
Semester 2 (17 credit hours)
| BIO-181 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 |
| RES-104 | Airway Care and Gas Exchange | 4 |
| RES-105 | Respiratory Therapeutic Modalities | 5 |
| RES-106 | Patient and Ventilator Management | 3 |
| RES-154 | Respiratory Clinical Practice I | 1 |
Summer (5 credit hours)
| MTH-109 | Math for Allied Health | 2 |
| OR- | | |
| MTH-139 | Probability and Statistics | 4 |
| - | | |
| RES-107 | Managing the Critically Ill Patient | 2 |
| RES-157 | Respiratory Clinical Practice II | 1 |
Semester 3 (12 credit hours)
| BIO-119 | Introductory Microbiology | 4 |
| COM-103 | Speech Fundamentals | 3 |
| RES-201 | Neonatal/Advanced Respiratory Care | 3 |
| RES-250 | Respiratory Clinical Practice III | 2 |
Semester 4 (13 credit hours)
| PSY-104 | Life-Span Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| RES-202 | Respiratory Care Capstone | 3 |
| RES-251 | Respiratory Clinical Practice IV | 4 |
| ___-___ | Humanities and Fine Arts Elective | 3 |