Associate in Science Degree in Respiratory Care
2024-2025 Map
Total Units: 65 - 67
This Respiratory Care program requires special admission criteria and prerequisites of BIOL 15, BIOL 20, BIOL 21, CHEM 51, and MATH 18/18s or MATH 26/26s. The following courses may be taken prior to or during the program: ALH 6, PSY 1, and CMST 2, 2H, or 4 (select one). See About the Program for more details.
Term 1
8.00 - 10.00 Units. Specified core courses are signified by icon.| Course Name | Units | Notes | |
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| Area 1A Choice (See GE Guide) | 3.00 - 4.00 | ||
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| Area 3 Choice (See GE Guide) | 3.00 - 4.00 | ||
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| Graduation Requirement Choice (See GE Guide) | 2.00 | ||
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Term 2
3 Units. Specified core courses are signified by icon.| Course Name | Units | Notes | |
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| Area 6 Choice (See GE Guide) | 3.00 | ||
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Term 3
10 Units. Specified core courses are signified by icon.| Course Name | Units | Notes | |
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| RT 110: Fundamentals of Respiratory Care | 7.00 | Prerequisite: Admission to the RT Program, ALH 6 (or concurrent enrollment). | |
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Prerequisite(s): Admission to the RT Program, ALH 6 (or concurrent enrollment) This course is designed to introduce the student to basic atmospheric physics, cardiopulmonary anatomy and physiology, blood gas chemistry, and ventilatory dynamics. The student will be introduced to basic concepts of health and disease with emphasis on cardiopulmonary disorders, fundamentals of problem solving techniques and safe handling of medical gases and equipment. Selected respiratory care and diagnostic equipment, techniques and problems will be introduced in the laboratory. Graded only. |
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| RT 118: Respiratory Care Pharmacology | 3.00 | ||
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Prerequisite(s): Admission to the RT Program This course introduces students to fundamental pharmacological concepts and applied pharmacology. Emphasis will be placed on drug action and interaction as well as the practical aspects of routes of administration. Graded only. |
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Notes:
Note: Term 3 begins in Fall only
Term 4
0.5 Units. Specified core courses are signified by icon.| Course Name | Units | Notes | |
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| RT 115: Clinical Preparation for Respiratory Care | 0.50 | ||
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Prerequisite(s): RT 110, RT 118, ALH 6 This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of clinical respiratory care as practiced in the acute care hospital. Students will become conversant with bedside examination, monitoring, and care of medical/surgical and respiratory disease patients. |
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Notes:
Note: Winter Intersession
Term 5
12 Units. Specified core courses are signified by icon.| Course Name | Units | Notes | |
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| RT 120: Concepts in Respiratory Care | 7.00 | ||
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Prerequisite(s): RT 115 This course is a survey of cardiorespiratory disease with a focus on the role that the respiratory care practitioner plays in professional and culturally appropriate clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Cultural awareness, sensitivity and communication will be emphasized. Selected respiratory care techniques, equipment, and procedures will be introduced in the laboratory. Graded only. |
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| RT 125: Introduction to Clinical Respiratory Care | 5.00 | ||
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Prerequisite(s): RT 115 This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of clinical respiratory care as practiced in the acute care hospital. Students will become conversant with bedside examination, monitoring, and care of medical/surgical and respiratory disease patients. Graded only. |
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Term 6
3.5 Units. Specified core courses are signified by icon.| Course Name | Units | Notes | |
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| RT 135: Fundamentals of Clinical Respiratory Care | 3.50 | ||
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Prerequisite(s): RT 120, RT 125 This course is a supervised clinical respiratory therapy experience in the hospital setting, including the application of theories and therapeutic modalities taught in previous RT classes. Mechanical Ventilation concepts will be introduced in the lecture portion. Graded only. |
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Notes:
Note: Summer Intersession
Term 7
14 Units. Specified core courses are signified by icon.| Course Name | Units | Notes | |
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| RT 140: Fundamentals of Intensive Respiratory Care | 6.00 | ||
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Prerequisite(s): RT 135 This course is a study of the fundamentals of respiratory care in the critical care setting. Emphasis is placed on the critical care environment, advanced patient assessment, monitoring, advanced techniques of airway management and continuous mechanical ventilatory support. Graded only. |
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| RT 142: Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care | 3.00 | ||
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Prerequisite(s): RT 135 This course is an introduction to respiratory care of the neonatal and pediatric patient. Emphasis is placed upon growth and development, pathophysiology, clinical assessment, treatment, resuscitation and mechanical ventilatory support. Graded only. |
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| RT 145: Advanced Respiratory Care Procedures | 5.00 | ||
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Prerequisite(s): RT 135 This course is designed to support continued in-hospital development of clinical respiratory care skills with emphasis on the application of scientific principles to the therapeutic environment and life support of the critically ill patient. Graded only. |
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Term 8
2 Units. Specified core courses are signified by icon.| Course Name | Units | Notes | |
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| RT 155: Respiratory Care Practicum I | 2.00 | ||
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Prerequisite(s): RT 140, RT 142, RT 145 This course is designed as a clinical experience to allow the respiratory care student to hone skills learned in previous RT courses while developing new skills in the performance of day-to-day tasks of the staff respiratory care practitioner. Emphasis will be placed on both self assessment and critique of clinical performance by hospital personnel. Offered in Winter Session only. Travel to out-of-area clinical facilities will be required. Graded only. |
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Notes:
Note: Winter Intersession
Term 9
12 Units. Specified core courses are signified by icon.| Course Name | Units | Notes | |
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| RT 160: Respiratory Care Seminar II | 4.00 | ||
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Prerequisite(s): RT 155 This course is designed to explore the historical, contemporary and technical issues germane to respiratory care as an allied health profession through lecture/discussion/literary review. Emphasis will be placed on issues relevant to the current practice of respiratory care and credentialing requirements. Preparation for post-graduate credentialing examinations will be included in the course work. Graded only. |
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| RT 165: Respiratory Care Practicum II | 8.00 | ||
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Prerequisite(s): RT 155 This course supports the continuing practice and evaluation of skills for advanced respiratory care students in the hospital setting. Development of skills pertaining to the organization and completion of patient care assignments in both the medical-surgical and critical care environments are emphasized. American Heart Association (AHA) Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support certifications are incorporated in the course, as these are required for employment in Respiratory Care. |
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