Respiratory Care (RSP)
2017-2018
Type: Career, Degree (AS)
Special Admissions
Division: Health And Human Services
Respiratory Therapists are licensed health care professionals who evaluate, treat, and care for patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. Working closely with physicians, Respiratory Therapists are actively involved in the daily care of their patients by teaching and promoting respiratory health, administering therapy, working on the "code team" performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), or helping to improve the quality of life of people with breathing disorders. Respiratory Therapists may work in hospitals, care for newborn babies in nurseries, travel around to care for patients at home, or pursue business/sales opportunities.
This fully accredited program combines lectures, laboratory activities, and hospital experience that lead to an Associate in Science degree, eligibility for the national examinations, and entrance into the Massachusetts licensure process.
Information regarding accredited Respiratory Care programs may be obtained from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) at 1248 Harwood Rd., Bedford, Texas; 76021-4244; (817)- 283-2835, www.coarc.com. Additional information can be obtained from the American Association of Respiratory Care at www.AARC.org.
Students interested in participating in an academic program that involves working with children, the disabled, or the elderly, or which includes a clinical affiliation, internship, or field placement with a private or public healthcare provider, may be required to undergo criminal background checks, including a national as well as local check (i.e. Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sex Offender Record Information (SORI)). Depending on the contents of these criminal background check(s), a student's participation in an academic program that involves working with children, the disabled, or the elderly or which includes a clinical affiliation, internship or field placement with a private or public healthcare provider may not be allowed, and therefore may impact a student's ability to complete program requirements. Furthermore, please note that eligibility to participate in the program and/or clinical affiliation, internship or field placement as a result of screening requirements, such as criminal background checks, is not a guarantee of eligibility to sit for professional credentialing examination(s) or employment upon graduation.
First Year
Fall
| BIO211 | Anatomy and Physiology 1 | 4 |
| RSP126 | Respiratory Care Pharmacology | 3 |
| RSP101 | Fundamentals of Respiratory Care 1 | 4 |
| RSP111 | Respiratory Care Clinical Experience 1 | 2 |
| RSP131 | Respiratory Care Lab 1 | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Spring
| RSP102 | Fundamentals of Respiratory Care 2 | 4 |
| RSP112 | Respiratory Care Clinical Experience 2 | 2 |
| RSP132 | Respiratory Care Lab 2 | 1 |
| BIO212 | Anatomy and Physiology 2 | 4 |
| CHE101 | Introductory Chemistry 1 | 4 |
| RSP122 | Physiology of Respiratory Care | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17 |
Second Year
Fall
BEH-ELECTIVE
| Behavioral Science Elective | 3 |
| CMP101 | Composition 1 | 3 |
| RSP222 | Introduction to Respiratory Disease | 2 |
| RSP201 | Fundamentals of Respiratory Care 3 | 4 |
| RSP211 | Respiratory Care Clinical Experience 3 | 4 |
| RSP231 | Respiratory Care Lab 3 | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Spring
| RSP202 | Fundamentals of Respiratory Care 4 | 4 |
| RSP212 | Respiratory Care Clinical Experience 4 | 4 |
| RSP232 | Respiratory Care Lab 4 | 2 |
| BIO214 | Microbiology | 4 |
CMP102-150
| Composition 2 Elective | 3 |
| RSP215 | Contemporary Topics in Respiratory Care | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 19 |
Requirement Notes
BIO211: The pre-requisite for Anatomy and Physiology 1 can be met through ONE of the following with no time limit for when it was completed: BIO101 or BIO105 with "C" or higher; or TEAS version V only Science section score of 50% or higher; or LPN Certificate; or a Bachelor of Science in biological science or chemistry. It can also be met with ONE of the following completed within the past 5 calendar years: high school biology with a "C" or higher, biology CLEP test with a score of 50 or higher, or AP biology test with a score of 3 or higher.
RSP101, RSP102: The prerequisites for RSP102 Fundamentals of Respiratory Care 2 are RSP101, RSP111, and RSP132, MAT091 with a "C" or better or its equivalent.
Program Note
Communications and Mathematics proficiencies required to graduate.
See guided pathway sheets for advising information specific to your area of focus.
Total Credit Hours: 68