Respiratory Care, Associate of Applied Science Degree

Overview

Offered at the Augusta Campus

Entrance Dates:	Fall
Length of Program:	Six Terms
Credit Hours Required for Graduation:	78

Admission: Respiratory Care is a competitive program. Students who meet the College admission criteria are eligible to enroll at the College to take prerequisite courses for this program. Prerequisite courses (ENGL 1101, MATH 1111 or MATH 1101, BIOL 2113, BIOL 2113L, BIOL 2114, BIOL 2114L, BIOL 2117, BIOL 2117L, PSYC 1101, CHEM 1211 CHEM 1211L or CHEM 1151, CHEM 1151L  must be completed by the designated deadline to be evaluated for program admission. The grade point average in the prerequisite courses determines the academic/ranking order for selection of students for admission to the program. Students who are not selected for admission may consider a program change or resubmit an admission application and a new Competitive Ranking Application by the designated deadline for the next ranking cycle. High school graduation or GED is required for admission to this program. For more information regarding this process, please contact the Admissions office at [phone]. Refer to program related deadlines.

Program Purpose: The respiratory care associate degree is a sequence of courses that prepares students for careers in the field of respiratory care. Learning opportunities develop academic and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. Emphasis is placed upon specialized training in areas such as patient assessment, diagnostic procedures, pharmacology, medical gas therapy, humidity and aerosol therapy, mechanical ventilation, hyperinflation therapy, airway clearance, adult critical respiratory care, and pediatric and neonatal respiratory care. High school graduation or GED is required for admission to this program.

Employment Opportunities: Respiratory Care graduates find a variety of employment opportunities in hospitals, home health agencies, medical equipment sales, physicians’ offices, polysomnography, and pulmonary function laboratories.

Credentialing (Required): Program graduates are eligible for the credential of Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), the highest credential of the profession. Graduates initially take the Therapist Multiple Choice Exam (TMC) administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). This exam has two cut scores. Achieving the higher cut score awards the graduate with the credential of Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and qualifies the graduate to take the Clinical Simulation Exam (CSE). Successful completion of the CSE awards the graduate with the credential of Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). Achieving the lower cut score awards the graduate with the credential of CRT. A graduate who achieves the lower cut score may repeat the TMC to achieve the higher cut score and become eligible to take the CSE. Employment in most states, including Georgia and South Carolina, requires a license. Both Georgia and South Carolina recognize the CRT credential as the requirement for licensure. 

Curriculum Outline

General Core Courses, 20 credits

ENGL 1101	COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC	3
CHEM 1211	CHEMISTRY I	3
CHEM 1211L	CHEMISTRY I LAB	1
	OR
CHEM 1151	SURVEY OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY	3
CHEM 1151L	SURVEY OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY LAB	1
MATH 1101	MATHEMATICAL MODELING	3
	OR
MATH 1111	COLLEGE ALGEBRA	3
XXXX XXXX	HUMANITIES/FINE ARTS AREA IV*	3
PSYC 1101	INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY	3
	OR
SOCI 1101	INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY	3

*A list of General Education Area I, II, III, IV courses can be found in the General Education

Core Curriculum Section of this catalog.

Occupational Courses, 69 credits

BIOL 2113	ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I	3
BIOL 2113L	ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY LAB I	1
BIOL 2114	ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II	3
BIOL 2114L	ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY LAB II	1
BIOL 2117	INTRODUCTORY MICROBIOLOGY	3
BIOL 2117L	INTRODUCTORY MICROBIOLOGY LAB	1
RESP 1110	PHARMACOLOGY	3
RESP 1120	INTRODUCTION TO RESPIRATORY THERAPY	3
RESP 1130	RESPIRATORY THERAPY LAB I	4
RESP 1193	CARDIOPULMONARY ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY	4
RESP 2090	CLINICAL PRACTICE I	2
RESP 2100	CLINICAL PRACTICE II	2
RESP 2110	PULMONARY DISEASE	3
RESP 2120	CRITICAL RESPIRATORY CARE	2
RESP 2130	MECHANICAL VENTILATION AND AIRWAY MANAGEMENT	4
RESP 2140	ADVANCED CRITICAL CARE MONITORING	1
RESP 2150	PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTING	1
RESP 2160	NEONATAL PEDIATRIC RESPIRATORY CARE	3
RESP 2170	ADVANCED RESPIRATORY CARE SEMINAR	3
RESP 2180	CLINICAL PRACTICE III	2
RESP 2190	CLINICAL PRACTICE IV	2
RESP 2200	CLINICAL PRACTICE V	3
RESP 2220	CLINICAL PRACTICE VI	7
RESP 2270	REHABILITATION AND HOME CARE	1

Notes:

• A grade of “C” or higher is required for all courses.
• A student who does not earn a grade of “C” or higher in any two courses with the RESP prefix will be suspended from the program for one year. Before reentering the program, the student must complete an individualized remedial program assigned by the department head. After the third unsuccessful attempt of a course with the RESP prefix, the student will not be allowed to reenter the Respiratory Care program.
• Students must have received a grade of a “C” or less in order to retake a course for ranking purposes.  This policy also applies to students with a transfer grade of a ‘C”. The highest grade will be used for ranking purposes.
• Prior to participation in campus/clinical labs, students are required to submit completed medical and dental examination forms. All required immunizations, including Hepatitis B, must be accompanied by documentation. Students who decline the Hepatitis B vaccination series must sign a declination form and be aware that clinical practicum sites may refuse them an opportunity to gain clinical experience at the facility.
• Conviction of a felony or gross misdemeanor may prohibit employment in field and may make a student ineligible to obtain a state license. A background check and/or drug screen are required by all clinical affiliates prior to a student beginning a clinical practicum. For more information, contact the appropriate program advisor.
• Student activities associated with the curriculum, especially while students are completing his or her clinical rotations, will be educational in nature. Students will not be receiving monetary remuneration during this educational experience, nor will he or she be substituted for hired staff personnel within the clinical institution in the capacity of a respiratory care or respiratory therapist.
• Natural science courses older than 5 years will not be considered for program progression evaluation. Students will need to retake these courses to become eligible for program progression evaluation.
• Once enrolled in the first course with the RESP prefix, students must complete the program within twelve continuous semesters. After that time, students must reapply for program admission and repeat all previously completed courses with the RESP prefix.
• Prior to participation in campus/clinical labs, students are required to show proof of current health insurance. Students who cannot show proof of health insurance need to be aware that clinical practicum sites may refuse to allow them the opportunity to gain clinical experience at their facility.

Guided Pathway

You may click on any course below to view the course description and prerequisite information.

Students who do not follow the Course Sequence listed below may not be able to complete the program in the number of semesters shown.

Augusta Day Program

PROGRAM NAME: Respiratory Care

AWARD: Associate of Applied Science Degree

CAMPUS: Augusta Day Program

Year 1 Fall Semester

ENGL 1101	COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC	3
MATH 1101	MATHEMATICAL MODELING	3
	OR
MATH 1111	COLLEGE ALGEBRA	3
	OR
MATH 1103	QUANTITATIVE SKILLS AND REASONING	3
BIOL 2113	ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I	3
BIOL 2113L	ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY LAB I	1
PSYC 1101	INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY	3
	OR
SOCI 1101	INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY	3

Year 1 Spring Semester

BIOL 2114	ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II	3
BIOL 2114L	ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY LAB II	1
CHEM 1211	CHEMISTRY I	3
	OR
CHEM 1151	SURVEY OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY	3
CHEM 1211L	CHEMISTRY I LAB	1
	OR
CHEM 1151L	SURVEY OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY LAB	1
BIOL 2117	INTRODUCTORY MICROBIOLOGY	3
BIOL 2117L	INTRODUCTORY MICROBIOLOGY LAB	1

Year 2 Fall Semester

RESP 2090	CLINICAL PRACTICE I	2
RESP 1193	CARDIOPULMONARY ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY	4
RESP 1110	PHARMACOLOGY	3
RESP 1120	INTRODUCTION TO RESPIRATORY THERAPY	3
RESP 1130	RESPIRATORY THERAPY LAB I	4

Year 2 Spring Semester

RESP 2110	PULMONARY DISEASE	3
RESP 2100	CLINICAL PRACTICE II	2
RESP 2180	CLINICAL PRACTICE III	2
RESP 2120	CRITICAL RESPIRATORY CARE	2
RESP 2130	MECHANICAL VENTILATION AND AIRWAY MANAGEMENT	4

Year 2 Summer Semester

RESP 2190	CLINICAL PRACTICE IV	2
RESP 2160	NEONATAL PEDIATRIC RESPIRATORY CARE	3
RESP 2270	REHABILITATION AND HOME CARE	1
RESP 2150	PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTING	1
RESP 2140	ADVANCED CRITICAL CARE MONITORING	1
XXXX XXXX	HUMANITIES/FINE ARTS AREA IV*	3

*A list of General Education Area I, II, III, IV courses can be found in the General Education

Core Curriculum Section of this catalog.

Year 3 Fall Semester

RESP 2170	ADVANCED RESPIRATORY CARE SEMINAR	3
RESP 2200	CLINICAL PRACTICE V	3
RESP 2220	CLINICAL PRACTICE VI	7

 

Accreditation

The Respiratory Care Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com), Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, 1248 Harwood Road, Bedford, Texas 76021-4244, and [phone].