About the Program

Curriculum

It is important to contact an advisor as soon as you are considering the Respiratory Care Program. Your advisor can assist in course selection and class schedule management.

As is true with many health care careers, the faculty make changes to the curriculum as needed. Therefore, it is important that you discuss your plans with your advisor on a routine basis.

Click here to view a sample of the sophomore fall course schedule.

Click here to view a sample of the sophomore spring course schedule.

Click here to view a sample of the junior fall course schedule.

Click here to view a sample of the junior spring course schedule.

Course Level - 100
Course Level - 200
Course Level - 300
Course Level - 400

RESPCARE 104 PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT (1-0-1)(F). Theory and skill application with clinical focus to perform physical assessment to include assessment techniques, standardized data collection formats, body system assessment, normal findings, relevant variations from normal, and documentation. (Pass/Fail). COREQ: RESPCARE 105.

RESPCARE 105 INTERDISCIPLINARY PATIENT CARE SKILLS LAB (0-6-2)(F). An interdisciplinary team approach is used to teach basic patient care skills and interventions to restore and protect health. (Pass/Fail). COREQ: RESPCARE 104.

RESPCARE 200 RECITATION AND APPLICATION I (1-0-1)(F). Review, discussion, and application of information presented in theory and lab with reference to clinical situations. COREQ: RESPCARE 203, RESPCARE 204, RESPCARE 208.

RESPCARE 203 RESPIRATORY CARE THEORY I (3-0-3)(F). Medical gas therapy to include clinical gases, gas mixtures, and various equipment. Theory and technique of aerosol and humidification therapy. Basic concepts of microbiology, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, medical terminology and respiratory care practice. COREQ: RESPCARE 200, RESPCARE 204, RESPCARE 208.

RESPCARE 204 RESPIRATORY CARE LABORATORY I (0-2-1)(F). Medical gas techniques. COREQ: RESPCARE 200, RESPCARE 203, RESPCARE 208.

RESPCARE 208 CLINICAL PRACTICUM I (0-6-2)(F). Experience in the hospital with patients, techniques, and equipment. Emphasis on use of medical gases. COREQ: RESPCARE 200, RESPCARE 203, RESPCARE 204.

RESPCARE 217 PULMONARY ASSESSMENT (1-0-1)(S). Theory and application of basic pulmonary assessment including inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation. PREREQ: BIOL 227 and BIOL 228.

RESPCARE 221 ECG INTERPRETATION (1-0-1)(S). Basic interpretation of the electrocardiogram and recognition of cardiac arrhythmias. PREREQ: BIOL 227 and BIOL 228.

RESPCARE 222 INTERPRETATION OF CHEST IMAGES (1-0-1)(S). Clinical interpretation of chest images. PREREQ: Respiratory Care major or PERM/INST.

RESPCARE 223 RESPIRATORY CARE THEORY II (3-0-3)(S). Principles, application, and equipment used for hyperinflation therapy. Therapeutic techniques and applications of chest physiotherapy. Introduction to long-term mechanical ventilation. PREREQ: RESPCARE 203. COREQ: RESPCARE 224, RESPCARE 228, RESPCARE 250.

RESPCARE 224 RESPIRATORY CARE LABORATORY II (0-2-1)(S). Use of hyperinflation therapy devices, chest physiotherapy, and mechanical ventilation. PREREQ: RESPCARE 203. COREQ: RESPCARE 223, RESPCARE 228, RESPCARE 250.

RESPCARE 225 PULMONARY FUNCTION LECTURE (2-0-2)(S). Theory of pulmonary function testing, using simple spirometry, flow-volume loops, closing volumes, nitrogen washout, helium dilution, and body plethysmography. PREREQ: PERM/INST.

RESPCARE 226 PULMONARY FUNCTION LABORATORY (0-2-1)(S). Practice in pulmonary function testing and techniques. PREREQ: PERM/INST.

RESPCARE 227 PULMONARY MEDICINE (2-0-2)(S). Discussion of pulmonary diseases, certain cardiac diseases, and the clinical management of these diseases. PREREQ: BIOL 227, BIOL 228; Respiratory Care major or PERM/INST.

RESPCARE 228 CLINICAL PRACTICUM II (0-12-4)(S). Experience in the hospitals with patients, techniques, and equipment used in hyperinflation therapy and chest physiotherapy. PREREQ: RESPCARE 203. COREQ: RESPCARE 223, RESPCARE 224, RESPCARE 250.

RESPCARE 250 RECITATION AND APPLICATION II (1-0-1)(S). Review, discussion, and application of information presented in theory and lab with reference to clinical situations. PREREQ: RESPCARE 203. COREQ: RESPCARE 223, RESPCARE 224, RESPCARE 228.

HLTHST 216 LABORATORY VALUES (1-0-1)(F). Introduction to the clinical significance of selected laboratory tests. PREREQ: PERM/INST.
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HLTHST 220 CARDIOPULMONARY RENAL PHYSIOLOGY (3-0-3)(F). Normal and clinical physiological functions of the pulmonary, circulatory and renal systems. PREREQ:
BIOL 227-228.

RESPCARE 300 RECITATION AND APPLICATION III (1-0-1)(F). Review, discussion, and application of information presented in theory and lab with reference to clinical situations. PREREQ: RESPCARE 223. COREQ: RESPCARE 303, RESPCARE 304, RESPCARE 308.

RESPCARE 301 PRINCIPLES OF PHARMACOTHERAPEUTICS (3-0-3)(F). Principles, practical uses, and interaction of drugs and their relationship to disease. PREREQ: BIOL 227 and BIOL 228.

RESPCARE 302 GENERAL PATHOLOGY (2-0-2)(F). Human pathology pertaining to systems of defense, modes of injury, diseases of development and function, heart, hematopoietic lymphoreticular, and respiratory systems. PREREQ: BIOL 227 and BIOL 228.

RESPCARE 303 RESPIRATORY CARE THEORY III (3-0-3)(F). Theory and clinical application of mechanical ventilation, including care and management of artificial airways, and hemodynamic monitoring. PREREQ: RESPCARE 223. COREQ: RESPCARE 300, RESPCARE 304, RESPCARE 308.

RESPCARE 304 RESPIRATORY CARE LABORATORY III (0-2-1)(F). Practice using mechanical ventilators and suctioning devices. PREREQ: RESPCARE 223. COREQ: RESPCARE 300, RESPCARE 303, RESPCARE 308.

RESPCARE 308 CLINICAL PRACTICUM III (0-16-5). Experience in the hospital with patients, techniques, and equipment as applied to mechanical ventilation and artificial airways. PREREQ: RESPCARE 223. COREQ: RESPCARE 300, RESPCARE 303, RESPCARE 304.

RESPCARE 323 RESPIRATORY CARE IV (3-0-3)(S). Theory and application of techniques and equipment to neonatology and pediatrics. PREREQ: RESPCARE 303. COREQ: RESPCARE 324, RESPCARE 328, RESPCARE 350.

RESPCARE 324 RESPIRATORY CARE LABORATORY IV (0-2-1)(S). Use of infant ventilators and special techniques pertaining to pediatrics. PREREQ: RESPCARE 303. COREQ: RESPCARE 323, RESPCARE 328, RESPCARE 350.

RESPCARE 328 CLINICAL PRACTICUM IV (0-16-5)(S). Experience in the hospital and other health care environments with any or all aspects of respiratory care. PREREQ: RESPCARE 303. COREQ: RESPCARE 323, RESPCARE 324, RESPCARE 350.

RESPCARE 350 RECITATION AND APPLICATION IV (2-0-2)(S). Review, discussion, and application of information presented in theory and lab with reference to clinical situations. PREREQ: RESPCARE 303. COREQ: RESPCARE 323, RESPCARE 324, RESPCARE 328.

RESPCARE 403 RESPIRATORY CARE THEORY V (3-0-3)(F). Theory and application of the latest advances in Respiratory Care. Includes critical care, floor care, home care, and rehabilitation. PREREQ: RESPCARE 323.

RESPCARE 493 RESPIRATORY CARE INTERNSHIP (0-V-V). Supervised practice in various health care facilities. PREREQ: RESPCARE 323 and PERM/INST.

HLTHST 431 QUALITY ISSUES IN HEALTH CARE (3-0-3)(F). The mind set, management, and improvement of quality, including the use of quality improvement tools
and techniques to find and solve problems in the health care setting.

HLTHST 432 CRITICAL REVIEW OF HEALTH CARE RESEARCH (3-0-3)(S). Critically evaluate published literature and scientific basis for practice. Familiarity with using the Internet required. A background in statistics is useful, but not required.

RESPCARE 440  ADVANCED PATIENT MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT (3-0-3)(F). Techniques and methods used to analyze and evaluate the health status of critically ill patients with emphasis on the respiratory, cardiovascular and renal systems.  Recommended for those individuals with experience working within a critical care facility.  PREREQ: Department approval or PERM/INST.

RESPCARE 441 SLEEP MEDICINE (3-0-3)(F).  Overview of sleep medicine, anatomy and physiology of sleep and breathing.  Introduction to sleep disorders and polysomnography including monitoring techniques and instrumentation.  PREREQ: Department approval or PERM/INST.

RESPCARE 443 CURRENT TOPICS IN RESPIRATORY DISEASE (3-0-3)(F).  Discussion of current issues related to respiratory disease, including pathophysiology, management and outcomes.  PREREQ: Department approval or PERM/INST.

RESPCARE 444 LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS (3-0-3)(S).  Extensive examination of current practices/trends of techniques used in the leadership of the health care environment.  Emphasis will be placed upon specific skill sets used by the managers of today's workforce.  PREREQ: Department approval or PERM/INST.

RESPCARE 445 PATIENT ADVOCACY AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS (3-0-3)(S).  An advanced exploration of the responsibilities required of health care practitioners.  Designed to help students develop a clearer understanding of patient's rights and in turn become advocates for those rights.  PREREQ: Department approval or PERM/INST.

RESPCARE 498 SENIOR SEMINAR (3-0-3)(S).  Online discussions of topics related to respiratory care.  PREREQ: Department approval or PERM/INST.

View Class Schedule by Semester:

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

Overall four-year schedule