Respiratory Therapy, BS
Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy (279002BS)
More on the Respiratory Therapy major
Contact Information
Stacia Biddle, R.R.T.
Associate Professor and Program Director of Respiratory Therapy
330-972-7906
stacia@uakron.edu
Program Description
Respiratory Therapists: assess, treat and care for patients with cardiopulmonary disorders. Primary responsibilities include initiation of and monitoring of therapeutic procedures, administering medications, maintaining patient records, selecting, assembling, operating and maintaining cardiopulmonary life-sustaining equipment.
Respiratory Therapists care for neonatal, pediatric and adult patients from birth to the final stage of life, and may be employed by acute-care hospitals, clinics, long-term acute care facilities, physician offices, pulmonary rehabilitation centers, home-care agencies, sleep-labs, medical device sales companies, as well as participate in intra-facility critical care ground and air transport at some hospitals.
Accreditation: The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy program at The University of Akron is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC); 777 Cannon Drive, P. O, Box 54876, Hurst, TX 76054-4876 USA.
Requirements for Admission
The program requires the following prerequisite courses to be completed with a C or better: Math requirement (Algebra equivalent or above), Medical Terminology, Concepts in Respiratory Therapy, Principles of Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology I (lecture/lab) requirement, and Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry (lecture/lab). Program applications are due by November 30th each year, with the new cohort starting in the spring semester.
Application Deadline: Application deadline is November 30th for those students who will complete all of the pre-admission courses1 by the end of fall semester with a minimum 2.3 GPA or higher.
Application to the program is competitive but varies each year by applicant pool. Acceptance is based on overall grade point average as well as grades earned in required math and science courses. Application to the program requires a criminal background check (FBI and BCI). Twenty (20) students are selected each year. Applications will be administered to students while they are enrolled in RESP:100 Concepts in Respiratory Therapy, or may be picked up in the School of Allied Health, Polsky 265 at any time.
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Pre-admission coursework, students must apply by November 30th (see Application Deadline/Requirements).
The following information has official approval of The Department of Allied Health and The College of Health and Human Sciences, but is intended only as a supplemental guide. Official degree requirements are established at the time of transfer and admission to the degree-granting college. Students should refer to the Degree Progress Report (DPR) which is definitive for graduation requirements. Completion of this degree within the identified time frame below is contingent upon many factors, including but not limited to: class availability, total number of required credits, work schedule, finances, family, course drops/withdrawals, successfully passing courses, prerequisites, among others. The transfer process is completed through an appointment with your academic advisor.
Three year accelerated option: for first time students who have earned credits for at least the first year of courses. Credits can be earned through qualifying scores on appropriate Advanced Placement (AP) exams or through College Credit Plus Program (CCP) courses. Credits for qualifying AP scores or CCP courses are determined by the appropriate academic department. Departments may assign varied course credit, depending on the student’s score on an AP exam or grade in a CCP course. Students may also receive credit by examination or via placement tests, where appropriate.
Requirements
Summary
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
General Education Requirements * | 18 | |
Prerequisite Courses | 21 | |
Core Respiratory Therapy Courses | 62 | |
Other Required Courses | 19 | |
Total Hours | 120 |
- *
Several courses required for the major also satisfy General Education requirements. The University minimum of 36 credits are required for General Education and credit for these courses will apply to multiple requirements.
Recommended General Education Courses
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete the following General Education coursework. Diversity courses may also fulfill major or Breadth of Knowledge requirements. Integrated and Applied Learning courses may also fulfill requirements in the major. | ||
Students are not required to enroll in the specific courses listed below. However, to facilitate successful degree completion, the academic department strongly encourages completion of the following recommendations. | ||
Academic Foundations | 12 | |
Mathematics, Statistics and Logic: 3 credit hours | ||
Algebra for Calculus | ||
Speaking: 3 credit hours | ||
Introduction to Public Speaking | ||
Writing: 6 credit hours | ||
English Composition I | ||
English Composition II | ||
Breadth of Knowledge | 22 | |
Arts/Humanities: 9 credit hours | ||
Introduction to Ethics | ||
Natural Sciences: 7 credit hours | ||
Introduction to Botany | ||
Human Anatomy & Physiology I | ||
Human Anatomy & Physiology II | ||
Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry I (Lecture) | ||
or CHEM:151 | Principles of Chemistry I | |
Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry I (Laboratory) | ||
or CHEM:152 | Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory | |
Social Sciences: 6 credit hours | ||
Introduction to Psychology | ||
Introduction to Sociology | ||
Diversity | ||
Domestic Diversity | ||
Introduction to Sociology | ||
Global Diversity | ||
Integrated and Applied Learning | 2 | |
Select one class from one of the following subcategories: | ||
Complex Issues Facing Society | ||
Biomedical Ethics | ||
Capstone | ||
Review the General Education Requirements page for detailed course listings. | ||
Total Hours | 36 |
Prerequisite Courses
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
MATH:145 | Algebra for Calculus 1,2 | 4 |
CHEM:110 | Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry I (Lecture) 1 | 3 |
or CHEM:151 | Principles of Chemistry I | |
CHEM:111 | Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry I (Laboratory) 1 | 1 |
or CHEM:152 | Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory | |
BIOL:130 | Principles of Microbiology 1 | 3 |
BIOL:200 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I 1 | 3 |
or ANAT:206 | Applied Human Anatomy & Physiology I | |
BIOL:201 | Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory I 1 | 1 |
or ANAT:210 | Applied Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab I | |
BAHA:120 | Medical Terminology 1 | 3 |
RESP:100 | Concepts in Respiratory Therapy 1 | 3 |
Total Hours | 21 |
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Course required for application
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Completing 1) STAT:250 Statistics for Everyday Life or STAT:260 Basic Statistics, 2) MATH:152 Technical Mathematics II and MATH:153 Technical Mathematics III satisfies this requirement.
Core Respiratory Therapy Courses
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
RESP:210 | Respiratory Therapy Procedures I (Lecture/Lab) | 3 |
RESP:215 | Respiratory Therapy Pharmacology | 3 |
RESP:301 | Cardiopulmonary Assessment Techniques (Lecture/Lab) | 2 |
RESP:302 | Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology | 3 |
RESP:303 | Cardiopulmonary Pathology | 4 |
RESP:311 | Respiratory Therapy Procedures II (Lecture/Lab) | 3 |
RESP:312 | Diagnostics I | 3 |
RESP:313 | Diagnostics II (Lecture/Lab) | 3 |
RESP:315 | Advanced Pharmacology for Respiratory Therapy | 3 |
RESP:320 | Neonatal/Pediatrics for Respiratory Therapy I | 3 |
RESP:325 | Mechanical Ventilation (Lecture/Lab) | 4 |
RESP:340 | Application of Clinical Concepts | 2 |
RESP:341 | RT Clinical Experience I | 3 |
RESP:342 | RT Clinical Experience II | 2 |
RESP:413 | Respiratory Therapy in Alternate Settings (Lecture/Lab) | 3 |
RESP:420 | Advanced Neonatal/Pediatrics for Respiratory Therapy | 3 |
RESP:421 | Advanced Critical Care | 3 |
RESP:430 | Problems in Respiratory Therapy | 4 |
RESP:443 | RT Clinical Experience III | 4 |
RESP:444 | RT Clinical Experience IV | 4 |
Total Hours | 62 |
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Course required for application
Other Required Courses
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
ANTH:251 | Human Diversity | 3 |
BIOL:202 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 3 |
or ANAT:207 | Applied Human Anatomy & Physiology II | |
BIOL:203 | Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory II | 1 |
or ANAT:211 | Applied Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab II | |
COMM:330 | Principles of Organizational Supervision | 3 |
NURS:446 | Professional Nursing Leadership - RN Only 1 | 3 |
PHIL:361 | Biomedical Ethics | 3 |
SOWK:244 | Death & Dying | 3 |
Total Hours | 19 |
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Special permission granted by the School of Nursing
Recommended Sequence
1st Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall Semester | Hours | |
ANTH:251 | Human Diversity | 3 |
CHEM:110 | Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry I (Lecture) 1,2 | 3 |
CHEM:111 | Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry I (Laboratory) 1,2 | 1 |
ENGL:111 | English Composition I 1 | 3 |
Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic Requirement 1,3 | 4 | |
Hours | 14 | |
Spring Semester | ||
BAHA:120 | Medical Terminology 1,2 | 3 |
BIOL:130 | Principles of Microbiology 1,2 | 3 |
COMM:105 or COMM:106 | Introduction to Public Speaking 1 or Effective Oral Communication | 3 |
ENGL:112 or ENGL:222 | English Composition II 1 or Technical Report Writing | 3 |
Hours | 12 | |
2nd Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
BIOL:200 or ANAT:206 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I 1,2 or Applied Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 3 |
BIOL:201 or ANAT:210 | Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory I 1,2 or Applied Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab I | 1 |
RESP:100 | Concepts in Respiratory Therapy 1,2 | 3 |
SOWK:244 | Death & Dying | 3 |
Arts Requirement | 3 | |
Hours | 13 | |
Spring Semester | ||
Arts/Humanities Requirement | 3 | |
BIOL:202 or ANAT:207 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II 2 or Applied Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 3 |
BIOL:203 or ANAT:211 | Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory II 2 or Applied Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab II | 1 |
RESP:210 | Respiratory Therapy Procedures I (Lecture/Lab) | 3 |
RESP:215 | Respiratory Therapy Pharmacology | 3 |
Hours | 13 | |
3rd Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
PHIL:361 | Biomedical Ethics | 3 |
RESP:301 | Cardiopulmonary Assessment Techniques (Lecture/Lab) | 2 |
RESP:302 | Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology | 3 |
RESP:311 | Respiratory Therapy Procedures II (Lecture/Lab) | 3 |
RESP:312 | Diagnostics I | 3 |
RESP:340 | Application of Clinical Concepts | 2 |
Hours | 16 | |
Spring Semester | ||
RESP:303 | Cardiopulmonary Pathology | 4 |
RESP:313 | Diagnostics II (Lecture/Lab) | 3 |
RESP:315 | Advanced Pharmacology for Respiratory Therapy | 3 |
RESP:320 | Neonatal/Pediatrics for Respiratory Therapy I | 3 |
RESP:341 | RT Clinical Experience I | 3 |
Hours | 16 | |
Summer Semester | ||
RESP:325 | Mechanical Ventilation | 4 |
RESP:342 | RT Clinical Experience II | 2 |
Hours | 6 | |
4th Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
COMM:330 | Principles of Organizational Supervision | 3 |
RESP:421 | Advanced Critical Care | 3 |
RESP:420 | Advanced Neonatal/Pediatrics for Respiratory Therapy | 3 |
RESP:443 | RT Clinical Experience III | 4 |
Arts/Humanities Requirement | 3 | |
Hours | 16 | |
Spring Semester | ||
NURS:446 | Professional Nursing Leadership - RN Only 4 | 3 |
RESP:413 | Respiratory Therapy in Alternate Settings (Lecture/Lab) | 3 |
RESP:430 | Problems in Respiratory Therapy | 4 |
RESP:444 | RT Clinical Experience IV | 4 |
Hours | 14 | |
Total Hours | 120 |
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Pre-admission coursework, students must apply by November 30th (see Application Deadline/Requirements).
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All courses must be completed with a grade of C or better and may only be repeated one time.
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MATH:145 Algebra for Calculus is preferred.
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Special permission granted by the School of Nursing
Policy Alert: By the end of your first 48 credit hours attempted, you should have completed your required General Education English, Math, and Communications (Speech) requirements.