Respiratory Therapy, A.A.S.

Program Description

The Respiratory Therapy Program prepares students to work in a variety of health care settings, to care for patients with acute and chronic respiratory disease, to assist in the treatment of trauma patients, and to provide life support to critically ill newborn, pediatric, and adult patients. Students receive a solid foundation in principles of cardiopulmonary physiology and respiratory care practices prior to providing hands-on care within actual clinical settings. Clinical experiences begin with basic general care and progress to extensive experience in adult medical and surgical intensive care and neonatal/pediatric intensive care units. Throughout the curriculum, students are expected to develop a caring commitment to the patient along with safe and effective respiratory care. Students rotate through renowned and respected clinical sites, including Prince George’s Hospital Center, Washington Hospital Center, Children’s National Medical Center, University of Maryland Medical Center, Anne Arundel Medical Center, and Calvert Memorial Hospital. The Respiratory Therapy Program is fully accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC); 1248 Harwood Road, Bedford, Texas 76021-4244; phone 817-283-2835; fax 817-354-8519; website: http://www.coarc.com. Upon graduation, students are awarded an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree and are eligible to take both the entry-level exam (for the CRT credential) and the advanced practitioner exams (for the RRT credential).

Graduates of the Respiratory Therapy A.A.S. will be able to:

• Work in a variety of health care settings
• Assess and treat patients with acute and chronic respiratory diseases
• Assist in the treatment of trauma patients
• Provide life support to critically ill newborn, pediatric, and adult patients
• Meet eligibility requirements for the National Board for Respiratory Care Examination system
• Demonstrate behaviors consistent with professional practice and the ethical and moral standards consistent with the American Association for Respiratory Care

General Education Courses

The list of general education courses appears in the General Education List . Some programs recommend or require specific courses to fulfill general education requirements. Please check your program’s sequence of study for this information.

Program Requirements

• PAS-1000 First Year Experience 1 Credit ** (see note)
• BIO-2060 Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4 Credits
• HIM-1800 Introduction to Medical Terms for Health Professionals 1 Credit
• RST-1531 Principles and Practice of Respiratory Therapy 5 Credits
• RST-1570 Principles of Cardiopulmonary Physiology 4 Credits
• RST-1600 Principles of Ventilatory Diseases 3 Credits
• RST-1631 Clinical Practice in Respiratory Therapy I 2 Credits
• RST-1730 Clinical Practice in Respiratory Therapy II 2 Credits
• RST-1741 Principles of Mechanical Ventilation and Introduction to Critical Care 6 Credits
• RST-2490 Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care 3 Credits
• RST-2500 Pharmacology for Respiratory Therapy 3 Credits
• RST-2530 Clinical Practice in Critical Care I 4 Credits
• RST-2620 Trends in Respiratory Therapy 2 Credits
• RST-2630 Clinical Practice in Critical Care II 4 Credits ***

Sequence of Study - Respiratory Therapy A.A.S.

Below are the required courses for your program arranged in a suggested sequence. Please note that the sequence does not include developmental coursework. See Academic Preparation  for the developmental course sequence if applicable to you.

Program Total: 67 Credits

¹ Refer to Course Descriptions , for eligibility requirements for BIO-2050 .

² Students who have taken another mathematics course prior to fall 2017 should contact the Respiratory Therapy program director to discuss options.

Asterisk (*) denotes a general education course.

Double asterisk (**) denotes a course that is an institutional requirement.

Triple asterisk (***) denotes a course that satisfies the culminating experience requirement for A.A.S. programs.

Transferability

Credit earned at any public institution in the state shall be transferable to any other institution if the:

• Credit is from a college or university parallel course or program;
• Grades in the block of courses transferred average 2.00 or higher; and
• Acceptance of the credit is consistent with the policies of the receiving institution governing students following the same program. Refer to ARTSYS at artweb.usmd.edu and the receiving institution’s catalog to select transferable courses.

Need Help?

For help selecting an academic program or courses, consider using Career Coach, available at www.pgcc.edu/go/careercoach.