RESPIRATORY CARE PROGRAM
El Centro only
(Associate in Applied Sciences Degree, Tech Prep)
- Students pursuing this award program are required to meet Texas Success Initiative (TSI) standards and course prerequisites.
- Students must earn at least 25% of the credit hours required for graduation through instruction by the college awarding the degree.
Degree Plan Code: AAS.RESPIRATOR.CARE
The Respiratory Care Program prepares students to become respiratory therapists and perform complex patient care procedures in specialized patient care units and diagnostic laboratories.
The Associate in Applied Sciences degree is awarded for successful completion of the program, enabling the graduate to apply for the Entry Level Credentialing Examination to become a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT). After CRT certification is obtained, the graduate may then apply for the Advanced Practitioner Examination to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). Passing the Entry Level Examination enables the graduate to obtain licensure as a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) in the State of Texas.
The Respiratory Care Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP, 35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1970, Chicago, Illinois 60601-2208: Telephone number 312-553-9355) in cooperation with the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC, 1248 Harwood Rd., Bedford, Texas 76021-4244: Telephone number 817-283-2835).
Admission requirements include satisfactory scores on pre-entrance assessment testing, completion of program prerequisite courses with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better, rank ordering by grade point average, and completion of all requirements for admission as a full-time student to the college. Clinical skills testing may be required for advanced placement. Contact the Health Occupations Admissions Office at El Centro College to receive an information packet, and the Assessment Center to sign up for the assessment tests.
SEMESTER I
SEMESTER II
| HPRS 2201 |
Pathophysiology |
2 |
| HPRS 2300 |
Pharmacology for Health Professions |
3 |
| HPRS 1291 |
Special Topics in Health Professions and Related Sciences, Other |
2 |
| SPCH 1311 |
Introduction to Speech Communication OR |
3 |
| SPCH 1315 |
Fundamentals of Public Speaking |
(3) |
| PSYC 2301 |
Introduction to Psychology |
3 |
| SCIT 1408 |
Human Anatomy and Physiology II OR |
4 |
| BIOL 2402 |
Anatomy and Physiology II |
(4) |
|
|
17 |
SEMESTER III
| +Elective |
Humanities/Fine Arts |
3 |
| RSPT 1227 |
Applied Physics for Respiratory Care |
2 |
| RSPT 1431 |
Respiratory Care Fundamentals II |
4 |
|
|
9 |
SEMESTER IV
| RSPT 1307 |
Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology |
3 |
| RSPT 1213 |
Basic Respiratory Care Pharmacology |
2 |
| RSPT 1311 |
Respiratory Care Procedures II |
3 |
| RSPT 2201 |
Cardiopulmonary Assessment |
2 |
| RSPT 2310 |
Cardiopulmonary Disease |
3 |
| RSPT 1260 |
Clinical - Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist |
2 |
|
|
15 |
SEMESTER V
| RSPT 2453 |
Neonatal/Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Care |
4 |
| RSPT 2314 |
Mechanical Ventilation |
3 |
| RSPT 2258 |
Advanced Respiratory Care Patient Assessment |
2 |
| RSPT 2131 |
(Clinical) Simulations in Respiratory Care |
1 |
| RSPT 1141 |
Respiratory Home Care/Rehabilitation |
1 |
| RSPT 2262 |
Clinical-Respiratory Therapy/Therapist |
2 |
|
|
13 |
SEMESTER VI
| RSPT 2163 |
Clinical - Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist |
1 |
| RSPT 2166 |
Practicum (or Field Experience) - Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist |
1 |
|
|
2 |
| Minimum Hours Required |
|
72 |
+Humanities/Fine Arts Elective - must be selected from the DCCCD Humanities/Fine Arts CORE list.
# BIOL 1406, Biology for Science Majors I or SCIT 1407 Human Anatomy and Physiology I are prerequisites to BIOL 2401.
NOTE: Students enrolling in this program who plan to transfer to a four-year institution should consult an advisor or counselor regarding transfer requirements and the transferability of these courses to the four-year institution of their choice.
