Respiratory Care, B.S.

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Program Information

Respiratory Care (BS)

The four-year program in Respiratory Care leads to the Bachelor of Science and therapist-level certification. Based in the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions, the program offers the student the best of two worlds: a liberal arts education and a highly skilled, allied health career. The four-year program is accredited by the Commision on Accreditation of Respiratory Care, and by the State of Connecticut. During the program the student pursues both on-campus and hospital-based study. Clinical study begins during the second year and is integrated throughout the second, third, and fourth years. With the assistance of the clinical faculty, students select two areas of specialization that may include pediatrics, adult critical care, pulmonary function, patient assessment and education, allied health education, management, supervision, or research.

The program is open to qualified full-time and part-time students and welcomes applications from associate-degreed, registered respiratory care practitioners.

Requirements for the Major (125 credits)

Professional Courses (51 credits)

RCP 210 - Respiratory Pharmacology 2 credit(s)
RCP 212 - Respiratory Therapy 3 credit(s)
RCP 213 - Pulmonary Diagnostics and Therapy 3 credit(s)
RCP 214 - Mechanical Ventilation and Resuscitation I 4 credit(s)
RCP 215 - Mechanical Ventilation and Resuscitation II 4 credit(s)
RCP 251 - Clinical Practice I 2 credit(s)
RCP 252 - Clinical Practice II 2 credit(s)
RCP 325 - Cardio-Pulmonary Anatomy & Physiology 4 credit(s)
RCP 331 - Medical-Surgical Problems 3 credit(s)
RCP 333 - Neonatal Pediatric Respiratory Care 3 credit(s)
RCP 353P - Clinical Practice III 3 credit(s)
RCP 354P - Clinical Practice IV 3 credit(s)
RCP 355 - Clinical Practice V 3 credit(s)
RCP 360W - Ethical Issues in Respiratory Care 3 credit(s)
RCP 443 - Respiratory Insufficiency and Patient Rehabilitation 3 credit(s)
RCP 460W - Advanced Clinical Practice I 3 credit(s)
RCP 461P - Advanced Clinical Practice II 3 credit(s)

Sciences (37-38 credits)

BIO 122 - Introductory Biology I 4 credit(s)
BIO 212 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4 credit(s)
BIO 213 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4 credit(s)
BIO 272W - Genetics 3 credit(s)
BIO 440 - Medical Microbiology 4 credit(s)
CH 114 - Principles of Chemistry I 4 credit(s) AND
CH 136 - Principles of Chemistry II 4 credit(s)
OR
CH 110 - College Chemistry 4 credit(s) AND
CH 111P - College Chemistry 4 credit(s)
PHY 101 - Mechanics, Heat, and the Body 4 credit(s) OR
PHY 102 - Electricity and the Body 4 credit(s) OR
PHY 120 - Algebra-Based Physics I 4 credit(s)
Any upper-level (300+) Health Science elective 3 credit(s)
UIST elective 3-4 credit(s)

General Education Requirements

Humanities and Arts (12 credits)

CMM 110 - Communication in the Digital Age 3 credit(s) OR
CMM 111 - Business and Professional Communication 3 credit(s) OR
CMM 115 - Improving Communication Skills 3 credit(s)
UISA University Interdisciplinary Studies: Artistic and Creative Expression 3 credit(s)
UISC University Interdisciplinary Studies: Cultural and Historical Interpretation 3 credit(s)
One additional humanities course 3 credit(s)

Social Sciences (9 credits)

UISS University Interdisciplinary Studies: Social Context and Change 3 credit(s)
Any two courses from economics, politics and government, sociology, or psychology 6 credit(s)

Additional Information:

All students must maintain an overall grade point average of 2.7. In addition, biology, chemistry, and physics courses must be completed with a grade of C or better and a minimum overall science GPA of 2.5. Each respiratory care course (RCP) must be completed with a grade of C+ or better.

Refer to the student Respiratory Care Clinical Manual for additional information about academic standards and clinical experiences. Students are responsible for transportation to clinical sites and for purchasing liability insurance.