Respiratory Care
Associate Degree Program
The program prepares students to become advanced practitioners in the fast-growing field of cardiopulmonary science. Respiratory Care is the allied health profession that cares for patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system. As one of the most dynamic allied health fields, respiratory care provides excellent career opportunities and salaries competitive with other allied health professions. As a respiratory therapist, you will be a respected member of a health care team. You will care for a diverse group of patients ranging from newborn and pediatric patients to adults and the elderly.
Upon successful completion of this program, you will be eligible to sit for the National Board for Respiratory Care's (NBRC) Therapist Multiple Choice (TMC) and Clinical Simulation Exam (CSE) exams. The TMC examination is designed to objectively measure essential knowledge, skills and abilities required of entry-level respiratory therapists. It is used by most states, including Delaware, as part of the process to apply for a license to practice as a Respiratory Therapist. The CSE examination objectively measures essential knowledge, skills and abilities required of advanced-level respiratory therapists and sets uniform standards for measuring such knowledge. Program graduates who have successfully completed both TMC and CSE exams will obtain the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential.
Academically ready students can apply to the program following the guidelines of the Allied Health admissions process. Interested applicants should review the information provided here and contact their program advisor for application requirements.
Offered at the following campus(es): Georgetown, Wilmington
What You Can Do
In this program, you will gain the knowledge and skills to prepare you for positions such as:
- Respiratory therapist
- Pulmonary function technologist
- Cardiopulmonary educator
- Polysomnographer
What You Will Learn
Program Graduate Competencies
The Program Graduate Competencies listed below identify the major learning goals related to your specific program of study and identify the knowledge and skills you will have when you graduate to be successful in your chosen field.
- Apply theoretical information that leads to an appropriate action in the application or delivery of respiratory care procedures.
- Perform technical skills in the implementation of respiratory care procedures within a plan of care.
- Practice behaviors that are consistent with professional and employer expectations/requirements of their employees.
Core Curriculum Competencies
The Core Curriculum Competencies listed below identify what you will be able to do as a graduate, regardless of your program of study. You will acquire these core competencies through general education courses and program-specific coursework. You will be expected to use relevant technology to achieve these outcomes:
- Apply clear and effective communication skills.
- Use critical thinking to solve problems.
- Collaborate to achieve a common goal.
- Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct.
- Use information literacy for effective vocational and/or academic research.
- Apply quantitative reasoning and/or scientific inquiry to solve practical problems.
Suggested Pathway to Graduation
Semester 1
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
SSC 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
MAT 162 | Statistical Reasoning | 4 |
BIO 120 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 5 |
CHM 110 | General Chemistry | 4 |
Semester 2
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ENG 101 | Composition I | 3 |
BIO 121 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 5 |
SOC 213 | Ethical Issues in Healthcare | 3 |
RCT 140 | Pulmonary Physiology | 3 |
Semester 3
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ENG 102 | Composition II | 3 |
RCT 120 | Pharmacology for Respiratory Care | 3 |
RCT 130 | Intro to Respiratory Care | 7 |
RCT 241 | Pulmonary Pathophysiology I | 3 |
Semester 4
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
RCT 231 | Respiratory Care Procedures I | 4 |
RCT 210 | Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care | 3 |
RCT 251 | Clinical Respiratory Care I | 2 |
Semester 5
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
RCT 232 | Respiratory Care Procedures II | 7 |
RCT 242 | Pulmonary Pathophysiology II | 4 |
HLH 215 | Cardiovascular Monitoring | 2 |
RCT 252 | Clinical Respiratory Care II | 3 |
Semester 6
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
RCT 233 | Special Topics in Respiratory Care | 4 |
RCT 243 | Pulmonary Function Studies | 2 |
RCT 253 | Clinical Respiratory Care III | 5 |
PSY 121 | General Psychology | 3 |
To complete program requirements, you must pass the above courses and earn at least 83 credits. The number of courses and credits required for graduation may be more depending on college readiness and the elective courses offered in your program major (if electives are a part of the program).
AHTAASRCT
Semester 1
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
SSC 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
MAT 162 | Statistical Reasoning | 4 |
BIO 120 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 5 |
CHM 110 | General Chemistry | 4 |
Semester 2
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ENG 101 | Composition I | 3 |
BIO 121 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 5 |
RCT 120 | Pharmacology for Respiratory Care | 3 |
RCT 140 | Pulmonary Physiology | 3 |
Semester 3
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ENG 102 | Composition II | 3 |
HLH 215 | Cardiovascular Monitoring | 2 |
RCT 130 | Intro to Respiratory Care | 7 |
RCT 241 | Pulmonary Pathophysiology I | 3 |
Semester 4
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
RCT 231 | Respiratory Care Procedures I | 4 |
RCT 242 | Pulmonary Pathophysiology II | 4 |
RCT 251 | Clinical Respiratory Care I | 2 |
Semester 5
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
RCT 232 | Respiratory Care Procedures II | 7 |
RCT 210 | Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care | 3 |
SOC 213 | Ethical Issues in Healthcare | 3 |
RCT 252 | Clinical Respiratory Care II | 3 |
Semester 6
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
RCT 233 | Special Topics in Respiratory Care | 4 |
RCT 243 | Pulmonary Function Studies | 2 |
RCT 253 | Clinical Respiratory Care III | 5 |
PSY 121 | General Psychology | 3 |
To complete program requirements, you must pass the above courses and earn at least 83 credits. The number of courses and credits required for graduation may be more depending on college readiness and the elective courses offered in your program major (if electives are a part of the program).
AHTAASRCT
Pursuing a Bachelor's Degree?
This is a Connected Degree program that enables you to complete your associate degree and then transfer to a four-year degree program as a junior. See a program advisor for details!
Alumni | Chelsea O'Day
Crystal Cordrey
Department Chair, Instructor,
and Program Advisor
ccordre5@orkexpo.net
(302) 259-6686
The Respiratory Care program at the Georgetown campus (CoARC #200386) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
Program/Student Outcomes Data - CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes based’ process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented.
Program Goals: To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive(knowledge), psychomotor(skills) and affective(behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).
- Allied Health Admissions Process (PDF)
- Program Application (submission dates in effect)
- Ranking Worksheet (PDF)
- Cost Analysis Sheet (PDF)
This program is offered at the Georgetown and Wilmington campuses.
Lori Boylan
Department Chair
lboylan@Christianacare.org
(302) 320-4590
The Respiratory Care program at the Wilmington campus (CoARC #200299) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
Program/Student Outcomes Data - CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes based’ process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented.
Program Goals: To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive(knowledge), psychomotor(skills) and affective(behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).
- Allied Health Admissions Process (PDF)
- Program Application (submission dates in effect)
- Ranking Worksheet (PDF)
- Cost Analysis Sheet (PDF)
- Technical Standards (Word)