Respiratory Care: BS

Bachelor of Science | 120 credit hours minimum

Area of Interest: Health Professions

Program Description:

The Bachelor of Science, Respiratory Care Program graduates students 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). The program will prepare leaders for the field of respiratory care by including curricular content with objectives related to the acquisition of skills in one or more of the following: management, education, research, and advanced clinical practice (which may include an area of clinical specialization).

During the first two years of coursework the student will obtain an Associate in Arts General Transfer Studies degree - Health Science Pathway. The AA is 60 credit hours of oral/written communication, social/behavioral sciences, mathematics, biomedical/natural science, medical terminology, and biomedical ethics. Admission into the third year of the program (professional program) is selective - admission to the college does not guarantee entrance into the BSRC program. A maximum of 16 students will be admitted into the professional program each fall semester. The following are requirements that must be met to apply to the third year of the program (professional program):

Complete a minimum of 45 credit hours of the AA General Transfer Studies - Health Science Pathway
1. All AA - Health Science coursework must be completed with "C" or higher grades.
2. The cumulative GPA of the AA General Transfer Studies - Health Science Pathway must be a 2.5 or higher.
Science and math coursework must be completed within five years of starting the professional RC coursework. Exceptions to this time frame can be made on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Program Director.

Once the application is accepted, students will be notified of their placement on the admissions list via their STLCC email accounts. Students must complete the following to change their major to the BS in Respiratory Care degree.

Completion of the remainder hours needed to obtain the AA General Transfer Studies - Health Science Pathway.
1. All required coursework must be completed with a "C" or higher grade.
2. The cumulative GPA of the AA General Transfer Studies - Health Science Pathway must be a 2.5 or higher.
Attend a mandatory orientation in June.
Complete a criminal background check and drug screen.

Additional requirements for clinical courses (RC300, RC340, RC380, RC400, and RC450) include immunizations, TB testing, and the AHA Basic Life Support certification. Detailed information on these requirements can be found in the Respiratory Care Student Handbook.

The professional program starts in the fall each year, is four semesters and an intervening summer, and is 60 credit hours. Students must attend the program full-time, and all courses must be taken at STLCC. To progress through the professional program, a student must maintain a grade of "C" or higher in each required course in the major. If a student receives a "D" or "F" grade in any required course, the student must re-apply for admission for the next academic year. More information can be found in the Respiratory Care Student Handbook.

To graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care (BSRC), students must complete the 120 credit hours required as stated in the academic plan. Additional graduation requirements include completion of the AHA ACLS certification and a minimum of 20 professional credit points received throughout the program major. Please see the Respiratory Care Student Handbook for more information on these requirements.

Graduates of the program are eligible to take the National Board for Respiratory Care credentialing exams in order to obtain the Registered Respiratory Therapy (RRT) credential.

The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care Program, CoARC program #210050 at Forest Park holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.

This status signifies that a program with an Approval of Intent has demonstrated sufficient compliance with the Standards (through submission of an acceptable Provisional Accreditation Self Study Report (PSSR) and any other documentation required by the CoARC, as well as satisfactory completion of an initial on-site visit), to be allowed to admit students. It is recognized as an accredited program by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), which provides enrolled students who complete the program with eligibility for the Respiratory Care Credentialing Examination(s). The program will remain on Provisional Accreditation until it achieves Continuing Accreditation

Locations. This program is offered in its entirety at Forest Park.

Cost of Attendance. For more information on cost of attendance visit MoSCORES.

Program Career and Salary Information. Pursuant to Missouri HB 1606 (2018), information regarding the number of credit hours, program length, employment rate, wage data, and graduates employed in careers related to their program of study at St. Louis Community College can be found at the following URL: https://scorecard.mo.gov/scorecard/. Search using School / Program “St. Louis Community College” and choose the degree or credential type of interest.

The following limitations to the data apply: Information provided is based on the most recent cohorts available. Typically, most recent cohorts for wage and completion data are six years prior to the current academic year. Time to complete a program of study varies depending on the number of credit hours students earn per semester.

Interested in this program? Start the enrollment process by visiting the Apply to STLCC page.

At the completion of the program, students are expected to:

assess the cardiopulmonary status of a patient and prescribed respiratory care.
perform assessment, diagnostic, and therapeutic skills in a safe and effective manner.
develop and modify respiratory care plans.
apply the principles of professional and ethical behavior consistent with the expectations as a registered respiratory therapist.
communicate patient information and respiratory care plans to physicians and other healthcare providers.
educate patients to promote cardiopulmonary wellness and disease management.
critique professional scientific literature.
discuss leadership principles and problems as they relate to the management of a respiratory care department.

The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care Program, CoARC program #210050 at Forest Park holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.

Missouri Civics Examination. Students entering college for the very first time in fall 2019 and who intend to complete an associate’s degree must successfully complete a civics examination. Information on who is eligible for a waiver can be found on the STLCC website.

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
General Education
ENG 101	College Composition I (MOTR ENGL 100)	3
ENG 102	College Composition II (MOTR ENGL 200)	3
or ENG 103	Report Writing (MOTR ENGL 110)
SOC 101	Introduction to Sociology (MOTR SOCI 101)	3
or COM 200	Communication Between Cultures (MOTR SBSC 101)
COM 107	Public Speaking (MOTR COMM 110)	3
or COM 101	Oral Communication I (MOTR COMM 100)
BIO 111	Introductory Biology I (MOTR BIOL 100L)	4
BIO 207	Anatomy and Physiology I (MOTR LIFS 150LAP)	4
BIO 208	Anatomy and Physiology II	4
BIO 203	General Microbiology I	4
MTH 160	Precalculus Algebra (MOTR MATH 130)	3
or MTH 160S	Precalculus Algebra with Support (MOTR MATH 130)
MTH 180	Introductory Statistics (MOTR MATH 110)	3
or MTH 180S	Introductory Statistics with Support (MOTR MATH 110)
PHL 109	Bio-Medical Ethics	3
PSY 200	General Psychology (MOTR PSYC 100)	3
CHM 101	Fundamentals of Chemistry I (MOTR CHEM 100L)	5
or CHM 105	General Chemistry I (MOTR CHEM 150L)
XXX xxx	Social & Behavioral Sciences: Civics Requirement	3
XXX xxx	CORE 42 Humanities/Fine Arts Electives	9
HIM 101	Medical Terminology and Language	3
Professional Coursework
RC 110	Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology	3
RC 120	Respiratory Care Practices I	6
RC 130	Patient Assessment	2
RC 140	Respiratory Pharmacology	2
RC 300	Clinical Practice I	1
RC 150	Fundamentals of Respiratory Care II	4
RC 160	Mechanical Ventilation I	4
RC 180	Cardiopulmonary Diseases	3
COM 117	Health Communication	3
RC 340	Clinical Practice II	1
RC 240	Respiratory Care Specialties	3
RC 310	Neonatal Respiratory Care	2
RC 380	Clinical Practice III	1
RC 200	Adult Critical Care	3
RC 210	Mechanical Ventilation II	4
RC 320	Pediatric Respiratory Care	2
RC 330	Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care Lab	1
RC 400	Clinical Practice IV	2
RC 410	Respiratory Care Management	3
RC 420	Respiratory Care Research	3
RC 430	Health Education and Disease Management	3
RC 440	Respiratory Care Capstone	1
RC 450	Clinical Practice V	3
Total Credit Hours		120

The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care Program, CoARC program #210050 at Forest Park holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.

Full-Time Academic Plan

PLEASE NOTE: If you originally enrolled at STLCC prior to Fall 2024, you may need to view an archived catalog for your correct program requirements. Please speak with an advisor or the program coordinator for more information.

New PlanGrids
First Year
Fall		Credit Hours	Prerequisites	Milestones/Notes
ENG 101	College Composition I (MOTR ENGL 100)	3	Placement score or ENG 030 or ENG 070 with a grade of "C" or better or recommendation of department and Reading Proficiency or concurrent enrollment in RDG 079
SOC 101 or COM 200	Introduction to Sociology (MOTR SOCI 101) or Communication Between Cultures (MOTR SBSC 101)	3	Reading Proficiency or concurrent enrollment in RDG 079
MTH 180 or 180S	Introductory Statistics (MOTR MATH 110) or Introductory Statistics with Support (MOTR MATH 110)	3	Satisfactory scores on placement test, and Reading Proficiency	Must be completed within 5 years of application.
BIO 111	Introductory Biology I (MOTR BIOL 100L)	4	Reading Proficiency or concurrent enrollment in RDG 079	Must be completed within 5 years of application.
XXX xxx	CORE 42 Humanities/Fine Arts Elective	3
	Credit Hours	16
Spring		Credit Hours	Prerequisites	Milestones/Notes
COM 107 or 101	Public Speaking (MOTR COMM 110) or Oral Communication I (MOTR COMM 100)	3	Reading Proficiency
MTH 160 or 160S	Precalculus Algebra (MOTR MATH 130) or Precalculus Algebra with Support (MOTR MATH 130)	3	MTH 140 (or MTH 140S) with a grade of "C" or better or satisfactory score on placement test, and Reading Proficiency	Must be completed within 5 years of application.
ENG 102 or 103	College Composition II (MOTR ENGL 200) or Report Writing (MOTR ENGL 110)	3	ENG 101 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency
HIM 101	Medical Terminology and Language	3	Reading Proficiency
PSY 200	General Psychology (MOTR PSYC 100)	3	Reading Proficiency or concurrent enrollment in RDG 079
	Credit Hours	15
Second Year
Fall		Credit Hours	Prerequisites	Milestones/Notes
BIO 207	Anatomy and Physiology I (MOTR LIFS 150LAP)	4	BIO 111 or BIO 140 or CHM 101 with a minimum grade of "C", or college-level course equivalent, and Reading Proficiency	Must be completed within 5 years of application.
CHM 101 or 105	Fundamentals of Chemistry I (MOTR CHEM 100L) or General Chemistry I (MOTR CHEM 150L)	5	MTH 140S with a minimum grade of "C" or higher, or placement into MTH 140 or higher, and Reading Proficiency	Must be completed within 5 years of application.
PHL 109	Bio-Medical Ethics	3	Reading Proficiency
XXX xxx	CORE 42 Humanities/Fine Arts Elective	3
	Credit Hours	15
Spring		Credit Hours	Prerequisites	Milestones/Notes
BIO 203	General Microbiology I	4	BIO 111 or BIO 140 with a minimum grade of "C", or college-level course equivalent, and Reading Proficiency	Must be completed within 5 years of application.
XXX xxx	Social & Beahvioral Sciences: Civics Requirement	3
BIO 208	Anatomy and Physiology II	4	BIO 207 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency	Must be completed within 5 years of application.
XXX xxx	CORE 42 Humanities/Fine Arts Elective	3
	Credit Hours	14
Third Year
Fall		Credit Hours	Prerequisites	Milestones/Notes
RC 110	Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology	3	Admission to the AAS Respiratory Care or BS Respiratory Care Program, BIO 208 with a minimum grade of "C", and Reading Proficiency
RC 120	Respiratory Care Practices I	6	Program Admission, BIO 208 with a minimum grade of "C", and Reading Proficiency
RC 130	Patient Assessment	2	Program Admission, BIO 208 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency
RC 140	Respiratory Pharmacology	2	Concurrent or prior enrollment in RC 110 with a minimum grade of "C", and Reading Proficiency
RC 300	Clinical Practice I	1	Admission to the BSRC program, and Reading Proficiency
	Credit Hours	14
Spring		Credit Hours	Prerequisites	Milestones/Notes
RC 150	Fundamentals of Respiratory Care II	4	RC 110, RC 125, and RC 135 with minimum grades of "C", and Reading Proficiency
RC 160	Mechanical Ventilation I	4	RC 110, RC 125, and RC 135 with minimum grades of "C", and Reading Proficiency
RC 180	Cardiopulmonary Diseases	3	RC 125 and RC 140 with minimum grades of "C", and Reading Proficiency
RC 340	Clinical Practice II	1	RC 125, RC 135, RC 140, and RC 300 all with grades of "C" or higher, and Reading Proficiency
COM 117	Health Communication	3	Reading Proficiency
	Credit Hours	15
Summer		Credit Hours	Prerequisites	Milestones/Notes
RC 240	Respiratory Care Specialties	3	RC 180 with a grade of "C" or higher, and Reading Proficiency
RC 310	Neonatal Respiratory Care	2	RC 150, RC 160, RC 180 all with grades of "C" or higher, and Reading Proficiency
RC 380	Clinical Practice III	1	RC 150, RC 160, RC 180, and RC 340 all with grades of "C" or higher, and Reading Proficiency
	Credit Hours	6
Fourth Year
Fall		Credit Hours	Prerequisites	Milestones/Notes
RC 320	Pediatric Respiratory Care	2	RC 310 and RC 380 with grades of "C" or higher, and Reading Proficiency
RC 330	Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care Lab	1	RC 310 and RC 380 with grades of "C" or higher, and Reading Proficiency
RC 200	Adult Critical Care	3	RC 180 with grade of "C" or higher, and Reading Proficiency
RC 210	Mechanical Ventilation II	4	RC 150, RC 160, and RC 180 with grades of "C" or higher, and Reading Proficiency
RC 400	Clinical Practice IV	2	RC 310, RC 380, and RC 240 all with grades of "C" or higher, and Reading Proficiency
	Credit Hours	12
Spring		Credit Hours	Prerequisites	Milestones/Notes
RC 410	Respiratory Care Management	3	RC 200, RC 210, RC 320, and RC 400 all with grades of "C" or higher, and Reading Proficiency
RC 420	Respiratory Care Research	3	RC 200, RC 210, RC 320, and RC 400 all with grades of "C" or higher, and Reading Proficiency
RC 430	Health Education and Disease Management	3	RC 200, RC 210, RC 320, and RC 400 all with grades of "C" or higher, and Reading Proficiency
RC 440	Respiratory Care Capstone	1	RC 200, RC 210, RC 320, and RC 400 all with grades of "C" or higher, and Reading Proficiency
RC 450	Clinical Practice V	3	RC 200, RC 210, RC 330, RC 320, RC 400 all with grades of "C" or higher, and Reading Proficiency
	Credit Hours	13
	Total Credit Hours	120

_{*Click on the hyperlinked course number to view additional information about the course.}

_{**Students completing a course that has been assigned a MOTR number may transfer that course to any public institution in Missouri. Those who complete CORE 42 requirements will have that verification on their transcript.}

_{*** It is your responsibility to verify that the courses listed above will transfer to the four-year institution of your choice. Maximize your transfer credits/classes by meeting with an academic advisor.}