CanvasProgram Description
A Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy consists of comprehensive classroom and clinical curricula that prepare students for the credentialing exam offered by the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC). The NBRC is the credentialing arm of the American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC). Successful completion of the curriculum and the credentialing exam certifies students as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) and enables them to apply for licensure in their state of residence. Employment opportunities with health care providers range from home health and hospice to neonatal, pediatric, and adult intensive care units in Dixie State University's (DSU) service area and across the country.
LICENSURE
The curriculum for programs at Dixie State University customarily leading to licensure have been designed to meet the licensure/certification requirements in Utah as well as preparing students to apply for licensure exams in the State of Utah (see the licensing website for more information regarding licensure in Utah). The licensure boards in each state are responsible for establishing the requirements for licensure/certification for their state. Requirements may vary from state to state and may change at any time. Students who intend to use their DSU degree to secure licensure in any state other than Utah will need to review the professional licensure disclosures in that state pertaining to their program and consult with the state professional licensing board. For more information speak with a program advisor in the DSU academic department offering the program.
Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Board for Respiratory Care examinations under the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) Initial Accreditation Status, to become credentialed as National Board for Respiratory Care Certified or Registered Respiratory Therapists (CRT or RRT). These credentials allow therapists to become licensed to practice respiratory care in Utah as well as throughout the USA and Canada.
ACCREDITATION
The Dixie State University Respiratory Therapy Program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC; #200565).
Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
1248 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX 76021
Phone: 817-283-2835
Fax: 817-354-8519
http://coarc.com
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to the Respiratory Therapy program, an applicant must first be accepted as a Dixie State University student. Then, the applicant must complete a separate application to the Respiratory Therapy program.
Application deadline is May 1st. Applications are available from the Respiratory Therapy program website at: https://health.dixie.edu/respiratory-therapy/program-admissions/.
Admission to the Respiratory Therapy program is based upon academic performance in both general education and specific program prerequisite courses in addition to other selection criteria, including:
- Submission of a complete Program Application
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher
- Completion with a “C” or better of specified program prerequisite courses
- Individual interview with the Respiratory Therapy Program Selection Committee
Additional factors that will be taken into consideration for program admission include previous health care experience and weighted GPA in specific prerequisite courses. A criminal background check and selected immunizations will be required upon acceptance to the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Program Prerequisites: | ||
| ENGL 1010 | Introduction to Writing (EN) | 3 |
| MATH 1050 | College Algebra / Pre-Calculus (MA) | 4 |
| PSY 1010 | General Psychology (SS, GC) | 3 |
| CHEM 1150 & CHEM 1155 | Integrated Chemistry for Health Sciences and Integrated Chemistry for Health Sciences Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOL 2320 & BIOL 2325 | Human Anatomy and Human Anatomy Lab | 5 |
| BIOL 2420 & BIOL 2425 | Human Physiology and Human Physiology Lab | 4 |
| NURS 3900 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| RESP 1010 | Introduction to Respiratory Therapy | 2 |
Students must complete specified prerequisite courses prior to admission to the Respiratory Therapy Program. Respiratory Therapy Program courses include 64 semester hours that must be completed sequentially. Students will be eligible for employment after graduation and meeting licensure requirements.
Program Curriculum
121 credits
DSU General Education Requirements
All DSU General Education requirements must be fulfilled. A previously earned degree may fulfill those requirements, but courses must be equivalent to DSU’s minimum General Education standards in American Institutions, English, and Mathematics.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Core Requirements | ||
| English | 3-7 | |
| Mathematics | 3-5 | |
| American Institutions | 3-6 | |
| Life Sciences | 3-10 | |
| Physical Sciences | 3-5 | |
| Laboratory Science | 0-1 | |
| Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Literature/Humanities | 3 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Exploration | 3-5 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Respiratory Therapy Required Courses | ||
| BIOL 1300 | Evolution & Ecology | 1 |
| BIOL 2320 & BIOL 2325 | Human Anatomy and Human Anatomy Lab | 5 |
| BIOL 2420 & BIOL 2425 | Human Physiology and Human Physiology Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 1150 & CHEM 1155 | Integrated Chemistry for Health Sciences and Integrated Chemistry for Health Sciences Laboratory | 5 |
| RESP 1010 | Introduction to Respiratory Therapy | 2 |
| NURS 3900 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| MATH 1050 | College Algebra / Pre-Calculus (MA) | 4 |
| PSY 1010 | General Psychology (SS, GC) | 3 |
| RESP 2020 | Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology | 3 |
| RESP 2040 | Respiratory Care Therapeutics I | 3 |
| RESP 2041 | Laboratory Practice/Therapeutics I | 2 |
| RESP 2060 | Patient Assessment | 2 |
| RESP 2065 | Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology | 3 |
| RESP 2200 | Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics | 3 |
| RESP 2100 | Clinical Practice I | 5 |
| RESP 2070 | Respiratory Care Therapeutics II | 3 |
| RESP 2300 | Introduction to Mechanical Ventilation | 3 |
| RESP 2301 | Laboratory/Adult Mechanical Ventilation | 2 |
| RESP 3005 | Critical Care/ACLS | 3 |
| RESP 3010 | Introduction to Respiratory Care Pharmacology | 3 |
| RESP 3020 | Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care | 3 |
| RESP 3021 | Laboratory Practice/Neonatal Care | 2 |
| RESP 3150 | Critical Thinking Seminar/NBRC Review | 3 |
| RESP 3310 | Advanced Mechanical Ventilation | 4 |
| RESP 3765 | Clinical Practice III / Clinical Application of Neonatal / Pediatric Respiratory Care | 5 |
| RESP 3775 | Clinical Practice II / Clinical Application of Adult Critical Care | 5 |
| RESP 4230 | Advanced Diagnosis, Assessment, and Management of Respiratory Disease | 3 |
| RESP 4410 | Teaching Foundations and Techniques for Healthcare Professionals | 4 |
| Choose 4 of the following courses: | ||
| HLTH 2010 | Health & Disease | 3 |
| HLTH 2700 | Consumer Health Issues | 3 |
| HLTH 3010 | Population & Community Health | 3 |
| HLTH 3020 | U.S. & World Health Systems | 3 |
| HLTH 3040 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| HLTH 3310 | Health Promotion | 3 |
| HLTH 3385 | Healthcare Quality and Safety | 3 |
| HLTH 3400 | Healthcare Project Management | 3 |
| HLTH 3500 | Health Organization Financial Analysis | 3 |
| HLTH 3600 | Patient Navigation | 3 |
| HLTH 3750 | Health Determinants & Disparities | 3 |
| HLTH 3800 | Genetics & Disease | 3 |
| HLTH 3900 | Infectious Disease | 3 |
| HLTH 4010 | Biostatistics & Epidemiology | 3 |
| HLTH 4020 | Research Methodology in Population Health | 3 |
| HLTH 4030 | Leadership & Group Dynamics | 3 |
| HLTH 4400 | Health Law & Ethics | 3 |
| HLTH 4500 | Global Health | 3 |
| HLTH 4600 | Health Economics | 3 |
| HLTH 4700 | Nursing Home Administration | 3 |
| HLTH 4710 | Residential Care Administration | 3 |
| HLTH 4720 | Home and Community Based Services | 3 |
| HLTH 4760 | Applied Case Studies in Population Health | 3 |
| HLTH 4770 | Population Health Lecture Series | 3 |
| HLTH 4790 | Management of Healthcare Organizations & Strategy | 3 |
| HLTH 4800 | Health Policy | 3 |
Graduation Requirements
- Complete a minimum of 120 college-level credits (1000 and above).
- Complete at least 40 upper-division credits (3000 and above).
- Complete at least 30 upper-division credits at DSU for institutional residency.
- Cumulative GPA 2.0 or higher.
Graduation Plan
| 1st Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| GE Fine Arts | 3 | |
| MATH 1050 | College Algebra / Pre-Calculus (MA) | 4 |
| GE American Institutions | 3 | |
| BIOL 1300 | Evolution & Ecology | 1 |
| ENGL 1010 | Introduction to Writing (EN) | 3 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIOL 2320 & BIOL 2325 | Human Anatomy and Human Anatomy Lab | 5 |
| ENGL 2010 | Interm Writing Selected Topics: (EN) | 3 |
| CHEM 1150 & CHEM 1155 | Integrated Chemistry for Health Sciences and Integrated Chemistry for Health Sciences Laboratory | 5 |
| PSY 1010 | General Psychology (SS, GC) | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| 2nd Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BIOL 2420 & BIOL 2425 | Human Physiology and Human Physiology Lab | 4 |
| RESP 1010 | Introduction to Respiratory Therapy | 2 |
| GE Literature/Humanities | 3 | |
| HLTH Elective course | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| HLTH Elective Course | 3 | |
| GE Exploration | 3 | |
| HLTH Elective Course | 3 | |
| HLTH Elective Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| 3rd Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| RESP 2020 | Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology | 3 |
| RESP 2040 | Respiratory Care Therapeutics I | 3 |
| RESP 2041 | Laboratory Practice/Therapeutics I | 2 |
| RESP 2060 | Patient Assessment | 2 |
| RESP 3010 | Introduction to Respiratory Care Pharmacology | 3 |
| NURS 3900 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| RESP 2070 | Respiratory Care Therapeutics II | 3 |
| RESP 2200 | Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics | 3 |
| RESP 2100 | Clinical Practice I | 5 |
| RESP 2065 | Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology | 3 |
| RESP 4410 | Teaching Foundations and Techniques for Healthcare Professionals | 4 |
| Hours | 18 | |
| 4th Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| RESP 2300 | Introduction to Mechanical Ventilation | 3 |
| RESP 2301 | Laboratory/Adult Mechanical Ventilation | 2 |
| RESP 3775 | Clinical Practice II / Clinical Application of Adult Critical Care | 5 |
| RESP 4230 | Advanced Diagnosis, Assessment, and Management of Respiratory Disease | 3 |
| RESP 3005 | Critical Care/ACLS | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| RESP 3310 | Advanced Mechanical Ventilation | 4 |
| RESP 3020 | Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care | 3 |
| RESP 3021 | Laboratory Practice/Neonatal Care | 2 |
| RESP 3765 | Clinical Practice III / Clinical Application of Neonatal / Pediatric Respiratory Care | 5 |
| RESP 3150 | Critical Thinking Seminar/NBRC Review | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Total Hours | 121 | |
Respiratory Therapy Program Learning Outcomes
At the successful conclusion of this program, students will be able to:
- Provide comprehensive patient assessment and care using therapist-driven protocols and evidence-based medicine.
- Demonstrate understanding and application of AARC code of ethics and professionalism including patient rights and HIPPA confidentiality.
- Promote health and wellness through patient and family education and community outreach.
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills when making patient bedside decisions.
- Use oral and written communication skills in collaboration with other members of the health care team.