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An Ashtabula Respiratory Therapy Student works with a patient simulator in the Morrison Hall lab

Respiratory Therapy - A.A.S.

Prepare for a career as a respiratory therapist. Gain hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge through our comprehensive curriculum and clinical training opportunities. Our experienced faculty and state-of-the-art facilities provide you with the tools and support needed to excel in the field. Enroll now and start your journey toward a fulfilling career in respiratory therapy.

This program can be completed in its entirety at Kent State Ashtabula.

Ashtabula Campus Contact

Amy Rodenhausen, M.Ed., RRT
Program Director, Respiratory Therapy Program
Kent State University at Ashtabula and Cleveland Clinic Satellite
Phone: 440-964-4362

 

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Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy

The Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy prepares students for a career as a respiratory therapist with hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge through a comprehensive curriculum and clinical training opportunities.

Program Information for Respiratory Therapy - A.A.S.

Program Description
On This Page

Full Description

The Associate of Applied Science degree in Respiratory Therapy provides students the skills to evaluate, treat and care for patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. Practicing under the direction of a physician, respiratory therapists assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care therapeutic treatments and diagnostic procedures. Respiratory Therapists also provide complex therapy requiring considerable independent judgment, such as caring for patients on life support in intensive-care units of hospitals.

Graduates of the program are eligible to take national credentialing examinations administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care to become Certified and Registered Respiratory Therapists (CRT, RRT), Certified and Registered Pulmonary Function Technologists (CPFT, RPFT) and Neonatal Pediatric Specialist (NPS).

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.

Admissions for Respiratory Therapy - A.A.S.

Admission Requirements

The Respiratory Therapy major is cohort-based, with students admitted in the spring semester only. Spring admission is limited to 20 students at the Ashtabula Campus and 10 students at the Cleveland Clinic location.

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Kent State campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, and the Twinsburg Academic Center, have open enrollment admission for students who hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.

For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Describe, apply and analyze respiratory care principles, current theories and practices required of registered respiratory therapists as defined by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
  2. Exhibit competence in performing technical skills and procedures utilized in current practice by registered respiratory therapists.
  3. Model personal professional ethics and behaviors expected of registered respiratory therapists in practice to obtain and maintain a positive impact in patient care and inter-staff relations.
Coursework
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Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA; min C grade required in all courses)
RESP 10000INTRODUCTION TO RESPIRATORY THERAPY 4
RESP 11003APPLICATION AND MECHANISMS OF CARDIOPULMONARY ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 3
RESP 11004THERAPEUTICS 6
RESP 11008BLOOD GAS ANALYSIS 2
RESP 21000CRITICAL CARE 4
RESP 21001MECHANICAL VENTILATION 5
RESP 21003PERINATAL AND PEDIATRIC RESPIRATORY THERAPY 2
RESP 21004ADVANCED DIAGNOSTICS 3
RESP 21006PULMONARY REHABILITATION AND CONTINUING CARE 1
RESP 21013RESPIRATORY THERAPY CAPSTONE 2
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
AHS 12000BASIC PRINCIPLES OF PHARMACOLOGY (min C grade for both)2
or RESP 11001 RESPIRATORY CARE PHARMACOLOGY
BSCI 11010FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB) (min C grade for both) 13-4
or BSCI 21010 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB)
BSCI 11020FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II (KBS) (KLAB) (min C grade for both) 13-4
or BSCI 21020 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II
BSCI 20021BASIC MICROBIOLOGY (min C grade for both)3-4
or BSCI 30171 GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY
COMM 20001INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION (min C grade)3
PSYC 11762GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
RESP 11002CARDIOPULMONARY DISEASES (min C grade)3
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Chemistry Elective, choose from the following:3-4
CHEM 10050
FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY (KBS)
CHEM 10055
MOLECULES OF LIFE (KBS)
CHEM 10060
GENERAL CHEMISTRY I (KBS)
CHEM 10061
GENERAL CHEMISTRY II (KBS)
Kent Core Composition3
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts3
Minimum Total Credit Hours:65
1

Students who have successfully completed ATTR 25057 and ATTR 25058 (or EXSC 25057 and EXSC 25058) may use those courses in place of BSCI 11010 and BSCI 11020 (or BSCI 21010 and BSCI 21020).

Progression Requirements

To be able to register for respiratory therapy (RESP) courses, students must be accepted to technical study. Acceptance is a selective process. Criteria for acceptance are the following;

  • Minimum 2.700 overall GPA
  • Completion, or placement out, of MATH 00022 (or equivalent)
  • Completion of required first anatomy and physiology course with minimum C grade: BSCI 11010 or BSCI 21010 (or equivalent)
  • Completion of required chemistry course with minimum C grade: CHEM 10050 or CHEM 10055 or CHEM 10060 or CHEM 10061 (or equivalent)
  • Completion of four hours of job shadowing experience

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
BSCI 11010
or BSCI 21010
 FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB)
or ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB)
3-4
!RESP 10000 INTRODUCTION TO RESPIRATORY THERAPY 4
!RESP 11003 APPLICATION AND MECHANISMS OF CARDIOPULMONARY ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Chemistry Elective 3-4
 Credit Hours14
Semester Two
BSCI 11020
or BSCI 21020
 FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II (KBS) (KLAB)
or ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II
3-4
BSCI 20021
or BSCI 30171
 BASIC MICROBIOLOGY
or GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY
3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours9
Semester Three
AHS 12000
or RESP 11001
 BASIC PRINCIPLES OF PHARMACOLOGY
or RESPIRATORY CARE PHARMACOLOGY
2
!RESP 11002 CARDIOPULMONARY DISEASES 3
!RESP 11004 THERAPEUTICS 6
!RESP 11008 BLOOD GAS ANALYSIS 2
 Credit Hours13
Semester Four
!RESP 21001 MECHANICAL VENTILATION 5
!RESP 21003 PERINATAL AND PEDIATRIC RESPIRATORY THERAPY 2
!RESP 21004 ADVANCED DIAGNOSTICS 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours13
Semester Five
PSYC 11762 GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
!RESP 21000 CRITICAL CARE 4
 Credit Hours7
Semester Six
COMM 20001
or COMM 36500
 INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
or HEALTH COMMUNICATION
3
!RESP 21006 PULMONARY REHABILITATION AND CONTINUING CARE 1
!RESP 21013 RESPIRATORY THERAPY CAPSTONE 2
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours9
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:65
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • Mostly online
  • Location:
    • Ashtabula Campus
    • Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Accreditation for Respiratory Therapy - A.A.S.

The Kent State University Respiratory Therapy programs, CoARC program number 200574 and 300037 Associate of Applied Science degree at Ashtabula and Cleveland Clinic, are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Respiratory Therapy - A.A.S.

Those who complete the Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy at Kent State University can benefit from career opportunities as a licensed respiratory therapist.

Respiratory therapists

19.4%

much faster than the average

135,800

number of jobs

$62,810

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
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