Curriculum
This program requires two years of course work in respiratory care at KU Medical Center. Two years of undergraduate course work – including at least 43 credit hours of specific prerequisites – is required prior to entry into this program. Most KU Core requirements must be met by the prerequisites.
Students in the respiratory care degree program complete 60 hours of course credits in a prescribed sequence covering five academic semesters. Students are responsible for completing additional electives to fulfill the university's requirement of 120 total credit hours for a bachelor's degree from KU.
Year One, Fall (credit hours) | Year One, Spring | Year One, Summer |
RESP 300 Introduction to Respiratory Care Procedures (4)
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RESP 302 Respiratory Care Evidence-Based Practice II (1)
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RESP 330 Pulmonary Function (2)
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RESP 301 Respiratory Care Evidence-Based Practice I (1)
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RESP 325 Mechanical Ventilators (3)
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RESP 340 Respiratory Review I (2)
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RESP 305 Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology (2)
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RESP 326 Mechanical Ventilation Lab (2)
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RESP 345 Clinical Application III (3)
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RESP 306 Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology (2)
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RESP 335 Clinical Application II (4)
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RESP 310 Clinical Pharmacology (2)
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RESP 400 Chronic Respiratory Disease Management: The Evolving Role of the Respiratory Therapist (3)
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RESP 315 Clinical Application I (3)
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Total: 14 credit hours
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Total: 13 credit hours
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Total: 7 credit hours
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Year Two, Fall | Year Two, Spring | Two-year program total: 60 credit hours. |
RESP 405 Advanced Critical Care (4)
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RESP 420 Health Care Management, Ethics and Law (2)
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RESP 410 Neonatal Respiratory Care (3)
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RESP 610 Scientific Investigation Part II (1)
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RESP 411 Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care Lab (2)
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RESP 615 Registry Review (2)
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RESP 415 Clinical Application IV (4)
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RESP 620 Community and Global Health (3)
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RESP 605 Scientific Investigation Part I (1)
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RESP 625 Clinical Application V (4)
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Total: 14 credit hours
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Total: 12 credit hours
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Please refer to the KU Undergraduate Catalog for detailed course descriptions.
Clinical experience
An integral part of the curriculum, students begin clinical rotations at one of the clinical affiliate sites starting in their sixth week of the program. Clinical rotations provide exposure to patient care and experience in performing respiratory care procedures.
Professional Credentialing
Graduates from an accredited program are eligible to take a two-part examination with the National Board for Respiratory Care. First, the graduate will take the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) examination. A passing score on the TMC allows the graduate to take the clinical simulation examination. Passing this two-part examination confers upon the graduate the registered respiratory therapist (RRT) credential. Graduates are eligible to take other credentialing specialty examinations such as neonatal/pediatric, pulmonary function, asthma, pulmonary rehabilitation, and critical care.
Last modified:
Nov 12, 2020