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Prerequisites

Get to know the courses required for admission to our respiratory care program.

In the table below, you will see the prerequisite classes and credit hours. We have also listed how they meet the KU Core requirements. A minimum 2.5 overall GPA is required, with a grade of "C" or better on each course. Though we list University of Kansas course numbers below, equivalent courses from other institutions may be accepted pending transcript evaluation. Visit CredTran to how your credits transfer to KU.

KU Core Curriculum

As courses are constantly being evaluated and approved for inclusion in the KU Core Curriculum, please check for the most up-to-date course listings which meet each goal. KU Core goals 1.1, 5 and 6 will be fulfilled through courses taken during the last two years of the respiratory care program at KU Medical Center.

Anatomy and Physiology Requirement

Students having completed a single combined anatomy and physiology course will need to complete either a second, higher-level anatomy and physiology course, or otherwise take a separate course in physiology only.

Subject

Prerequisite Course
Minimum 2.5 overall GPA is required, with a grade of "C" or better on each course. 

Recommended
KU Course

Credit
Hours

Basic Sciences

Fundamentals of Human Anatomy w/ lab

BIOL 240 and 241

4-5 hrs*

 

Principles of Human Physiology w/ lab

BIOL 246 and 247

4-5 hrs*

 

Basic Microbiology w/ lab  **

BIOL 200 and 203

5 hrs

 

Introduction to Chemistry

CHEM 110

3 hrs

 

Course to fulfill KU Core goal 3.2 (Physics 114 preferred)

PHSX 114

3 hrs

Mathematics

College Algebra

MATH 101

3 hrs

 

Elementary Statistics (meets goal 1.2)

MATH 365

3 hrs

English

English Composition (meets goal 2.1a)

ENGL 101

3 hrs

 

Critical Reading & Writing (meets goal 2.1b)
or Business Writing

ENGL 102
or BUS 305

3 hrs

Communication

Speaker-Audience Communication (meets goal 2.2)

COMS 130

3 hrs

Humanities

Course to fulfill Goal 4.2

HUM

3 hrs

 

Intro to Philosophy or course (meets goal 3.1)

PHIL 140 or PHIL 160

3 hrs

Social Sciences

General Psychology (meets goal 3.3)

PSYC 104

3 hrs

 

Course to fulfill Goal 4.1 (Elements of Sociology preferred)

SOC 104

3 hrs

Other

Medical Terminology

HEIM 230

3 hrs

 

Introduction to Respiratory Care

RESP 200

1 hr

* To be eligible for graduation, you must have completed 120 credit hours.

** Course MCRB 200/203 also accepted for this requirement.

Advising and Questions

photo of Alex LopezWe're here to answer questions and provide assistance as you explore the field of respiratory care! It is very important to contact us for advising as early as possible in your college career.

High school students, counselors and those in their early years of college study may contact Alex Lopez, our school's outreach and recruitment specialist, with questions at alopez12@kumc.edu or 913-588-1743 (711 TTY).

photo of Larry SteinIf you're interested in pursuing a bachelor's degree in respiratory care at KU, please complete the program advising worksheet and then contact Lawrence Stein, M.S., RRT, clinical assistant professor and on-campus program coordinator, to schedule an advising session.

KU School of Health Professions

University of Kansas Medical Center
Respiratory Care and Diagnostic Science
3901 Rainbow Boulevard
Mailstop 1013
Kansas City, KS 66160
913-588-4630 • 711 TTY