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Respiratory Care

Overview Degrees/Certificates Courses Faculty

Associate Degree

A.S. in Respiratory Care

This degree is preparation for licensure as a Respiratory Care Practitioner in the state of California as a Respiratory Care Practitioner at the Advanced Registered Respiratory Therapist level. It focuses on diagnostic procedures, treatment, and management of patients with conditions affecting the cardiopulmonary system. Course work includes physical assessment, medical gas therapies, mechanical life support, airway care, pharmacology, neonatal/pediatric therapy, and specialized cardiopulmonary procedures.
All degree major courses require a grade of "C" or better to remain in the program.

Catalog Date: January 1, 2025

Degree Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
Pre-RC Courses:
A minimum of 3 units from the following: 3
ENGWR 300 College Composition (3)
   or ENGWR 480 Honors College Composition (3)
ESLW 340 Advanced Composition (4)
A minimum of 3 units from the following: 3
ANTH 310 Cultural Anthropology (3)
   or ANTH 481 Honors Cultural Anthropology (3)
PSYC 300 General Principles (3)
   or PSYC 480 Honors General Principles (3)
PSYC 320 Social Psychology (3)
PSYC 390 Psychology of Death and Dying (3)
Pre-requisites:
AH 311 Medical Language for Health-Care Providers 3
BIOL 430 Anatomy and Physiology 5
BIOL 431 Anatomy and Physiology 5
BIOL 440 General Microbiology (4) 4 - 5
   or BIOL 442 General Microbiology and Public Health (5)
Spring Semester 1:
RC 110 Cardiopulmonary Pathologies for Respiratory Care 4
RC 111 Principles of Respiratory Care 7
Summer Semester:
RC 123 Clinical Externship I 3
Fall Semester 1:
RC 122 Airway Care & Mechanical Ventilation Laboratory 1
RC 121 Concepts of Airway Care & Mechanical Ventilation 4
RC 124 Respiratory Care Pharmacology 3
Spring Semester 2:
RC 130 Respiratory Care in Neonatal and Pediatric Populations & Diagnostic Studies 3
RC 131 Respiratory Care in Neonatal and Pediatric Populations & Diagnostic Studies Laboratory 1
RC 132 Clinical Externship II 6
Fall Semester 2:
RC 140 Professional Development in Respiratory Care 2
RC 142 Clinical Externship III 6
Total Units: 63 - 64

The Respiratory Care Associate in Science (A.S.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, plus the local ARC General Education Requirement, plus sufficient electives to meet a 60-unit total. See ARC graduation requirements.

Enrollment Eligibility

To be eligible for enrollment in the program, the student must meet the following criteria:

  • Graduation from an accredited high school (graduates from outside the United States must have transcripts evaluated by an independent agency), or successful completion of the General Educational Development (GED) Test or California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE) as defined by the current requirements of the State of California and National Board for Respiratory Care.
  • A GPA of 2.5 in all prerequisite courses.
  • AH 311 with a grade of “C” or better.
  • BIOL 430 and BIOL 431 with grades of “C” or better.
  • BIOL 440 or BIOL 442 with a grade of “C” or better.
  • Current college GPA of 2.0 or better.
  • A Curriculum Planning Summary Sheet completed by an ARC counselor and dated within the year the enrollment application packet is submitted.
  • A completed pre-enrollment application.

Enrollment Process

Eligible students are selected for the program according to the following steps:

  • Applications to the program may be obtained online at http://www.arc.losrios.edu/Programs_of_Study/Health_and_Education/Respiratory_Care.htm. Please check the above website for the application period and submission deadline.
  • Only students who meet the pre-enrollment requirements and follow the pre-enrollment procedures will be considered for the program.
  • Selection is based on a computerized random selection process from among the qualified applicants.
  • The student accepted into the Respiratory Care program is required to have a physical examination, inoculations, drug screen, background check, and malpractice insurance. The student is responsible for any cost incurred related to meeting the requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • discuss patient/client reports with members of the health care network.
  • collect patient information relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of patients affected by pulmonary disease.
  • recommend appropriate treatment plans based upon auditory, tactile, and visual feedback.
  • record assessment findings, treatment plans, and recommendations for care in medical records.
  • chart patient care in accordance with local, regional, and national standards.
  • categorize patients affected by pulmonary disease as having acute or chronic conditions.
  • define pulmonary disorders as restrictive or obstructive disease.
  • comply with ethical standards of the profession.

Career Information

The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that faster than average employment growth is projected for respiratory therapists. The increasing demand will come from substantial increases in the middle aged and elderly populations. Greater demand will also result from the expanding role of the respiratory therapist in case management, disease prevention, emergency care, and the early detection of pulmonary disorders. Career opportunities include positions in hospitals and other areas, especially in home health care services, physician’s offices, and medical equipment supply companies.

Certificate of Achievement

Guided Pathways Milestone Certificate for Multilingual Speakers: Pathway to Health Sciences Certificate

The Guided Pathways Milestone Certificate for Multilingual Speakers: Pathway to Health Sciences recognizes English as a Second Language students' milestones in completing both advanced academic ESL course work and introductory coursework in several health science fields. It incentivizes them to continue taking courses in this discipline after completing higher level ESL courses and to obtain a Certificate of Achievement or an Associate degree for use in a workplace.

Catalog Date: January 1, 2025

Certificate Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
ESL 315 Intermediate-High Integrated Reading and Writing 6
ESL 325 Advanced-Low Integrated Reading and Writing 6
ESLG 320 Advanced-Low Grammar (3) 3
   or ESLL 320 Advanced-Low Listening and Speaking (3)
A minimum of 5 units from the following: 5
AH 112 Strategies for Student Success in Health Occupations (3)
AH 311 Medical Language for Health-Care Providers (3)
BIOL 102 Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology (4)
CHEM 305 Introduction to Chemistry (5)
CISC 300 Computer Familiarization (1)
COMM 301 Introduction to Public Speaking (3)
HCI 300 Introduction to Healthcare Interpreting (0.5)
NUTRI 300 Nutrition (3)
Total Units: 20

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • analyze, compose, and organize oral and written communication into effective documents and/or academic compositions.
  • employ reading strategies.
  • participate in in-depth discussions effectively.
  • take clear notes.
  • give oral presentations in a business/work environment.
  • convey intended meaning and formulate and use a variety of interactive strategies effectively such as clarification, polite interruption, and agreement/disagreement strategies.
  • research and critically evaluate information to create informed responses to issues and problems and design messages that adapt to target audiences in order to maximize communication effectiveness.
  • demonstrate basic knowledge of introductory healthcare or scientific terms.
  • employ effective communication in professional healthcare settings.

Career Information

Students who complete this Pathway to Health Sciences certificate will have gained knowledge in academic English and introductory skills in several health sciences fields, such as Healthcare Interpreting, Nutrition, and Allied Health.