BS in Respiratory Care
The University of Toledo offers a bachelor of science degree in respiratory care. This degree requires 120 credit hours for graduation. Respiratory care is an allied health specialty. Respiratory care practitioners work with physicians in the treatment, management, control, diagnostic evaluation and care of patients with diseases and abnormalities associated with the cardiopulmonary system.
Respiratory therapists treat a diverse group of patients ranging from newborn and pediatric patients to adults and the elderly. Disease states or conditions often requiring care include asthma, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, acute and infantile respiratory distress syndrome as well as conditions brought on by shock, trauma or post-operative surgical complications. Respiratory therapists function in many specialty areas in the hospital, such as newborn labor and delivery, neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, pulmonary function laboratory, sleep laboratory and adult intensive care units. The baccalaureate degree prepares respiratory therapists to deliver respiratory care in the hospital, home and alternative care sites.
The student completing the Bachelor of Science in respiratory care degree program will be an advanced-level practitioner eligible to sit for the national board examination to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) as well as take specialty examinations in the areas of Perinatal/Pediatrics, Adult Critical Care, Sleep Disorders and Pulmonary Function Technology.
For additional information please visit the Respiratory Care Website at http://www.utoledo.edu/hhs/respiratorycare/
Selective Admissions Requirements
Admission into the Professional Division of the Respiratory Care Program is selective, competitive and limited due to the number of students who can be accommodated by the faculty and clinical facilities. Once accepted to the University, students must file a separate application for the respiratory care program with the program selective admissions committee through the Office of Student Services. This occurs during the second semester of the sophomore year. Students admitted to the Professional Division are required to take summer courses to start the program.
To be eligible for admission to the Professional Division of the Respiratory Care Program the criteria listed below must be met.
- Complete the following courses (or their equivalent or higher) with a grade of C or better:
Course List Code Title Hours ENGL 1110 College Composition I 3 ENGL 1130 College Composition II: Academic Disciplines And Discourse 3 MATH 1320 College Algebra 3 CHEM 1120 Chemistry For Health Sciences 4 EXSC 2560 Anatomy and Physiology I 3 EXSC 2460 Human Anatomy And Physiology I Lab 1 EXSC 2570 Human Anatomy and Physiol II 3 EXSC 2470 Human Anatomy And Physiology II Lab 1 EXSC 2590 Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 3 HEAL 1800 Medical Terminology 3 Total Hours 27 - Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
- In addition to cumulative GPA, the student’s GPA in the following courses fulfilling the math and science prerequisite course requirements will be evaluated separately from overall GPA:
Course List Code Title Hours MATH 1320 College Algebra 3 CHEM 1120 Chemistry For Health Sciences 4 EXSC 2560 Anatomy and Physiology I 3 EXSC 2460 Human Anatomy And Physiology I Lab 1 EXSC 2570 Human Anatomy and Physiol II 3 EXSC 2470 Human Anatomy And Physiology II Lab 1 EXSC 2590 Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 3 - Admission to the Professional Division is based primarily upon the overall GPA and the GPA in math and science prerequisite classes.
The Respiratory Care Program complies with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). If a student is unable to meet the required “Functional Abilities/Core Performance Standards,” the student may consult with program faculty and with an Accessibility Specialist from The University of Toledo Student Disability Services to determine, on a case by case basis, if reasonable accommodations can be made that would permit the student to meet these “Functional Abilities/Core Performance Standards” and thus enter into the program. For a list of “Functional Abilities/Core Performance Standards” please refer to the following website: http://www.utoledo.edu/hhs/respiratorycare/pdfs/Functional%20Abilities%202019.pdf
Other requirements for entry in the Professional Division Program include completion of the following:
- Physical exam form and Fit for Duty Form
- Positive Hepatitis B antibody titer or evidence of completion of 3-shot Hepatitis B vaccination series
- Positive antibody titers for Rubella, Rubeola, Mumps, and Varicella. If titers are not positive, vaccination must be completed
- Tuberculosis 2-step skin test (yearly). If positive, must have negative chest x-ray
- Evidence of tetanus and diphtheria vaccination within last 10 years
- Annual multivalent flu vaccination
In addition to University Core Credits, required courses include: CHEM 1120, ENGL 1110, HEAL 1800, HHS 1000, MATH 1320, ENGL 1130, EXSC 2560, EXSC 2460, PHIL 1020, PSY 1010, EXSC 2570, EXSC 2470, HEAL 3800, MATH 2600, EXSC 2590, HEAL 4700, PHIL 3370, RCBS 3010, RCBS 3020, RCBS 3110, RCBS 3120, RCBS 3130, RCBS 3200, RCBS 3210, RCBS 3220, RCBS 3230, RCBS 4140, RCBS 4150, RCBS 4160, RCBS 4700, RCBS 3300, RCBS 4240, RCBS 4510, RCBS 4800, RCBS 4810. All RCBS courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.
Below is a sample program of study. Consult your degree audit for your program requirements.
Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care
| First Term | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 1120 | Chemistry For Health Sciences 1 | 4 |
| ENGL 1110 | College Composition I 1 | 3 |
| HEAL 1800 | Medical Terminology 1 | 3 |
| HHS 1000 | Health And Human Services/College Orientation | 1 |
| MATH 1320 | College Algebra 1 | 3 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Second Term | ||
| ENGL 1130 | College Composition II: Academic Disciplines And Discourse 1 | 3 |
| EXSC 2560 | Anatomy and Physiology I 1 | 3 |
| EXSC 2460 | Human Anatomy And Physiology I Lab 1 | 1 |
| PHIL 1020 | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| PSY 1010 | Principles Of Psychology | 3 |
| Arts/Humanities Core | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Third Term | ||
| EXSC 2570 | Human Anatomy and Physiol II 1 | 3 |
| EXSC 2470 | Human Anatomy And Physiology II Lab 1 | 1 |
| HEAL 3800 | Death And Dying | 3 |
| MATH 2600 | Introduction To Statistics | 3 |
| Diversity of US | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Fourth Term | ||
| EXSC 2590 | Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 1 | 3 |
| HEAL 4700 | Nutritional Science | 3 |
| PHIL 3370 | Medical Ethics | 3 |
| Social Sciences Core | 3 | |
| Non-US Diversity | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fifth Term | ||
| Summer | ||
| RCBS 3010 | Respiratory Care Fundamentals 1 | 4 |
| RCBS 3020 | Respiratory Care Practice I 1 | 4 |
| Hours | 8 | |
| Sixth Term | ||
| RCBS 3110 | Respiratory Care Therapeutics I 1 | 4 |
| RCBS 3120 | Respiratory Care Practice II 1 | 7 |
| RCBS 3130 | Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics I 1 | 4 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Seventh Term | ||
| RCBS 3200 | Introduction to Critical Care | 1 |
| RCBS 3210 | Respiratory Care Therapeutics II 1 | 4 |
| RCBS 3220 | Respiratory Care Practice III 1 | 7 |
| RCBS 3230 | Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics II 1 | 2 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Eighth Term | ||
| RCBS 4140 | Integrated Clinical Practice I 1 | 4 |
| RCBS 4150 | Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care 1 | 4 |
| RCBS 4160 | Clinical Assessment 1 | 3 |
| RCBS 4700 | Research Analysis In Respiratory Care 1 | 3 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Ninth Term | ||
| RCBS 3300 | Advanced Cardiac Life Support 1 | 1 |
| RCBS 4240 | Integrated Clinical Practice II 1 | 3 |
| RCBS 4510 | Respiratory Care in Alternate Sites 1 | 3 |
| RCBS 4800 | Issues In Professional Practice 1 | 3 |
| RCBS 4810 | Preparation For Professional Practice 1 | 1 |
| Hours | 11 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
A "C" or better is required in this course.
Perform airway management techniques to ensure maintenance of a patent airway.
Safely and effectively initiate and manage various classifications of mechanical ventilation on adult patients.
Safely and effectively initiate and manage various classifications of mechanical ventilation on neonatal- pediatric patients.
Safely and effectively administer all forms of oxygen therapy.
Safely and effectively administer all forms of humidity therapy.
Safely and effectively administer appropriate aerosol medication via inhalation route.
Safely draw, analyze and interpret aterial blood gas sample.
Correctly assess and interpret the status of a patient's acid-base balance.
Perform appropriate pulmonary function testing techniques and provide accurate interpretation of the patient data.
Recognize and identify in the professional literature best-practices of evidence-based Respiratory Care treatments and procedures.
Correctly and accurately assess the condition of a cardiopulmonary patient.