Respiratory Therapy Program

Susan Lockwood, MA, RRT
Respiratory Therapy Program Director
(202) 274-5925
slockwood@udc.edu

Mission Statement

Program Overview

Accreditation & Credentialing

Academic Information

Bachelor of Science Degree in Respiratory Therapy

Disability Statment

Advisement and Registration

Respiratory Therapy Program Brochure

Mission Statement

The University of the District of Columbia is an urban land-grant institution of higher education with an open admissions policy. It is a comprehensive public institution offering quality, affordable postsecondary education to District of Columbia residents at the certificate, associate, baccalaureate, and graduate levels. These programs prepare students for immediate entry into the workforce, for the next level of education, for specialized employment opportunities, and for lifelong learning.

The Respiratory Therapy Program is housed within the Department of Nursing and Allied Health, College of Arts and Sciences. The mission of the College of Arts and Sciences is to produce well-educated, autonomous, competent, and resourceful graduates who are well prepared to live and work in the multiethnic, global, and technological society of the 21st century. The undertakings of the Department of Nursing and Allied Health and the Respiratory Therapy Program follow, and are inextricably linked to, the College mission. The Department strives to provide exemplary educational experiences to an ethnically diverse population with a particular emphasis on the needs in the District of Columbia. The Department provides an intellectually challenging and nurturing environment that fosters the development of competent and compassionate practitioners who will assist individuals on the continuum from wellness/illness, dying, death, and care of human remains. Students are assisted in the development of critical thinking skills, problem solving, technical, and social skills through active participation in classroom and practicum experiences. The program’s mission is to prepare competent respiratory therapy practitioners that will meet the healthcare needs of the citizens of the District of Columbia and the society at large.

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Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science degree in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT) is designed to provide the practicing Respiratory Therapist who holds an associate degree in Respiratory Therapy from a degree granting institution, entry into a baccalaureate degree program that is tailored with the individual student in mind. The impetus for developing this program is based upon the increasing demand for, and evolving roles of practicing respiratory therapists, the national trends in respiratory therapy education, and the emerging demands on the health care system to meet the respiratory/pulmonary needs of residents of the District of Columbia and surrounding area.

The BSRT degree at the University of the District of Columbia is in keeping with the Land Grant Mission of the University, providing an advanced degree opportunity for the citizens of the District of Columbia, as well as meeting the health care demands of the residents. This degree will provide the opportunity to acquire leadership skills and to gain experience in advanced practices in the respiratory therapy discipline.

The format of the program is an upper level (junior year-senior year) two-plus-two offering to licensed respiratory therapists who currently hold Associate Degrees in respiratory therapy. Each student will enroll in liberal baccalaureate education requirements, required core courses, advanced respiratory therapy focus courses, and select a senior level advanced specialty track, which will offer the community the skill set to optimize patient care. Admitted students will have passed the entry level examination (Certified Respiratory Therapist – CRT) administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) which is required for state licensure. To progress to the senior year coursework, students will have passed the NBRC advanced level respiratory therapy examination (Registered Respiratory Therapist – RRT).

A bachelor degree in Respiratory Therapy is designed for the respiratory therapist who has the following:

1. Earned an Associate Degree in Respiratory Therapy and
2. Has received a minimum of the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT)
Credential and
3. Is licensed to practice Respiratory Therapy in the District of Columbia, Maryland or Virginia.

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Accreditation & Credentialing

As a two-plus-two program, the BSRT degree does not need additional accreditation. All students in the BSRT program will hold the RRT credential obtained from the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC).

Academic Information

Admissions Policy

Applicants should file their applications as early as possible, but no later than March 15th unless otherwise notified by the Respiratory Therapy office. The application for the BSRT will be available the third week of January each year from the Respiratory Therapy program office.

To be admitted to the BSRT program the student must have the following:

1. An Associate Degree in Respiratory Therapy from a degree granting institution
2. At least the CRT or RRT credential
3. A license to practice Respiratory Therapy in the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia.
4. An applicant who wishes to do his/her practicum in states other than those listed in #3 above, must have a license to practice in that state, and the Respiratory Therapy program must have an active contract with the facility identified by the BSRT candidate.
5. All applicants must be admitted to the University before making application to the BSRT program.
6. An official transcript of course work at each undergraduate or graduate school attended. (students graduating from UDC must also submit official transcripts). The official transcript must show evidence of receipt of an Associate Degree in Respiratory Therapy.
7. Scholastic/professional and personal recommendation letters submitted in an
envelope with the recommender’s signature across the sealed envelope.

University Residency Requirement

All students accepted into the BSRT program at the University of the District of Columbia must complete the last 30 semester hours of study in residence at the University of the District of Columbia.

All students accepted into the BSRT program at the University of the District of Columbia must complete the University of the District of Columbia specific university-wide general education requirements. Many of these courses may transfer from the student’s previous university course work. Individual transcripts will be evaluated once the student has been admitted to the university and subsequently to the BSRT program. All students admitted to the BSRT program must have attained a cumulative grade point average of 2.500.

Transfer Credits

Students admitted into the BSRT program will transfer a minimum of 65 hours. These hours are based on the number of hours earned from their Associate Degree in Respiratory Therapy from their respective degree granting institutions.

Credit by Experience

Credit by experience may be used for the BSRT program as a substitute for one (1) but no more than two (2) of the respiratory therapy focus courses. A maximum of six (6) hours can be awarded under this category.

Credit by experience is designed to reward the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) who has worked in the area of advanced adult or neonatal/pediatric critical care practice on a substantially full-time basis (36-40 hours per week) for at least 1 year , and has demonstrated that his/her practice involves the routine assignment in that specialty area. The therapist shall have attained one of the following designations:

-Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
-Pediatric Advance Life Support (PALS)
-Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
-Neonatal Advance Life Support (NALS)

Therapists whose selected specialty track is Neonatal/Pediatric Critical Care shall have further obtained the NPS credential in order to be awarded credit by experience.

In addition, therapists seeking credit by experience must also provide documented evidence from their department director and medical supervisor attesting to their advanced experience. A form will be provided.

Application Checklist

• Application to UDC with the appropriate fees
• Application to the BSRT program
• Response to question 15 on the BSRT application required
• Response to question 26 on the BSRT application required
• Candidate Personal Statement
• Supplemental Form, compelted and cut apart
• Signed Application
• Copy of the NBRC Credential(s)
• Copy of the State License

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Bachelor of Science Degree in Respiratory Therapy

Total Credit Hours of College-Level Courses required for Graduation: 120 Credits

The two-year curriculum described below outlines the information necessary for successful completion of the degree. The curriculum will be reviewed annually to update the program in keeping with community needs and state-of-the-art practice of Respiratory Therapy.

In addition to the university-wide requirements, all students will be required to complete 31 credits of specified focus and core courses, some of which will be offered by other departments in the university.

Program of Study

Prerequisite Requirements

• Associate Degree in Respiratory Therapy from an accredited institution, transferring a minimum of 64 credits.
  
• Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential
  
• An active state license in which the applicant is currently practicing as a Respiratory Therapist.
  

Upper Level University-Wide Requirements (18 Credits)

Advanced Respiratory Therapy Focus Courses (19 Credits)

Required Core Courses (15 Credits)

Selected Senion Year Specialty Track (0-9 Credits)

SAMPLE FULL TIME PROGRAM

Disability Statement

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) the Respiratory Therapy Program at the University of the District of Columbia makes every effort to provide reasonable accommodations for all individuals with a disability. The program does not discriminate against applicants because of gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnic background, political affiliation, or disability.

Advisement and Registration

Advisement will be customized to fit the individual BSRT candidate. Students enrolled in the BSRT will be assigned a Respiratory Therapy faculty advisor who will guide the student in course selection throughout the matriculation of the program.

BSRT students enrolled in the Respiratory Therapy Program will adhere to the following procedures:

• Receive academic counseling from a Respiratory Therapy faculty advisor
  
• Remain in good academic standing once admitted to the program
  
• Consult with the Respiratory Therapy faculty advisor during early registration
  
• Meet with his/her academic advisor at least once per semester to facilitate optimal progress through the program

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Student Handbook

The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy provides each student with a copy of the Student Handbook. This handbook will be reviewed annually and issued to newly enrolled BSRT students at the beginning of each academic year.

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