Mar 24, 2026  
2025-2026 Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Catalog

Respiratory Care, A.A.S.


Below are the required courses for the program. 

For more information, contact:
Angie Poppenhagen, Program Chair
apoppenhagen@southeast.edu
402-437-2782 or 800-642-4072 ext. 2782

General Education and Program Requirements


Contact your program advisor to select general education courses from each category which will meet your program’s graduation requirements. See General Education Courses (GELOs)   for a complete list.

(May be transferred or earned at SCC. These courses must be completed before entry to the program. Contact a program advisor for specific courses.)

Select one course from each General Education Category (GELOs)  

GELO #1 Speech Communication Credits: 3

GELO #2 Written Communication Credits: 3

GELO #3 Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Credits: 4

  • BIOS 1140 - Human Anatomy  
    Other courses may apply for GELO#3 with approval.  Contact an SCC advisor to help make your best selection.  

GELO #4 Global Awareness and Citizenship OR GELO #6 Career and Life Skills
Select one course from the list below Credits:  3

GELO #5 Analytical, Quantittative, & Scientific Reasoning Credits: 4

  • BIOS 2130 - Human Physiology  
    Other courses may apply for GELO#5 with approval.  Contact an SCC advisor to help make your best selection.  

Total: 17 hours


Student Success Course


Total: 1


Total: 44 hours


Total: 62 hours


Special Program Requirements


  1. All Respiratory program courses must be completed with a grade of 75% (C+) or higher to progress through the program.
  2. The program offers web-based courses but requires in-person supervised clinicals/labs at approved healthcare facility locations. Students will not be accepted into the program without a confirmed clinical site. Please communicate with the Program Director/Clinical Coordinator to identify healthcare facilities at your location.
  3. A laptop computer is required for students in this program. Please ensure your computer meets the following computer system requirements:
  • Age: <3 years old
  • Laptop models: Windows Laptops or MS Surface Tablet Pro (Windows 10 Pro or home version)
    • NOT Recommended: Android Tablets, Apple Tablets/iPads, Windows 10 S Mode, Chromebooks
  • Processor: Intel Core i5 or higher
  • Ram (Memory): 4GB minimum
  • Hard Drive: Solid State hard drive preferred 128 GB or higher
  • Peripherals: Webcam, Headphones
  • Wireless: all laptops should have wireless​​​​​​​
  1. Once accepted in the program, complete required program orientation. The Program Chair will notify accepted students of date, time, and location via their SCC email address. Failure to attend and/or complete the orientation, will prevent the student from continuing in the program and their spot will be given to an alternate.
  2. At the required program orientation, criminal background check will be required of each student in the program. Based on the background check, a student may be prevented from completing the program. A non-refundable fee of $45 will be assessed for the CBC. Misdemeanor or felony convictions may prevent a graduate from acquiring a state license.
  3. Students accepted to an SCC Health Sciences program requiring a clinical/practicum rotation at a contracted healthcare facility will submit to a 10-panel drug test prior to the first clinical/practicum experience. The Program Director will provide testing instruction and a non-refundable fee of $50 will be assessed for the drug test.

Program Admission Requirements


All of following requirements must be submitted prior to a student’s application being reviewed:

  1. Demonstrate Appropriate Level of Proficiency in Reading and/or Math

Proficiency can be demonstrated with placement test scores OR course completion. For details related to placement testing and to schedule a placement test go to https://www.southeast.edu/nextgenerationaccuplacer/.

  1. Complete the program pre-requisite courses above.  
    • If pre-requisite courses were completed at another college/university, submit official transcripts to SCC Registration Office.
    • All students must receive a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 in the general education courses and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 in the science courses. Science courses include Anatomy, Physiology. General education courses include speech communication, written communication, math, and social science.
  2. Complete an SCC Application for the program during the application period.
    • This program admits new students every Spring and Fall semester.

Application Period

Fall Semester (On-Campus): Open February 1st to March 15th or until the program is full

Spring Semester (Hybrid, Distance): Open September 1st to October 15th or until program is full.

Online application for the program will remain open until the end of the application period OR until the program spots are filled.

Notification of Acceptance

Fall Semester: After April 15th

Spring Semester: After November 15th

Upon notification of acceptance, program students will have 15 days to submit the following requirements to the Health Sciences Division via email (healthsciences@southeast.edu).

Failure to submit the following requirements will result in a student being unable to enroll in the program and their program spot will be given to an alternate. 

It is highly recommended students complete the following requirements and submit documentation prior to notification of acceptance.​​​​​​​

  • Copy of current American Heart Association Basic Life Support CPR card.
  • Completed SCC Student Health Statement. Please note a number of immunizations take more than 15 days to obtain so beginning the health statement prior to acceptance is important.