Respiratory Care, A.A.S.

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

• SOCI 1010 - Introduction to Sociology
   
• SOCI 1020 - Social Identities in Everyday Life
    
• PSYC 1810 Introduction to Psychology  
• PSYC 1250 Interpersonal Relations  

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.  
  
  

Student Success Course

• ACFS 1015 - Success@SCC Credits: 1

Respiratory Care Courses

Student must complete the following RESP courses.

• RESP 1110 - Respiratory Anatomy & Physiology Essentials Credits: 4
• RESP 1122 - Respiratory Care Procedures Credits: 6
• RESP 1128 - Respiratory Diagnostics Essentials Credits: 2
• RESP 1161 - Respiratory Mechanical Ventilation Credits: 5
• RESP 1171 - Respiratory Exam Review Credits: 2
• RESP 1220 - Clinical Education: Critical Care/Specialty Rotations 1 Credits: 5
• RESP 1241 - Focused Clinical Experience Credits: 7
• RESP 1154 - Respiratory Critical Care Management Credits: 3
• RESP 1150 - Respiratory Pharmacology and Pathology Credits: 5
• RESP 1181 - Respiratory Care Lifespan Credits: 3
• RESP 1210 - Clinical Education: General/Progressive Care Credits: 5

Total: 65 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 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 11 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 with Microphone
• Wireless: All laptops should have wireless​​​​​​​ internet capabilities

4. Once accepted in the program, and all requirements are submitted students will be approved for program enrollment and to complete required program orientation. Failure to complete the requirements for enrollment and orientation will result in their spot will be given to an alternate. The Program Chair will notify approved students of date, time, and location of orientation 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.
5. At the required program orientation, a 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 $50 will be assessed for the CBC. Misdemeanor or felony convictions may prevent a graduate from acquiring a state license.
6. 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 Chair will provide testing instruction and a non-refundable fee of $50 will be assessed for the drug test.

Program Admission Requirements

SCC Health Sciences utilizes a selection process of all complete applications to determine acceptance into the program. Applications should be submitted once all requirements are completed.

• Applications will be reviewed when ALL requirements are submitted. 
• Applications with incomplete or missing requirements at the time of selection will not be reviewed.
• Applicants with courses in progress will not be reviewed for acceptance until the end of the term AND after the submission of all requirements.
• If an applicant is re-applying for the program, they MUST resubmit all documentation during each application period.

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
   • Math: Place into MATH 1150  or higher

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/.

2. 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.
3. Complete an SCC Application for the program during the application period.
4. Complete Professional Awareness.

This program admits new students every Spring and Fall semester.

Application Period

Fall Semester (On-Campus): Open February 1^st to February 28^th OR until the program is full.
Spring Semester (Hybrid, Distance): Open September 1^st to September 30^th 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 1^st

Spring Semester: After November 1^st

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) to be eligible to attend program orientation AND enroll in program courses.

Failure to submit the following requirements within 15 days of notification of acceptance 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 documentation prior to notification of acceptance. Additional time will not be granted to complete them.

1. ​​​​​​​Copy of current American Heart Association Basic Life Support CPR card.
2. 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. Additional time will not be granted to complete them.​​​​​​​