RRT AS-to-BS – Degree Plan
The information below applies to the Fall 2024 admission cycle.
The program requires a total of 120 semester credits for successful completion. Upon completion of all pre-requisite coursework (55 semester credits) and the UAMS professional curriculum (30 semester credits), the balance of ungraded course credit is awarded in recognition of the courses completed in the entry-level associate’s degree program. Upon completion of all program requirements, the graduate will be awarded the Bachelor of Science degree in Cardio-Respiratory Care.
The following prerequisite courses are required:
| SUBJECT | MINIMUM SEMESTER CREDITS |
|---|---|
| Science* ** - 16 SC | |
| Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II | 8 SC |
| Microbiology | 4 SC |
| Chemistry | 4 SC |
| Math - 6 SC | |
| College Algebra | 3 SC |
| Statistics | 3 SC |
| Communications - 3 SC | |
| Speech / Oral Communications | 3 SC |
| Liberal Arts - 9 SC | |
| English Composition | 6 SC |
| American History or U.S. Government | 3 SC |
| Fine Arts - 3 SC | |
| Fine Arts | 3 SC |
| Humanities - 3 SC | |
| Humanities, Philosophy, Literature | 3 SC |
| Social Sciences - 6 SC | |
| Introduction to Psychology | 3 SC |
| Introduction to Sociology | 3 SC |
| Electives - 9 SC | |
| Non-Respiratory Care Coursework | 9 SC |
| TOTAL | 55 SC |
*Science courses must be suitable for science or health professions majors and include a laboratory.
**Students admitted to the part-time track must complete the Human Anatomy and Physiology course requirements as described above by the date of registration at UAMS. In addition, completion of at least one of the three other science courses is required.
A final grade of “C” or better is required in each of the above courses. Documentation of successful completion is required by the date of registration for the first semester.
Actual course titles may vary among institutions. Consult the department for preprofessional counseling.
Fulfillment of the preprofessional curriculum does not in itself ensure admission into the professional program.
Courses in the AS-to-BS Degree Completion Program have been thoughtfully designed to accommodate the needs of employed practitioners. Students should be aware that the curriculum requires a large amount of independent study. Consequently, discipline, motivation, and organization are essential elements for success.
The professional curriculum is designed to be completed in three semesters (summer, fall, spring) for full-time students or five semesters (fall 1, spring 1, summer, fall 2, spring 2) for part time students.
Full-Time – 3 Semesters
| COURSE # | TITLE | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | ||
| ISHP 33103 | Multicultural Health | 3 |
| RESP 43303 | Research and Evaluation | 3 |
| 6 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ISHP 43033 | Healthcare Systems in America | 3 |
| RESP 42402 | Advanced Assessment and Diagnosis OR | 2 |
| RESP 42502 | Integration Project | 2 |
| RESP 43403 | Critical Care Practices* OR | 3 |
| RESP 43603 | Special Topics in Acute Respiratory Syndromes | 3 |
| RESP 41401 | Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Care | 1 |
| RESP 42571 | Literature Review | 3 |
| 12 | ||
| Spring | ||
| ISHP 4700V | Directed Study in Professional Practice | 4 |
| RESP 41461 | Foundations of Respiratory Care Education | 1 |
| RESP 42441 | Scholarship Project | 1 |
| RESP 43553 | Leadership and Management | 3 |
| RESP 44503 | Disease Management | 3 |
| 12 | ||
| TOTAL | 30 |
*A portion or full course may be waived with documentation of appropriate certification, credential or clinical experience. In such cases, a separate, approved, individual learning plan or an additional, approved 3 semester credit course must be substituted. Contact the program for details.
A grade of “D” or “F” or a mark of “U” or “NC” in designated professional courses is not acceptable for progression to the next semester, nor is it acceptable for graduation if it occurs in the last semester of the program.
All professional courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better in order to progress to the next semester or to graduate, if it occurs in the last semester of the program. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required to earn the degree.
All College of Health Professions students are required to meet certain requirements for Inter-Professional Education as a pre-requisite for graduation. Online students are required to complete a self-directed, online learning module for Inter-Professional Education.
Part-Time – 5 Semesters
| COURSE # | TITLE | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 1 | ||
| RESP 42402 | Advanced Assessment and Diagnosis OR | 2 |
| RESP 42502 | Integration Project | 2 |
| RESP 43403 | Critical Care Practices* OR | 3 |
| RESP 43603 | Special Topics in Acute Respiratory Syndromes | 3 |
| RESP 41401 | Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Care | 1 |
| 6 | ||
| Spring 1 | ||
| RESP 43553* | Leadership and Management | 3 |
| RESP 44503 | Disease Management | 3 |
| 6 | ||
| Summer | ||
| RESP 43303 | Research and Evaluation | 3 |
| ISHP 33103 | Multicultural Health | 3 |
| 6 | ||
| Fall 2 | ||
| RESP 42571 | Literature Review | 3 |
| ISHP 43033 | Healthcare Systems in America | 3 |
| 6 | ||
| Spring 2 | ||
| ISHP 4700V | Directed Study in Professional Practice | 4 |
| RESP 41461 | Foundations of Respiratory Care Education | 1 |
| RESP 42441 | Scholarship Project | 1 |
| 6 | ||
| TOTAL | 30 |
*A portion or full course may be waived with documentation of appropriate certification, credential or clinical experience. In such cases, a separate, approved, individual learning plan or an additional, approved 3 semester credit course must be substituted. Contact the program for details.
A grade of “D” or “F” or a mark of “U” or “NC” in designated professional courses is not acceptable for progression to the next semester, nor is it acceptable for graduation if it occurs in the last semester of the program.
All professional courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better in order to progress to the next semester or to graduate, if it occurs in the last semester of the program. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required to earn the degree.
All College of Health Professions students are required to meet certain requirements for Inter-Professional Education as a pre-requisite for graduation. Online students are required to complete a self-directed, online learning module for Inter-Professional Education.
Course Completion Policy
If a Degree Advancement student earns an unsatisfactory grade of “D”, “F” or “WF” in any professional course, he/she must re-take the course the next time it is offered (usually the following year) and earn a passing grade. Failure to do so will result in an inability to successfully complete the Degree Advancement Program.
Upon receipt of an unsatisfactory grade of “D”, “F” or “WF”, the student may only enroll in one course in each subsequent semester until the course in which a “D”, “F” or “WF” was earned can be re-taken and a grade of “C” or higher is earned.
All courses must be completed within five years of a student’s original admission date.
