RRT AS-to-BS – Degree Plan
The information below applies to the Fall 2022 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 | ||
| CHPI 4310 | Multicultural Health | 3 |
| RESP 4330 | Research and Evaluation | 3 |
| 6 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHPI 4301 | Healthcare Systems in America | 3 |
| RESP 4241 | Advanced Assessment and Diagnosis OR | 2 |
| RESP 4250 | Integration Project | 2 |
| RESP 4342 | Critical Care Practices* OR | 3 |
| RESP 4361 | Special Topics in Acute Respiratory Syndromes | 3 |
| RESP 4140 | Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Care | 1 |
| RESP 4257 | Literature Review | 3 |
| 12 | ||
| Spring | ||
| CHPI 4700 | Directed Study in Professional Practice | 4 |
| RESP 4146 | Foundations of Respiratory Care Education | 1 |
| RESP 4244 | Scholarship Project | 1 |
| RESP 4355 | Leadership and Management | 3 |
| RESP 4452 | 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.
A grade of “D” in the following professional courses is acceptable for progression and/or for graduation if it occurs in the last semester of the program, as long as the student’s cumulative GPA is > 2.00: RESP-4244: Scholarship Project; RESP-4146: Foundations in Respiratory Education; RESP-4355: Leadership and Management.
All other 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 4241 | Advanced Assessment and Diagnosis OR | 2 |
| RESP 4250 | Integration Project | 2 |
| RESP 4342 | Critical Care Practices* OR | 3 |
| RESP 4361 | Special Topics in Acute Respiratory Syndromes | 3 |
| RESP 4140 | Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Care | 1 |
| 6 | ||
| Spring 1 | ||
| RESP 4355* | Leadership and Management | 3 |
| RESP 4452 | Disease Management | 3 |
| 6 | ||
| Summer | ||
| RESP 4330 | Research and Evaluation | 3 |
| CHPI 4310 | Multicultural Health | 3 |
| 6 | ||
| Fall 2 | ||
| RESP 4257 | Literature Review | 3 |
| CHPI 4301 | Healthcare Systems in America | 3 |
| 6 | ||
| Spring 2 | ||
| CHPI 4700 | Directed Study in Professional Practice | 4 |
| RESP 4146 | Foundations of Respiratory Care Education | 1 |
| RESP 4244 | 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.
A grade of “D” in the following professional courses is acceptable for progression and/or for graduation if it occurs in the last semester of the program, as long as the student’s cumulative GPA is > 2.00: RESP-4244: Scholarship Project; RESP-4146: Foundations in Respiratory Education; RESP-4355: Leadership and Management.
All other 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 Completion 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 Completion 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.
