Respiratory Therapy (Associate of Applied Science) - Memphis

Associate of Applied Science
Contact Hours:
1865
Semester Credits:
77
Instructional Weeks – Full Time:
70
Average Time to Complete – Full Time:
17 Months

Program offered at: Memphis, Tennessee

Respiratory Therapy (Associate of Applied Science) Mission Statement

The program provides students with the demonstrated competencies in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRTs). The program prepares students to sit for the Therapist Multiple-Choice Examination (TMC) of the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). If the candidate meets the RRT score on the TMC, the graduate is eligible to sit for the Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE) of the NBRC.

Learning Objectives / Instructional Outcomes

The program includes general education courses covering mathematics, written, verbal and nonverbal communications; interpersonal skills; critical thinking; the sciences; and the humanities. Learning objectives include achievement of sufficient theoretical knowledge and practical skills in initiation and conduction of therapeutic procedures, maintenance of patient records, equipment management, patient education, and specializations related to respiratory therapy.

Career Overview

Respiratory Therapists assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. They assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Respiratory Therapists initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment. They also may serve as asthma educators, patient educators, case managers, Hyperbaric Oxygen Specialists, Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation Specialists and Sleep Specialists. Respiratory Therapists work in hospitals, clinics, skilled nursing facilities, home care, and diagnostic labs. The Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) deals with patients of all ages who may be gravely injured or ill. The RCP is among the first on the medical team called to provide treatment in cardiopulmonary emergencies. The RCP also cares for patients in all aspects of their treatment and recovery.

In order to graduate from the Respiratory Therapy (Associate of Applied Science) program, students must successfully complete the following curriculum:

Program Delivery

The Respiratory Therapy program is delivered in a blended format. Courses will be delivered entirely online, entirely on-ground or with an appropriate blend of both online and on-ground hours in the same course. Of the 1,865 program hours, a maximum of 465 course hours (24.9%) may be offered online (including general education courses). Campuses may have the option to deliver general education courses either online or on-ground depending on local need and availability.

Course #
Course Title
Pre-Requisites
Co-Requisites
Theory Hours
(Ground/Online)
Lab Hours
(Ground/Online)
Clinical Hours
(Ground/Online)
Semester Credit Hours
Total Subtotal
180
(0/180)
0
0
12

Term 2 

Course #
Course Title
Pre-Requisites
Co-Requisites
Theory Hours
(Ground/Online)
Lab Hours
(Ground/Online)
Clinical Hours
(Ground/Online)
Semester Credit Hours
Total Subtotal
180
(0/180)
0
0
12

Term 3 

Course #
Course Title
Pre-Requisites
Co-Requisites
Theory Hours
(Ground/Online)
Lab Hours
(Ground/Online)
Clinical Hours
(Ground/Online)
Semester Credit Hours
Total Subtotal
180
(140/40)
60
(60/0)
14

Term 4 

Course #
Course Title
Pre-Requisites
Co-Requisites
Theory Hours
(Ground/Online)
Lab Hours
(Ground/Online)
Clinical Hours
(Ground/Online)
Semester Credit Hours
Total Subtotal
30
(25/5)
45
(40/5)
285
(285/0)
9.5

Term 5 

Course #
Course Title
Pre-Requisites
Co-Requisites
Theory Hours
(Ground/Online)
Lab Hours
(Ground/Online)
Clinical Hours
(Ground/Online)
Semester Credit Hours
Total Subtotal
30
(30/0)
45
(40/5)
285
(285/0)
9.5

Term 6 

Course #
Course Title
Pre-Requisites
Co-Requisites
Theory Hours
(Ground/Online)
Lab Hours
(Ground/Online)
Clinical Hours
(Ground/Online)
Semester Credit Hours
Total Subtotal
75
(55/20)
30
(25/5)
180
(180/0)
10

Term 7

Course #
Course Title
Pre-Requisites
Co-Requisites
Theory Hours
(Ground/Online)
Lab Hours
(Ground/Online)
Clinical Hours
(Ground/Online)
Semester Credit Hours
Total Subtotal
100
(80/20)
40
(35/5)
120
(120/0)
10.5
Total
775
(330/445)
220
(200/20)
870
(870/0)
77.5

* These courses may be offered entirely online or entirely on-ground at the campus.