Stephanie Cross, Program Director
Health & Life Sciences Building, Office 165, (540) 678-4380, scross92@su.edu

Mission Statement

The mission of the Shenandoah University Respiratory Care Program is to prepare and educate its students to become exemplary health care providers in the field of respiratory care. 

Program Goals

The goal of the Shenandoah University Respiratory Care Program is to prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).

Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care

The Bachelor of Science Degree in Respiratory Care program is offered as an accelerated four-semester track. This track is available to students who do not hold any respiratory therapy credentials. Students must complete all program prerequisites, Shenandoah University general education requirements and free electives (for a minimum of 66 credit hours) before enrolling in any Respiratory Care courses. This is a sequenced program; students may only enter in the fall semester. Admission to a second track, the former RT-to-BSRC online track, which provided already practicing respiratory therapists to continue their education and expand their professional development, is being temporarily suspended. This track has not been terminated, but no applications are being accepted at this time.

Program Requirements

Regulations on academic standing governing Shenandoah University students apply to
respiratory care students along with the following additional requirements:

1. Students must meet the physical requirement of SU’s clinical affiliates for essential job functions.
2. Students are enrolled in the program subject to its policies and guidelines as outlined in the Respiratory Care Student Handbook, copies of which are available in the Respiratory Care program office and on Canvas.
3. Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from clinical facilities and between campus sites.

Entrance Requirements for the Accelerated Four-Semester Track

An overall grade point average of 2.5 is required for admission. In addition, a grade point average of 2.5 in the prerequisite science courses is required. A minimum GPA of 2.5 is also required in any previous respiratory care courses, if taken.Applicants with no more than one science prerequisite and six additional hours of credit outstanding at the end of the spring semester prior to enrollment may be admitted on a provisional basis, but must submit official transcripts documenting completion of those credits to the Office of Admissions prior to the first day of fall semester enrollment, or they will not be permitted to begin the program. All credits to be transferred must be earned at a regionally-accredited institution.

Requirements for the Accelerated Four-Semester Track

Course                              Title     Credit Hours

Program Prerequisites

BIO       231       Human Anatomy and Physiology I  4

BIO       232       Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4

BIO       260       Microbiology  4

PHYS    111       College Physics 1         4

CHEM  121       General Chemistry     4

                              Total    20

 

Respiratory Care Courses

Fall Semester Junior Year

RC         307       Research and Ethics                 2

RC         314       Patient Assessment and Simulation                             2

RC         401       General Care Therapeutics Lab         2

RC         404       Chronic Cardiopulmonary Disease and Pharmacology      4

RC         410       Cardiorespiratory Physiology            3

RC         411       General Care Therapeutics   3

                              Total    16

 

Spring Semester Junior Year

RC         406       Acute  Cardiopulmonary Disease and Pharmacology         4

RC         408       Mechanical Ventilation           3

RC         421       Emergency/Critical Care Therapeutics I     3

RC         414       Applied Respiratory Care I   4

                              Total    14

 

Summer Term Senior Year

RC         403       Respiratory Care Specialties and Diagnostics         2

RC         431       Emergency/Critical Care Therapeutics II   3

RC         418       Career Development                2

RC         424       Applied Respiratory Care II                 5

                              Total    12

 

Fall Term Senior Year

RC         305       Foundations of Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care   3

RC         419       Healthcare Management and Education  2

RC         420       Scholarship in Respiratory Care       2

RC         434       Applied Respiratory Care III               5

                              Total    12

                              Program Total              54