Overview
Narrative
The Associate Degree Respiratory Care Program at NCC prepares graduates to assume entry level positions as respiratory therapists. Respiratory therapists are specialized healthcare practitioners responsible for the care of patients who have trouble breathing, for example, because of conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A respiratory therapist can provide care for a patient ranging from premature infants with underdeveloped lungs to older adults whose lungs are diseased. Respiratory Therapist help patients breathe better through a variety of methods that may include administrating oxygen, performing tests, managing equipment, and making respiratory-related recommendations in collaboration with the healthcare team. The program is designed so that students develop their knowledge, skills and abilities in the discipline over the course of the program, resulting in a graduate practitioner who can deliver safe, competent respiratory care to patients across the lifespan in a variety of healthcare settings. Graduates will be prepared to take the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credentialling exam and be eligible for licensure to practice.
Program Features
The Associate Degree Respiratory Care Program requires a minimum of seven semesters (including summers) to complete. The program is offered at the Fowler Family Southside Center but general education courses can be taken at any of NCC’s campuses or online. Admission to the program is competitive and one cohort of students will be accepted annually in the fall semester. The program is designed to include 34 credits of general education courses, offering students foundational knowledge in the biopsychosocial sciences and humanities. Respiratory program courses, which total 32 credits include classroom, laboratory and clinical learning experiences to develop, with increasing complexity, the students’ knowledge, skills and abilities in the respiratory care field. Laboratory simulation will be included in some of the respiratory program courses.
Students will develop theoretical knowledge and psychomotor skills in the on-campus classrooms and laboratory and then apply those skills and knowledge in clinical learning experiences in a variety of settings in the healthcare community. Class, lab and clinical are scheduled typically during the day, however the college reserves the right to schedule clinical experiences in the evening/weekend if necessary.
Accreditation Information
The Northampton Community College Respiratory Care Program, CoARC program number #200676, Associate Degree awarded, Fowler Southside Campus, holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (https://coarc.com). Accreditation Review date: July 19, 2024.
This status signifies that a program with an Approval of Intent has demonstrated sufficient compliance with the Standards (through submission of an acceptable Provisional Accreditation Self-Study Report (PSSR) and any other documentation required by the CoARC, as well as satisfactory completion of an initial on-site visit), to be allowed to admit students. It is recognized as an accredited program by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), which provides enrolled students who complete the program with eligibility for the Respiratory Care Credentialing Examination(s). The program will remain on Provisional Accreditation until it achieves Continuing Accreditation.
For More Information
Contact Ms.Tina Fitzgerald, Program Director
Fowler Family Southside Center
511 E. Third St. Office 637
Bethlehem, PA 18015
(610) 332-6410
tfitzgerald@northampton.edu
Admissions Requirements (Program Entry Requirements)
*Please note that we are launching a new, more efficient application system on October 18 to simplify the process of applying to NCC. If you have already begun an application in the current system, we recommend completing it before October 18 to avoid having to start over. Additionally, our Fall 2025 application will also open on October 18.*
Admission to the program is on a competitive basis. Students must meet the following requirements at a minimum to be considered for admission to the program. The minimum admission requirements to the program include:
- Completion of high school diploma or GED equivalent
- Completion of one-year of high school biology with a lab with a grade or C or better or NCC’s BIOS 115 with a grade of C or better
- Completion of 2 units of algebra with a grade of C or better or NCC’s Math 022 and 026 with a grade of C or better
- Submission of an application
- Meeting with the program director
- Submission of all official transcripts
- Completion of a Career Assessment form (CAF)
- Minimum overall GPA of 2.75
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Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission into the Respiratory Program
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Progression
Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all RESP courses
Academic Dismissal from Health Sciences Selective Admission Programs
Any student who does not successfully complete* one (1) course that carries the prefix of the student's Health Sciences major will be dismissed from the program. This policy applies to courses in these programs: Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMSG), Radiography (RADT), Nursing (NURS) and Funeral Services (FUNS).
Any student who does not successfully complete* two (2) courses (either two different courses or the same course twice), that carry the prefix of the student's Health Sciences major will be dismissed from the program. This policy applies to courses in these programs: Dental Hygiene (DENH), Medical Assistant (MDAS), Veterinary Technician (VETC), and Respiratory Care (RESP).
Students may apply again for possible readmission, which includes testing of previous core course material. Readmission is on a space available basis, and priority is given to students entering the program for the first time and to those students who have successfully completed the core courses and have maintained continuous enrollment.
If the student is readmitted and again does not successfully complete one (1) course that carries the prefix of the student's Health Sciences program, they will be dismissed from the program and will not be eligible to reapply.
*Unsuccessful course completion is defined as a final course grade of F or W.
Outcomes
Program Goal
To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domain of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).
Program Objectives
Upon successful completion of the respiratory care program, students will be able to:
- 1. Successfully pass the professional registry exam to be credentialed as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).
- 2. Plan, deliver and evaluate respiratory care modalities for patients across the lifespan in a variety of healthcare settings.
- 3. Employ clinical decision-making based on critical thinking skills and evidence-based practice to deliver safe effective respiratory care.
- 4. Demonstrate professional behaviors consistent with the respiratory care scope of practice and code of ethics and employer expectations, as a collaborative member of the healthcare team.
- 5. Engage individuals, families, and communities in the teaching-learning processes to promote, maintain, and restore respiratory health and wellness.
Career Outlook
There is an abundance of employment opportunities for licensed registered respiratory therapists in the communities we serve and beyond. Employment of respiratory therapists is projected to grow 13 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations. Respiratory therapists are employed in various types of practices including the locations below:
- Hospitals
- Physician offices
- Diagnostic imaging centers
- Urgent care centers
- Education – faculty, administration, etc.
- Equipment vendors
Courses
Summer Semester
| COLS101 | College Success | 1 credits |
| BIOS204 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 credits |
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| MATH140 | College Algebra | 3 credits |
| OR | |
| MATH150 | Introductory Statistics | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Fall Semester
| BIOS254 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 credits |
| ENGL101 | English I | 3 credits |
| PSYC103 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 credits |
| RESP101 | Introduction to Respiratory Care | 5 credits |
| RESP102 | Respiratory Care Pharmacology | 2 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17 |
Winter Session
| COMM101 | Introduction to Communication | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Spring Semester
| BIOS202 | Microbiology for Allied Health | 4 credits |
| PHIL202 | Ethics & Moral Problems | 3 credits |
| ENGL151L | English II | 3 credits |
| RESP103 | Respiratory Care Therapeutic Modalities | 6 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Summer Semester
| RESP201 | Cardiopulmonary Disease Processes | 2 credits |
| RESP202 | Mechanical Ventilation | 6 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Fall Semester
| RESP203 | Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care | 2 credits |
| RESP204 | Respiratory Care Critical Care | 5 credits |
| SOCA102 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 10 |
Spring Semester
| RESP205 | Respiratory Care Practicum | 4 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 4 |
Total Credit Hours: 66
One of the three Humanities (AH, SIT, SSHB) General Electives must be taken as a Writing Intensive (WI) section - PHIL 202G, PSYC 103G, SOCA 102G.