This program accepts students in fall semesters.
Application deadline: March 15

Please click here to add your name to our program contact list.

• Overview
• Curriculum
• Elective Requirement
• Proctored Exams
• Delivery Methods
• Scholarships
• Career Opportunities
• Program Contacts
• Admission
• Tuition
• Orientation

Overview

The emphasis of the curriculum is to enhance and advance the student's professional career in respiratory therapy with additional education in administration, research and evaluation, and advanced critical care.  Students seeking admission into this program will already be board-certified practicing Respiratory Therapists.  The program culminates in a capstone experience that is developed around the students' specific professional interest area.  The curriculum offers specific professional course work in advanced critical care, advanced pharmacology, program administration, evidence-based practice, and clinical outcomes evaluation.  The required core courses are as follows:  RESP 3101, 3102, 3103, 3104, 3105, 4101, 4102, 4103, 4104, 4111; NURN 4201.

The BSRT program provides working respiratory therapists the opportunity to complete their bachelor's degree in respiratory therapy through flexible scheduling that minimizes disruptions to their daily lives. The American Association for Respiratory Care 2005 Human Resources Study reported that the number of respiratory therapists with a bachelor's degree or higher was 45% as compared to 30% in 2000.  Earning a bachelor's degree can open the door to opportunities in education, management and leadership, clinical specialties, research, pharmaceutical sales, and more.

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Curriculum

Suggested Program Course Sequence

The suggested course sequence will take two years to complete.

Course Selection and Degree Completion

RESP Course Listing & Descriptions

RESP 3101 Professional Roles & Dimensions of Respiratory Therapy (3)
Course Description: This course encompasses an introduction to the history, trends, issues, and evolution of the respiratory therapy profession. The course includes an overview of selected respiratory theories and an analysis of the professional environment for the current and future practice of respiratory care. Topics and emphasis may vary.  Prerequisite:  Admittance into RT program.  Fall

RESP 3102 Outpatient Services in Respiratory Therapy (3)               
Course Description: This course encompasses an introduction to the history, trends, issues, and evolution of the outpatient services and reimbursement with the respiratory therapy profession. The course includes selected respiratory care theories and practices in alternate-care sites including pulmonary diagnostics, pulmonary rehabilitation, home care, sub-acute care. Topics and emphasis may vary.  Prerequisite:  Admittance into RT program; Corequisite: RESP 3101.  Fall

RESP 3103 Advanced Pharmacology in Respiratory Therapy (3)                
Course Description:  This course builds upon a basic understanding of the concepts and principles of pharmacology as applied in the respiratory therapy in the management of patient with cardiopulmonary disease and critical care.  Prerequisite:  Admittance into RT program; Corequisites: RESP 3101.  Fall  

RESP 3104 Critical Care Pathophysiology (3)
Course Description: A survey of the disease processes which affect the tissues, organs or the body as a whole. Special emphasis is placed on infectious diseases, their causes, prevention and treatment in the critical care setting. Admittance into RT program; Corequisite: RESP 3101.  Fall

RESP 3105 Advanced Critical Care Monitoring (3)                             
Course Description: This course is a study of advanced cardiopulmonary monitoring used with critical care patients. Topics include but not limited to hemodynamic monitoring, mechanical ventilator waveform graphic analysis, and capnography.  Prerequisite: RESP 3101.  Spring

RESP 4101 Program Design, Implementation, and Outcomes Evaluation (3)               
Course Description: Evidence-based methods and techniques to design, implement, and evaluate healthcare quality control/improvement initiatives, and patient and population education programs.  Prerequisite: RESP 3101. Spring

RESP 4102 Program Administration (3) (O)
Course Description: Administration, financial, human resource, legal, and policy concepts and issues in outpatient, inpatient, public, and private sector settings.  Topics and emphases may vary.  This course meets the university General Education requirements for Oral Communication in the Discipline.  Prerequisite:  Completion of all 3000 level courses.  Fall

RESP 4103 Evidence-Based Practice (3)
Course Description: This course will provide the student with an introduction to the concept of evidence-based practice and an opportunity to acquire the skills necessary to be able incorporate evidence and best practices into professional work.  These include an understanding of research methods and the approach to critical appraisal of research literature. Prerequisite: Completion of all 3000 level courses.  Fall

RESP 4104 Advanced Cardiopulmonary Physiology (3)
Course Description: Advanced physiology of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. This course includes study of respiratory physiology, cardiac and circulatory function with relevant clinical application of concepts in ECG interpretation, blood pressure regulation, gas exchange and transport, breathing regulation, respiratory insufficiency and congenital abnormalities. Prerequisite: RESP 3101.  Spring

NURN 4201. Information Technology: Applications in Health Care. (2)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of instructor. A study of the use of computers and information technology in health care. Emphasis is placed on development of the knowledge and competencies necessary for selective use of evaluation of informatics, computer technology and data management in health care. (Spring, Summer)

RESP 4111 Practicum (9) (W)                          
Course Description:  This course includes experiences in a chosen focus area (clinical, administrative, or population-based). This experience will culminate in a capstone project in the form of research, or other scholarly activity that articulates the design, organization, statistics and data analysis used and includes an oral and written presentation of the project. This course meets the university General Education requirements for Writing in the Discipline.  Prerequisite:  RESP 4101, 4102, 4103.  Spring

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Elective Requirement

If you need to take a summer elective to fulfill the Respiratory Therapy requirement, click here for some online courses that are being offered during the summer, 2012.

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Proctored Exams

Faculty teaching online courses as part of a distance education program may require proctored exams or writing assignments. This requirement will be noted on the course syllabus. See the Proctored Testing section of this website for detailed proctored exam information.

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Delivery Methods

Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy program courses are delivered 100% online using Moodle and/or Centra. Each course instructor determines his/her course delivery method(s). Make sure you know how your courses are delivered by viewing the University Course Schedule. Distance education courses have section numbers with an 8 as the middle digit (examples: 080, L80, 081).

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Scholarships

Read the Department of Kinesiology’s page devoted to "How to Pay for College".

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Career Opportunities

University Career Center for Work, Service, and Internships

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Program Contacts

Distance Education

Carolyn Salanger
csalange@uncc.edu
704-687-1281

Academic Department

Dr. Michael Troxell
Mtroxel2@uncc.edu
704-687-3379

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Admission

* Notice for applicants from outside the State of North Carolina *

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Respiratory Therapy Program, you must meet the following minimum admission eligibility requirements:

• Hold a current unencumbered license as a Registered Respiratory Therapist in North Carolina or in the state of current employment
• Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better from your associate degree program that is a CoARC accredited associate respiratory therapy program
• Earn at least a C in all coursework taken by the end of the semester prior to the semester for which application is made

IMPORTANT: Meeting the minimum requirements of the program does not guarantee admission into the program. All application materials for Fall 2012 must be received no later than March 15, 2012; however, it is recommended that you apply as soon as possible.

Submit the following two (2) applications to apply to the Respiratory Therapy Program. Admission to UNC Charlotte is independent of admission to the Respiratory Therapy Program. Admission decisions are communicated in writing by the Department. Applicants who are denied may reapply.

• Apply for admission to UNC Charlotte as a Transfer student. Please note you will need to have official transcripts sent to the UNC Charlotte Admissions Office in order to complete the institutional application process. The instructions are on the application webpage. You will apply as a Transfer student.
• Apply to the Department of Kinesiology by completing an online application. As part of this application, submit the following items to this address below or by fax to 704-687-3350 attention Respiratory Therapy Program.
  • One official transcript from every college or university you have attended, are currently attending or from which you will receive credit
  • A photocopy of your registered respiratory therapist credential certificate or card
  • A photocopy of your respiratory care license with expiration date
  • A current basic life support or basic CPR certification

Respiratory Therapy Program
Department of Kinesiology
Belk Gym 245

University of North Carolina at Charlotte
9201 University City Blvd
Charlotte NC 28223

IMPORTANT: Both online applications must be submitted with transcripts in order to be considered for admission to the Respiratory Therapy program.

Please be aware that if you have not been enrolled for 12 consecutive months after the semester last attended at UNC Charlotte, you will need to apply for readmission to the University.  Please see this link for additional information.

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Tuition

Distance education tuition and fees

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Orientation                       

The distance education Respiratory Therapy program conducts a face-to-face orientation on-campus during the summer to assist new students prepare for their first semester.  The orientation is not required but is recommended.  The New and Current Student Guide is also an orientation that will prepare for participation in UNC Charlotte distance education courses. Among the topics in this orientation are:

• Student Computing
• How to Register for Courses
• How to Order Textbooks
• Tuition
• Technical Orientation (includes learning how to use Moodle and Centra; technical specifications for your computer system, and find a buying guide for your computer hardware and software if needed.)
• Student Services

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