Respiratory Therapy
Associate of Applied Science Degree
(575) 527-7607
Respiratory Therapy is an allied health specialty encompassing the diagnosis, treatment, management and prevention of problems affecting the respiratory and cardiovascular system.
Respiratory Therapy practitioners work side-by-side with physicians, and other healthcare professionals in the hospital setting. They set up oxygen, perform pulmonary function testing, maintain ventilators, administer respiratory drugs, and evaluate patient health status. Respiratory therapy is a rapidly growing, people-oriented profession.
The demand for practitioners is increasing in New Mexico and throughout the United States. While most graduates continue to find employment in hospitals, opportunities are opening up with medical equipment suppliers and agencies providing home health care to pulmonary patients.
The Respiratory Therapy program at Doña Ana Community College is a full-time program that leads to an associate of applied science degree. Through classroom instruction and laboratory practice, students develop the knowledge needed to care for patients. They acquire additional hands-on experience in the clinical setting at local hospitals.
The curriculum and clinical hour content is based on the National Standard Curriculum from the American Association of Respiratory Therapy (AARC) and the national accrediting body CoARC (coarc.org) The Respiratory Therapy Program is designed to prepare students to have mastered competency in assessment, diagnosis and treatment of the cardiopulmonary patient. Upon completion of the program graduates are eligible to sit for their national licensure certification and registry examinations.
Program Admissions Criteria
Respiratory Therapy is a limited-entry program. The following items are among the criteria considered in the selection of successful program applicants:
- High school diploma or GED
- Health Occupations Basic Entrance Test scores
- GPA in college-level courses applicable to the respiratory care curriculum
- Overall college GPA
- Completion of the following courses: OEHO 116, CHEM 110G, OEHO 153, 154, and 253
A complete list is included in the application packet, available at the Respiratory Therapy program office in room 191 (phone: 527- 7607).
Requirements to Participate in Clinical Practice
Clinical course work is required for completion of this program. Upon admittance and throughout the program, students will be required to meet requirements of each clinical site in order to complete the required course work. Requirements include but are not limited to the following:
- Background check through the designated college affiliate (adverse findings may disqualify a student from continuing in the program)
- Current CPR certification
- Current TB test
- Record of immunizations for Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Chicken Pox, Hepatitis B
- Drug screening
- Finger printing
Associate Degree (71–75 credits)
NOTE: Respiratory Therapy majors must earn a C or better in all Respiratory Therapy and related courses in order to remain in the program. Courses appearing in italics are identical to those offered at New Mexico State University Las Cruces (main) Campus. In addition to the requirements listed here, certain Special Topics and Independent Study courses may be recommended by the advisor.
| ENGL 111G Rhetoric and Composition | 4 | |
OR OR OR OR |
COMM 265G Principles of Human Communication PSY 201G Introduction to Psychology SOC 101G Introductory Sociology OEBU 240, Human Relations OEHO 101, Communication for Health Care |
3 |
| OEHO 153, Intro. to Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 | |
| OEHO 154, Intro. to Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 | |
OR |
BIOL 219 Public Health Microbiology (3) + BIOL 221GL, Intro. Microbiology Laboratory (1) OEHO 253, Microbiology for Health Occupations and Laboratory (4) |
4 |
| CHEM 110G, Principles and Applications of Chemistry | 4 | |
OR |
CS 110G, Computer Literacy OECS 105, Intro. to Microcomputer Technology |
3 |
| NOTE: All OERC classes are restricted to students who have been accepted into the Respiratory Therapy program. | ||
| OERC 110, Respiratory Therapy I | 3 | |
| OERC 110L, Respiratory Therapy I Lab | 2 | |
| OERC 112, Respiratory Therapy Physics | 3 | |
| OERC 120, Respiratory Therapy II | 3 | |
| OERC 120L, Respiratory Therapy II Lab | 2 | |
| OERC 123, Respiratory Therapy Pharmacology | 3 | |
| OERC 124, Respiratory Therapy II Clinical | 3 | |
| OERC 155, Respiratory Therapy Special Topics | 0-4 | |
| OERC 210 Respiratory Therapy III | 2 | |
| OERC 210L Respiratory Therapy III Lab | 2 | |
| OERC 224 Respiratory Therapy IV Clinical | 3 | |
| OERC 230 Respiratory Therapy V | 3 | |
| OERC 230L Respiratory Therapy V Lab | 2 | |
| OERC 23 Respiratory Therapy Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology | 2 | |
| OERC 234 Respiratory Therapy V Clinical | 3 | |
| OERC 240 Respiratory Therapy VI | 3 | |
| OERC 240L Respiratory Therapy VI Lab | 2 | |
| OERC 243 Resp. Therapy Neonatal Resuscitation | 1 | |
| OERC 24 Respiratory Therapy VI Clinical | 3 | |
Certificate (32 credits)
A one-year curriculum is available for individuals who choose not to pursue the associate degree. Graduates of the one-year program have the capability to work in a municipal water or wastewater treatment plant.
OR |
BOT 101 Keyboarding Basics BOT 105 Business English I |
3 |
| OEBU 140 Principles of Supervision I | 3 | |
| Approved electives | 2-4 |
| OEWU 120 Introduction to Water Systems | 3 | |
| OEWU 130 Wastewater Collection and Basic Treatment Systems | 3 | |
| OEWU 140 Applied Water & Wastewater Math I | 3 | |
| OEWU 160 Systems Maintenance | 4 | |
| OEWU 180 Water Chemistry | 3 | |
| OEWU 182 Water Chemistry Analysis | 1 | |
| OEWU 190 Water & Wastewater Microbiology | 3 | |
| OEWU 192 Water and Wastewater Microbiology Analysis | 1 | |
| OEWU 200 Cooperative Experience | 3-5 |
