Curriculum/Degree Requirements
Curriculum/Degree Requirements
Respiratory therapy, or respiratory care, is an allied health profession specializing in cardiopulmonary diseases. A respiratory therapist can be instrumental in assisting in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of a wide spectrum of disorders affecting the heart and lungs.
A registered respiratory therapist (RRT) requires a minimum of a two-year degree, and most RRTs work in a hospital. Monroe County Community College respiratory therapy program graduates exceed the national averages for success on board exams.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: The respiratory therapy program follows a selective admission process. To be eligible for evaluation and selection, all required information must be included in the student’s folder by the application deadline, which is the last Thursday in June of the year the student wishes to enter the program.
In accordance with federal, state, and institutional policies, the Monroe County Community College Respiratory Therapy Program does not discriminate in its student admissions, faculty employment, or any other aspect of its operations on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identify), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, height, weight, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
Admissions Selection Criteria
The respiratory therapy program is a selective admissions program. Respiratory therapy program applicants must meet established minimum criteria to be considered. The respiratory therapy applicant needs to be aware meeting the minimum standards does not ensure admission to the program. Up to thirty students with the highest number of points are selected each year and tend to be well qualified having exceeded the minimum standards in some, if not all, of the criteria.
- Graduation from high school or successful completion of the G.E.D. (General Education Development) test.
- Completion of MATH 105 or MATH 151 or MATH 154 or higher-level math with a “C” or better; or a qualifying score on accepted placement test as determined by the college; or equivalent transferred course. It is required that these accepted courses be repeated if they have not been taken within 10 years of the application deadline unless the applicant is able to show proficiency on an accepted placement test. The older math grade will be used to calculate points if these conditions are met.
- Completion of BIOL 257 Anatomy and Physiology I or equivalent with a “C” or better. It is required that anatomy and physiology be repeated if it has not been taken within 10 years of the application deadline. Students who have taken anatomy and physiology at another accredited institution of higher learning that does not transfer as equivalent to the MCCC course will have their course(s) evaluated on an individual basis.
- Official transcripts from high school sent to the MCCC Admissions office. Official transcripts from all colleges or universities, if transfer credit is desired, sent directly to the MCCC Registrar’s office.
- Tests such as the TOEFL or other accepted tests as determined by the college may be required to show proof of English language proficiency for individuals whose native language is not English.
Respiratory therapy applicants will we awarded points based upon the following criteria:
- Grades in math and anatomy & physiology
- Grades from additional (non-required) college math and science courses
- Credits earned at MCCC
- Transfers from specialized degree programs, such as a 1+2+1 program
- Residency status
- Attendance at a Respiratory Therapy Information Session and/or Hospital Tour within two years
- Work experience in a health care occupation or advanced health credentials/licenses
- Academic credentials of an associate, bachelor, or master degree
Applicants enrolled in any pre-requisite classes that finish after the deadline but before the start of fall semester may still be considered for admission to the program contingent upon completion with “C” or better in the missing pre-requisite class(es). However, the total points for admission will be considered only for coursework that is completed by the application deadline. A rank ordered list of respiratory therapy applicants by point total will be created. Up to thirty (30) applicants with the highest number of points will be granted admission to the Respiratory Therapy Program. A group of up to fifteen (15) applicants with the next highest number of points will be placed on an alternate’s list in the event of a vacancy for the program.
Points are calculated based upon the following criteria:
1. Math grade (MATH 105, 151, 154 or higher) and degree of difficulty
| Points | Grade |
|---|---|
| 5 | A |
| 4 | Placement Testing at or above MATH 105 |
| 3 | B |
| 1 | C |
+1 added to the above grade points if the course is MATH 157 or higher MATH 156 or 166 do not satisfy the Respiratory Therapy Program math pre-requisite If a student takes MATH 151 and a higher-level math (e.g. MATH 157), which ever condition that awards the highest number of points will be used for the point determination.
2. BIOL 257 Anatomy and Physiology I grade
| Points | Grade |
|---|---|
| 5 | A |
| 3 | B |
| 1 | C |
3. BIOL 258 Anatomy and Physiology II grade (This is not a requirement to enter, but applicants can earn extra points for completing prior to starting the program and it is highly suggested to complete prior to admission)
| Points | Grade |
|---|---|
| 5 | A |
| 3 | B |
| 1 | C |
4. The following courses are not a requirement to enter nor are they in the curriculum. However, they may be part of a transfer degree and they represent useful knowledge for respiratory therapy students. Applicants can earn +1 point for completion with a C or better prior to starting the program in any or all of the following:
BIOL 259 Introduction to Pathophysiology
BIOL 260 Microbiology
BIOL 264 Fundamentals of Genetics
CHEM 150 Fundamental Principles of Chemistry or higher (excludes CHEM 155)
PHYS 151 General Physics or higher
5. Total number of credit hours taken at MCCC:
| Points | Grade |
|---|---|
| 3 | 25 or more credits |
| 2 | 13-24 credits |
| 1 | 1-12 credits |
| 0 |
no MCCC credits |
6. Transfer credits from a Respiratory 1+2+1 Program:
5 points
A physical examination is required (at the student’s expense) of students selected for the program. This exam must confirm the student meets the physical and mental requirements needed to be successful in the program and a staff therapist. If special accommodations are required under A.D.A., contact the Disability Services Office located in Founder’s Hall for specific information.
1. A physical examination, blood work, and immunizations are required of students selected for the program at the student’s expense which verify capabilities and general health status.
2. Applicants should be aware any previous or current conviction of a crime and/or treatment for substance abuse could result in ineligibility to obtain a license as a respiratory therapist. Any questions or concerns about licensing should be directed to the State of Michigan Board of Respiratory Care at www.michigan.gov/healthlicense.
Additional Program Information
The Monroe County Community College (MCCC) Respiratory Therapy Program, CoARC Program number 200295, Associate of Applied Science Degree at the MCCC main campus holds Continuing Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).
CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes based’ process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented. For information comparing the student outcomes for the MCCC program with those from all other accredited programs in the country go to https://coarc.com/students/programmatic-outcomes-data/.