Respiratory Care

The Degree

Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.)

The Outlook

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the need for respiratory therapists is expected to increase by approximately fifty percent by the year 2008. Positions exist with hospitals, medical centers, and other health care facilities that provide a high level of therapeutic care.

The Program

Respiratory Care is a health care specialty involving the treatment, management, control, diagnostic evaluation, and care of patients with cardiopulmonary diseases. Working with a team of physicians, nurses, therapists, and other acute care specialists, respiratory therapists play an important role in helping patients recover from injury or illness.

Through a regional articulation agreement with Genesee Community College, Finger Lakes Community College offers access to a two-year Associate in Applied Science degree in Respiratory Care. This agreement allows students to apply for admission to the program and complete their first-year course requirements at FLCC's Canandaigua campus. In the second year, they attend classes at GCC and complete clinical internships at health care facilities in their home area. Upon completion of all curriculum requirements, students apply for graduation through GCC and, if all requirements are met, the A.A.S. Respiratory Care degree is awarded.

The Faculty

Ron Jacobs is the director for the Respiratory Care program at Genesee Community College. Through his expertise and dedication to the field, he has trained more than one hundred graduates in this important area of human health. He has also become nationally recognized for his efforts in advancing awareness about respiratory issues. He is a sought-after speaker within the respiratory care field. In December, he has been invited to return for a second speaking engagement before the attendees of the international Postgraduate Assembly for Anesthesiologists. Additionally, Jacobs received the NYSSRC’s Samuel Runyon Memorial Award in 2004, the highest award bestowed upon its members.

Respiratory Care

Curriculum Requirements

Students must successfully complete:

Humanities

  • ENG101 Freshman English and ENG 102 Introduction to Literature
    or
    ENG104 English I Honors and ENG105 English II Honors
  • 3 credit hours of Humanities Elective

Social Science

  • PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology
  • 3 credit hours of social science electives

Mathematics/Science

  • MAT 145 College Algebra
  • BIO 171 Anatomy and Physiology I
  • BIO 172 Anatomy and Physiology II
  • BIO 230 Microbiology
  • CHM 121 General Chemistry I

Respiratory Care

  • RCP 101 Respiratory Care I
  • RCP 103 Cardiopulmonary Anatomy/Physiology
  • RCP 114 Respiratory Care II
  • RCP 115 Mechanical Ventilation I
  • RCP 116 Mechanical Ventilation II
  • RCP 117 Respiratory Pharmacology
  • RCP 118 Clinical Practice I
  • RCP 202 Cardiopulmonary Pharmocology
  • RCP 203 Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care
  • RCP 204 Cardiopulmonary Disease
  • RCP 209 Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics
  • RCP 210 Clinical Practice II
  • RCP 216 Clinical Practice III
  • RCP 218 Respiratory Care III

Physical Education

  • 2 credit hours of physical education electives

Respiratory Care

Sample Schedule

First Semester (18 Credit Hours)

  • BIO 171 Anatomy and Physiology I (4)
  • CHM 121 General Chemistry I (4)
  • MAT 145 College Algebra (3)
  • RCP 101 Respiratory Care I* (4)
  • RCP 103 Cardiopulmonary Anatomy/Physiology* (3)

Second Semester (18 Credit Hours)

  • ENG 101 or ENG 104 Freshman English (3)
  • BIO 172 Anatomy and Physiology II (4)
  • BIO 230 Microbiology (4)
  • RCP 114 Respiratory Care II* (4)
  • RCP 115 Mechanical Ventilation I* (3)

Summer Semester (5 Credit Hours)

  • RCP 116 Mechanical Ventilation II* (2)
  • RCP 117 Respiratory Pharmacology* (1)
  • RCP 118 Clinical Practice I* (1)
  • PE Physical Education Elective (1)

Third Semester (16 Credit Hours)

  • RCP 202 Cardiopulmonary Pharmocology* (2)
  • RCP 203 Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care* (3)
  • RCP 204 Cardiopulmonary Disease* (2)
  • RCP 209 Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics* (3)
  • RCP 210 Clinical Practice II*  (3)
  • PSY 100 General Psychology* (3)

Fourth Semester (15 Credit Hours)

  • ENG 102 or ENG 105 Introduction to Literature (3)
  • RCP 216 Clinical Practice III*  (3)
  • RCP 218 Respiratory Care III* (2)
  • Humanities (3)
  • Social Science Elective (3)
  • PE Physical Education Elective (1)

*Courses offered on the Genesee Community College Campus, via interactive video-teleconferencing or at clinical sites.