Respiratory Therapy

Our Associate of Applied Sciences (AAS) degree in Respiratory Therapy is designed to train you in the growing field of respiratory care. As a student in this (76 credit hours) program, you will receive the training needed to work as a respiratory therapist in hospitals, home care, pulmonary clinics, and other healthcare environments, with classes designed for recent high school graduates and working students. Offered to students enrolled at the St. Augustine College location only.

Program Length: 6 Semesters 72-73 Credit Hours

Learning Experiences: Traditional/ Blended

Associate of Applied Science Degree in Respiratory Therapy

Our Associate of Applied Sciences (AAS) degree program in Respiratory Therapy is designed to train you in the growing field of respiratory care. As a student in this (72-73 credit hours) program, you will receive the training needed to work as a respiratory therapist in hospitals, long term care facilities, home care, pulmonary clinics, and other healthcare environments. Our classes are designed for recent high school graduates and working students.  This is a unique program, with a clinical courses (5th semester and up) that meet only on specific days and times and whose duration is different from the standard 8-week terms. Always ask the Respiratory Therapy Learning Facilitator or other departmental staff for the most accurate, updated information. *Please keep in mind that this program is 60-70% in-person.

Respiratory Therapy Program Details

 Our Respiratory Therapy program will prepare you to provide specialized diagnostic and therapeutic procedures such as:

• Pulmonary function testing 
• Arterial blood gas analysis
• Medical gas administration
• Humidity and aerosol therapy
• Airway management
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Ventilatory support of neonatal/pediatric and adult populations
• Hemodynamics and cardiac monitoring

In addition to learning these diagnostic and therapeutic skills and procedures you will also receive hands-on training in a variety of patient care-focused Chicagoland leading medical facilities and Long-Term Care Centers.    St. Augustine’s at Lewis University Respiratory Therapy Program prioritizes our students’ long-term success, making sure that you not only graduate with a diploma in Associate of Applied Science Degree but also receive the skills needed for an in-demand career in Respiratory Therapy. Graduates are eligible to take the National Board for Respiratory Care (www.nbrc.org) Therapist Multiple Choice Exam.  Candidates with a minimum score of 86 will receive a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT)credential and candidates who score 92 or higher are eligible to sit for the NBRC Clinical Simulation Examination, and upon successful passing receive a Registered Respiratory Therapist credential. 

 For more information related to the profession please visit American Association for Respiratory Care web page at www.aarc.org. 

Accreditation

The Entry into Respiratory Care Professional Practice Program, CoARC number 200587, AAS Degree, St. Augustine College in Chicago Illinois is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com) Program ID# 200587(www.coarc.com) CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs across the United States through an outcomes-based process. This approach evaluates program effectiveness using performance indicators that measure the achievement of educational goals. 

Program Outcomes Data: https://coarc.com/students/programmatic-outcomes-data/  Graduates of the program are eligible to take the NBRC examinations to become a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT). They may also sit for the Clinical Simulation Exam, and upon passing, earn the title of Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).

Additional Admission Requirements

In addition to the General Admission Requirements, applicants interested in this major must meet the following criteria: Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA): A (GPA) of 2.50 in the following prerequisite courses: HLSC 10100 General Anatomy and Physiology, RESP 11000 Applied Physics in Respiratory Care, RESP 11300 Respiratory Care Pharmacology, RESP 20800 Cardio-Pulmonary Anatomy and Physiology. These courses can be taken at St. Augustine at Lewis University 

Mandatory Criminal Background Check: Students who may have concerns regarding the required background check are encouraged to speak with program faculty in the Respiratory Therapy Department before applying for admission. In compliance with standards set forth by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHCO), and the Health Care Worker Background Check Act, an Illinois state law, individuals providing health care at hospital/clinical settings must submit a certified fingerprint background check. This policy applies also to respiratory therapy students receiving clinical training in affiliated clinical facilities; therefore, prospective respiratory therapy students must be aware of this requirement before registering for either pre-respiratory courses or respiratory courses. A prospective respiratory therapy student must be aware that any prior felony or misdemeanor conviction may impact the student’s ability to participate in clinical courses. College is required to submit the students’ background check results prior to admission to any clinical course rotation. 

A Different Approach  

Upon graduation from AAS degree in our Respiratory Therapy Program, students may pursue a bachelor’s degree.  Our approach to collegiate education is to work with students. A flexible schedule, small class sizes, and accommodating faculty bringing their clinical experience into the classroom give our students the tools needed to succeed in this program and future education.

Why Choose Respiratory Therapy? 

Is respiratory therapy a good career? What does a respiratory therapist do? If you still have questions about just what a respiratory therapist does on a day-to-day basis, and you’re still curious about what a promising career our associate of applied science degree can do for you and your future read here.

Respiratory Therapy Career Outlook 

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, respiratory therapists are needed now more than ever, and you too could be on the first lines of saving lives.  The BLS projects  that between 2021 and 2031 the number of respiratory therapist jobs will increase by 14% nationwide, indicating a high need for this profession.   Respiratory therapy can be both a prosperous and fulfilling career. The median national salary of a respiratory therapist in 2022 was around $70,540. On average, new graduates will earn between $35.00 to $40.00 per hour. These rates may vary from hospital to hospital and depend on which state you will be working. The average annual respiratory therapist salary in Illinois is around $78,000.00. Traveling Respiratory Therapists will earn on average around $90,000 a year according to ZipRecruiter. Respiratory Therapists working abroad will earn even higher salaries. Those who received a respiratory therapist associate degree from St. Augustine have made successful careers in the field of Respiratory Therapy, with 100% of all graduates finding jobs with an average starting salary of $70,000 – $80,000. The American Association for Respiratory Care’s (AARC) Career Center has recently listed the following job openings:

• Respiratory Therapy Clinical Educator
• Respiratory Care Practitioner
• Registered Respiratory Therapist 
• Respiratory Therapy Program Instructor 

And more. With a degree in Respiratory Therapy from St. Augustine College at Lewis University, you’ll be well-prepared to join a dedicated workforce of healthcare professionals.

Respiratory Therapy Transferrable Courses Policy

General education: statement about IAI. Respiratory Therapy courses taken at another institution will be reviewed by Respiratory Therapy faculty on a case-by-case basis. (Faculty decide) The credential pathway is designed for students who are planning to transfer to a four-year university. This sequence of courses supports the attainment of the Level 3 Gateways Credential and the AAS degree and maximizes the number of courses that will directly transfer to a partnering four-year institution.

To earn your level 2 through 4 ECE Gateways Credential, you are required to follow a prescribed course of study. Please be sure to contact an Academic Advisor for further information about this credential and required courses.

Academic Requirements

Total Credit Hours: 72-73

Total credit hours for Major AAS in Radiography: 58

General Education in AAS: 18-19

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Support Course Requirements
RESP 11000	Applied Physics in Respiratory Care	3
RESP 11300	Respiratory Care Pharmacology	3
RESP 20800	Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology	4
BIOL 22501	Introduction to Microbiology for Respiratory Therapy	4
BIOL 22701	Intro to Microbio Lab	0
CHEM 10100	Basic Inorganic Chemistry	3
CHEM 10200	Basic Inorganic Chemistry Lab	1
HLSC 10100	General Anatomy and Physiology	3
HLSC 10200	General Anatomy and Physiology Lab	1
Major Requirements
RESP 10000	Fundamentals of Respiratory Care 1	3
RESP 12000	Respiratory Care Procedures 1	1
RESP 12900	Respiratory Special Procedures	2
RESP 20100	Respiratory Care Pathophysiology	3
RESP 20500	Seminar for National Board for Respiratory Care	2
RESP 21000	Mechanical Ventilation 1	3
RESP 21100	Mechanical Ventilation 2	3
RESP 21200	Clinical Case Simulations	2
RESP 22000	Respiratory Care Procedures 2	1
RESP 23000	Neonatal Pediatric Respiratory Care	2
RESP 23900	Clinical Practicum I	1
RESP 24000	Respiratory Care Procedures 3	2
RESP 24900	Clinical Practicum 2	1
RESP 25000	Hemodynamics and Cardiac Monitoring	2
RESP 25900	Clinical Practicum 3	2
RESP 28000	Clinical Internship 1	2
RESP 29000	Clinical Internship 2	2
RESP 30000	Clinical Internship 3	2
Total Hours		58