Medical professionals and students practice respiratory care techniques on a mannequin in a clinical training room.

Respiratory Therapists (RTs) are in high demand to care for the increasing number of people with acute and chronic breathing disorders. They treat a range of people and patients, such as premature infants whose lungs are not fully developed, and adults with long COVID or with heart failure. RTs provide supplemental oxygen, manage ventilators, and administer drugs to the lungs. They primarily work in hospitals, but many also start their own companies or move into equipment marketing and sales.  

After completing a respiratory therapy degree program, graduates must take the certification exam to become a certified RT (CRT) or a registered RT (RRT). Every state (except Alaska) requires that RTs also obtain a state license. Almost all NY and NJ area hospitals have a need for these providers and are offering starting salaries of > $90,000/year with full benefits for licensed program graduates.

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Allied Health Technology/Respiratory Care Concentration is a four-year program that provides the graduate with the knowledge, skills, and clinical experience to perform entry-level competencies as a Respiratory Therapist/Respiratory Care Practitioner in a range of health care settings. In addition, the program will provide curricular content including management, quality, finance, research, and advanced clinical practice for the graduate Respiratory Care Practitioner, to assume leadership roles in the health care profession.

Consistent with CoARC end-of-program outcomes, the primary objectives for this program are:

  • To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by RRTs.
  • To prepare leaders for the field of respiratory care by including curricular content with objectives related to the acquisition of skills in one or more of the following: management, education, research and advanced clinical practice (which may include an area of clinical specialization).

Admission Requirements

Graduates from an accredited high school/secondary school with a record indicating the potential to succeed in college will be considered for admission into this program. This includes:

  • Completion of the following high school coursework:
    • 4 units (20 credits) in English
    • 3 units (15 credits) in Mathematics
    • 3 units (15 credits) in Science, including 1 unit (5 credits) Biology w/Lab
    • 2 units (10 credits) in Social Studies/History
  • High school GPA of 3.0 or higher.

For Students Interested in Transferring into the FDU Respiratory Care Program from another University/College…

Respiratory care curricula begins in the fall semester of sophomore year OR of the junior year (see two academic program plans  below). Transfer students need a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher to be accepted directly into the respiratory care program. Students can begin the program as a junior if they have completed of all first-year and second year prerequisite courses (see “3rd-year RC start” academic program plan below). Students can begin the program as a sophomore if they have completed of all first-year courses in Sciences, Math, Writing, and University Core (see “2nd-year RC start” academic program plan below). If they have not completed all of these courses, or have a lower GPA, they can be accepted into the BS in Health Studies Program (General Track) and change major into the respiratory care program as a junior after satisfying the prerequisite requirements. 

For FDU Students Interested in Changing Major into the Respiratory Care Program…

Respiratory Care curricula can begin in the fall semester of the sophomore or of the junior year for students who change their major to the Respiratory Care program. Students can apply/process the change of major form as a sophomore after meeting the following requirements:

  • Completion of all first-year courses in Sciences, Math, Writing, and University Core (see academic program plan below)
  • Cumulative FDU GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Repeat of any Science and Math course only once, and achievement of a grade of B-

NOTES

  • A 4-credit General Chemistry or higher-level Chemistry course and earned grade of B- or higher in both lecture and lab, can substitute for CHEM1107/1117.  Course can be confirmed using NJTransfer against FDU benchmark CHEM1107/1117.  Introduction to Chemistry is not a sufficient substitution.
  • Statistics course must include descriptive and inferential statistics. Introduction to Statistics is not a sufficient substitution. Course can be confirmed using NJTransfer against FDU benchmarks of MEDT2900, PSYC2210, or MATH2335/2337, or higher level.
  • Students must achieve a grade of C (74+) in all general education courses, electives, and major electives, to receive credit toward the BS degree. Students who apply for change of major into the RT Program will not be deferred because of a lower grade in such courses (as long as other criteria are met) but will need to repeat the course to receive credit toward the degree.

Curriculum

CoNAH General Education Requirements* (43 credits)

  • Written & Oral Communication (9 credits) 
    • WRIT1002 Composition I: Rhetoric and Inquiry
    • WRIT1003 Composition II: Research and Argument
    • MEDT2005 Professional Communication
  • Information and Technological Literacy (3 credits) 
    • MEDT2217 Info Systems and Applications in Health Care
  • Ethical Reasoning (3 credits) 
  • Global and Cultural Understanding (6 credits) 
  • Scientific and Quantitative Analysis (8 credits)
  • Social and Behavioral Analysis (6 credits)
    • Social Science: MEDT1120 Intro to Medical Sociology
    • Behavioral Science: PSYC1201 General Psychology
  • Inquiry in the Arts & Humanities (6 credits)
    • Creative & Expressive Arts: Select from GenEd options
    • Humanities: Select from GenEd options (or will accept MEDT2007 Science of Happiness)
  • University Core (2 credits)
    • UNIV1001 Transitioning to University Life
    • UNIV1002 Preparing for Professional Life

Allied Health Technology Major Requirements (20 credits)

Respiratory Care Major Requirements (51 credits)

Major Elective Requirements (6 credits)

  • Electives in the major (minimum 6 credits – select from MEDT courses)

Academic Program Plan: 2nd-Year RC Start

A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation from the FDU BS in Allied Health Technology degree program.  

1st Semester (15 credits)

  • WRIT1002 Composition I: Rhetoric & Inquiry* (3 cr)
  • BIOL2203/BIOL2223 Human Anatomy and Physiology I + Lab* [must pass to progress] (4 cr)
  • CHEM1107/CHEM1117 Chemistry for Health Sciences + Lab [must pass to progress] (4 cr)
  • UNIV1001 Transitioning to University Life* (1 cr)
  • MEDT1201 Introduction to Medical Sociology* OR PSYC1201 General Psychology* 

2nd Semester (16 credits)

  • WRIT1003 Composition II: Research & Argument* (3 cr)
  • BIOL2125/BIOL2126 Microbiology for Health Sciences & Lab [must pass to progress] (4 cr) 
  • BIOL2204/BIOL2224 Human Anatomy and Physiology II & Lab [must pass to progress] (4 cr)
  • MATH1105 College Algebra; OR MATH1107 Precalculus; OR MATH1201 Calculus I; OR MATH1203 Calculus I* [must pass to progress] (4 cr)
  • UNIV1002 Preparing for Professional Life* (1 cr)

3rd Semester (17 credits)

  •  
  • RESP 1041 Core Concepts in Respiratory Care (2 cr)
  • MEDT1201 Introduction to Medical Sociology* OR PSYC1201 General Psychology* (3 cr)  
  • MEDT2210 Pathophysiology [must pass to progress] (3 cr)
  • MEDT2005 Professional Communication* (3 cr)
  • UNIV2001 Cross-Cultural Perspectives* (3 cr)
  • STATISTICS: MEDT2900 Statistics for Health Sciences OR PSYC2210 Psychological Statistics (3 cr)

4th Semester (12-15 credits)

  • RESP 1021 Cardiopulmonary Pharmacology (3 cr)
  • UNIV2002 Global Issues* (3 cr)
  • Creative & Expressive Arts* OR Humanities*: Select from GenEd options (3 cr) 
  • MEDT2217 Information Systems and Applications in Healthcare* (3 cr)
  • MEDT2006 Medical Terminology (3 cr) – OR can take in Winter Session

5th Semester (14 credits)

6th Semester (13 credits)

7th Semester (14 credits)

8th Semester (16 credits)

  • RESP 2111 Special Topics in Respiratory Care (2 cr)
  • RESP 2401 Clinical Experience IV (3 cr)
  • RESP 4001 Comprehensive Advanced Respiratory Care (2 cr)
  • MEDT Major Elective (3 cr)
  • MEDT4430 Utilization of Healthcare Research (3 cr)
  • Creative & Expressive Arts* OR Humanities*: Select from GenEd options (3 cr) 

Academic Program Plan: 3rd-Year RC Start

A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation from the FDU BS in Allied Health Technology degree program.  

**Accuplacer reading/writing scores and math assessment scores will determine which reading/writing and math courses first time, first year students will take.  Those with reading/writing placement scores below the standards must complete courses in prerequisite skills (e.g., WRIT 1000, WRIT 1001, READ 1000). Those with math placement scores below the standards must complete courses in prerequisite skills (e.g., MATH 0298, MATH 1100).  These credits are applied toward free electives or are non-credit-bearing.  This requirement applies to all first time, first year students, even if they have been accepted into this program track. 

1st Semester (15 credits)

  • WRIT1002 Composition I: Rhetoric & Inquiry* (3 cr)
  • BIOL2203/BIOL2223 Human Anatomy and Physiology I + Lab* [must pass to progress] (4 cr)
  • CHEM1107/CHEM1117 Chemistry for Health Sciences + Lab [must pass to progress] (4 cr)
  • UNIV1001 Transitioning to University Life* (1 cr)
  • MEDT1201 Introduction to Medical Sociology* OR PSYC1201 General Psychology* 

2nd Semester (16 credits)

  • WRIT1003 Composition II: Research & Argument* (3 cr)
  • BIOL2125/BIOL2126 Microbiology for Health Sciences & Lab [must pass to progress] (4 cr) 
  • BIOL2204/BIOL2224 Human Anatomy and Physiology II & Lab [must pass to progress] (4 cr)
  • MATH1105 College Algebra; OR MATH1107 Precalculus; OR MATH1201 Calculus I; OR MATH1203 Calculus I* [must pass to progress] (4 cr)
  • UNIV1002 Preparing for Professional Life* (1 cr)

3rd Semester (15 credits)

  • MEDT1201 Introduction to Medical Sociology* OR PSYC1201 General Psychology* (3 cr)  
  • MEDT2210 Pathophysiology [must pass to progress] (3 cr)
  • MEDT2005 Professional Communication* (3 cr)
  • UNIV2001 Cross-Cultural Perspectives* (3 cr)
  • STATISTICS: MEDT2900 Statistics for Health Sciences OR PSYC2210 Psychological Statistics (3 cr)

4th Semester (12-15 credits)

  • UNIV2002 Global Issues* (3 cr)
  • Creative & Expressive Arts* OR Humanities*: Select from GenEd options (3 cr) 
  • MEDT2217 Information Systems and Applications in Healthcare* (3 cr)
  • MEDT1130 Bioethics* (3 cr)
  • MEDT2006 Medical Terminology (3 cr) – OR can take in Winter Session

5th Semester (16 credits)

6th Semester (13 credits)

7th Semester (14 credits)

8th Semester (16 credits)

  • RESP 2111 Special Topics in Respiratory Care (2 cr)
  • RESP 2401 Clinical Experience IV (3 cr)
  • RESP 4001 Comprehensive Advanced Respiratory Care (2 cr)
  • MEDT Major Elective (3 cr)
  • MEDT4430 Utilization of Healthcare Research (3 cr)
  • Creative & Expressive Arts* OR Humanities*: Select from GenEd options (3 cr) 

To Apply for the Respiratory Care Program:

Apply for undergraduate allied health and health studies programs at:

https://getconnected.fdu.edu/register/?id=fcb7ff7f-d90d-49be-9047-3230255e98a3

Contact Information
Niko Nikolovienis (Program Director)
n.nikolovienis@fdu.edu
Contact Information
Jacqueline Bonaparte (Administrative Coordinator)
201-692-2889
CONAH-hs@fdu.edu

Our Respiratory Care Program (Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Technology/Respiratory Care concentration; CoARC program number 200681; Metropolitan Campus – Teaneck, New Jersey) holds Provisional 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. CoARC program outcomes data is available at: https://coarc.com/students/programmatic-outcomes-data/.