Respiratory Care - BS

St. Catherine University is one of the few institutions in the upper Midwest to offer a bachelor's degree in the field of Respiratory Care. The Respiratory Care Major is offered in five consecutive semesters (including a summer session) for students in the College for Women. The Respiratory Care Major is also available to students matriculating in other Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC). Respiratory Care Majors receive individualized advising to facilitate timely completion of their professional and liberal arts and science courses.

The Respiratory Care Program curriculum integrates the respiratory care courses with liberal arts and science backgrounds to provide students with a well-balanced depth of knowledge. This diverse foundation will prepare students to function as a competent professionals in their daily interactions with patients in various healthcare settings. Students will learn the essential knowledge and skills required of a Respiratory Therapist in courses such as the following:

  • Respiratory Care Fundamentals
  • Pathophysiology in Respiratory Care I & II
  • Cardiopulmonary Critical Care I & II 
  • Respiratory Care Clinical Applications (series of courses)
  • Respiratory Care Clinical Specialty

With over 800 possible hours of clinical experiences in critical care, newborn and pediatric intensive care, pulmonary diagnostics and rehabilitation, and long-term acute care, students  actively collaborate with faculty and clinicians to develop well-honed respiratory care skills, critical thinking strategies, leadership skills, and professional communication skills. Clinical practicums are scheduled at nationally renowned metropolitan healthcare facilities such as HealthEast, Fairview/M Health, Park Nicollet, HealthPartners, Allina, North Memorial Medical Center, Hennepin Health, and Children's Hospitals of Minnesota.

St. Kate's Respiratory Care graduates are prepared to provide skilled patient care, influence the quality of healthcare services, promote cardiopulmonary health, and assume advanced positions in the profession. Upon graduation, most respiratory therapists are employed in acute care hospitals. 

Graduates of the respiratory care program are eligible to take the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) credentialing examinations. Upon receiving a low threshold passing score on the NBRC Therapist Multiple Choice Exam, graduates are awarded the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential. This allows graduates to apply to the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice to work as a licensed respiratory therapist in the state of Minnesota. Upon receiving a high threshold passing score, graduates are able to take the second of two board exams, and after passing the second exam, the Clinical Simulation Exam (CSE), they are awarded the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential.

The St. Catherine University Respiratory Care Baccalaureate Degree Major (St Paul, Minnesota) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care https://coarc.com

The Respiratory Care Department requires that students apply to enter the Respiratory Care Major. Applications are accepted year-round (or until the program is full) in the year proceeding the year a student wishes to begin the program of study.  

Respiratory Care Major Admissions Process:

  • Students are required to apply to the respiratory care major and must have completed 30 credit hours with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5, including prerequisite courses.
  • All prerequisite and supporting courses must be completed with a C (2.0) or better grade (and cannot be taken for S/U grading)
  • Prerequisite transfer coursework will not be accepted if it is greater than 10 years old

Readmission Timeline Policy:

We understand and support students who may have had to stop out of the program due to health, grades, life circumstances, etc. If this occurs we do allow a student to readmit once into the program where they left off if space allows.

However, due to the changing nature of Respiratory Care a student must complete our program in three years’ time. If a student must stop out of the program for more than an academic year this student must re-enroll as a new student from the beginning of the curriculum. This statement is also subjective to if there are any curricular changes, they could also be subject to retaking coursework already passed.

The Program Director will be able to help you with these answers if a readmission were to be requested. 

This major is offered in the College for Women only.

Curriculum

A minimum grade of C is required for all courses: respiratory care courses, prerequisites, and required supporting courses.

Required Courses
RESP 2110Cardiopulmonary Physiology2
RESP 2120Fundamentals of Respiratory Care6
RESP 2130Pharmacology2
RESP 3110Clinical Applications I2
RESP 3120Pathophysiology in Critical Care I2
RESP 3220Pathophysiology in Critical Care II2
RESP 3230Clinical Applications II6
RESP 3300Cardiopulmonary Critical Care I with Lab4
RESP 3330Clinical Applications III4
RESP 3400Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics2
RESP 4115Clinical Specialty I4
RESP 4300Cardiopulmonary Critical Care II4
RESP 4310Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care2
RESP 4800WSenior Seminar4
Total Credits46
Prerequisite Courses
BIOL 2200Introduction to Microbiology with Lab4
BIOL 2610Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab4
BIOL 2620Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab4
Select one of the following:4-8
General Chemistry for Health Sciences with Lab
General Chemistry I with Lab
and General Chemistry II with Lab (recommended)
IPE 1030Healthcare Teams Foundations and Medical Terminology2
Total Credits18-22
Required Supporting Courses
IPE 4200WHealthcare Teams - Evidence-Based Practice4
PHIL 3400Biomedical Ethics4
Select one from:4
Statistical Analysis for Decision Making
Biostatistics
Statistical Methods in Psychology
Statistical Analysis
Total Credits12

The required supporting courses may be completed prior to beginning the respiratory care major or during the completion of course work in the major. The timely completion of these supporting courses is required for progression in the respiratory care major.

Respiratory care majors satisfy the Writing Requirement for Majors and the fourth writing requirement by completing RESP 4800W Senior Seminar and IPE 4200W Healthcare Teams - Evidence-Based Practice . They complete the Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Writing Requirement with two other writing-intensive courses (CORE 1000W The Reflective Woman and CORE 3990W Global Search for Justice).

Fall Term
CHEM 1010General Chemistry for Health Sciences with Lab 14
or CHEM 1110 General Chemistry I with Lab
Spring Term
CHEM 1120General Chemistry II with Lab (if taking this sequence)4
IPE 1030Healthcare Teams Foundations and Medical Terminology2
Select one from:4
Statistical Analysis for Decision Making
Biostatistics
Statistical Methods in Psychology
Statistical Analysis
Fall Term
BIOL 2610Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab4
Spring Term
BIOL 2200Introduction to Microbiology with Lab4
BIOL 2620Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab4
Fall Term
PHIL 3400Biomedical Ethics4
RESP 2110Cardiopulmonary Physiology2
RESP 2120Fundamentals of Respiratory Care6
RESP 2130Pharmacology2
Spring Term
RESP 3110Clinical Applications I2
RESP 3120Pathophysiology in Critical Care I2
RESP 3300Cardiopulmonary Critical Care I with Lab4
RESP 3400Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics2
Summer Term
RESP 3230Clinical Applications II6
Fall Term
IPE 4200WHealthcare Teams - Evidence-Based Practice4
RESP 3220Pathophysiology in Critical Care II2
RESP 3330Clinical Applications III4
RESP 4300Cardiopulmonary Critical Care II4
RESP 4310Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care2
Spring Term
RESP 4115Clinical Specialty I4
RESP 4800WSenior Seminar4
Total Credits80
1

Or CHEM 1110 (fall) and CHEM 1120 (spring)