Respiratory Therapy

Associate in Applied Science

Modes of Instruction

Click here to learn more about the modes of instruction offered at Kaskaskia College.

Respiratory Therapists are health care team members who evaluate, treat, educate and care for patients with heart and lung disorders. They are a vital part of the lifesaving response team that handles patient emergencies. Respiratory Therapists treat all types of patients, ranging from premature infants to the elderly. In this rewarding career, you will become an important part of the patient's “Breath of Life.”

KC's Associate Degree in Respiratory Therapy provides five semesters of instruction in respiratory theory, lab & clinical practice. It also provides instruction in biological & behavioral sciences and humanities.

For more information on our Respiratory Therapy program, call us today at (618) 545-3040.

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To apply to the College, please click the Apply button below. To apply to this program, scroll to the bottom of the page and under “Additional Information”, choose the Allied Health Applications link.

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What You Can Do

Upon successful completion of this degree students will be prepared for employment as a Respiratory Therapist in a Hospital setting caring for newborn to geriatric patients, Skilled Care Facility, Nursing Home, Clinics, Home Care, and Doctor’s Office.

Program Details

RESP_0525_DEGR

Curriculum

First Semester
RESP-110	Respiratory Procedures I	5.00
RESP-111	Applied Respiratory Sciences	4.00
BIOL-117	Systematic Human A & P	4.00
RESP-113	Professional and Interpersonal Respon.	2.00
PSYH-101	Psychology	3.00
		18.00

Second Semester
RESP-117	Respiratory Procedures II	5.00
RESP-115	Respiratory Procedures III	4.00
RESP-116	Respiratory Clinical/Lab Practice I	6.00
COMM-103	Fundamentals of Speech Communication	3.00
		18.00

Summer Semester
RESP-209	Respiratory Procedures IV	5.00
ENGL-101	English Composition	3.00
		8.00

Third Semester
RESP-211	Cardiopulmonary Disease	4.00
RESP-212	Respiratory Clinical/Lab Practice II	6.00
RESP-213	Respiratory Procedures V	3.00
RESP-214	Respiratory Specialties	3.00
		16.00

Fourth Semester
RESP-217	Respiratory Seminar	6.00
RESP-218	Respiratory Clinical/Lab Prac. III	6.00
SOCO-101	Sociology	3.00
		15.00

Cost

First Semester
tuition (18 credit hours)	$2448.00
student services fee (18 credit hours)	$432.00
lab fee	$295.00
books	$432.00
stethoscope	$60.00
insurance	$45.00
	$3712.00

Second Semester
tuition (18 credit hours)	$2448.00
student services fee (18 credit hours)	$432.00
lab fee	$365.00
books	$432.00
Clinical Uniform	$100.00
	$3777.00

Summer Semester
tuition (8 credit hours)	$1088.00
student services fee (8 credit hours)	$192.00
lab fee	$203.00
books	$192.00
	$1675.00

Third Semester
tuition (16 credit hours)	$2176.00
student services fee (16 credit hours)	$384.00
lab fee	$505.00
books	$384.00
insurance	$34.00
	$3483.00

Fourth Semester
tuition (15 credit hours)	$2040.00
student services fee (15 credit hours)	$360.00
lab fee	$550.00
books	$360.00
	$3310.00

The Respiratory Therapy Program, CoARC #200487, awards an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree at Kaskaskia College in Centralia Illinois. The program is accredited by 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.

Respiratory Programmatic Outcomes Data
The mission of the Respiratory Therapy Program at Kaskaskia College is to provide comprehensive educational opportunities that will enable the graduate to become a Respiratory Therapist. The program is designed to develop and instill sense of obligation in the student to become a contributing member of the profession, while fostering attitude toward lifelong learning and development of skills.
These are the academic and technical standards expected of a respiratory therapy student at Kaskaskia College:
1. The ability to speak and write in a clear manner.
2. The ability to read and comprehend textbooks and understand instructions.
3. Vision sufficient to assess patient status and to perform arterial punctures, operate medical equipment and read a computer screen.
4. Sense of touch sufficient to assess patient status and to perform arterial punctures. Sense of touch adequate to palpate and percuss the patient chest.
5. Manual dexterity sufficient to assess patient status, perform arterial punctures, perform CPR, operate medical equipment, and use a computer keyboard.
6. Hearing sufficient to assess patient status, hear pages and alarms, and use the telephone. Hearing adequate to hear breath sounds, equipment alarms and paging systems.
7. The ability to walk and stand for up to 12 consecutive hours on clinical training days.
8. The ability to walk quickly or run to respond to emergency calls or assist in critically ill patient transports.
9. Ability to climb stairs to respond quickly to an emergency on another floor when elevators are unavailable or full.
10. The ability to exert enough pressure to move medical equipment traditionally used by respiratory therapists in the acute care setting. This includes but is not limited to: ventilators, BiPAP machines, ECG machines and oxygen cylinders.
11. The ability to lift or move patients from infants to adults.
12. The ability to kneel, bend or squat and reach in any direction.
13. Ability to push or pull equipment up to 200 lbs.
14. Ability to lift equipment/supplies up to 50 lbs.
15. Ability to assemble complex equipment and perform fine motor skills.
16. Interpersonal skills necessary to work with peers, instructors, supervisors, multidisciplinary staff, physicians and patients at the clinical site.
17. Ability to cope with physically and mentally stressful situations.
18. Maintain composure and concentration while managing & prioritizing multiple tasks simultaneously.
19. Display actions, attitudes consistent with ethical standards of the profession.
The Kaskaskia College Respiratory Therapy program meets licensure requirements in the state of Illinois.

Higher education institutions and the U.S. Department of Education share a common goal: to support students in educational programs that lead to state licensure, enabling them to fulfill the educational requirements necessary for employment in their chosen field. According to U.S. Department of Education regulations 34 CFR 668.14(b)(32), starting July 1, 2024, all institutions must disclose whether the curriculum for Title IV-eligible programs designed or advertised as leading to professional licensure or certification required for employment meets state educational requirements where a student is located. Disclosure is required regardless of a program's modality. Academic programs that provide a path to optional, national, or industry certifications do not require disclosure.

Kaskaskia College strives to ensure that information regarding educational requirements for licensure or certification is up to date; however, state requirements may change. Beyond educational requirements, state licensure boards may require applicants to complete professional examinations, background checks, years of professional experience, residency requirements, jurisprudence exams, and other training.

The new U.S. Department of Education regulations, 34 CFR 668.14(b)(32) require colleges to assign programs leading to licensure or certification to one of two categories; Yes, meets state requirements or No, does not meet state requirements.

Kaskaskia Colleges educational programs are designed to meet licensure requirements in the state of Illinois regardless of the modality of instruction. The programs listed below meet educational requirements for professional licensure or certification for that occupation in Illinois:

Associate Degree Nursing

Cosmetology

Dental Assisting

Emergency Medical Technician

Nail Technology

Paramedicine

Physical Therapy Assistant

Practical Nursing

Radiologic Technology

Respiratory Therapy

Sonography

Kaskaskia College cannot guarantee licensure or certification in other states. State laws, regulations, and policies governing professional licensure may change at any time. The decision to grant a license or certification is the purview of the state. Only state licensing agencies or boards can determine whether an academic program meets or partially meets educational

requirements for licensure. Kaskaskia College cannot guarantee an individual's attainment of any professional licensure or certification, in any field, in any state. At this time, per regulations, the College must assign, No, does not meet requirements in states other than Illinois.

Students are encouraged to contact the appropriate state licensing authority directly to determine if Kaskaskia Colleges program meets the educational requirements for licensure before beginning the program. Many Kaskaskia College licensure and certification program graduates have successfully transferred into careers and obtained licensure or certification in states other than Illinois.

Total Cost

Program Goals and Outcomes

To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT’s).

Outcome #1-A: Demonstrate the ability to interpret, apply, and evaluate clinical information relevant to their role as a Respiratory Therapist. (Cognitive Domain)
Outcome #1-B: Demonstrate the technical proficiency necessary with all skills to fulfill the role of a Respiratory Therapist. (Psychomotor Domain)
Outcome #1-C: Demonstrate personal behaviors consistent with professional expectations for a Respiratory Therapist. (Affective Domain)

Students completing this degree must also complete curriculum requirements aligned with General Education Student Learning Outcomes.