Never take breathing for granted.
Check out SCC's Respiratory Care Program. It’s not just another healthcare job – it’s a career that makes a real difference.
Respiratory therapists work with patients who range in age from premature infants to older adults. They also treat people who have chronic lung conditions, such as asthma or emphysema.
It's not secret that SCC's Respiratory Care program is challenging, that's because it aims to prepare students for national board exams and real-world professional experiences.
When you finish the program, you can graduate with confidence that you know your stuff and you're set to have a successful career.
Why Respiratory Care at SCC?
Get High-tech Learning: Hone your skills in our modern patient simulation lab as you treat lifelike manikins for all sorts of conditions and ailments.
Learn from Top-Tier Instructors: Our grads regularly out-perform grads from other respiratory care programs in the state. It is not uncommon for 100% of our grads to have jobs - often before they even graduate.
Make a Life-Saving Impact: As a respiratory care professional, you'll be making a direct impact on people's lives, helping them breathe better and live healthier.
Experience Broad Clinical Training: You’ll spend time in facilities of all shapes and sizes. That means you’ll have the skills to work in nearly every healthcare setting, giving you the flexibility to choose where you want to work.
What you’ll learn
Advanced Patient Assessment: Learn to assess and treat patients with respiratory issues, honing your skills in critical thinking and decision-making.
State-of-the-Art Technology: Get hands-on experience with cutting-edge respiratory technology, ensuring you're well-equipped for the demands of the field.
Team Collaboration: Develop strong teamwork and communication skills – essential for working in a dynamic healthcare environment.
Program location
Key classes you’ll take
- Respiratory Care Modalities
- Cardiopulmonary Pharmacology
- Pulmonary Pathology
- Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care
What you can do after finishing this program
Our graduates find employment in a variety of health care settings and care provider facilities throughout the region and across the state.
- Registered Respiratory Therapist
- Neonatal Pediatric Specialist
- Adult Critical Care Specialist
- Home Care Respiratory Therapist
- Pulmonary Function Technologist
- Sleep Technologist
- Critical Care Transport Respiratory Therapist
- Education Coordinator
You can also continue your education to earn specialized credentials in a number of areas.
Clinical partners
- Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center
- University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
- Blessing Hospital
- Ottumwa Regional Hospital
- Jefferson County
- Heritage Medical Supply
- Mississippi Valley Healthcare and Rehab
The Southeastern Community College Respiratory Care Program, CoARC # 200462, located in West Burlington Iowa, offers an Associate of Applied Science Degree and 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. Please review the programmatic outcomes.
*Additional Health professions student outcomes are available on the Student Outcomes page.
Last-Dollar Scholarship
If you're an Iowan, you may be eligible to earn this degree tuition-free.
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Great jobs ahead!
Our grads have outperformed the national average on their credential exams for over 20 years. They know their stuff!
Many have gone on to work for premier institutions including the University of Iowa and the Mayo Clinic.
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Well-rounded learning
Get hands-on experience as you learn to care for patients while rotating through clinical sites across the region including University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center, Blessing Hospital.
Contact Us
West Burlington Campus Admissions
Call: (319) 208-5155
Text: (319) 250-7144
Email: admissionswb@scciowa.edu
Keokuk Campus Admissions
Call: (319) 313-1923
Text: (319) 220-3266
Email: admissionskeo@scciowa.edu
Respiratory Care is a specialty field in the health occupation career field. Simply stated, "It deals with everything to do with the heart and lungs from babies through adulthood." This field is growing rapidly and has a great demand for graduates with an associate degree in respiratory care. Respiratory care ranks among the Top 20 fastest-growing occupations for the 21st century.
This two-year program includes clinical studies. These clinical studies consist of hands-on training that will take place in rotating hospitals within a 75-mile radius. Graduates of this program will be able to initiate, conduct, or modify respiratory care techniques in emergency and non-emergency settings.
The Southeastern Community College Respiratory Care Program, CoARC #200462, located in West Burlington, Iowa, offers an Associate of Applied Science Degree and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).
Summary Sheet
The summary sheet provides a program overview and other information.
Curriculum Sequence
| Prerequisites | Course Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| BIO-186 | Microbiology | 4 |
| CHM-122 | Introduction to General Chemistry | 4 |
| HSC-114 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 11 |
| Fall Semester I | Course Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| BIO-163 | Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
| ENG-105 | Composition I | 3 |
| RCP-231 | Introduction to Respiratory Care | 3 |
| RCP-232 | Respiratory Care Modalities | 1.5 |
| RCP-233 | Introduction to Clinical Practice | 3 |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 14.5 |
| Spring Semester I | Course Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| RCP-331 | Respiratory Care II | 3 |
| RCP-332 | Respiratory Care Modalities II | 1 |
| RCP-333 | Cardiopulmonary Pharmacology | 2 |
| RCP-350 | Pulmonary Pathology | 3 |
| RCP-751 | Respiratory Care Clinic I | 5 |
| SPC-101 | Fundamentals of Oral Communication | 3 |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 17 |
| Summer Semester | Course Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| PSY-111 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| RCP-480 | Advanced Cardiac Care | 2.5 |
| RCP-524 | Respiratory Care III | 5 |
| RCP-755 | Respiratory Care Clinic II | 1 |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 11.5 |
| Fall Semester II | Course Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| RCP-440 | Cardio/Pulmonary Diagnostics | 2 |
| RCP-450 | Respiratory Care IV | 3 |
| RCP-620 | Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care | 5 |
| RCP-761 | Respiratory Care Clinic III | 5 |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 15 |
| Spring Semester II | Course Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| RCP-767 | Respiratory Care Clinic IV | 8 |
| RCP-810 | Respiratory Care Professional | 2 |
| RCP-910 | Respiratory Care RRT Review | 2 |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 12 |
BIO-186 - Microbiology
|
Lecture: 3 |
Lab: 2 |
Credit: 4 |
A study of microbial populations and their relationships to the human in health and diseases.
CHM-122 - Introduction to General Chemistry
|
Lecture: 3 |
Lab: 2 |
Credit: 4 |
This introductory course is intended for non-science majors or for science majors who need a background in chemistry before taking College Chemistry I. Topics covered include properties of matter, measurements, atomic structure, chemical bonding and stoichiometry. Prerequisite: One year of high school algebra, MAT-062 or equivalent placement test scores. Please speak to an Enrollment specialist if you have completed high school algebra.
HSC-114 - Medical Terminology
|
Lecture: 2 |
Lab: 2 |
Credit: 3 |
This course is designed to study the basic language related to medical science with emphasis on word analysis, construction, definitions, pronunciations, spelling and standard abbreviations.
BIO-163 - Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology
|
Lecture: 3 |
Lab: 2 |
Credit: 4 |
This introductory course is designed for the student needing a one-semester combined anatomy and physiology course with laboratory. All systems will be covered with greater emphasis on the cardiovascular, respiratory, immune and urinary systems. This course also provides background for the more advanced courses, BIO-168 and BIO-173.
ENG-105 - Composition I
|
Lecture: 3 |
Credit: 3 |
A study of the principles of writing. Emphasis on rhetoric, mechanics and development of expository patterns: narration, description illustration, comparison/contrast, classification, process and cause/effect. Required for AA and AS Degrees. Prerequisite: Meet minimum test score requirements.
RCP-231 - Introduction to Respiratory Care
|
Lecture: 3 |
Credit: 3 |
An introduction to the respiratory care profession. Topics include respiratory care and the healthcare system; the economics of healthcare, communication, documentation, evidence –based practice; and the ethical and legal implications of practice. Students will also be introduced to entry level modalities such as oxygen and aerosol therapy. This is a companion course to RCP-232 where competencies for this course will be practiced and evaluated in the laboratory or simulation center setting prior to hands-on clinical practice with adult patients in a hospital setting. Prerequisite: Admission into the Program. Corequisites: RCP-232 and RCP-233.
RCP-232 - Respiratory Care Modalities
|
Lab: 3 |
Credit: 1.5 |
This course allows the entry level respiratory care student an opportunity to practice procedures using equipment in the respiratory care lab and simulation center. This is a companion course to RCP-231 and RCP-233, in which competencies related to recall, application and analysis using respiratory equipment are practiced and tested prior to patient care. Prerequisite: Admission to the Program. Corequisites: RCP-231 and RCP-233.
RCP-233 - Introduction to Clinical Practice
|
Lecture: 3 |
Credit: 3 |
This course focuses on the interaction between patients and the respiratory therapist for the purpose of providing healthcare service(s) or assessing the health status of a patient. Subjects included in this course are infection control, informatics, preparation for patient encounter, taking a medical history, performing a patient interview, cardiopulmonary symptoms, vital signs, physical examination of the chest, evaluation of breath sounds, review and analysis of laboratory studies and interpretation of ABGs. This is a companion course to RCP-232, where competencies for this course will be practiced and evaluated in the laboratory or simulation center setting prior to hands-on clinical practice with adult patients in a hospital setting. Prerequisite: Admission to the Program. Corequisites: RCP-231 and RCP-232.
RCP-331 - Respiratory Care II
|
Lecture: 3 |
Credit: 3 |
This course is a continuation of Introduction to Respiratory Care and will build on the equipment and therapeutic modalities essential to clinical practice. Major topics include airway management and airway clearance techniques, respiratory mechanics and control of breathing, arterial blood gases and methods of non-invasive ventilation. Prerequisites: RCP-231, RCP-232 and RCP-233. Corequisites: RCP-332, RCP-333, RCP-350 and RCP-751.
RCP-332 - Respiratory Care Modalities II
|
Lab: 2 |
Credit: 1 |
This course allows respiratory care students an opportunity to practice procedures using equipment in the respiratory lab and simulation center. The primary focus of this skills lab course is the practice and preparation for required Competency Evaluations for Respiratory Care II. Prerequisites: RCP-231, RCP-232 and RCP-233. Corequisites: RCP-331, RCP-333, RCP-350 and RCP-751.
RCP-333 - Cardiopulmonary Pharmacology
|
Lecture: 2 |
Credit: 2 |
Introduces general pharmacological principles and management relative to the cardiopulmonary system. Includes management and treatment of specific cardiopulmonary disorders and drugs used in advanced cardiac life support (ACLS). Prerequisites: RCP-231, RCP-232 and RCP-233. Corequisites: RCP-332, RCP-333, RCP-350 and RCP-751.
RCP-350 - Pulmonary Pathology
|
Lecture: 3 |
Credit: 3 |
This course presents an overview of acute and chronic diseases affecting the pulmonary system. Diagnosis, assessment, treatment and management of the disease will be discussed. Prerequisites: RCP-231, RCP-232 and RCP-233. Corequisites: RCP-331, RCP-332, RCP-333 and RCP-751.
RCP-751 - Respiratory Care Clinic I
|
Clinical: 15 |
Credit: 5 |
Learners are assigned to various clinical experiences within the hospital and homecare settings in order to apply principles and skills learned in RCP-331, RCP-332, and RCP-333. Prerequisites: Satisfactory completion of RCP-231, RCP-232 and RCP-233. Must be currently enrolled in or have satisfactorily passed RCP-331, RCP-332, RCP-333 and RCP-350.
SPC-101 - Fundamentals of Oral Communication
|
Lecture: 3 |
Credit: 3 |
Explores communication in a variety of contexts including interpersonal relationships, the workplace, small groups and public speaking. Emphasis on the application and practice of communication theories and skills, particularly public speaking.
PSY-111 - Introduction to Psychology
|
Lecture: 3 |
Credit: 3 |
A basic course in the understanding of behavior, designed to give the student a scientific background in the fundamental problems and techniques covered in the field of psychology.
RCP-480 - Advanced Cardiac Care
|
Lecture: 2 |
Lab: 1 |
Credit: 2.5 |
This course provides theory and laboratory practice in managing specific live-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias. Includes a review of basic life support, use of mechanical aids to establish an airway and maintain ventilation, ECG monitoring and recognition of life-threatening dysrhythmias, cardiac defibrillation and initiating appropriate cardiac drug therapy. Prerequisites: RCP-331, RCP-332, RCP-333, RCP-350 and RCP-751. Corequisites: RCP-524 and RCP-755.
RCP-524 - Respiratory Care III
|
Lecture: 4.5 |
Lab: 1 |
Credit: 5 |
This course introduces the concepts of mechanical ventilation used in the respiratory support of the critically ill patient, with emphasis on indications for ventilation, parameters monitored during ventilation, function and clinical applications. Prerequisites: RCP-331, RCP-332, RCP-333, RCP-350 and RCP-751. Corequisite: RCP-755.
RCP-755 - Respiratory Care Clinic II
|
Clinical: 4 |
Credit: 1 |
Learners are assigned to various clinical experiences within a health care setting to apply principles learned in the respiratory curriculum. Prerequisites: RCP-331, RCP-332, RCP-333, RCP-350 and RCP-751. Corequisites: RCP-524 and RCP-480.
RCP-440 - Cardio/Pulmonary Diagnostics
|
Lecture: 2 |
Credit: 2 |
This course will present various cardiopulmonary diagnostic tests and the role of the respiratory care practitioner. Contents included: pulmonary function testing, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, specialized test regimens and quality assurance in the pulmonary function laboratory. Prerequisites: RCP-350, RCP-524 and RCP-755. Corequisites: RCP-450, RCP-620 and RCP-761.
RCP-450 - Respiratory Care IV
|
Lecture: 2.5 |
Lab: 1 |
Credit: 3 |
This course will focus on advanced equipment and therapeutic modalities used in the practice of Respiratory Care. Major topics include ECGs, hemodynamic monitoring, cardiac pharmacology, polysomnography and pulmonary rehabilitation. Prerequisite: RCP-524. Corequisites: RCP-440 and RCP-620.
RCP-620 - Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care
|
Lecture: 4 |
Lab: 2 |
Credit: 5 |
This course will cover the assessment of the newborn and pediatric patient. Fetal circulation, congenital anomalies, respiratory disorders of the newborn, ventilation of the newborn, surfactant replacement, oxygen and aerosol therapy of the newborn and pediatric patient, as well as child development will be discussed. Prerequisites: RCP-524 and RCP-755. Corequisites: RCP-440, RCP-450 and RCP-761.
RCP-761 - Respiratory Care Clinic III
|
Clinical: 15 |
Credit: 5 |
Learners are assigned to various clinical experiences within a hospital and homecare setting to apply principles learned in the respiratory curriculum. Prerequisites: RCP-524 and RCP-755. Corequisites: RCP-440, RCP-450 and RCP-620.
RCP-767 - Respiratory Care Clinic IV
|
Clinical: 24 |
Credit: 8 |
Learners are assigned to various clinical experiences within a health care setting to apply principles learned in the respiratory curriculum. Prerequisites: RCP-440, RCP-450 RCP-620 and RCP-761. Corequisites: RCP-910 and RCP-810.
RCP-810 - Respiratory Care Professional
|
Lecture: 2 |
Credit: 2 |
The purpose of this course is to assist second year respiratory care students in preparing for autonomous professional practice. The role of the professional: duties to client, employer and public; professional responsibilities; involvement in continuing education and professional career development will be explores. Prerequisites: RCP-440, RCP-450, RCP-620 and RCP-761. Corequisites: RCP-766 and RCP-880.
RCP-910 - Respiratory Care RRT Review
|
Lecture: 2 |
Credit: 2 |
This course is designed to test the student's ability to successfully earn passing scores on advanced-level examinations. Although advanced-level examinations will be the focus of this course, review of entry-level examination concepts will also be provided. Mock board examinations will be administered after completion of a comprehensive review seminar. Prerequisites: RCP-440, RCP-450, RCP-620 and RCP-761. Corequisites: RCP-810 and RCP-767.
Stacy Sells - Professor - Respiratory Care/Program Coordinator
Email: ssells@scciowa.edu
AAS, Kirkwood Community College
BHS, University of Missouri, Columbia
Ed. M, University of Illinois
Deanna Johannsen - Respiratory Care Clinical Coordinator/Instructor
Email: djohannsen@scciowa.edu
AAS & AS, Southeastern Community College
BS, Western Governors University
MBA, Western Governors University