Respiratory Care

Respiratory Care

Offered at the SPC Reese Center
Respiratory care is a rapidly expanding medical specialty
concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of people with
cardiopulmonary disorders. South Plains College offers a
two-year program that culminates in an Associate of Applied
Science degree in respiratory care. This degree confers eligibility
to apply for the Entry-Level and Advanced-Level Therapist
examinations given by the National Board for Respiratory Care.
A successful score on the Entry-Level examination qualifies
the applicant as a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and
allows application for a Texas Respiratory Care Practitioner
license. Successful completion of the Advanced-Level examination
leads to the Registered Respiratory Therapist credential
(RRT). The program also awards a Tech Prep Enhanced
Skills Certificate upon completion of additional technical
courses. The program is fully accredited by the Committee on
Accreditation of Respiratory Care (CoARC).
Program director is Khris Segrist, instructor in respiratory
care.

Program Admission Requirements
Persons interested in the Respiratory Care program must
complete the following entrance requirements:
1. Complete the requirements for admission to South
Plains College. Admission to the college does not
guarantee admission to the Respiratory Care program.
2. Complete a career planning session with the Respiratory
Care program director and receive a program application.
The applicant should contact the program at
(806) 885-3048, ext. 4625, or by e-mail at ksegrist@
southplainscollege.edu.
3. Submit a program application to the program director
by April 15 to be eligible for the upcoming August
class. Early application is recommended.
4. Complete the prerequisite classes. It is recommended
that applicants complete as many of the remaining
general education classes as possible. Classes must be
completed with a grade of “C” or better.
5. Admission to the program is limited, based on clinical
training space. Eligible applicants will be evaluated by
the following criteria:
a. Must successfully complete all of the prerequisite
courses with a grade of “C” or better. Completion
of all general education classes is strongly recommended.
b. Interview by the program director.
c. Evaluation of grade point average.
d. Submission date of application.
e. When unusual circumstances present themselves,
special consideration for admission may be evaluated
on an individual basis. The program director,
Allied Health Chairperson and Dean of Health
Occupations will make these final determinations
regarding admission to the program.

Associate of Applied Science Degree

PREREQUISITE COURSES*
BIOL 2401 Anatomy and Physiology I .............................4
BIOL 2402 Anatomy and Physiology II ...........................4
BIOL 2420 Microbiology ..................................................4
ENGL 1301 Composition I ...............................................3
MATH 0311 Fundamentals of Arithmetic
for Allied Health* .........................................................3
Total Semester Hours .............................18

FIRST SEMESTER
PSYC 2301 General Psychology. ......................................3
RSPT 1160 Clinical-Respiratory Therapy/Therapist .......1
RSPT 1207 Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Phys. ..........2
RSPT 1325 Respiratory Care Sciences ............................3
RSPT 1429 Respiratory Care Fundamentals I .................4
Total Semester Hours .............................13

SECOND SEMESTER
RSPT 1240 Adv. Cardio. Anatomy and Physiology ..........2
RSPT 1331 Respiratory Care Fundamentals II ...............3
RSPT 1361 Clinical-Respiratory Care
Therapy/Therapist. ........................................................3
RSPT 2210 Cardiopulmonary Disease .............................2
RSPT 2317 Respiratory Care Pharmacology ...................3
Total Semester Hours .............................13

THIRD SEMESTER
RSPT 1141 Respiratory Home Care/Rehab. ....................1
RSPT 1166 Practicum-Respiratory Care
Therapy/Therapist .........................................................1
RSPT 2314 Mechanical Ventilation .................................3
Total Semester Hours ...............................5

FOURTH SEMESTER
COSC 1401 Intro. to Computer & Info. Sciences ...........4
RSPT 2135 Pediatric Advanced Life Support ..................1
RSPT 2147 Specialties in Respiratory Care .....................1
RSPT 2266 Practicum-Resp. Therapy/Therapist. ............2
RSPT 2353 Neonatal/Pediatric Cardio. Care ...................3
Total Semester Hours .............................11

FIFTH SEMESTER
RSPT 2130 Exam Preparation .........................................1
RSPT 2239 Adv. Cardiac Life Support .............................2
RSPT 2267 Practicum-Respiratory Care
Therapy/Therapist .......................................................2
RSPT 2325 Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics ......................3
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective*** ...................................3
Total Semester Hours .............................11

* Although not a requirement for this degree, students
are strongly encouraged to take ORNT 0120 during the
first semester of enrollment.
** Tech Prep related courses that may be articulated with
high school.
*** Consult your program advisor for a list of approved
electives.