Entry-Level Respiratory Therapy

Degree:Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Major:Entry-Level Respiratory Therapy
Department:Health Sciences and Administration
Building 38, Room 135A
850-474-3468
http://uwf.edu/ukcoh/departments/health-sciences-administration
College:Usha Kundu, MD College of Health
CIP Code:51.0908
Semester Hours Required For Degree: 120

The Bachelor of Science in Entry-Level Respiratory Therapy (BS-RT) is designed to train graduates for careers as respiratory therapists. The program of study meets CoARC requirements and students are prepared to take the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) licensure exams administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) as required to practice in the state of Florida. Graduates are prepared to work with physicians and other health professionals to provide for diagnosis, treatment, management, preventive care, and rehabilitation of patients across the lifespan with cardiopulmonary abnormalities. This degree program is 120 credit hours.

The University of West Florida Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences- Respiratory Therapy (BSHS-RT) Program has received approval to seek provisional accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com). Once this provisional accreditation is obtained, students completing all program requirements are eligible to sit for the examinations given by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) and to obtain state licensure after passing the examinations.

Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
1248 Harwood Road, Bedford, Texas 76021-4244
(817) 283-2835

Admission Requirements

Acceptance to the University does not constitute admission to the upper-division Respiratory Therapy program. Students entering UWF or declaring a major in Respiratory Therapy will automatically be placed in a pending status until they meet the following requirements for admission:

  • Complete all prerequisite courses with a grade of "C" or better prior to taking major courses.
  • Complete general education requirements, including foreign language and civic literacy.
  • Minimum overall GPA 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Complete BS-RT program application, including a personal statement.
  • Complete personal e-interview with BS-RT program faculty.
  • Meet the requirements for the BS-RT program, including immunizations, criminal background check and drug screening.
  • Additional consideration is given by the selection committee for completed respiratory therapy (RT) observation or prior relevant healthcare experience.

Please note that the UWF Bachelor of Science in Entry-Level Respiratory Therapy (BS-RT) does not accept prior respiratory care education or work experience in lieu of the required coursework. Additionally, advanced placement options are not available for this program. All students must complete the full curriculum of the program to ensure they meet the necessary competencies and qualifications for professional respiratory care certification and practice.

Program Progression

  • All BS-RT program courses are taught in a sequential manner. Each course in the program serves as a prerequisite for the subsequent courses. Consequently, BS-RT program courses must be taken in sequence.
  • Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 and earn a grade of C or higher in all graded program courses to remain in the BS-RT program.
  • Students must demonstrate proficiency in all clinical skills presented to pass clinical practicum courses. For all clinical practicum courses, the final exam must be passed at the designated cut score AND a grade of C or better must be maintained to successfully continue in the program.
  • A student success plan (SSP) is designed to provide precautionary support and guidance to students who may be experiencing academic, clinical, or professional challenges in the BS-RT program. The goal is to help students identify areas for improvement, develop effective strategies, and successfully progress in their studies.

Program Remediation

  • Students who receive less than a passing grade of C in a program course or do not meet the minimum GPA requirement of 2.5 will receive specialized academic advising to develop a structured growth and development plan (GDP).
  • Students repeating an RET lab course must also repeat the RET lecture component. Conversely, if the student is repeating a RET lecture course, the associated RET laboratory course must also be repeated.
  • Due to the critical nature of remediation regarding CoARC outcomes and NBRC exam scores, students are required to complete all assigned remediation.
  • Failure to complete the remediation plan or demonstrate required competency may result in course failure, clinical practicum suspension, or dismissal from the program.

Program Probation/Dismissal

  • Failure to earn a grade of C or higher in a BS-RT program course, withdrawing from a course, or not maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.5 may lead to placement on a Professional Development Plan (PDP), academic probation, a leave of absence (LOA), and/or dismissal from the program following a formal review.
  • Failure to maintain the academic and professional standards specified in the BS-RT student handbook may result in dismissal from the BS-RT program.

Program Readmission

  • A student who fails a BS-RT program course, drops a BS-RT program course during a semester, or does not proceed to the next BS-RT program course may be eligible for readmission at the first available opportunity and must petition the Program Director to reenter the BS-RT program. Students readmitted to the program will pick up the course sequence as prescribed by the Program Director.
  • To be eligible for readmission to the BS-RT program, a student must have no more than one program course grade below a C and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5.
  • Students who withdraw from two or more program courses may not be eligible for readmission, with eligibility determined on a case-by-case basis.
  • If readmitted to the BS-RT program, students may repeat a program course (including clinical practicum) one time only and must successfully pass the course on the second attempt to remain in the program.

Program Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must complete at least 120 semester hours with a minimum of 48 specified upper-division hours (3000/4000 level) at UWF.

In order to graduate, all students must:

  • Complete at least 120 semester hours with a minimum of 48 specified upper-division hours (3000/4000 level) at UWF.
  • Complete all BS-RT program courses with a grade of “C” or better.
  • Complete all RET clinical practicums with a grade of “C” or better.
  • Complete the comprehensive end-of-program competency assessments (a practice Therapist Multiple Choice [TMC] and a practice Clinical Simulation Examination) with a passing score of “C” or better.
  • Maintain academic and professional standards as specified in the Entry-Level Respiratory Therapy program student handbook

Students are expected to adhere to the Student Code of Academic Conduct. The penalty for any instance of academic misconduct will be handled according to the Office of Students' Rights and Responsibilities' Academic Misconduct Process. Depending on the seriousness of the violation, that process may result in additional penalties such as a failing grade for the course, denial of admission to or dismissal from the Respiratory Therapy Program, or even suspension or expulsion from the University. Students are advised to take special care to preserve their academic integrity and not to jeopardize it by any form of academic misconduct.

General Education

In addition to the General Education requirements, students must satisfy all additional University requirements, including the College-Level Communication and Computation, Multicultural, and Foreign Language requirements. With appropriate planning and coordination with an academic advisor, students may satisfy some of the general University requirements through the General Education curriculum. For a complete listing of general degree requirements, refer to the State University Requirements and Degree Requirements sections of this catalog.

General Education Curriculum:

Multicultural Requirement 

Civic Literacy Requirement

The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018-2019 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy by passing an assessment or taking AMH 2020 United States Since 1877 or POS 2041 American Politics.

The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and an exam. In 2024, the Board of Governors made an additional revision, recognizing two new courses meeting the Civic Literacy requirement, AMH 2010 United States to 1877 and AMS 2010 Civil Discourse and the American Political Order. As a result, there are four cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions that are subject to varying requirements.

As demonstrated in the table below, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.

Students Included in Cohort Civic Literacy Competency Requirement
Cohort 1: Students initially entering the SUS or FCS before fall 2018 None
Cohort 2: Students initially entering the SUS or FCS in Academic Year 2018 through Academic Year 2020 Complete a course or Assessment.
Cohort 3: Students initially entering the SUS or FCS in Academic Year 2021 through Academic Year 2023 Course and Assessment.
Cohort 4: Students initially entering the SUS or FCS in fall 2024 and thereafter Course and Assessment.

Additionally, for Cohorts 3 and 4, approved accelerated mechanisms may meet the course and/or assessment requirement, and students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE) in high school are exempt from the postsecondary exam requirement.

There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine which option is best for their degree requirements/degree plan. 

Additional information can be found on our Civic Literacy website, SUS regulation BOG 8.006, and Florida Statute s.1007.25(4,a-b).

Mathematics Pathway

Students are advised to complete the following courses to fulfill the mathematics pathway that aligns with the mathematics skills needed for success in their program and their career goals. Students should refer to their academic advisor for questions about the math pathway for their program. For information about this requirement, refer to the catalog page for Mathematics Pathways. These courses may also fulfill requirements for General Education and Common Prerequisites. 

Statistical Reasoning
STA 2023Elements of Statistics3
MAC 1105College Algebra3

Common Prerequisites

BSC 1085
& 1085L		Anatomy and Physiology I
and Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory *		4
BSC 1086
& 1086L		Anatomy and Physiology II
and Anatomy & Physiology II Laboratory *		4
CHM 2045
& 2045L		General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory *		4
MCB 2010
& 2010L		Microbiology for Health Sciences
and Microbiology Lab for Health Sciences		4
Total Hours16
*

Indicates common prerequisites which can be used to satisfy General Education requirements.

General Education Recommendations

ENC 1101English Composition I3
ENC 1102English Composition II3
MAC 1105College Algebra3
STA 2023Elements of Statistics3
AMH 2020United States Since 18773
or POS 2041 American Politics
PSY 2012General Psychology3
DEP 2004Human Development Across the Lifespan3
Total Hours21

Lower Division Electives

Students must complete sufficient 1000/2000 level electives to satisfy at least 60 semester hours (sh) in the lower division. Current UWF students may use elective courses at any level (1000-4000) to meet this elective requirement.17
Recommended electives:
Algebra-Based Physics I
and Algebra-Based Physics I Lab
Medical Terminology

Major-Related Courses

HSA 3551Health Ethics and Professionalism3
HSC 4050Health Sciences Capstone Course3
Total Hours6

Major

RET 3028Foundations of Respiratory Therapy +3
RET 3028LFoundations of Respiratory Therapy Lab +1
RET 3487Cardiopulmonary Anatomy & Physiology +3
RET 3493Patient Assessment +3
RET 3493LPatient Assessment Lab +1
RET 3884Clinical Practicum I +3
RET 3354Cardiopulmonary Pharmacotherapy +3
RET 3445Cardiopulmonary Diseases & Diagnostics +3
RET 3445LCardiopulmonary Diseases & Diagnostics Lab +1
RET 3266Fundamentals of Mechanical Ventilation +3
RET 3266LFundamentals of Mechanical Ventilation Lab +1
RET 3885Clinical Practicum II +3
RET 3448Advanced Therapeutics & Patient Monitoring Concepts in Respiratory Therapy +2
RET 4616Professional Healthcare Presence: Leadership, Administration, & Education +2
RET 4277Critical Care Management +3
RET 4277LCritical Care Management Lab +1
RET 4718Neonatal-Pediatric Respiratory Care +2
RET 4718LNeonatal-Pediatric Respiratory Care Lab +1
RET 4050Evidence-Based Practice in Respiratory Care +2
RET 4886Clinical Practicum III +4
RET 4535Disease Management: Extended Respiratory Therapy Services +2
RET 4950Respiratory Therapy Capstone Project +2
RET 4930RT Seminar: Exam Preparation & Career Guidance +1
RET 4887Clinical Practicum IV +4
Total Hours54
+

Courses included in the major GPA.