Program Overview

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Entry-Level Respiratory Therapy Program

The Bachelor of Science in Entry-Level Respiratory Therapy (BS-RT) is designed to train graduates for careers as respiratory therapists. The program 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.

Program Overview

• The program is 120 credit hours.
• Graduates are prepared to work with physicians and other health professionals to provide diagnosis, treatment, management, preventive care, and rehabilitation of patients across the lifespan with cardiopulmonary abnormalities.

Admission Requirements

• Acceptance to the University does not constitute admission to the upper-division Respiratory Therapy program.
• Students must complete all prerequisite courses with a grade of "C" or better prior to taking major courses.
• Students must 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.

Program Progression

• All BS-RT program courses are taught in a sequential manner.
• 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.
• 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.

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.
• Due to the critical nature of remediation regarding CoARC outcomes and NBRC exam scores, students are required to complete all assigned remediation.

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.
• 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.

Program Graduation Requirements

• 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 with a passing score of "C" or better.
• Maintain academic and professional standards as specified in the Entry-Level Respiratory Therapy program student handbook.

General Education

General Education Curriculum

Communication

• ENC 1101: English Composition I
• ENC 1102: English Composition II
• Communication Elective Options:
  • CRW 2001: Introduction to Creative Writing
  • MMC 2000: Principles of Mass Communication
  • SPC 2608: Public Speaking

Humanities

• Choose one course from the Humanities Core and one additional course from either the Humanities Core or the Humanities Breadth.
• Humanities Core Options:
  • ARH 1000: Art Appreciation
  • HUM 2020: Introduction to Humanities
  • LIT 2000: Introduction to Literature
  • MUL 2010: Music Appreciation
  • PHI 2010: Introduction to Philosophy
  • THE 2000: Theatre Appreciation
• Humanities Breadth Options:
  • AML 2010: American Literature I
  • AML 2020: American Literature II
  • AMS 2010: Civil Discourse and the American Political Order
  • ARH 2050: Western Survey I: Prehistory to the Medieval Period
  • ARH 2051: Western Survey II: Renaissance to Contemporary

Mathematics

• Choose one course from the Mathematics Core and one additional course from either the Mathematics Core or the Mathematics Breadth.
• Mathematics Core Options:
  • MAC 1105: College Algebra
  • MAC 2311: Analytic Geometry and Calculus I
  • MGF 1130: Mathematical Thinking
  • STA 2023: Elements of Statistics
• Mathematics Breadth Options:
  • MAC 1114: Trigonometry
  • MAC 1140: Precalculus Algebra
  • MAC 1147: Precalculus with Trigonometry
  • MAC 2233: Calculus with Business Applications
  • MAC 2312: Analytic Geometry and Calculus II

Natural Sciences

• Choose one course from the Natural Sciences Core and one additional course from either the Natural Sciences Core or the Natural Sciences Breadth.
• Natural Sciences Core Options:
  • AST 1002: Descriptive Astronomy
  • BSC 1005: General Biology for Non-Majors
  • BSC 1085: Anatomy and Physiology I
  • CHM 1020: Concepts in Chemistry
  • CHM 2045: General Chemistry I
• Natural Sciences Breadth Options:
  • ANT 2511: Biological Anthropology
  • AST 2037: Life in the Universe
  • BOT 2010: General Botany
  • BSC 1050: Fundamentals of Ecology
  • BSC 2011: Biology II

Social Sciences

• Choose one course from the Social Sciences Core and one additional course from either the Social Sciences Core or the Social Sciences Breadth.
• Social Sciences Core Options:
  • AMH 2010: United States to 1877
  • AMH 2020: United States Since 1877
  • ANT 2000: Introduction to Anthropology
  • ECO 2013: Principles of Economics Macro
  • POS 2041: American Politics
  • PSY 2012: General Psychology
• Social Sciences Breadth Options:
  • ANT 2100: Introduction to Archaeology
  • CCJ 2002: Survey of Crime and Justice
  • CIS 2530: Introduction to Cybersecurity
  • COM 2023: Death and Communication
  • CPO 2002: Comparative Politics

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 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.

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.

• STA 2023: Elements of Statistics
• MAC 1105: College Algebra

Common Prerequisites

• BSC 1085 & 1085L: Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory
• BSC 1086 & 1086L: Anatomy and Physiology II and Anatomy & Physiology II Laboratory
• CHM 2045 & 2045L: General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory
• MCB 2010 & 2010L: Microbiology for Health Sciences and Microbiology Lab for Health Sciences

General Education Recommendations

• ENC 1101: English Composition I
• ENC 1102: English Composition II
• MAC 1105: College Algebra
• STA 2023: Elements of Statistics
• AMH 2020: United States Since 1877 or POS 2041: American Politics
• PSY 2012: General Psychology
• DEP 2004: Human Development Across the Lifespan

Lower Division Electives

Students must complete sufficient 1000/2000 level electives to satisfy at least 60 semester hours (sh) in the lower division.

• Recommended electives:
  • PHY 2053 & 2053L: Algebra-Based Physics I and Algebra-Based Physics I Lab
  • HSC 3535: Medical Terminology

Major-Related Courses

• HSA 3551: Health Ethics and Professionalism
• HSC 4050: Health Sciences Capstone Course

Major

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