Cardiopulmonary Science
Accredited by:
Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)
1248 Harwood Rd.
Bedford, TX 76021-4244
(817) 283-2835
The Respiratory Therapist applies scientific knowledge and theory to practical clinical problems of respiratory care. Respiratory Therapists are qualified to assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities. The Respiratory Therapist may be required to exercise considerable independent clinical judgment, under the supervision of a physician in the treatment of patients with respiratory dysfunction. The Respiratory Care Practitioner may perform the following respiratory care modalities: advanced airway management, pediatric and neonatal critical care, hemodynamic monitoring, metabolic cart studies, cardiopulmonary stress testing, and other advanced procedures.
Upon successful completion of the requirements for the Cardiopulmonary Science degree, students are eligible to apply for admission to sit for three examinations administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care. Candidates are required to pass the Certified Respiratory Therapist entry-level examination as a prerequisite to the two advanced practitioner examinations.
Licensure requirements for respiratory care practitioners vary according to state statutes. In Tennessee, practitioners are required to pass the national examinations for certified and/or registered respiratory therapist respectively.
Students that have successfully completed an Associate of Applied Science in Cardiopulmonary Science (Respiratory Therapy) or Radiography are eligible for enrollment into an online BS completion program in their discipline. Associate of Applied Science graduates are required to contact and be advised by the Department’s admission coordinator after completion of ALHE 3010, Allied Health Professions.
Admission - Students must be admitted to both the university and to the program, requiring separate application processes. Admission into the Cardiopulmonary Science (CPSC) program is a competitive selection process. Admission to the university does not guarantee entrance into the CPSC program. Application to the Cardiopulmonary Science program requires submission of the online application form, transcripts, written essay, and observation hours by the annual deadline of April 1.
Expenses - In addition to the usual registration and tuition, students are required to purchase items such as scrubs, lab coat, stethoscope, medical scissors, malpractice insurance, background check, drug screening, annual flu vaccinations, professional certifications (BLS, ACLS, PALS, & NRP), various seminars and conferences, board preparation seminars, and organizational memberships. Expenditures for these items are approximately $1,200 and are the responsibility of the student. Fundraising is optional.
Retention/Progression Policy- Students must maintain a grade of C or better in each CPSC course to remain in the program. If a student receives a grade of C- or below in any CPSC course, the student will be terminated from the program immediately. If problems arise during any semester, whereby students are unable to uphold their academic standing, it is their responsibility to seek academic counseling from the course instructor and/or the counseling center on the main ETSU campus. Students must obtain a passing grade (C or above) in each general education course required by the CPSC curriculum. If a passing grade is not obtained in the general education core curriculum, the class must be retaken until the course is successfully completed.
Graduation Requirements- 120 credit hours are needed to graduate with this degree and includes courses from the general education core (41 credit hours), core requirements (25 credit hours), and Cardiopulmonary Science core (54 credit hours). Some of the courses are completely online while others are web-enhanced/hybrid with synchronous face-to-face meetings. Additional graduation requirements include CSCI 1100 or passing the proficiency exam and the California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST).
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