Respiratory Care Major

Major Requirements

Degree Type: B.S. 
Minimum Credits Required: 120

University Degree Requirements

For complete details on these and other university degree requirements, refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section in the University Catalog.

  1. Minimum of 120 semester credits (some programs may exceed this minimum).
  2. Complete the University General Education requirements.
  3. Minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
  4. Minimum of 30 credits in resident at NDSU.
  5. Minimum of 36 upper level credits (courses numbered 300 or higher).
  6. Students with transfer credit must meet the NDSU 30 credits in residence (#4). Of these 30 credits in residence, a minimum of 15 credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above, and 15 credits must be in the student's declared major curricula.

University General Education Requirements

A list of university approved general education courses along with the administrative policies governing the requirement and the categories is available here.

Category C: Communication12
Category R: Quantitative Reasoning3
Category S: Science and Technology10
Category A: Humanities and Fine Arts6
Category B: Social and Behavioral Sciences6
Category W: Wellness2
Category D: Cultural Diversity
Category G: Global Perspectives
Category L: Digital Literacy
Total Credits39

Major Requirements

Respiratory Care Major Requirements
ASCI 190Critical Thinking, Academic, and Professional Skills for the Health Professions3
RC 200Introduction to Respiratory Care1
RC 496Field Experience51
RC 494Individual Study4
Advanced clinicals including the capstone experience.
BIOC 260Elements of Biochemistry *3 or 4
or BIOC 460 Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I
BIOL 220
& 220L		Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory *		4
BIOL 221
& 221L		Human Anatomy and Physiology II
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory *		4
ASCI 125Medical Terminology for Health Professionals1
PHRM 170Common Diseases, Prevention, and Treatment2
CSCI 114Computer Applications3
or TL 116 Business Software Applications
MATH 103College Algebra *3
PHYS 120Fundamentals of Physics *3
PSYC 111Introduction to Psychology3
STAT 330Introductory Statistics3
Chemistry Sequence: Select one sequence depending on future educational goals from the following:4 or 8
CHEM 117
& 117L
Chemical Concepts and Applications
and Chem Concepts and Applications Lab *
CHEM 121
& 121L
& CHEM 122
& CHEM 122L
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory
and General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Laboratory *
Microbiology Sequence: Select one microbiology course & lab from the following:3-5
MICR 202
& 202L
Introductory Microbiology
and Introductory Microbiology Lab *
MICR 350
& 350L
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Lab *
Major Electives: Select one from the following:3
ANTH 332
Medical Anthropology
SOC 417
Sociology of the Family
SOC 440
Sociology of Aging
SOC 441
Death and Dying
Communication: Select one of the following:3
COMM 308
Business and Professional Speaking
COMM 315
Small Group Communication
COMM 380
Health Communication I
COMM 383
Organizational Communication I
CHP 400
Interprofessional Health Care Practice
Total Credits101-108
*

These core courses have a maximum of two attempts allowed.

Degree Requirements and Notes

  • All required courses must be completed with a grade of 'C' or above. All students must maintain a semester GPA of 2.0 or above for each semester in the College. A student who fails to meet this standard for two successive or three non-successive semesters may be terminated from enrollment in the College.

  • Completion of the prerequisites does not guarantee a placement in the major program. Selection of hospital placements is selective. Please consult your Respiratory Care advisor for more information.