Respiratory Therapy Bachelors Program
As a Registered Respiratory Therapist, you have the opportunity to advance your career with the Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy program. This program will prepare you to handle complex respiratory cases, conduct research, and lead health care teams. You will benefit from the guidance of experts in the field and the exposure to the most current industry standards and best practices. Upon graduation, you will have the skills and knowledge to succeed in various settings and roles within the respiratory care profession. Our program goal is to enhance the knowledge, skills, and attributes of graduates of entry-level respiratory care degree programs in areas such as leadership, management, education, research, and advanced clinical practice. This will help students achieve their current professional goals and prepare them for practice as advanced degree respiratory therapists.
Program Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care program allows current students and recent graduates a pathway to complete a four-year degree without having to transfer and offers a way for licensed Respiratory Care Practitioners (RCP) to return for degree completion. The program provides needed skills to enhance RCP performance and professional advancement in today's healthcare environment.
Approximately 30 students will be admitted to the program each year in the Fall semester. Students should apply in the Spring semester for the following Fall semester. The deadline to submit the application is June 30th for Fall semester. This is an online cohort-based program and courses are offered in sequence. Credit may be given for previous coursework. You will be considered a full-time student for this program.
- Who is eligible to apply?
- • All applicants must be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)-accredited Respiratory Care Program (such as the Associate of Science in Respiratory Therapy at LAVC) with a minimum GPA 2.5.
- All eligible students must:
- have completed a minimum of 30 units of the CSU General Education pattern.
- • Be admitted to Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC)
- • Complete the CSU-GE Breadth transfer pattern (39 units)
- • Possessing a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential is desired.
- In addition, potential applicants may include any of the following:
- • Students currently enrolled in the Associate of Science Respiratory Care program at LAVC who intend to continue to the Bachelor of Science Respiratory Therapy program or,
- • New graduates from other programs who have completed an accredited Respiratory Therapy program equivalent to an AS in Respiratory Therapy and are California licensure eligible.
- • Respiratory Care Practitioners who have completed an accredited Respiratory Therapy program equivalent to an AS in Respiratory Therapy and have California licensure as an RRT.
How to Apply
Students may only apply during the active application cycle in the Spring for the following Fall semester. The deadline date is June 30th.
Enroll at LAVC. Applicants must be currently enrolled at Los Angeles Valley College and have an active Student ID Number.
Applicants must complete the Respiratory Therapy Bachelor's Degree Online Application. Please be prepared to answer all questions in one sitting. The application will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete.
- To fill out the application, you will need:
- Information ready to complete prior educational history and prerequisite grades, such as copies of transcripts.
- Digital copies (PDF or Word files) of all unofficial transcripts showing completed prerequisites.
- All applicants must meet with a Career Education counselor via Zoom or in person to review transcripts and be provided with resources such as financial aid information. To make an appointment with our current counselor contact:
- Ratha Koam koamrc@laccd.edu. Phone: 818-778-5576
Upper Division Course Sequence
Fall Semester will consist of two 8-week sessions. Two 3-unit courses will be offered during each session.
Session 1 – Fall Semester
• Resp Th 310 Advanced Respiratory Critical Care and Pharmacology
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Session 2- Fall Semester
• Resp Th 320 Respiratory Disease management and wellness
• Soc 325 Medical Sociology: Health and Diversity
Winter session is 5 weeks long and offers two 3-unit courses.
•Resp Th 330 Medical Quality for the RCP
• Resp Th 340 Respiratory Care Case management
Spring Semester will consist of two 8-week sessions offering two 3-unit courses each.
Session 1 - Spring Semester
• Resp Th 350 Evidence based critical care research in respiratory care
•BIO 408 Pharmacology
Session 2 - Spring Semester
• Resp Th 410 Advanced Neo/Peds Critical Care
•Resp Th 420 Respiratory Care leadership and management
Summer Session is 8 weeks, offering two 3-unit courses.
•Resp Th 430 Case based Clinical pulmonary medicine
•Resp Th 440 Principles of Health Care education and educational leadership
Fall Semester is 16 weeks, offering one 4-unit course.
•Resp Th 450 Respiratory therapy Capstone Research project
Faculty
- Pulmonary Fellowship University of North Carolina
- Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Diseases
- Faculty at University of Southern California School of Medicine (Critical Care) 1979-1983
- Clinical Professor of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC 1983-2019
- Private Practice, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine 1983-2011
- ICU Medical Director Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center 2004-2012
- Medical Director Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center 2008-2012
- Medical Director LA Valley College Respiratory Therapy Program 1987-present
- Professor of Practice, Keck Graduate Institute of the Claremont Colleges 2007-present
- Education: Doctorate Degree Medical School University Padova - Italy
- Respiratory Therapy Program Los Angeles Valley College
- Profession : Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation Specialist at Children's Hospital Los Angeles
- Respiratory Care Practitioner at Children's Hospital Los Angeles
- Adjunct Faculty Respiratory Therapy Program at Los Angeles Valley College
- PALS Instructor
- NRP Instructor
- Hobbies : Play Guitar and Keyboard
- Swimming, Exercise, Woodworking
Trying to learn Golf and Archery
- My success story began at the Valley College. As an RT student, I was offered a job during the last clinical rotation and remain employed there. I obtained Adult Critical Care and Neonatal Pediatric credentials while working as a respiratory therapist at Barlow Respiratory Hospital.
- In 2018, I was nominated Barlow's best employee, and in 2020, I received a graduate degree.
- I'm a Manager of respiratory services at Barlow and a professor at the Valley College Respiratory Department.
- I like long and changing hikes, biking, paddle boarding, and scuba diving; the latest challenge I got involved in is skydiving.
Good luck and thank you for joining our challenging and rewarding career path.
Education:
Master of Arts in Human Resource Management – University of Redlands
Bachelor of Science in Respiratory therapy – Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Experience:
Program Director - BSRT program at LAVC
Director of Clinical Education – Los Angeles Valley College
Manager of respiratory therapy department – St. John’s Camarillo and St. John’s Regional
Adjunct faculty at LAVC
Pulmonary function and ABG lab supervisor
