Respiratory Therapy AS Degree

This program provides students with the strong academic foundation and clinical proficiency necessary to utilize modern respiratory devices (under the direction of a physician) in the complete treatment of cardiopulmonary diseases and other life-threatening conditions, as seen in the COVID-19 crisis. The ELAC RT Program dates back to the 1970’s and is one of the largest respiratory therapy programs in Southern California. 

30-40

The program provides students with greater access to hospital clinical sites, faculty, classroom and laboratory resources to better prepare them for clinical practice and employment. Unless transferred in from an outside school, (prerequisite, general education (GE), and program prerequisites) all “First Year” Respiratory Therapy courses (theory and laboratory) are taken on campus at ELAC. At the beginning of the summer between the 1st and 2nd years of the program (considered the start of the “clinical phase”), the majority of the laboratory classes are taken at one of the LACCD-contracted clinical affiliate hospitals. After the end of the fall semester of the clinical year, students must petition the ELAC campus for the Associate Deg

The following courses, demonstrating satisfactory completion with a grade of “C” or better, are required for successful completion of an AS Degree in Respiratory Therapy. 

Fall SemesterRESP TH 110 Respiratory Care Physics, Medical Gases, and Infection Control (3.0)RESP TH 112 Respiratory Care Equipment Theory and Principle of Operation (3.0)RESP TH 114 Practice and Application of Respiratory Care Modalities (1.0)RESP TH 116 Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology (4.0)4Spring SemesterRESP TH 120 Neonatal & Pediatric Respiratory Care (4.0)RESP TH 122 Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology (4.0)RESP TH 124 Principles of Critical Care Respiratory Care Modalities (3.0)RESP TH 126 Practical Application of Critical Care Respiratory Care Modalities (1.0)RESP TH 128 Pharmacology of Respiratory Therapy (1.0)Summer SemesterRESP TH 130 Pulmonary Diagnostic Techniques (1.0)RESP TH 201 Introduction to Clinical Practice (2.5)Fall SemesterRESP TH 210 Applied Respiratory Care Intervention & Assessment I (4.0)RESP TH 212 Clinical Practice of Respiratory Care I (6.5)RESP TH 214 Advanced Continuous Mechanical Ventilation Modalities (1.0)Winter SemesterRESP TH 216 Advanced Clinical Practices (2.0)Spring SemesterRESP TH 220 Applied Respiratory Care Intervention & Assessment II (4.0)RESP TH 222 Clinical Practice of Respiratory Care II (6.5)RESP TH 224 Special Procedures & Current Issues in Respiratory Care (1.0)Total units required for major: 52.5 units