Bachelor of Science Degree Respiratory Care
Degree/Certificate Respiratory Care · Antelope Valley College · 2026-2027 Catalog
The Bachelor of Science Degree Program in Respiratory Care allows graduates of Associate in Science (A.S.) Degree in Respiratory Care programs and licensed Respiratory Care Practitioners (RCP) a pathway to complete their four-year degree without having to transfer to a four-year college or university. The curriculum provides an advanced scope of practice education with an emphasis on advanced cardiopulmonary pathophysiology, advanced respiratory case management, advanced respiratory neonatal/pediatrics, health education in respiratory care, research methodology, quantitative principles, respiratory care sleep medicine, and respiratory care leadership and management. Increasingly, Respiratory Care Practitioners hold responsibilities formerly conducted by physicians requiring a greater level of critical thinking and analytical skills. Note: All courses designated as an upper division major requirement must be completed with a minimum grade of “C” (or “P”) for each course in the major.
Program Requirements
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care: Complete all of the following | 121 | |
| Program Prerequisites: Complete all of the following | 70 | |
| CHEM 101 | Introductory Chemistry | 5 |
| ENGL 115 | Introduction to Technical Communication | 3 |
| RCP 101 | Fundamentals of Respiratory Care | 6 |
| RCP 103 | Concepts in Respiratory Care | 6 |
| RCP 104 | Respiratory Care Pharmacology | 3 |
| RCP 105 | Fundamentals of Clinical Respiratory Care | 5 |
| RCP 201 | Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care | 3 |
| RCP 202 | Fundamentals of Intensive Respiratory Care | 4 |
| RCP 203 | Seminar and Practicum in Respiratory Care I | 6 |
| RCP 204 | Seminar and Practicum in Respiratory Care II | 9 |
| Any AVC GE Area 2 | 3 | |
| Any AVC GE Area 3 | 3 | |
| Any AVC GE Area 4 | 3 | |
| Any AVC GE Area 6 | 3 | |
| BIOL Option: BIOL 201 & 202 or BIOL 203A & BIOL 203B | 8 | |
| BIOL Option 1: Complete all of the following | 8 | |
| BIOL 201 | General Human Anatomy | 4 |
| BIOL 202 | General Human Physiology | 4 |
| BIOL Option 2: Complete all of the following | 8 | |
| BIOL 203A | General Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIOL 203B | General Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| Program Prerequisites - COMM Honors Option | 3 | |
| COMM C1000 | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| COMM C1000H | Introduction to Public Speaking - Honors | 3 |
| Program Prerequisites - ENGL Honors Option | 4 | |
| ENGL C1000 | Academic Reading and Writing | 4 |
| ENGL C1000H | Academic Reading and Writing - Honors | 4 |
| Program Prerequisites-PSYC Honors Option | 3 | |
| PSYC C1000 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC C1000H | Introduction to Psychology - Honors | 3 |
| Required Courses: Complete all of the following | 41 | |
| BIOL 304 | A Survey of Emerging and Remerging Infectious Diseases | 3 |
| ENGL 315 | Applied Technical Writing | 3 |
| PHIL 300 | Bioethics | 4 |
| PSY 301 | Organizational Behavioral Psychology | 3 |
| RCP 301 | Advanced Cardiopulmonary Respiratory Care | 3 |
| RCP 302 | Sleep Medicine and Respiratory Care | 3 |
| RCP 303 | Advanced Respiratory Case Management | 3 |
| RCP 304 | Principles of Health Education | 3 |
| RCP 305 | Health Care Research Design and Methodology | 3 |
| RCP 306 | Respiratory Care Leadership and Management I | 3 |
| RCP 401 | Respiratory Care Leadership and Management II | 3 |
| RCP 402 | Advanced Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care | 3 |
| RCP 403 | Respiratory Care Capstone Project | 4 |
Recommended Pathway
Bachelor of Science Degree Respiratory Care
Pre-Program (80 units)
- COMMC1000 - Introduction to Public Speaking (3)
- COMMC1000H - Introduction to Public Speaking - Honors (3)
- ENGLC1000 - Academic Reading and Writing (4)
- ENGLC1000H - Academic Reading and Writing - Honors (4)
- PSYCC1000 - Introduction to Psychology (3)
- PSYCC1000H - Introduction to Psychology - Honors (3)
- RCP101 - Fundamentals of Respiratory Care (6)
- RCP103 - Concepts in Respiratory Care (6)
- RCP104 - Respiratory Care Pharmacology (3)
- RCP105 - Fundamentals of Clinical Respiratory Care (5)
- RCP201 - Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care (3)
- RCP202 - Fundamentals of Intensive Respiratory Care (4)
- RCP203 - Seminar and Practicum in Respiratory Care I (6)
- RCP204 - Seminar and Practicum in Respiratory Care II (9)
- BIOL201 - General Human Anatomy (4)
- BIOL202 - General Human Physiology (4)
- BIOL203A - General Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4)
- BIOL203B - General Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4)
- BIOL201 - General Human Anatomy (4)
- BIOL202 - General Human Physiology (4)
- BIOL203A - General Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4)
- BIOL203B - General Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4)
- CHEM101 - Introductory Chemistry (5)
- Any AVC GE Area 4 (3)
- Any AVC GE Area 2 (3)
- Any AVC GE Area 3 (3)
- ENGL115 - Introduction to Technical Communication (3)
- Any AVC GE Area 6 (3)
Term 1 Fall (9 units)
- RCP301 - Advanced Cardiopulmonary Respiratory Care (3)
- PSY301 - Organizational Behavioral Psychology (3)
- RCP302 - Sleep Medicine and Respiratory Care (3)
Term 2 Spring (9 units)
- RCP303 - Advanced Respiratory Case Management (3)
- ENGL315 - Applied Technical Writing (3)
- RCP304 - Principles of Health Education (3)
Term 3 Summer (3 units)
- RCP305 - Health Care Research Design and Methodology (3)
Term 4 Fall (10 units)
- PHIL300 - Bioethics (4)
- RCP306 - Respiratory Care Leadership and Management I (3)
- RCP401 - Respiratory Care Leadership and Management II (3)
Term 5 Spring (10 units)
- RCP402 - Advanced Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care (3)
- BIOL304 - A Survey of Emerging and Remerging Infectious Diseases (3)
- RCP403 - Respiratory Care Capstone Project (4)