Respiratory Care
14 courses · Butte College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026 · Winter 2027 · Spring 2027
RT 97 Special Problems-RT
- Units
- 1-3
- Hours
- 51-153 hours independent study
- Prerequisite
- Permission of instructor
- Transfers to
- CSU
Supervised study and practice in solving special problems in the student's career major. Any student interested in registering for a Special Problems course should contact a full-time instructor or chair/coordinator in the appropriate area no later than the last day of the tenth week of instruction. Students may not petition for a Special Problems course until they have completed satisfactorily 12 units of study at Butte College. 51-153 hours Independent Study. This course may be repeated to a maximum of 3.00 units.
RT 99 Work Experience-RT
- Units
- 0.5-8
- Hours
- 25.5-408 hours independent study
- Prerequisite
- Permission of Work Experience Education instructor and employment supervisor
- Transfers to
- CSU
Work experience is an experiential course where students apply what they have learned in the classroom to a work environment. The course offers students the opportunity to develop technical skills, explore possible career choices, build confidence, network with people in the field, and transition into the world of work. Work experience may include paid or unpaid employment. Students may earn one semester unit of college credit in this course for every fifty-one hours of work experience. Students may enroll in this course up to 8 unit(s) to complete the entire curriculum of the course. A maximum of sixteen units can be earned in work experience courses during a student’s enrollment with Butte College.
RT 110 Fundamentals of Respiratory Care
- Units
- 7
- Hours
- 102 hours lecture, 51 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- Admission to the RT Program, ALH 6 (or concurrent enrollment)
- Corequisite
- RT 118
This course is designed to introduce the student to basic atmospheric physics, cardiopulmonary anatomy and physiology, blood gas chemistry, and ventilatory dynamics. The student will be introduced to basic concepts of health and disease with emphasis on cardiopulmonary disorders, fundamentals of problem solving techniques and safe handling of medical gases and equipment. Selected respiratory care and diagnostic equipment, techniques and problems will be introduced in the laboratory. Graded only.
RT 115 Clinical Preparation for Respiratory Care
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- 51 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- ALH 6, RT 110, RT 118
This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of clinical respiratory care as practiced in the acute care hospital. Students will become conversant with bedside examination, monitoring, and care of medical/surgical and respiratory disease patients.
RT 118 Respiratory Care Pharmacology
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 51 hours lecture
- Prerequisite
- Admission to the RT Program
- Corequisite
- RT 110
This course introduces students to fundamental pharmacological concepts and applied pharmacology. Emphasis will be placed on drug action and interaction as well as the practical aspects of routes of administration. Graded only.
RT 120 Concepts in Respiratory Care
- Units
- 7
- Hours
- 102 hours lecture, 51 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- RT 115
- Corequisite
- RT 125
This course is a survey of cardiorespiratory disease with a focus on the role that the respiratory care practitioner plays in professional and culturally appropriate clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Cultural awareness, sensitivity and communication will be emphasized. Selected respiratory care techniques, equipment, and procedures will be introduced in the laboratory. Graded only.
RT 125 Introduction to Clinical Respiratory Care
- Units
- 5
- Hours
- 255 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- RT 115
- Corequisite
- RT 120
This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of clinical respiratory care as practiced in the acute care hospital. Students will become conversant with bedside examination, monitoring, and care of medical/surgical and respiratory disease patients. Graded only.
RT 135 Fundamentals of Clinical Respiratory Care
- Units
- 3.5
- Hours
- 25.5 hours lecture, 102 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- RT 120, RT 125
This course is a supervised clinical respiratory therapy experience in the hospital setting, including the application of theories and therapeutic modalities taught in previous RT classes. Mechanical Ventilation concepts will be introduced in the lecture portion. Graded only.
RT 140 Fundamentals of Intensive Respiratory Care
- Units
- 6
- Hours
- 85 hours lecture, 51 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- RT 135
- Corequisite
- RT 142, RT 145
This course is a study of the fundamentals of respiratory care in the critical care setting. Emphasis is placed on the critical care environment, advanced patient assessment, monitoring, advanced techniques of airway management and continuous mechanical ventilatory support. Graded only.
RT 142 Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 42.5 hours lecture, 25.5 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- RT 135
- Corequisite
- RT 140, RT 145
This course is an introduction to respiratory care of the neonatal and pediatric patient. Emphasis is placed upon growth and development, pathophysiology, clinical assessment, treatment, resuscitation and mechanical ventilatory support. Graded only.
RT 145 Advanced Respiratory Care Procedures
- Units
- 5
- Hours
- 255 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- RT 135
- Corequisite
- RT 140, RT 142
This course is designed to support continued in-hospital development of clinical respiratory care skills with emphasis on the application of scientific principles to the therapeutic environment and life support of the critically ill patient. Graded only.
RT 155 Respiratory Care Practicum I
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 102 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- RT 140, RT 142, RT 145
This course is designed as a clinical experience to allow the respiratory care student to hone skills learned in previous RT courses while developing new skills in the performance of day-to-day tasks of the staff respiratory care practitioner. Emphasis will be placed on both self assessment and critique of clinical performance by hospital personnel. Offered in Winter Session only. Travel to out-of-area clinical facilities will be required. Graded only.
RT 160 Respiratory Care Seminar II
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 68 hours lecture
- Prerequisite
- RT 155
- Corequisite
- RT 165
This course is designed to explore the historical, contemporary and technical issues germane to respiratory care as an allied health profession through lecture/discussion/literary review. Emphasis will be placed on issues relevant to the current practice of respiratory care and credentialing requirements. Preparation for post-graduate credentialing examinations will be included in the course work. Graded only.
RT 165 Respiratory Care Practicum II
- Units
- 8
- Hours
- 408 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- RT 155
- Corequisite
- RT 160
This course supports the continuing practice and evaluation of skills for advanced respiratory care students in the hospital setting. Development of skills pertaining to the organization and completion of patient care assignments in both the medical-surgical and critical care environments are emphasized. American Heart Association (AHA) Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support certifications are incorporated in the course, as these are required for employment in Respiratory Care.