Respiratory Care AAS or Dual Degree

Program Description 

Students have the choice of two pathways to complete a bachelor of science in respiratory care: 

1. JCCC-RCP to KU-SHP-RCDS: students complete their associate degree program in respiratory care from JCCC (JCCC-RCP) to transfer to the KU School of Health Professions Department of Respiratory Care and Diagnostic Science (KU-SHP-RCDS) to complete a bachelor of science in respiratory care degree.
2.  AS-BSRC “Dual Degree”: students in the associate degree (AS) program in respiratory care begin coursework towards a bachelor’s degree in respiratory care (BSRC) from KU School of Health Professions Department of Respiratory Care and Diagnostic Science.

Admission Requirements

Admission to KU-SHP-RCDS:

Students who complete an Associate Degree in Respiratory Care at JCCC-RCP will be prepared to apply to the on-line BSRC degree completion KU-SHP-RCDS program. Admission is contingent upon meeting the KU-SHP-RCDS program admission requirements specified in the University of Kansas Undergraduate Catalog and admission policies (Technical Standards, Student Participation Requirements, etc.) as specified in the KU-SHP-RCDS Student Handbook. Meeting minimum admission criteria does not guarantee admission into the program, as admission to this program is competitive. 

1. Graduate from the JCCC-RCP Associate Degree in Respiratory Care program
2. Minimum 2.5 GPA
3. Transcripts from all academic institutions
4. Signed letter of commitment
5. Have no more than 2 prerequisite courses remaining
6. All students will need to earn their Registered Respiratory Therapist credentialing status from the National Board for Respiratory Care prior to full acceptance into the KU-SHP-RCDS program.
7. Hold a membership with the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC)
8. Application to and admission from the KU-SHP-RCDS program as specified in the University of Kansas Undergraduate Catalog and admission policies as specified in the KU-SHP-RCDS Student Handbook Catalog and admission policies in the KU-SHP-RCDS Student Handbook.

KU-SHP-RCDS Transfer Credit Agreement:

A. A minimum of 120 credit hours will be required to earn a bachelor of science in respiratory care degree from the KUSHP-RC.  The final 30 credit hours of junior-senior (300-400 level) must be taken from the KU-SHP-RCDS.   A minimum of 45 upper division credit hours must be demonstrated on the student's transcript.

B. Students who graduate with an Associate Degree in Respiratory Care from JCCC-RCP transfer to the KU-SHP-RCDS program with senior level status.

1. Each student seeking admission to the KU-SHP-RCDS from JCCC-RCP will have his or her entire individual college portfolio reviewed for appropriateness of course transfer.
2. In addition, each student seeking admission to the KU-SHP-RCDS from JCCC-RCP will have their college transcript evaluated through a portfolio review process (see Exhibit A) to determine which respiratory care courses from JCCC-RCP will be awarded junior level course credit in the KU-SHP-RCDS beyond those outlined on Exhibit A, which lists the JCCC-RCP courses the parties agree will transfer to KU-SHP-RC as portfolio (upper class) credits. Content deemed substantially similar to the course content from the KU-SHP-RCDS will be the basis upon which credit is awarded to the student at the course-level consistent with the similar course from the KU-SHP-RCDS.

Admission for Conditional Acceptance into the AS-BSRC dual degree program: 

Students who are enrolled in an Associate Degree in Respiratory Care at JCCC-RCP will be eligible for applying to the ASBSRC degree program. Students must meet the following criteria for conditional acceptance into the AS-BSRC dual degree program (“Conditional Acceptance”):

1. Successful completion of one semester in the JCCC-RCP program. 
2. Good academic standing in the JCCC-RCP program with a 2.5 GPA. 
3. Completion of the AS-BSRC dual degree program admission package by the application deadline.

a. Application

b. Letter of Interest

c. Three references; two from JCCC-RCP faculty

d. Transcripts from all academic institutions

e. Hold Early Professional Membership (Student) with the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC)

Coursework for all conditionally accepted students in the AS-BSRC degree program can be found below. 

Admission for Full Acceptance into the AS-BSRC dual degree program: 

Admission for Full Acceptance into the AS-BSRC dual degree program: Students with Conditional Acceptance who successfully complete at least 3 credits (1 course) from the AS-BSRC dual degree program are guaranteed admission for Full Acceptance provided they meet the additional requirements as listed here (“Full Acceptance”):

1. Graduate from the JCCC-RCP Associate Degree in Respiratory Care program
2. Minimum 2.5 GPA
3. Completion of at least 3 credit hours (up to 9 credit hours) from KU-SHP-RCDS courses listed during the period of conditional acceptance. (e.g., RESP 480 Simulation and Interprofessional Education (3 credit hours), RESP 620 Community and Global Health (3 credit hours) and RESP 650 Medical Writing and Research (3 credit hours))
4. Transcripts from all academic institutions
5. Signed letter of commitment
6. Have no more than 2 prerequisite courses remaining 
7. All students will need to earn their Registered Respiratory Therapist credentialing status from the National Board for Respiratory Care prior to Full Acceptance into the AS-BSRC dual degree program at KU-SHP-RCDS.
8. Hold membership with the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC)
9. Application completed and submitted to the KU-SHP-RCDS program as specified in the University of Kansas Undergraduate Catalog and admission policies as specified in the KU-SHP-RCDS Student Handbook.  

Transfer Credit Agreement for Full Acceptance:

A minimum of 120 credit hours will be required to earn a bachelor of science in respiratory care degree from KU-SHP-RCDS.  The final 30 credit hours of junior-senior (300-400 level) must be taken from the KU-SHP-RCDS. A minimum of 45 upper division credit hours must be demonstrated on the student's transcript. In order to assure all AS-BSRC dual degree program students are eligible to graduate with a bachelor’s degree the following will occur. 

1. Each student from JCCC-RCP seeking Full Acceptance into to the AS-BSRC dual degree program will have their college transcript evaluated through a portfolio review process (see Exhibit A) to determine which respiratory care courses from JCCC-RCP will be awarded junior level course credit in the AS-BSRC dual degree program, beyond those outlined on Exhibit A, which lists the JCCC-RCP courses the parties agree will transfer to KU-SHP-RC as portfolio (upper class) credits. Content deemed substantially similar to the course content from the AS-BSRC dual degree program will be the basis upon which credit is awarded to the student at the course-level consistent with the similar course from the KU-SHP-RCDS curriculum.
2. Students who were conditionally accepted into the AS-BSRC dual degree program and graduate from the JCCCRCP Associate Degree in Respiratory Care program will be eligible for full admission into the AS-BSRC dual degree program with senior level status.