University of Kansas

Johnson County Community College Transfer Program to the University of Kansas Cheryl Skinner, MSc, RRT, CPFT
School of Health Professions 913-588-4634
Respiratory Care, AAS or Dual Degree; Respiratory Care, BS cskinner@kumc.edu
Academic Year 2025-2026 respiratorycare.kumc.edu

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.

Program Requirements

JCCC-RCP to KU-SHP-RCDS Curriculum Plan (120 hours) 

JCCC
KU
Course CodeCourse TitleCourse HoursTransfer CodeTransfer TitleTransfer Hours
Prerequisite courses that will transfer to KUMC (16 or 19 hours)
Select one of the following:
BIOL 144
Human Anatomy and Physiology* 5 No KU equivalent but counts as BIOL NL OR
BIOL 140
Human Anatomy ‖4 BIOL 240 /241 Human Anatomy/Lab AND
BIOL 225Human Physiology* ‖4 BIOL 246/247 Principles of Physiology/Lab
CHEM 122Principles of Chemistry* 5CHEM 110Introductory Chemistry5
Select one of the following:
ENGL 121
Composition I* 3 ENGL 101 Composition OR
ENGL 119
College Composition I with Review* 5 ENGL 101 Composition
MATH 161Elementary Statistics* 3 MATH 107 Introductory Statistics

Prerequisite courses that will need to be taken (KU encourages students to complete at JCCC) (24 or 25 hours) 

JCCC
KU
Course CodeCourse TitleCourse HoursTransfer CodeTransfer TitleTransfer Hours
BIOL 225Human Physiology* 4BIOL 246
& BIOL 247		Principles of Human Physiology
and Prin of Human Physiology Lab		5
BIOL 230
& BIOL 231		Microbiology* and Microbiology Lab* 5BIOL 200
& BIOL 203		Basic Microbiology
and Introductory Microbiology Lab		5
ENGL 122Composition II* 3ENGL 102Critical Reading and Writing3
COMS 121Public Speaking 3 COMS 130 Public Speaking
#CT-Humanities (2 courses) +6
PSYC 130Introduction to Psychology 3PSYC 104General Psychology3
SOC 122Introduction to Sociology 3SOC 104Elements of Sociology3

Elective courses that will need to be taken at KUMC (16 or 17 hours) 

JCCC-RCP courses that will transfer to KU-SHP-RC as portfolio (upper class) credit  

Students will receive 45 credits by examination 

RC 120Respiratory Structure and Function*2
RC 124Fundamentals of Respiratory Care*6
RC 131Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics*3
RC 136Cardiopulmonary Diseases*3
RC 140Respiratory Care Pharmacology*2
RC 145Cardiopulmonary Critical Care I*5
RC 146Pediatric/Neonatal Respiratory Care*2
RC 255Cardiopulmonary Critical Care II*5
RC 271Respiratory Care Clinical Experience I*6
RC 272Respiratory Care Clinical Experience II*6
RC 265Respiratory Care Program Capstone*3

 KUMC RRT-BSRC courses that will need to be taken at KUMC (30 hours) 

RESP 450 Chronic Disease Management
RESP 480 Simulation & Interprofessional Education (IPE)
RESP 495 Management, Ethics and Law
RESP 620 Community & Global Health
RESP 650 Medical Writing & Research

 Select any 3 from Track 1 or Track 2: 

Track 1:
RESP 460 ACCS Specialty Credential Prep
RESP 465 NPS Specialty Credential Prep
RESP 470 AE-C Specialty Credential Prep
Track 2:
RESP 630 Lean Management
RESP 640 Professional Communication
RESP 655 Leadership Management
RESP 665 Clinical Specialty Project (Students will complete this final course of the program in his or her chosen clinical specialty area.)
*

JCCC course has a prerequisite or corequisite.  

^

BIOL 231 Microbiology Lab is not required for the JCCC RCP degree but is required for KU-SHP-RCDS degree. 

^^

If BIOL 144 is completed, then KU will consider BIOL 140 as an equivalent for the Anatomy & Physiology II requirement. 

 AS-BSRC “Dual Degree”

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 in Exhibit A.

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. 

AS-BSRC “Dual Degree” Curriculum Plan (120 hours) 

Prerequisite courses that will transfer to KUMC (16 or 19 hours) 

JCCC
KU
Course CodeCourse TitleCourse HoursTransfer CodeTransfer TitleTransfer Hours
Select one of the following:
BIOL 144
Human Anatomy and Physiology* 5 No KU equivalent but counts as BIOL NL OR
BIOL 140
Human Anatomy 4 BIOL 240 /241 Human Anatomy/Lab AND
BIOL 225Human Physiology* 4 BIOL 246/247 Principles of Physiology/Lab
CHEM 122Principles of Chemistry*5CHEM 110Introductory Chemistry5
ENGL 121Composition I*3ENGL 101College English I3
MATH 161Elementary Statistics*3MATH 365Elementary Statistics3

Prerequisite and Elective courses (from JCCC to KU) (41 or 42 hours) 

JCCC
KU
Course CodeCourse TitleCourse HoursTransfer CodeTransfer TitleTransfer Hours
BIOL 225Human Physiology* 4 BIOL 246/247 Principles of Physiology/Lab
BIOL 230Microbiology* 3 BIOL 200/203 Microbiology/Lab^
Select one of the following:
ENGL 122
Composition II*3ENGL 102
& ENGL 105		College English II
and Honors Introduction to English		3
ENGL 119
College Composition I with Review*5
COMS 121Public Speaking3COMS 130
& COMS 131		Public Speaking
and "Public Speaking, Honors"		3
SOC 122Introduction to Sociology3SOC 104
& SOC 105
& SOC 304		Elements of Sociology
and Think Critically about Society
and Sociology of Violence		3
PSYC 130Introduction to Psychology3PSYC 104
& PSYC 105		General Psychology
and General Psychology Honors		3

JCCC-RCP courses that will transfer to KU-SHP-RC as portfolio (upper class) credit  

Students will receive 45 credits by examination
RC 120 Respiratory Structure and Function*
RC 124 Fundamentals of Respiratory Care*
RC 131 Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics*
RC 136 Cardiopulmonary Diseases*
RC 140 Respiratory Care Pharmacology*
RC 145 Cardiopulmonary Critical Care I*
RC 146 Pediatric/Neonatal Respiratory Care*
RC 255 Cardiopulmonary Critical Care II*
RC 271 Respiratory Care Clinical Experience I*
RC 272 Respiratory Care Clinical Experience II*
RC 265 Respiratory Care Program Capstone*

Required courses that will need to be taken (hybrid from KU) (9 hours) 

RESP 480 Simulation & Interprofessional Education (IPE)
RESP 620 Community & Global Health
RESP 650 Medical Writing & Research

KU-SHP-RC RRT-BSRC courses that will need to be taken at KUMC (21 hours) 

CORE:
RESP 450 Chronic Disease Management
RESP 495 Management, Ethics and Law

Select any 3 from Track 1 or Track 2: 

Track 1: RESP 460 ACCS Specialty Credential Prep
Track 1: RESP 465 NPS Specialty Credential Prep
Track 1: RESP 470 AE-C Specialty Credential Prep
Track 2: RESP 630 Lean Management
Track 2: RESP 640 Professional Communication
Track 2: RESP 655 Leadership Management
RESP 665 Clinical Specialty Project - Students will complete this final course of the program in his or her chosen clinical specialty area
*

JCCC course has a prerequisite or corequisite. 

^

BIOL 231 Microbiology Lab is not required for the JCCC RCP degree but is required for KU-SHP-RCDS degree. 

^^

If BIOL 144 is completed, then KU will consider BIOL 140 as an equivalent for the Anatomy & Physiology II requirement.

§

Prerequisite and Elective courses (from JCCC to KU) (41 or 42 hours) 

Additional Electives 16 or 17

See KU CredTran for equivalents: credittransfer.ku.edu

Last Approved Thu Aug 14 08:47:03 2025