Gwynedd Mercy University
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog
provide the student with the knowledge , skills , professional attitudes and behaviors to practice as a safe , competent , caring , and compassionate health care professional . In the final year , the student can earn the Bachelor of Health Science Degree ( BHS ), where additional coursework can be secured to prepare the therapist to practice in leadership , education or service capacity . Upon graduation from either the AS or BHS program , the student will be able to sit for their credential examinations and upon successful completion , obtain a license to practice respiratory therapy .
Associate of Science Degree in Respiratory Care - The Associate of Science Degree in Respiratory Care is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care ( CoARC ) and is an Entry into Respiratory Care Professional Practice Program . It consists of three years of coursework and is broken down as follows :
First Year The first year consists of general studies rich in the natural sciences , mathematics , and liberal arts disciplines . It is designed to prepare students for the respiratory care concentration courses taken in the second and third year .
Second Year The second-year entails course work in the art and science of respiratory care , coupled with a chemistry course in the Fall and microbiology in the Spring semesters . Respiratory care courses are didactic ( classroom ), laboratory , and clinical in nature . The didactic classes are designed to address the principles and concepts of the particular subject in question . The laboratory is designed for demonstration and practice and provides an environment where the student can first experience the procedures and practices of respiratory care in a controlled and closely supervised manner . Many of the laboratory sessions are self-directed with assistance provided by the faculty as needed and / or case studies or simulations to enhance theory . The clinical courses are both observational and performance in nature . The student will first observe procedures and modalities to gain confidence and familiarity . After exposure and observation , the student will perform procedures and modalities until competency is achieved . Competency is followed by repeated practice and skill refinement . The ultimate goal is mastery of specific respiratory care-based procedures while demonstrating a high degree of expertise . Clinical course work will entail rotations at multiple health care systems in the Greater Philadelphia area and begin in the spring semester of the second year . These rotations will take place twice per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the spring semester , followed by eight weeks of clinical rotations in the summer . The clinical component is competency-based which means that the student must successfully complete all designated procedures to satisfy the course requirements . Upon completion of the program ' s second year , the student will continue to the third year , where credentialing-eligibility can be obtained .
Third Year Entry into the third year of the program requires acceptable academic standing and approval of the program faculty The third year consists of advanced topics in respiratory care coupled with a statistics course in the Fall and a basic communication course in the Spring . The third year of the program is modeled after the second and consists of didactic ( classroom ), laboratory , and clinical courses . The didactic classes are designed to address the advanced principles and concepts in a classroom environment , while the laboratory is designed for demonstration and practice . Laboratory sessions will often entail presentations and demonstrations by faculty , physicians and / or other health care professionals with knowledge and expertise in advanced topics . The clinical courses are both observational and performance in nature . The student will observe advanced procedures and modalities to gain confidence and familiarity . After exposure and observation , the student will perform procedures
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