Respiratory therapy care student practicing skills

Cardiopulmonary Science, B.S.

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Complete a short program interest form here and an Admissions specialist will get back with you.

Announcement regarding summer courses: As of now, there will be no offering of the upper division courses during the summer semester. See the "Sequence of Courses" link for detailed information about course offerings. Plan accordingly to stay on track for anticipated completion of the program.

Advance Your Career with Degree Advancement

Are you ready to propel your career to new heights? Daytona State College offers an accelerated Bachelor of Science degree in Cardiopulmonary Science, available fully online with optional in-person class meetings on our Daytona Beach campus.

Why choose our Cardiopulmonary Science program

Meet the growing demand: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts an increase in the job outlook for healthcare professionals over the next decade. With a Bachelor’s degree from Daytona State College, you’ll be ready to meet the rising demand for highly skilled professionals.
Advanced curriculum: Our program addresses the evolving needs of the healthcare industry. You’ll gain expertise in management, education, research, legal and ethical issues, quality improvement, advanced technical competencies, advanced pharmacology, and pathophysiology.
Leadership and innovation: Graduates of our program are equipped to lead. You’ll have the knowledge and skills to manage moderate complexity labs, take on leadership and educational roles, and participate in drafting legislation for direct provision and billing of services through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Outcomes:

Program Student Learning Outcomes: Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Cardiopulmonary Science will be able to:

Plan care in accordance with management and leadership principles for patients across the lifespan.
Integrate inherent values as defined by health law and ethics as a foundation for practice.
Synthesize knowledge of advanced therapeutics to improve patient-care outcomes.
Examine safe and appropriate care based on health promotion, disease, and injury prevention to improve population health.
Understand the importance of research to identify best evidence-based practices in health care.

Career advancement opportunities

As a graduate of our program, you’ll unlock numerous career advancement opportunities, including:

Expanded scope of practice: Broaden your clinical skills and take on more complex patient care responsibilities.
Leadership and education roles: Step into leadership positions or become an educator, guiding the next generation of respiratory therapists.
Complex lab management: Master the management of moderate complexity lab tests, such as ECMO and ABG.
Tele-health medicine: Be at the cutting edge of healthcare by providing care through tele-health platforms.

Program highlights

Flexible learning: Enjoy the convenience of completing your degree online, with optional in-person meetings to enhance your learning experience.
Comprehensive education: Our curriculum is designed to provide a deep and broad understanding of the cardiopulmonary field, preparing you for a wide range of advanced career paths.

Respiratory Therapist Subplan

Program Goal: To provide graduates of entry into respiratory care professional practice degree programs with additional knowledge, skills, and attributes in leadership, management, education, research, and/or advanced clinical practice that will enable them to meet their current professional goals and prepare them for practice as advanced degree respiratory therapists.
CoARC Accreditation: Provisional accreditation was granted by CoARC for the Bachelor of Science in Cardiopulmonary Science degree, Respiratory Therapist subplan at Daytona State College. This is a voluntary process that requires a comprehensive review of the program relative to CoARC standards. This provides external validation of educational offerings, consumer protection, advances and enhances the profession of Respiratory Care, and protects against compromise of educational quality.
Admission requirements: You must have earned an Associate of Science or Associate of Applied Science entry-level Respiratory Care degree from a CoARC accredited program and be qualified to earn the RRT credential.

Allied Health Subplan

This subplan is NOT a CoARC accredited entry to practice program or CoARC accredited Degree Advancement program and DOES NOT allow graduates to take exams offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care.

Admission Requirements: You must have earned an Associate of Science entry-level degree in:
- Emergency Medical Services from a CAAHEP accredited program and be qualified to earn the NREMT-P or FL-paramedic credential.
- Cardiovascular Technology from a CHEA accredited program and be qualified to earn the RCES or RCIS credential.

Admission requirements
To apply for the Bachelor of Science in Cardiopulmonary Science program, you must:

Have earned an Associate of Science or Associate of Applied Science entry-level Respiratory Care degree from a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) accredited program.

Why Daytona State College

Daytona State College is committed to providing exceptional education that meets the highest standards. Our accelerated program offers the flexibility you need to advance your career while balancing work and personal commitments. Join a community of dedicated professionals and take the next step in your journey toward excellence in health care.

Elevate your career and make a significant impact on your profession. Apply to Daytona State College’s Bachelor of Science in Cardiopulmonary Science program today and become a leader in your field.

Apply today

Start your journey today.

Launch your path with a Cardiopulmonary degree

Program Student Learning Outcome

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Cardiopulmonary Science will be able to:

Plan care in accordance with management and leadership principles for patients across the lifespan.
Integrate inherent values as defined by health law and ethics as a foundation for practice.
Synthesize knowledge of advanced therapeutics to improve patient-care outcomes.
Examine safe and appropriate care based on health promotion, disease, and injury prevention to improve population health.
Understand the importance of research to identify best evidence-based practices in health care.

Respiratory Therapist subplan Program Goal: To provide graduates of entry into respiratory care professional practice degree programs with additional knowledge, skills, and attributes in leadership, management, education, research, and/or advanced clinical practice that will enable them to meet their current professional goals and prepare them for practice as advanced degree respiratory therapists.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Cardiopulmonary Science Degree

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Why do I need a BS degree?

The continually expanding knowledge base of today’s healthcare field requires a more highly education professional. The realities of healthcare reform under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act place additional importance on higher education as the foundation for professional roles and reimbursement for professional services.
What roles can I expect to fulfill with a BS degree?
- Diverse clinical settings
- Leadership roles
- Educational settings
- Higher level of independence in clinical decision making
- Patient education
- Community health
- Health promotion & maintenance
- Cardiopulmonary Case Managers
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Specialists
- Telehealth roles
How quickly can I complete the program?

Courses are offered two of the three semesters annually. Some courses are full term, and some are half term. Except for the capstone course, which must be completed during the final semester, courses can be taken in any sequence and with any time frame. Taking 3 courses each semester, you could complete the degree in just 4-semesters.
How much does the program cost?

At $120.32 per semester hour ($623.29 for out-of-state fees), the tuition for this 36-hour program is $4,331.52 for in-state and $22,438.44 for out-of-state. Tuition may increase subject to Florida legislative action. Approximately $1,000.00 additional is required for books.
Must I obtain an advanced Credential to complete this program?

Respiratory Therapist subplan: Yes! You are required to take and pass board exams owned and operated by the National Board for Respiratory Care to obtain the Registered Respiratory Therapist certification (RRT).

Allied Health Subplan: Yes! You are required to take and pass either the Cardiovascular Credentialing International exam to obtain the RCES or RCIS credential OR the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic exam to obtain the NREMT-P credential or hold the State of Florida Paramedic Certification.

Proof of this certification must be submitted in order to receive credit for RET 3960 (Respiratory Therapy Professional Credentialing) course.
Is the program accredited?

For Respiratory Therapist subplan: Yes! This is not a requirement for Degree Advancement programs, but we want to hold our program and faculty to the highest standard by holding accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). Accredited programs have met the minimum accreditation standards set by the professional organization and undergone a rigorous voluntary peer review process. Information can be found at: CoARC
What courses are required?
36 lower-division credits hours from lower-division Associates degree.

12 lower-division additional credit hours
- BSC1085C (or equivalent) Human Anatomy & Physiology I
- BSC1086C (or equivalent) Human Anatomy & Physiology II
- MCB1010C (or equivalent) Microbiology
State mandated 36 credit hours of general education core courses
- Communication – 9 credits
- Mathematics – 6 credits
- Natural Sciences – 6 credits
- Humanities – 6 credits
- Social Science – 9 credits
36 upper-division credit hours of the Cardiopulmonary program specific courses
- HSC4550 Pathophysiology for Health Care
- RET4354 Advanced Pharmacology
- RET4445 Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics
- RET3536 Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation
- RET3041 Cardiopulmonary Education and Promotion
- HSA4107 Health Services Administration
- RET4245 Advanced Life Support
- HSC3730 Research Methods for Health Professions
- HSC4645 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Care
- HSA4383 Quality Management and Process Improvement
- RET3960 Respiratory Therapy Professional Credentialing
- RET4950 Respiratory Care Capstone (this must be taken final semester)
Is Clinical training required in this program?

No! All clinical education was completed during the Entry-level to practice Associates program.
If I have previous college courses, will they count towards graduation from this program?

Transcripts from a previous college must be submitted to and reviewed by the DSC Admissions department. This department will determine if the courses are transferable for credit and can be applied towards this Bachelor of Science Degree. You may be asked for catalog or course descriptions from your previous classes.
When may I start the program?
Applications are accepted year-round, and students may start during any semester.

Requirements to apply:
- Conferred Associates degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Completion of a Bachelor of Science in Cardiopulmonary Science Application for Admission in the Admissions office or online. All applicants must provide official transcripts from all previous institutions attended.
- 0 or greater cumulative GPA on all college coursework.
Be advised that application submission does not guarantee admission.

It is your responsibility to check daytona.state.edu email often for communications about acceptance.

Expand your career opportunities

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates an increase in the job outlook for health care professionals over the next 10 years. The need for bachelor degree educated professionals has increased locally and nationwide due to the increasing scope of practice, regulatory requirements in labs, and to fill roles in leadership and education.

Additional Information about the Degree

See General Tuition & Fees and Financial Aid

See Program Details

Application Deadlines

The program will include content associated with management, education, research, legal and ethical issues, quality improvement, advanced technical competencies, advanced pharmacology and pathophysiology. Graduates will have an expanded scope of knowledge in the cardiopulmonary field, opportunities in leadership and education, manage moderate complexity labs, opportunities in tele-health medicine, and participate in drafting legislation to allow direct provision and billing of services through Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The program will be eligible for federal financial aid and the state’s Bright Futures Scholarship Program.

Accreditation Statement for Respiratory Therapist Subplan

Accreditation of degree advancement programs is a voluntary process that requires a comprehensive review of the program relative to the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) standards. While the process is voluntary, it provides programs with external validation of their educational offerings. Additionally, the process offers prospective degree advancement students ones means by which they can judge the quality of the educational experience offered by the program.

Accreditation provides consumer protection, advances and enhances the profession of Respiratory Care, and protects against compromise of educational quality. Accreditation also supports the continuous improvement of these educational programs by mandating continuing reassessment of resources, educational processes, and outcomes.

CoARC current accreditation status is provisional for the Bachelor of Science in Cardiopulmonary Science Respiratory Therapist subplan at Daytona State College. Continuing accreditation process takes approximately 3 years to complete. Assigned CoARC program number 510036.

Outcomes data and accreditation status for all programs can be found at www.coarc.com.

264 Precision Blvd. Telford, TN 37690 USA | 817-283-2835

Daytona State College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associates and bachelors degrees. Degree-granting institutions also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Daytona State College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling 404-679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website www.sacscoc.org.

Contact us

Melanie McDonough, MS, RRT, RRT-ACCS – Program Director, Senior Professor
Misty Carlson, MS, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS - Professor
Stephanie Parlamento, MBA, RRT, RRT-CPFT, RRT-RPFT – Associate Professor
Kent Harman, MD – Medical Director