Bachelor’s degree in Respiratory Care now offered completely online
Modesto Junior College is pleased to announce that the college’s Bachelor of Science degree program in Respiratory Care is now offered completely online.
The MJC Bacherlor’s degree program is designed for working professionals who have already completed an associate’s degree, hold a California State license in Respiratory Care, and have a Registered Respiratory Therapist credential. The program provides a pathway for graduates from MJC’s Associate of Science degree in Respiratory Care to expand their professional skills and enhance their career opportunities.
The Bachelor’s Degree program is an accelerated program where students complete two courses per eight-week session. A total of 40 units in upper division courses are completed in 15-months. Program participants are required to complete 39 units from either CSU-General Education or IGETC lower division transferable coursework.
Upper division courses include healthcare leadership and management, advanced neonatal, pediatric, and adult critical care, advanced pulmonary diagnostics, disease management and education.
Students completing the bachelor’s degree program develop skills in management, leadership, advanced critical care, and patient education; skills especially required within the dynamic and changing field of healthcare. The ability to pursue a bachelor’s degree while working in a Respiratory Care career field brings increased relevance to the students’ studies.
“The college and program faculty are extremely pleased that the first cohort from the bachelor’s degree program successfully completed the program in December, 2018,” said Bonnie Hunt, Respiratory Care Program director. “The continued interest in the program informs us that we are meeting a community need. That is what we are all about, service and meeting the needs of our community. We believe that offering the program online meets the needs of respiratory care professionals while offering quality education at an affordable cost.”
The Bachelor’s Degree program’s total estimated cost is approximately $7,000 for the 15-month online program including textbooks and material fees.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for respiratory therapists is expected to grow 19% by 2022 due to an increasing middle-aged and elderly population who may be impacted by respiratory related illnesses. Additionally, the existing respiratory care workforce in California has a large percentage of workers nearing retirement age. In 2013, 47% of Respiratory Care Practitioners were in the 45-64 age group, indicating a substantial number of replacement jobs for this occupation in the next five years.
MJC’s bachelor’s degree is one of 15 pilot programs selected by the Board of Governors and Chancellor’s Office of California Community Colleges in fall of 2015. Skyline College in San Bruno, California was also chosen to pilot the bachelor’s degree program in respiratory care.
A new cohort of students is selected each year for the B.S. degree program. Professionals who have completed an associate’s degree, hold a California State license in Respiratory Care, and have a Registered Respiratory Therapist credential are encouraged to apply. The application is available online at http://www.mjc.edu/instruction/alliedhealth/rcp/bachelordegree.
Students interested in beginning MJC’s A.S. degree program in this discipline are
encouraged to visit http://www.mjc.edu/instruction/alliedhealth/rcp.