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Frequently Asked Questions
Academic Support Services Learn More About Respiratory Care Details About the School of Respiratory Care Additional Work Experience Employment for Graduates What Students Like Most CRT Track Second Bachelor's Degree Q: How will I know what courses to register for each semester? A: The coordinator for the allied health programs is the advisor for all respiratory care students. The coordinator meets with each student individually at least once per semester to discuss academic achievement and plans for subsequent semesters. In addition, many communications between the student and advisor are managed with email and phone calls. To provide extra help to freshman students, the coordinator distributes bi-weekly electronic newsletters to freshman and their parents. Q: Can I take courses during the summer or at another university? A: Many students decide to take courses during one or more summer sessions. This helps students have a lighter course load during the fall or spring semester or allows them to stay on track with their plans to progress to courses taught at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Respiratory Care. While some students elect to complete summer courses at IUP, other students take classes at a college or university closer to home. The student’s academic advisor helps the student with details in planning for off-campus study. A helpful website to investigate equivalent courses is www.iup.edu/creditevaluation. Q: What if I need help with some of my courses? A: IUP has an outstanding array of academic support services such as workshops, 1-credit courses, and peer tutors. The Writing Center and science home-work helpers are additional services that help students succeed and excel. IUP faculty offer assistance during office hours and many faculty hold regular out-of-class review sessions to help students with upcoming exams and assignments. Q: I am anxious to learn more about what it is like to be a respiratory care student and what a respiratory therapist actually does. What can I do? A: All respiratory care students take a 1-credit course in the spring semester of their freshman year. The course is taught by faculty from the School of Respiratory Care and includes a field trip to the Western Pennsylvania Hospital. The trip includes a tour of classrooms and clinical facilities and opportunities to talk with faculty and current students. In addition, students may contact their own local hospital and inquire about a shadow experience with a respiratory therapist or contact the IUP Department of Nursing and Allied Health Professions for the name of a current respiratory care student who is available by email to answer your questions. Q: I want to know more about the part of the program that is offered at West Penn Hospital. Where will I live? Do I need a car? What is the tuition? A: Many students room together in apartments near the hospital. Some students elect to live in the residence hall associated with the West Penn Hospital School of Nursing. Additional details about housing options are provided to students ready to start this phase of the program. A car is not necessary as many students use public transportation to travel about the city for school related activities and pleasure. While in the clinical phase, tuition and fees are paid directly to the School of Respiratory Care. Rates are similar to the IUP tuition and fee schedule. In addition, while at West Penn, students pay a registration and administrative fee to IUP that is approximately $105 per semester. Q: Can I get additional work experience in Respiratory Care? A: Students may choose to enroll in RESP 342 Preceptorship in Respiratory Care. This course provides an opportunity to gain additional experience in a supervised health care setting. A minimum of 40 hours of work experience is required for each credit. Q: Where did last year’s graduates find jobs? A: Several of the May 2006 graduates accepted positions as therapists at West Penn Hospital. Others chose positions in locations across the state including Philadelphia. In previous years, graduates have selected to begin their career at prestigious health care institutions such as Johns Hopkins and University of Virginia Health System. Every year, new graduates are fortunate to receive job offers from all over the country. Q: What do students like most about IUP’s respiratory care program? A: While at IUP during the pre-clinical phase, students enjoy campus life and the diverse activities available to them. Students often speak highly of their interactions with faculty, valuable learning support services and the opportunity to meet new friends. During the clinical phase of the program, students are impressed with the qualify of instruction by the faculty, the team approach to patient care, and the preceptorship elective that allows them to gain additional clinical experience while earning money. Students also enjoy the experience of city life and living in their own apartment. FAQ for the CRT Track: Q: How many more courses will I have to complete to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Respiratory Care? A: Students who have already earned the CRT and graduated from an accredited associate degree or certificate program receive 33 credits posted to their IUP transcript and are exempt from 100 and 300 level respiratory care courses. Students in this track must complete the remaining 400 level courses (27 credits) offered by faculty at the School of Respiratory Care. Transcripts are reviewed on a course by course basis to determine what liberal studies courses still need to be completed. Students must earn at least 120 credits and 45 of those credits must be IUP courses. Since students earn 27 credits in IUP 400 level respiratory courses, they need only complete another 18 credits from IUP to meet this residency requirement. These courses may be completed at IUP’s main campus or the Northpointe campus located only 35 minutes from Pittsburgh along Route 28. Many IUP courses are also available online. Q: Is part time study an option? A: Yes. Students may elect to register for their remaining liberal studies electives on a part time basis. In addition, the faculty at the School of Respiratory Care confer with each student in the CRT track to plan for part time study of the respiratory courses that best suit the student’s needs. Q: What are the expenses associated with the program? A: Information about tuition and fees for the IUP courses is available at www.iup.edu/bursar/tuitionfees. While enrolled in the respiratory care courses, tuition is paid directly to West Penn Hospital at a rate similar to that at IUP. A registration and administrative fee of $105 is paid to IUP each semester the student is enrolled in courses at West Penn Hospital. In addition to text books, there may be some additional expenses associated with the clinical courses such as health screening and criminal background checks. Q: How will completing the bachelor’s degree help me in my career? A: The bachelor’s degree helps the CRT sharpen clinical and teaching skills and further develop management/leadership abilities. Many high level positions in the profession require the bachelor’s degree and opens opportunities for admission to a master’s degree program in areas such as health care administration, business, and education. The liberal studies component of the curriculum further supports the graduates' ability to live rich full lives and play constructive roles in their community. FAQ for the Second Bachelor's Degree: Q: How many more courses will I have to complete to earn my second Bachelor of Science degree in Respiratory Care? A: Students who have already earned a first bachelor's degree from a college or university are admitted to the respiratory care program with advanced placement. Often, especially if the first degree was science-related, students must only complete a few remaining science courses before progressing to the clinical phase of the program at West Penn Hospital. In some cases, students may complete the second degree in as few as 5 semesters. |
