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In-depth knowledge about the profession: This is extremely important and will make you a stronger, more informed applicant who is confident and secure in the choice of a career. An excellent place to begin learning more is http://www.aarc.org, the web site of the American Association for Respiratory Care.

The Respiratory Care Program requires a minimum of 57 credits, including required, recommended, and elective courses. Remember that you might need to take additional courses not listed on this sheet in order to reach the 57 credit minimum.

Minimum required courses include: 3 credits English composition; 6 credits in arts and humanities (excluding studio, skills, or technique courses); 6 credits social and behavioral sciences; 11-13 credits of biology, including 8-10 credits of general biology with labs and 3 credits of microbiology; 8 credits of chemistry with labs, for science majors; 4 credits of physics with a lab, for science majors; and 3 credits of college level mathematics. Please note that Stony Brook University requires prerequisites for many of these courses that are above the required minimum. Click here to see prerequesites for students enrolled at Stony Brook.

If you are a student at another college or university and are interested in one of the programs at the Health Sciences Center (HSC), please check with your pre-health advisor regarding the best way for you to meet Stony Brook’s prerequisites through the courses offered at your school.

The Respiratory Care Program at Stony Brook also requires students to be certified in CPR. HSQ 270, First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, is a 3 credit course offered at Stony Brook that will teach you the skills you need and also count toward the minimum of 57 completed credits required of all applicants. Basic Life Support (BLS) offered by the American Heart Association, is also accepted to fulfill the CPR prerequisite (valid certification card required).

Stony Brook freshmen have the opportunity to be accepted into a special 4 year respiratory care major by making an appointment with the program director. Students successfully completing the lower division component of the major are automatically advanced to the upper division professional program. Freshmen accepted into the 4 year major must complete all prerequisites with a grade of C or better by the end of the sophomore year, pass HAT 210 - Introduction to Respiratory Care with a grade of B or better, and meet the academic standards listed below.

All students, except those in the special four year major, must submit an on-line HSC application by the deadline (usually March 15th) of the year they wish to enter. Apply on-line at www.uhmc.sunysb.edu/studserv/applyhsc.html.

Get further information about the Respiratory Care Program at 631-444-3180, or on the web at: http://www.hsc.stonybrook.edu/shtm/rc/index.cfm. Information sessions are held on the first Thursday of each month (except August) from 2-4 pm (Health Sciences Center, Level 2, Room 464A). Meet other interested students by joining the Respiratory Care Club which meets regularly during the Fall and Spring Semesters.

Before you apply, evaluate your academic strength as an applicant. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better. The minimum grade point average (GPA) for applicants is 2.5, with a minimum science GPA of 2.0. Consult with the program or a pre-health advisor before applying.

The Respiratory Care Program at Stony Brook University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.