Cardiopulmonary Science, B.S. - Degree Advancement Program (CIP 51.0908)

• Minimum Requirements for Admission
• Prerequisite Courses
• Method of Application
• Transfer of Credit
• Academic Progression Requirements
• Curriculum

The CPS Degree Advancement (DA) - Additional Degree Tract (ADT) provides asynchronous, online education leading to the Bachelor of Science in Cardiopulmonary Science degree. The standard educational track consists of 50 hours of pre-requisite courses that can be taken at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university with an additional 70 hours (two years) of professional courses some of which would have been completed through the incoming student’s prior Associate level degree earned and the remaining hours to be completed at LSU Health Shreveport. 

Students seeking to enter the DA program must have completed a CoARC-accredited associate degree (i.e., Associate of Science or Applied Science) and have attained, with current status, their RRT credential through the National Board for Respiratory Care. The DA program is intended to provide a bridge for an Associate-degreed graduate working in respiratory care with an opportunity to acquire a Bachelor of Science in Cardiopulmonary Science after completing the necessary prerequisite coursework in addition to 30 hours of online DA program courses.

With an already established educational foundation in respiratory care, the DA program graduate is prepared to segue into higher-level opportunities in leadership, management, education, research, and clinical practice and will align with the American Association for Respiratory Care “Entry to Respiratory Therapy Practice 2030” recommendation for minimum education of a respiratory therapist from associate degree to baccalaureate degree.

Graduates of the DA program become potential candidates for supervisory, educational, research, and administrative positions within the profession. Program graduates are also potential candidates to pursue graduate education in both Master’s and Doctoral Programs.

The main goal of the DA Program is 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 (DA3.1). 

The overarching main goal of the LSUHS DA-ADT program is to increase the Registered Respiratory Therapist competency in the areas of management, leadership, research, education, and clinical care. To achieve this broad goal, the following program expected student learning outcomes (ESLOs) have been established. Students completing the BS in CPS DA-ADT program should be able to:

• ESLO 1 (Management): Develop and assess pertinent policies and/or procedures that affect patient care in the arenas of safety, quality, and productivity.

• ESLO 2 (Leadership): Recognize essential roles of leadership pertinent to patient care and professional practice.

• ESLO 3 (Research): Interpret core concepts of key research findings after critical appraisal of scientific literature (i.e., clinical practice guidelines, refereed journal publications)

• ESLO 4 (Education): Utilize the concepts of learning styles to implement educational programs in a clinical, academic, or non-traditional setting. 

• ESLO 5 (Clinical): Formulate and/or appraise detailed treatment plans for patients with cardiopulmonary disease to enhance patient care and recovery.

The curriculum integrates introductory, developmental, and mastery-level assignments which meet the ESLOs outlined above.

The Cardiopulmonary Science Degree Advancement Program has concluded a provisional self-study and is currently in the process of seeking CoARC accreditation. However, LSUHS cannot assure that accreditation will be granted by the CoARC.