Program Information
-
Location: Downtown Milwaukee Campus
- Pathway: Healthcare
- Program Code: 10-515-1
- Offering: In-Person
- Degree Type: 2-Year Degree (Associate)
- Start Dates: August
About the Respiratory Therapy Degree
Description
Enhance patient care by evaluating and treating people with lung and heart disease. Respiratory therapists’ duties include administering treatments, recommending therapeutic interventions and operating life support systems. Graduates are qualified to sit for the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) examinations.
Respiratory therapists work in acute and subacute hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, rehabilitation facilities, clinics and home care.
This program features exploratory courses that count toward a credential. Contact an MATC advisor for information.
This program admits students via a waiting list process.
Additional program details: Learn to evaluate, treat, and care for patients with lung and heart disease. Clinical experiences are gained in a variety of healthcare settings.
Successful completion of the program and the NBRC Certified Respiratory Therapist examination provides an opportunity to obtain a license as a Respiratory Care Practitioner granted by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. NBRC examinations leading to qualification as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) as well as advanced credentials in pulmonary function (CPFT and RPFT) and perinatal/pediatrics are available.
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Career Outlook
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Detailed Program Information
2025-26 Curriculum
| Course | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOSCI-177 | Gen Anatomy & Physiology ‡ (or) BIOSCI-201 Anatomy & Physiology 1 ‡ and BIOSCI-202 Anatomy & Physiology 2 ‡ |
4 |
| ELECTIVES | (Two credits) | 2 |
| ENG-195 | Written Communication ‡ (or) ENG-201 English 1 ‡ |
3 |
| PSYCH-199 | Psychology of Human Relations (or) Any 200-level PSYCH course |
3 |
| RESPC-111 | Respiratory Survey ‡ | 3 |
| RESPC-171 | Respiratory Therapeutics 1 ‡ | 3 |
| BIOSCI-197 | Microbiology ‡ | 4 |
| ENG-197 | Technical Writing ‡ | 3 |
| RESPC-112 | Respiratory Airway Management ‡ | 2 |
| RESPC-172 | Respiratory Therapeutics 2 ‡ | 3 |
| RESPC-173 | Respiratory Pharmacology ‡ | 3 |
| RESPC-174 | Respiratory Cardiac Physiology ‡ | 3 |
| SOCSCI-172 | Introduction to Diversity Studies (or) Any 200-level SOCSCI course |
3 |
| RESPC-175 | Respiratory Clinical 1 ‡ | 2 |
| RESPC-113 | Respiratory Life Support ‡ | 3 |
| RESPC-176 | Respiratory Disease ‡ | 3 |
| RESPC-178 | Respiratory Clinical 2 ‡ | 3 |
| RESPC-179 | Respiratory Clinical 3 ‡ | 3 |
| RESPC-180 | Respiratory Neonatal and Pediatric Care ‡ | 2 |
| RESPC-181 | Respiratory/Cardio Diagnostics ‡ | 3 |
| RESPC-182 | Respiratory Clinical 4 ‡ | 3 |
| RESPC-183 | Respiratory Clinical 5 ‡ | 3 |
|
TOTAL CREDITS |
64 |
‡ Prerequisite required.
Program curriculum requirements are subject to change.
This Associate in Applied Science program will transfer to one or more four-year institutions.
Current MATC students should consult their Academic Program Plan for specific curriculum requirements.
Search for available classes now (link) to see course descriptions, class times and locations.
Already a student? You can visit Self-Service (link) and choose Student Planning to register for classes.
2025-2026 Program Flyer
Links & Resources
Important Dates
Fall start: Review Window in February
Deadlines and important dates can be found on:
Cost & Aid Deadlines
Also, you can find dates and deadlines on the MATC Events Calendar
Program Outcomes
Respiratory Therapy Program Goals
The primary goals of the Respiratory Therapist Program at MATC are to provide students with the knowledge and experience to successfully pass credentialing examinations and excel as passionate, empathic, critically thinking respiratory therapists in the patient care environment. This program is designed to prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by respiratory therapists.
Program Outcomes include:
- Apply respiratory therapy concepts to patient care situations
- Demonstrate technical proficiency required to fulfill the role of a Respiratory Therapist
- Practice respiratory therapy according to established professional and ethical standards
Admission Requirements
Waiting List
This program admits students via a waiting list process. Students must complete all academic preparedness requirements before being placed into core program courses when seats are available.
- Program capacity is 45 students once a year in Spring: 15 at the Mequon Campus and 30 at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus
- Currently, no waiting time, but that is subject to change.
Academic Preparedness Requirements
- GPA of 2.5 or higher at MATC
- Complete BIOSCI-177 (or BIOSCI-201 and BIOSCI-202) with a B- or higher.
- Pass the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) with a score of 60% or higher (three lifetime attempts in person).
Scholarships
Accreditation
The Milwaukee Area Technical College Respiratory Therapy Program, CoARC program number 200131, A.A.S degree, located at the downtown main campus, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).
CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes based’ process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented.
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QUESTIONS?
Healthcare Academic & Career Pathway
414-297-6263
262-238-2281
healthpathway@matc.edu