2024-25 Catalog

Cardiopulmonary Sciences

Bachelor of Science Degree in Cardiopulmonary Sciences (CIP# 1105109081)

Limited-Access

School of Health Sciences

The Cardiopulmonary Sciences bachelor's degree offers professionally-credentialed graduates of Respiratory Care, Cardiovascular Technology and Cardiopulmonary Technology  Associate degree programs the opportunity to expand their knowledge in advanced modalities or community health.  The Cardiopulmonary Sciences professions are challenging and growing professions with career opportunities in areas such as cardiopulmonary diagnostics, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, and community health. With professional experience and additional education at the baccalaureate level, opportunities for management and education career options are enhanced.

The BSCARDIO program is an online program.

Since the BSCARDIO is a limited access program, admission to Valencia does not imply acceptance to the program.

Program Concentrations

  • Advanced Critical Care Concentration
  • Community Health Concentration
  • Leadership Concentration

Potential Careers

  • Respiratory Care Management/Administration
  • Cardiovascular Management/Administration
  • Higher Education
  • Community Health Educator
  • Clinical Practice in Non-Invasive Cardiology

Salary and Earnings Information

 For salary and wage information, visit: www.salary.com

Contact Information

For more information about the program or admission requirements, please email AlliedHealthBS.ATC@valenciacollege.edu.

For the most up-to-date information, visit our website at: https://valenciacollege.edu/academics/programs/health-sciences/cardiopulmonary-sciences/.

Your Student Success Coach contact information can be found in Atlas. Log into Atlas, click on the Courses tab, and check your Academic Profile information to find a link to your Coach. 

Overview of Cardiopulmonary Sciences

For the Cardiopulmonary Sciences program, students must hold current professional certification and a related Associate in Science or Associate of Applied Science degree.  Students must provide proof of current professional certification or its equivalent in one of the following: Registered Therapist (RRT) credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) or one of the following credentials from Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI):  Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS), Registered Cardiac Electrophysiology Specialist (RCES), Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS), Registered Congenital Cardiac Sonographer (RCCS) or Registered Vascular Sonographer (RVS).

Students must have a minimum of 64 accepted credits and one of the following degrees from a regionally accredited institution.

  • Associate Degree in Cardiovascular Technology
  • Associate Degree in Cardiopulmonary Technology
  • Associate Degree in Respiratory Care

For admission, the following prerequisite coursework must be completed with a minimum grade of C:

ENC 1101FRESHMAN COMPOSITION I (GR) +*~3
Mathematics See Gen. Ed. Requirement +*~3
BSC 2093CHUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I +*~4
or BSC X085C
BSC 2094CHUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II +*~4
or BSC X086C
MCB 2010CMICROBIOLOGY +*~4
Total Credit Hours18

Courses with different numbers that are determined to be equivalent may be substituted.

In their junior and senior years, students will be required to complete the following coursework:

  • Any additional credits needed to complete the state-mandated 36 General Education credits in all five areas according to Valencia program requirements.  If a student holds an Associate in Arts degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution, all General Education requirements will be satisfied.

  • 30 credits in upper-division core courses

  • 10 credits in upper-division concentration area  

Students are responsible for meeting the degree graduation requirements found under the Program Requirements tab located on this page.

Admission Requirements

  • Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident or in a non-immigrant category other than F or J visa categories
  • Review the current BSCARDIO Program Guide and Updates at https://valenciacollege.edu/academics/programs/health-sciences/cardiopulmonary-sciences/
  • Submit a completed Valencia Application for Admission using the Bachelor's Degree & ATC application, and be in Active Student Status.
  • Have a minimum overall college GPA of 2.5
  • Submit official transcripts from all prior colleges and universities with one denoting completion of an Associate degree in Respiratory Care, Cardiovascular Technology or Cardiopulmonary Technology from a regionally accredited institution and have a minimum of 64 accepted credits, including the previously-specified General Education coursework

  • Following your admission to Valencia College as a candidate for the Bachelor of Science, complete the online Bachelor's Degree Orientation and submit a copy of your current certification with CCI or NBRC or equivalent certification to AlliedHealthBS.ATC@valenciacollege.edu.

Note: Prior to enrollment in a clinical practice, provide documentation of the following requirements:

  • Current criminal background check
  • Fingerprinting 
  • Drug testing
  • Physical exam forms
  • Up-to-date immunization data

Program Outcomes

  • Perform effective communication skills within the healthcare environment
  • Practice professional behaviors in the healthcare setting
  • Perform advanced level skills as described by the scope of practice for selected concentration (Leadership or Community Health)
  • Execute safe clinical decision making in the healthcare environment
  • Demonstrate information literacy

Valencia B.S. General Education Requirements (18 credits)

Students who did not have a Humanities and/or Social Science course prior to program admission must have at least 6 credits in both areas for degree graduation.

Communications6
FRESHMAN COMPOSITION II +*~
FUNDAMENTALS OF SPEECH ~
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
Humanities See Gen. Ed. Institutional Requirement (GR) +*~3
Mathematics (GR) (STA 2023 is recommended) +*~3
Social Science See Gen. Ed. Institutional Requirement (GR) +*~3
Gen. Ed. Elective See Gen. Ed. Requirements +*~3
Total Credit Hours18

Cardiopulmonary Core Requirements (30 credits)

RET 3287CARDIOPULMONARY DIAGNOSTICS +*3
RET 3536CARDIOPULMONARY REHABILITATION +*3
HSA 3702RESEARCH METHODS AND INFORMATION LITERACY +*3
RET 3715NEONATAL MEDICINE +*3
RET 3354MEDICAL PHARMACOLOGY +*3
HSC 4555PATHOPHYSIOLOGIC MECHANISMS +*3
HSC 4640INTRODUCTION TO HEALTH LAW +*3
HSC 4652ETHICS AND HEALTH CARE IN A PLURALISTIC SOCIETY +*3
HSA 4184LEADERSHIP IN HEALTHCARE +*3
Cardiopulmonary Sciences Elective3
Total Credit Hours30

Concentration: Advanced Critical Care (10 credits)

RET 3269ADVANCED CARDIOPULMONARY CRITICAL CARE +3
RET 3444INTRODUCTION TO LUNG AND CARDIAC ULTRASOUND +3
RET 4931SPECIAL TOPICS IN EVIDENCE-BASED CRITICAL CARE +2
RET 4950ADVANCED CRITICAL CARE CAPSTONE +*2
Total Credit Hours10

Concentration:  Community Health (10 credits)

RET 4524COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS +3
HSC 4500EPIDEMIOLOGY +3
RET 4034HEALTH CARE DELIVERY AND ACCESS +3
RET 4940COMMUNITY HEALTH CAPSTONE +*1
Total Credit Hours10

 Concentration:  Leadership (10 credits)

HSA 4110ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR +3
HSA 4340PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT +3
HSA 4502HEALTH CARE RISK MANAGEMENT +3
HSA 4850HEALTH CARE LEADERSHIP CAPSTONE +*1
Total Credit Hours10

Cardiopulmonary Sciences Electives

HSA 4340PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT + 3
HSA 4341CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN HEALTH CARE +3
RET 4034HEALTH CARE DELIVERY AND ACCESS +3
RET 4524COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS +3
RTE 3205ADMINISTRATION AND SUPERVISION + 3
RTE 3253TEACHING IN THE HEALTH PROFESSION + 3
HSC 4500EPIDEMIOLOGY + 3
+

 This course must be completed with a grade of C or better.

*

 This course has a prerequisite; check description in Valencia catalog

~

 This is a general education course.

Degree Graduation Requirements

  • Earn a minimum 2.0 Valencia and Overall GPA
  • Earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in all prerequisite and upper division courses

  • Satisfy Valencia’s General Education requirements and Gordon Rule requirements unless you hold an Associate in Arts or Bachelor’s degree or have completed the entire general education program at a regionally accredited institution.

  • Satisfy the civic literacy requirement. As per Florida Rule 6A-10.04213, prior to the award of an associate in arts or baccalaureate degree, students initially entering a Florida College System institution in the 2021-22 school year*, and thereafter must demonstrate competency in civic literacy prior to graduation by:
    a. receiving a passing score on the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE), and
    b. successful completion of one of the following:

    • successfully passing POS 2041 U.S. GOVERNMENT or AMH 2020 U.S. HISTORY 1877 TO PRESENT or

    • successfully passing a prescribed assessment:
      AP Government & Politics: United States Test** (passing score =3), or
      AP United States History Test** (passing score = 4), or
      CLEP American Government** (passing score = 50)
      *The Department of Education has provided guidance that the Civic Literacy requirement is based on the student's governing catalog year (e.g., it is for all students who have a catalog year of Fall 2021 or after even if they had previously attended a Florida public institution).
      **receiving a passing score will satisfy both the FCLE and course requirements.

  • Complete at least 40 semester credits of upper division course work

  • Complete at Valencia at least 25% of the 128 hours degree program (32 credits), based upon the Florida College System's requirement of a 2+2 admission into the baccalaureate program.
  • Obtain a degree audit through your Atlas account and review it for readiness to submit your application for graduation.
  • Submit an application for graduation online through Atlas by the deadline date listed in the Academic Calendar in the online official catalog.  You must have at least the minimum number of college-level credits for your degree, including all courses for which you are registered in order to submit a graduation application.
  • Fulfill all financial obligations to Valencia.
  • Complete two years of one foreign language or American Sign Language in high school or one year of foreign language in college (or equivalent proficiency prior to graduation).
  • Total Semester Credits required - 128.

Notes:
Specialized courses may not be offered every session.

Transfer Notes:

  • Students who hold an A.A. or Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution have satisfied Valencia's general education program requirements.
  • Students transferring from a regionally accredited institution with the general education program (GEP) requirements of that institution met have thereby satisfied Valencia GEP requirements.

Registration Note:
Once a student has been approved as “Course Registration Eligible,” it is the student’s responsibility to secure enrollment in the desired course(s).

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