The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown is in Johnstown, about an hour's drive east of the university's main campus in Pittsburgh. The school offers an associate's degree in respiratory therapy. This two-year program costs in-state students roughly $11,000 a year in tuition; out-of-state students can expect to pay about $9,000 more, as of February 2011.
Students enrolled in the associate's degree program must complete 56 credit hours in the field to graduate. The school's website offers a complete list of these required classes (see Resources); they include respiratory pharmacology, respiratory pathology and a series of clinical practicums. These courses range from two credits each for the Advanced Techniques class to 10 credit hours each for Clinical Practicum 3.
In addition to the 56 credits that focus on respiratory therapy, students enrolled in this program must complete an additional 27 hours of classroom credit in other fields to earn their degree. These course requirements including English composition, algebra and introduction to psychology.
An associate's degree in respiratory therapy can lead in several directions. The first option for graduates is to continue their education. The school says students who successfully complete this two-year program are eligible to continue their studies at Johnstown by earning a bachelor's degree in health care.
The second option for graduates is to enter the work force. The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown says its curriculum can prepare graduates for jobs in a hospital, retirement home or home health care setting. Other options include careers in health education and medical sales.