School of Allied Health Professions

CPS Prospective Student Information and Application Requirements

The cardiovascular sonography and respiratory therapy programs offer a 69-hour program beginning in the summer semester. Our curriculum spans 6 semesters for full-time students. For prospective applicants, we may be able to accommodate one-on-one tours or meetings and offer group information sessions monthly throughout the year. We currently do not have scholarships. If you are accepted into either program, there is a $50 acceptance fee that is counted toward your tuition payment. For additional information, please refer to our admission requirements or email our admissions advisor at jzamja@lsuhsc.edu.

 

• Admission Requirements

• Application for Admission

• CPS Transfer Credit Policy

• Technical Standards

 

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Bachelor of Science Degree Program in Cardiopulmonary Science is on a competitive basis. Satisfactory completion of the minimum requirements identified below is required.
Completion of not less than sixty (60) hours, or its equivalent, of acceptable credit prior to the date of registration. Applicants may be enrolled in final prerequisite courses at the time of application submission.

Satisfactory completion of listed prerequisite courses (as part of the 60 semester credits specified), or their equivalent, based upon the Department faculty's acceptance of equivalency. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) for all prerequisite courses.

The applicant is advised to visit one or more facilities that employ respiratory therapists and cardiovascular technologists to talk with the specialists and to gain knowledge of the field.

 Students who hold baccalaureate degrees may earn a second bachelor's degree in cardiopulmonary science provided they: (a) complete all requirements (including subject requirements) for the second degree; and (b) meet all quality point and grade requirements applicable to the second degree.

The Department's programs in respiratory therapy and cardiac sonography do NOT offer advanced placement.  Prior education or work experience in respiratory therapy or cardiovascular sonography will NOT be accepted in lieu of required coursework UNLESS the applicant has attained a REGISTRY credential in respiratory therapy, adult echocardiography, or vascular technology.  Applicants who have previously earned one of these credentials will only be exempted from didactic and clinical courses directly related to the earned credential.

Prerequisite Courses (subject to revision)
 

 

*Humanities recommended: English, Technical Writing, Advanced Composition, or Foreign Language

**An alternative science course laboratory may be substituted for Chemistry laboratory.

***If Human Physiology is not offered, Human Anatomy & Physiology may be substituted.

****Art Electives recommended: Music, Art, Dance, or Theater.

Accepted Prerequisite Courses from Louisiana Universities and Colleges
 

 

Accepted Prerequisite Courses from Out-of-State Universities and Colleges

If a prospective student is attending a university outside of Louisiana, we can create a course list for their particular college upon request.

Application for Admission

Department of Cardiopulmonary Science Application Requirements

The Department of Cardiopulmonary Science has a rolling admission policy, accepting applications for admission between September 7 and February 1. Particularly strong applicants may be interviewed and notified of acceptance prior to the February 1 deadline. Applicants who appear unlikely to receive immediate acceptance but who merit an interview will be contacted to schedule the interview after February 1. Interviews typically occur during the month of February, and admission decision letters are sent via email immediately thereafter.

Online Application 

• Both the respiratory therapy and cardiovascular sonography programs use the Allied Health Centralized Application Service (AHCAS; https://ahcas.liaisoncas.com/) in their application process.
  
• Only completed and verified applications will be considered. Transcripts should be submitted to AHCAS 4 weeks before the application deadline to allow time for verification. It is the student's responsibility to monitor the application's progress and ensure it is completed and verified by the deadline.
• If you have trouble accessing the application, the preferred browsers are Google Chrome or Firefox.
• If you have questions about your application status, please contact your AHCAS Customer Service Representative at (617) 612-2883 or at ahcasinfo@ahcas.org.

Transcript processing center address:

AHCAS Transcript Processing Center
P.O. Box 9127
Watertown, MA  02471

Timeline for Application 

The application deadline for the class beginning in May of each year is February 1.  NOTE: the deadline for respiratory therapy applications has been extended to March 15.

 If a class is not filled, the AHCAS application portal may be reopened to accept a late application. If you require assistance filling out the application, please contact the Office of Disability Services at ods@lsuhsc.edu or at (504) 568-2211. 

Cardiopulmonary Science Admission Requirements in Addition to the Application 

• Minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 (in a 4.0 system) for all prerequisite courses and successful passing of all prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better. Plusses and minuses are not factored into quality point calculations.
• In-person interview at LSU Health Sciences Center

The Department of Cardiopulmonary Science Admissions Committee consists of all full-time departmental faculty. The admissions committee makes all decisions on acceptance, which are final, and are based on the following perceptions of the applicant: 1) Ability to succeed academically in the program, (2) knowledge of the profession, (3) motivation to work in the chosen profession, and (4) emotional maturity.

Other Information 

• Link to tuition and fees
• Link to technical standards
• Link to information sessions
• Louisiana Residency

Available student work positions can be found here.
For additional information regarding:
LSUHSC’s ESL/TOEFL, background checks, student health requirements, readmission and leave of absence policy please refer to our Student Handbook. For information on the Louisiana Higher Education Foreign Security Act Screening click here.

Admissions Coordinator Contact Information 

Please feel free to contact the department should you have questions or concerns. 

John Zamjahn, Ph.D. 
Professor of Clinical Cardiopulmonary Science 
Phone: (504) 568-4228
E-mail: jzamja@lsuhsc.edu

 

Cardiopulmonary Science Transfer Credit Policy

The respiratory therapy and cardiovascular sonography programs will accept transfer of coursework taken by an applicant in any other accredited college or university. The courses for which students receive transfer credit are the prerequisite courses listed below that are required for admission into either program. In addition, applicants who hold a registry credential in either respiratory therapy (RRT) or vascular technology (RVT or RVS) and wish to attain a Bachelor of Science in Cardiopulmonary Science may complete the associated track and be exempted from courses that are directly related to the held credential. Required coursework must be completed in not more than four years. For respiratory therapy students, this curriculum track is only accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and not by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.

The Department of Cardiopulmonary Science will perform a comprehensive examination of the transfer credit, which must be approved prior to being applied to credit hours.

 

*Humanities recommended: English, Technical Writing, Advanced Composition, or Foreign Language.

**An alternative science course laboratory may be substituted for Chemistry laboratory.

***If Human Physiology is not offered, Human Anatomy & Physiology may be substituted.

****Art Electives recommended: Music, Art, Dance, or Theater.

Technical Standards

In addition to proven academic ability and other relevant personal characteristics, the Department of Cardiopulmonary Science expects all applicants for admission to possess and be able to demonstrate the skills, attributes and qualities set forth below. To request accommodations, students should contact the Office of Disability Services at ods@lsuhsc.edu or (504) 568-2211.

Physical Health:  A cardiopulmonary science student must possess the physical health and stamina needed to carry out the program of health care education.

Intellectual Skills:  A cardiopulmonary science student must have sufficient powers of intellect to acquire, assimilate, integrate and apply information. A cardiopulmonary science student must have the intellectual ability to solve problems. A cardiopulmonary science student must possess the ability to comprehend three dimensional and spatial relationships.

Motor Skills:  A cardiopulmonary science student must have sufficient use of motor skills to carry out all necessary procedures, both those involved in learning the fundamental sciences and those required in the hospital and clinical environment. This includes the ability to participate in relevant educational exercises and to extract information from written sources.

Behavioral Qualities:  A cardiopulmonary science student must possess emotional health sufficient to carry out the tasks above, and must have good judgment, and must behave in a professional, reliable, mature and responsible manner. A cardiopulmonary science student must be adaptable, possessing sufficient flexibility to function in new and stressful environments. A cardiopulmonary science student must possess appropriate motivation, integrity, compassion and a genuine interest in caring for others.