Respiratory Care Major

What You'll Study

The Respiratory Care program has the specific goal of preparing graduates with demonstrated competencies in the cognitive, Psychomotor and affective learning domains of respiratory therapy practice and to prepare leaders, researchers and educators with advanced clinical practices.

A respiratory therapist, also known as respiratory care practitioner, is a health professional that focuses on the diagnostic evaluation, treatment and management of patients with cardiopulmonary disorders. As a respiratory therapist, you'll be proficient in

  • therapeutic administration of medical gases and aerosols
  • intermittent and continuous mechanical ventilation
  • bronchopulmonary hygiene
  • basic and advanced cardiac life support techniques
  • non-invasive patient monitoring
  • pulmonary function evaluation
  • arterial blood gas analysis
  • airway management procedures 
  • pulmonary rehabilitation techniques

Respiratory therapists work under the supervision of a physician to provide many therapeutic and diagnostic procedures and make recommendations based on these responses. They must also communicate with other members of the health care team, such as nurses and doctors, in order to follow the progress of patients and make the modifications to treatments as necessary.

After extensive didactic and laboratory course preparation during your first two years, the respiratory program begins to move into various clinical settings by the beginning of the third year of the program. After gaining confidence by observing various clinical procedures, you will gradually start to perform more hands-on therapies while under the direction of adjunct clinical faculty. By the last semester of the program, you will virtually perform the same tasks as the clinical faculty they are assigned to. While gaining clinical experiences at area health care facilities, you will still be taking various didactic and laboratory courses at the university.

Master of Respiratory Care available for this major. 

The accelerated "4+1" program allows students to earn the Master of Respiratory Care degree in one year after completing their Bachelor's degree.

  • Respiratory Care Major

    The first two semesters include courses in Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, English, Math, Communication and electives to meet the general education requirements for a bachelor’s degree. Pre-respiratory courses that are required to complete and are evaluated in the application process are Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, Math, Communication and Medical Terminology.

    Students accepted into the program begin taking specific respiratory care courses in the fall semester of their second year. The remaining three year respiratory care curriculum includes foundation courses that proceed to pre-clinical, clinical courses and research that prepare the student for the present and future demands of the respiratory care professional. Upon completion of the BSRC program students’ will have completed the following certifications: Basic Cardiac Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Neonatal Resuscitation Program and Pediatric Advanced Life Support and will be eligible to register for and attempt national credentialing examination for respiratory care.

    Check out testimonial videos from our students:

    Luahi Mish Mish
    Allison Svenson
    Khala Santiago
    Connie Brinker

    Our online program is also available.

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