Do you...

• Have an interest in pursuing a health profession?
• Enjoy helping people in their time of need?
• Like working with technology?
• Perform well in math and science?
• Prefer a profession with a lot of variety on the job?
• Want to choose your work setting and the types of patients you serve?
• Want to choose your work setting and the types of patients you serve?

Respiratory Therapy is an allied health specialty that concentrates on the treatment, management, control and care of patients’ breathing.  A respiratory therapist is an integral part of the health care team that uses their didactic and clinical practice to evaluate treatments, therapeutics, medications and ventilation for the best outcomes for patients. The B.S.R.T. program prepares students to enter the workforce as registered respiratory therapists.

More About This Degree

• Learn more about this program or visit the Nutrition, Dietetics, Athletic Training website.
• College of Health and Human Services
• Courses: Available courses in this department

Faculty

Employment of respiratory therapists has been projected to grow 23 percent between 2016 and 2026—much faster than the average for all occupations.

The median annual wage for respiratory therapists was $59,710 ($28.71 per hour) in May 2017.

_{Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Respiratory Therapists}

Specific Program Requirements

Marywood University is currently in the process of seeking CoARC accreditation for a respiratory care program. However, Marywood University can provide no assurance that accreditation will be granted by the CoARC. www,coarc.com

CoARC
P.O. Box 54876
Hurst, TX 76054-4876

Undergraduate Admissions Requirements

• Official SAT and/or ACT scores
• Completed application
• Essay
• Official transcripts
• Letter of recommendation

Find Your Counselor

Program Overview and Requirements, B.S.R.T.

Selective Program

Entry into this program is not guaranteed with admission to the University; this is a selective admission program, and specific admissions criteria must be met.

Admission Criteria Pre-Respiratory

• Please see Admissions to Marywood University
• Admission Criteria Clinical Program:
• Must have a 2.5 grade point average.
• Must pass their pre respiratoryt courses with a C or higher
• Must show immunity to certain diseases. 
• Must complete Child Abuse clearance and criminal background check annually 
• Must have current American Heart Association BLS (basic life support)
• Meet with the program director
• Meet essential qualifications

Applications for the clinical portion of the program will begin in the fall semester of their sophomore year. 

Students will be responsible for course fees as well as additional fees during the course of the program.  These fees will include but are not limited to; membership in American Association of Respiratory Care, exam fees, digital time and record keeping software license, regional conference fee, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) courses.

Recommended Curriculum

Program Overview and Requirements, R.R.T. to B.S.R.T.

Flexible Scheduling

The B.S. degree completion program is completely online to allow working therapists to earn their bachelor’s degree while continuing in their careers.

Curriculum Overview

There are 30 required credits in the AS RRT – BSRT Curriculum. Students will earn the academic credentials required to pursue a graduate degree and expand their opportunities for professional development. Program coursework focuses on written and oral communication, patient advocacy, ethics, quality improvement, leadership and management, teaching in health care, critically reviewing studies, advanced respiratory care modalities and topics, and an inter-professional capstone.  (Those students with a differing degree from AS will work with an Academic Advisor to complete additional coursework to fulfill requirements.)

Program Outcomes

The goal of the RRT to BS degree program is to provide professional respiratory therapists with additional knowledge and skills in order to meet current professional standards and goals.

Admission Requirements: Students must possess their initial credential as a respiratory therapist and an associate level degree. 

Two Tracks of Completion

Track A Elective: Language Track

Three courses in Language from the following:

•             SPAN102
•             SPAN 212
•             SPAN 211
•             SPAN 307
•             SPAN  111

Track B Elective: Philosophy and Religious Studies 

Three courses in Philosophy and Religious Studies from the following:

•             PHIL 113         R ST 112
•             PHIL 312         R ST 213
•             PHIL 315

Curriculum Sequence

Career Opportunities

Graduates find employment as respiratory therapists in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, home healthcare companies, and as pharmaceutical sales representatives. The Respiratory Therapist program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) [See www.coarc.com]. Continuation in this program requires that the student receive a grade of C or higher in each course pursued.

Competency Profile

• Demonstrate proficiency as respiratory therapists as described by the National Board for Respiratory Care
• Assist physicians in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of patients afflicted with cardiopulmonary disorders
• Function effectively as members of the healthcare team
• Comprehend, apply, and evaluate clinical information relevant to their role as registered respiratory therapists. (Cognitive Domain)
• Demonstrate technical proficiency in all registered respiratory therapist skills. (Psychomotor Domain)
• Demonstrate personal behaviors consistent with professional and employer expectations for the registered respiratory therapist. (Affective Domain)

Acquiring Core Skills

In addition to the clinical skills that students will learn as part of their curriculum, the Respiratory Therapy Program incorporates core skills training into the program that will benefit all Respiratory Therapy students in their careers.

Writing in the Profession

Students will demonstrate the ability to write effectively in the profession. Elements include the ability to organize an argument, support the argument with high quality relevant evidence, deliver it with good sentence structure and grammar, and cite and reference appropriately.

Oral Communication/Consultative Function/Knowledge

Students will deliver a consultative presentation with recommendations that reflect the knowledge gained through courses in this program.

Critical Inquiry/Evidence-based Medicine

Students will demonstrate the ability to formulate a clinical question, search the medical literature, and assess the collected literature for quality, relevance and limitations.

Teamwork/Interprofessional Cooperation

Students will demonstrate collaboration in interprofessional teams to accomplish a common goal.

Ethical Leadership

Students will demonstrate effectively the ability to lead a group of professionals in an ethical manner promoting patient advocacy.

Teaching Patients and Healthcare Professionals

Students will demonstrate the ability to educate patients, their families, and healthcare professionals.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation requirements include current Certification in American Heart Association BLS (CPR), American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification, American Heart Association Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification, professional development credits, and satisfactory performance on comprehensive written, laboratory, simulation, and oral exit examinations.

Membership in the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is required by the start of the second semester of the clinical portion of Respiratory Therapist program.