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College of Applied and Technical Studies

Respiratory Care

Course Delivery
100% online
Total Credits
60
Completion Time
Graduate in as little as 4 semesters
Admission Requirements
Must have an associate degree in respiratory care/therapy
*Based on the Tuition Guarantee Program for a full-time student taking 12-18 semester hours, if completing program in 4 semesters.

Respiratory Care Bachelor’s Degree Program Overview

The online Bachelor of Science degree in Respiratory Care is a completer program designed to prepare qualified respiratory therapists with the necessary knowledge and skills to develop professionalism and advance their careers in the areas of leadership, management, education, research, disease and sleep medicine, utilizing best practices in order to advance the practice of respiratory care.

Building upon the foundation of an associate degree in respiratory therapy, the Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care is the solution for both students completing an associate degree and working respiratory therapists that wish to expand their career options. Our accredited completer program is offered in an accelerated format that offers 7-week courses and is completely online.

The program’s goal is to provide graduates entry into respiratory care professional practice degree programs with additional knowledge, skills, and attributes in leadership, management, education, research and/or advanced clinical practice that will enable them to meet their current professional goals and prepare them for practice as advanced degree respiratory therapists.

Program Structure

  • 49 credits (Based on transfer credits from associates degree. Program requires 120 credits total)
  • Start any semester
  • Offered in accelerated format of 7-week courses
  • Admission to the Respiratory Care major is selective. Applicants must hold an active credential for certified respiratory therapist (CRT) or registered respiratory therapist (RRT) and an associate degree from a CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy/care program with a minimum 2.000 overall GPA. Official transcript of associate degree. Minimum C grade in PSYC11762 (or equivalent)
  • Graduate in as little as four semesters

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  • Incorporate theory, research, evidence, and best practices to enhance respiratory care practice.
  • Understand leadership and management principles as it relates to the function and organizational structure of the respiratory care department.
  • Understand the purpose and application of key elements of professionalism in the practice of respiratory care.
  • Demonstrate techniques and strategies of teaching and learning of respiratory therapy utilized in various venues.
  • Identify a variety of sleep and breathing disorders and exhibit a fundamental understanding of the application and interpretation of sleep studies in the diagnosis of related disorders.
  • Apply critical thinking in the area of managing chronic disease and the impact healthcare professionals have on affecting positive patient population outcomes.
  • Describe research methodology and design and their application to health science research and their application to everyday health care.
  • Exhibit knowledge in specified areas of advanced respiratory care practice.
  • Identify and analyze current contemporary issues in respiratory care and their impact on the profession and delivery of care.
  • Understand information management and information systems, technology, and the human/technology interface utilized in professional healthcare practices.

Accreditation

Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)

Respiratory Care Bachelor’s Degree Program Admissions Requirements

Admission to the Respiratory Care major is selective. Applicants must hold an active credential for certified respiratory therapist (CRT) or registered respiratory therapist (RRT) and an entry-level degree from an accredited respiratory therapy/care program with a minimum 2.000 overall GPA.

Applicants who are actively enrolled and in good standing in the second year of an accredited entry-level associate degree in respiratory therapy/care or are actively enrolled and in good standing in the third year of an accredited entry-level bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy/care may be conditionally enrolled in the program.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information on international admission visit the admissions website for international students.

Important Dates

Oct
05
Fall Break
Fall Break
Aug
19
Classes Begin
Fall 2024 Semester
Oct
03
Fall Break
Fall Break

Respiratory Care Bachelor’s Degree Program Courses

Program Requirements

Major Requirements
Course List
Code Title Credit Hours
Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
NURS 46000 HEALTH CARE POLICY 3
RSPC 30000 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE IN RESPIRATORY CARE 3
RSPC 30002 LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT IN RESPIRATORY CARE 3
RSPC 30004 EDUCATIONAL INSTRUCTION IN RESPIRATORY CARE 3
RSPC 30006 SLEEP MEDICINE AND POLYSOMNOGRAPHY 3
RSPC 40002 RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT IN RESPIRATORY CARE (WIC) 1 3
RSPC 40004 ADVANCED PRACTICE IN RESPIRATORY CARE 3
RSPC 40006 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES AND TRENDS IN RESPIRATORY CARE 3
RSPC 40008 CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES 3
RSPC 40075 INFORMATION AND PATIENT CARE TECHNOLOGY FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS 3
RSPC 41092 PRACTICUM FOR RESPIRATORY CARE (ELR) 3
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
PSYC 11762 GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
LIS 30010 INFORMATION FLUENCY IN THE WORKPLACE AND BEYOND 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Statistics Electives, choose from the following: 3-4
BA 24056
BUSINESS ANALYTICS I
MATH 10040
INTRODUCTORY STATISTICS PLUS (KMCR)
MATH 10041
INTRODUCTORY STATISTICS (KMCR)
MATH 12022
PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS FOR LIFE SCIENCES 3
MATH 30011
BASIC PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS 3
PH 30002
INTRODUCTORY BIOSTATISTICS
PSYC 21621
QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY I
SOC 32220
SOC 32221

and DATA ANALYSIS LABORATORY
Kent Core Composition 6
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning 3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each) 9
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) 3
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory) 6-7
Kent Core Additional 6
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) 4 44
Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120

1A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

2Not required of transfer students with 25 or more credit hours

3MATH 12022 and MATH 30011 are not offered online presently.

4The majority of general elective credit hours may be transfer courses from an associate degree in respiratory care/therapy.

Progression Requirements

To be able to register for Respiratory Care (RSPC) courses, students must be admitted to professional study. Admission is a selective process. Criteria for admission into professional study are the following:

  • Evidence of an earned accredited entry-level associate degree in respiratory therapy/care or accredited entry- level bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy/care
  • Evidence of earned RRT credential
  • Evidence of current active license to practice respiratory therapy

Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements
Graduation Requirements Summary
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000

Respiratory Care Bachelor’s Degree Program Tuition and Fees

Ohio Residents

Per Credit Hour Per 3-Credit Course Approximate Tuition Cost

$335.57 Lower Division Courses

$393.35 Upper Division Courses

$1,006.71 Lower Division Courses

$1,180.05 Upper Division Courses

$16,700 full-time1

Non-Ohio Residents

Per Credit Hour Per 3-Credit Course Approximate Tuition Cost

$345.57 Lower Division Courses

$393.35 Upper Division Courses

$1,036.71 Lower Division Courses

$1,180.05 Upper Division Courses

$17,300 full-time2

1The flat-rate semester fee of $3,692.65 for LOWER division courses and $4,327.54 for UPPER division courses applies to full-time Ohio resident undergraduate students taking between 12-18 credit hours per semester. The approximate tuition cost for this completer program is calculated at students completing the program in 4 semesters but is dependent upon the number of transfer credits. An average of 1 semester of LOWER division courses ($3,692.65) and 3 semesters of UPPER division courses ($12,982.62) totaling $16,675.27 was used for this calculation. This is only an estimate.

2The flat-rate semester fee of $3,692.65 for LOWER division courses and $4,327.54 for UPPER division courses applies to full-time non-Ohio resident undergraduate students enrolled in a fully online degree program and taking between 12-18 credit hours per semester, PLUS a surcharge of $10 per credit hour of actual credits taken (between 12-18 semester credits or $120-$180). The approximate tuition cost for this completer program was calculated at students completing the program in 4 semesters but is dependent upon the number of transfer credits. An average of 1 semester of LOWER division courses ($3,692.65) and 3 semesters of UPPER division courses ($12,982.62) totaling $16,675.27, PLUS $150 per-credit-hour surcharge each semester, ($600) was used for this calculation. This is only an estimate.

For part-time semesters: The $335.57 per-credit-hour tuition rate for LOWER division courses and $393.35 for UPPER division courses applies to part-time Ohio resident undergraduate students, PLUS a $10 per-credit-hour surcharge for non-Ohio resident undergraduate students, taking fewer than 12 credit hours per semester.

An additional Distance Learning fee for all students enrolled in a distance learning course is $15 per credit hour. Program tuition and costs are estimated and subject to change.

Actual tuition costs may vary based on a student’s chosen academic plan. For a complete listing of tuition rates for approved online programs, please contact Kent State’s Financial, Billing & Enrollment Center at 330-672-6000 or via our website Contact Us link.

The total program costs are estimates and are not final or binding. Program costs are based on standard fees, but fees may vary based on the actual classes taken.  Kent State University disclaims any liability arising from the use of or reliance upon these program cost estimates by any person.  Program costs are subject to change without notice.

Respiratory Care Bachelor’s Degree Careers

Respiratory therapists

  • 19.4% much faster than the average
  • 135,800 number of jobs
  • $62,810 potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source

* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

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