Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy

Respiratory therapists help diagnose, treat, rehabilitate and educate to prevent and manage cardiopulmonary diseases. Procedures performed by therapists include: environmental control, drug therapy, broncho pulmonary clearance techniques, and administration of medical gases. Practitioners also provide ventilator support, pulmonary rehabilitation and CPR. They are skilled in airway maintenance, procurement and analysis of arterial blood gas samples and in the performance of pulmonary function tests. Respiratory therapists work primarily in hospitals caring for patients in nurseries, medical and surgical units, adult and pediatric intensive care units, and emergency rooms. Employment opportunities are also available in nursing homes and rehabilitation hospitals, in organizations providing home care, physicians' offices and clinics, and in commercial organizations that manufacture and distribute medical supplies. Students may enter the General Studies portion of the program upon admission to the university; however, admission to the university does not guarantee acceptance to the Professional Studies phase of the program. Students may apply for admission to the Professional Studies portion of the program when the following requirements are met: 28 hours of required courses are completed 10 of these completed hours are in required math/science courses "C" or better in required math/science courses 2.5 overall GPA completion and documentation of at least 3 hours of clinical observation