Respiratory Therapy, B.S
Program Details
- Location
- Akron Campus
- Level
- undergraduate
- Degree/Program Type
- Bachelor of Science / major
- Format
- In-person
- College
- Health and Human Sciences, College of (Dean's Office)
- School/Department
- School of Allied Health
Program Contact
- Stacia Biddle PhD, RRT
-
Associate Professor, Program Director
330-972-7906
Overview
Respiratory Therapists assess, treat and care for patients with cardiopulmonary disorders. Primary responsibilities include initiation of and monitoring of therapeutic procedures, administering medications, maintaining patient records, selecting, assembling, operating and maintaining cardiopulmonary life-sustaining equipment.
Admissions Requirements
The program requires the following prerequisite courses to be completed with a C or better:
Math requirement (Algebra equivalent or above)
Medical Terminology
Concepts in Respiratory Therapy
Principles of Microbiology
Anatomy and Physiology I (lecture/lab) requirement
Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry (lecture/lab)
Application Deadline: Application deadline is November 30th for those students who will complete all of the pre-admission courses by the end of fall semester with a minimum 2.3 GPA or higher; the accepted cohort begins each spring semester.
Application to the program is competitive but varies each year by applicant pool. Acceptance is based on overall grade point average as well as grades earned in required math and science courses. Application to the program requires a criminal background check (FBI and BCI). Twenty (20) students are selected each year. Applications will be administered to students while they are enrolled in RESP 100 Concepts in Respiratory Therapy, or may be picked up in the School of Allied Health, Polsky 265 at any time.
Career Outcomes
There has never been a better time to pursue a career in Respiratory Therapy. Respiratory Therapists provide specialized care for patients experiencing breathing and cardiopulmonary disorders, including asthma, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other respiratory conditions.
Most Respiratory Therapists work full-time in hospitals and healthcare systems, caring for patients of all ages across a variety of clinical settings and shifts.
Why Choose the UA Respiratory Therapy Program?
Students who choose the University of Akron’s Respiratory Therapy program benefit from:
Exceptional graduate success rates on national credentialing examinations, consistently exceeding national averages
Strong job placement outcomes, with graduates securing employment within one year of graduation
A highly selective admissions process that supports student success and program completion
Extensive hands-on clinical experience working directly with patients under the supervision of experienced clinical instructors
Clinical placements at affiliated local hospitals and healthcare facilities
Opportunities to obtain part-time respiratory care employment after completion of the first clinical course while still enrolled in the program
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment opportunities for Respiratory Therapists are projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations over the coming decade.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports median annual earnings for Respiratory Therapists exceeding $80,000 per year, with opportunities for continued advancement and specialization within the profession.
Accreditation
The Respiratory Therapy baccalaureate program at The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio has continuing accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). Our program number is 200233. To view the CoARC Outcomes please visit CoARC Outcomes Data. CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes based’ process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented.
CoARC
777 Cannon Drive, P. O, Box 54876, Hurst, TX 76054-4876 USA.
www.coarc.com
Graduate's Board Certification
After successfully completing the UA Respiratory Therapy program, graduates will be eligible to take the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) credentialing examination. Passing this examination is required to obtain a Respiratory Care Professional (RCP) license to practice in the State of Ohio. State licensure is awarded by the State Medical Board of Ohio.
STATE MEDICAL BOARD OF OHIO
30 East Broad Street, 3rd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Website: www.med.ohio.gov
Phone: 614-466-3934
Fax: 614-728-5946
Alternative Paths to a Bachelor’s Degree
Working RRTS who wish to complete their bachelor’s degree to advance into a leadership role can pursue the AAS to BSRT Degree Advancement Program (DAP) entirely online.
The AAS to BSRT Degree Advancement Program (DAP) is designed for National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) credentialed Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRTs) currently holding an Associate of Applied Science degree in Respiratory Care desiring to complete their Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy degree. Respiratory Therapy core program courses can be completed entirely in-person, online synchronous or asynchronous. Courses will be taught in person, live-streamed, and/or recorded to meet the demands of working RRTs.
Requirements for Admission
Admission is considered for AAS graduates with at least 60 credit hours from a Respiratory Care program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). Students must also hold an active Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential in good standing from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). Students must earn the last 30 credit hours from The University of Akron to be considered for graduation from the Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy program.
