Program Overview

Bachelor's Degree in Respiratory Therapy

The Bachelor's Degree in Respiratory Therapy is an undergraduate program designed for students interested in working with individuals suffering from impaired lung and heart function. The program is offered in partnership with the Cape Girardeau Career & Technology Center.

Program Details

• Degree Type: Bachelor's Degree
• Program Type: Undergraduate
• Location: Main Campus - Cape
• College: Education, Health & Human Studies
• Department: Allied Health, Kinesiology & Sport Sciences

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Completion of four prerequisite college courses with a grade of 'C' or higher:
  • BS113/013 Anatomy & Physiology I
  • MA155 Statistical Reasoning
  • CH181 Chemistry 181
  • RT100 Introduction to Respiratory Therapy
• Minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA
• 1-2 page paper describing interest in the field of Respiratory Therapy
• ATI TEAS Test - applicants must take the ATI TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills)
• Completion of 6-12 hours of clinical "Shadowing"
• Interview with CGCTC respiratory instructor staff

Program Outline

The program is a cooperative effort between Southeast Missouri State University and the Cape Girardeau Career & Technology Center. Students will complete general education and health-focused coursework at Southeast Missouri State University in the first two years of the program and respiratory therapy coursework at the Career & Technology Center in the final two years.

Employment Opportunities

Respiratory therapy has always been a vital part of healthcare, and after Covid-19, it's more important than ever. Jobs for respiratory therapists are expected to rise by 21% through 2028. Students can go on to become credentialed in a variety of specialties with a broad range of career opportunities, including:

• Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT)
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)
• Adult Critical Care Specialty (ACCS)
• Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT)
• Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care Specialist (NPS)
• Sleep Disorders Testing and Therapeutic Intervention Respiratory Care Specialist (SDS)

Program Goals

The goals of the Respiratory Therapy program at Southeast Missouri State University are:

• To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs)
• To enable students to earn a Bachelor's degree in Respiratory Therapy
• To qualify graduates to sit for current Advanced Level Respiratory Therapist Examinations provided by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) to earn the Registered Respiratory Therapist credential
• To maintain an instructional program providing each student with the basic skills essential to develop their potential
• To prepare leaders for the field of respiratory care by including curricular content with objectives related to the acquisition of skills in one or more of the following: management, education, research, and advanced clinical practice

Curriculum

The program requires the completion of 110 hours of coursework, including:

• BS113/013 Anatomy and Physiology I
• CH181/184 Basic Principles of Chemistry
• EN100 English Composition
• EN140 Rhetorical and Critical Thinking
• FN235 Nutrition for Health
• HL113 Medical Terminology
• HL120 Health Perspectives
• HL303 Research Methods
• MA155 Statistical Reasoning
• PS103 US Political Systems
• PY220 Psychological Development Across the Lifespan
• SC155 Interpersonal Communication
• TS105 Exploring Allied Health Careers
• RT100 Introduction to Respiratory Therapy
• RT208 Clinical Observation
• RT210 Pharmacology
• RT214 Cardiopulmonary A&P
• RT220 Respiratory Pharmacology
• RT225 Fundamentals of Respiratory Therapy I
• RT300 Adult Respiratory Disease I
• RT302 Adult Respiratory Disease II
• RT304 Clinical Practice I
• RT305 Pediatric Respiratory Diseases
• RT310 Pulmonary Diagnostics-PFT
• RT314 Clinical Practice II
• RT325 Fundamentals of Respiratory Therapy II
• RT330 Laboratory II
• RT340 Applied Respiratory Microbiology
• RT350 Mechanical Ventilation Theory
• RT405 Advanced Neonatal & Pediatric Respiratory Care
• RT410 Hemodynamics and EKG
• RT420 Respiratory Care Simulation and Prep
• RT424 Respiratory Care Advanced Internship
• RT425 Respiratory Care Advanced Internship
• RT440 Advanced Mechanical Ventilation

Accreditation

The Respiratory Therapy program at Southeast Missouri State University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).