Program Overview

Respiratory Therapy Program

The Department of Respiratory Therapy at Georgia State University provides a quality education that is relevant and professionally sound to meet the respiratory therapy needs of the health care community. The program's goal is to prepare practitioners who can demonstrate the attitudes, skills, and knowledge required to meet the changing needs of the community.

Program Description

Respiratory therapists work in cooperation with physicians to care for patients with a wide range of breathing disorders, including asthma, emphysema, pneumonia, and lung infections. They may work in various settings, such as hospitals, home health care agencies, outpatient centers, physicians' offices, and sleep disorder clinics.

Career Opportunities

Respiratory Therapy majors can pursue careers in various fields, including:

• Health Care: average salary $64,214, average years of experience 14.1
• Life Sciences: average salary $79,649, average years of experience 21.4
• Information Technology: average salary $107,659, average years of experience 24.2
• Finance: average salary $42,726, average years of experience 10
• Insurance: average salary $86,860, average years of experience 28

Skills and Competencies

Respiratory Therapy majors develop various skills, including:

• Professionalism: meeting deadlines, demonstrating sensitivity to others, asking and responding to questions, accepting responsibility
• Communication: communicating medical information, using presentation software, engaging in storytelling, preparing interview questions
• Career/Self Development: adapting to professional situations, demonstrating awareness of digital presence, setting and achieving goals
• Equity/Inclusion: showing awareness of diverse perspectives, demonstrating respect for other cultures, approaching team communication with sensitivity
• Critical Thinking: recognizing and building arguments, creating and implementing action plans, analyzing visual data
• Teamwork: assisting in organizing and planning, collaborating in group projects, participating in medical chart writing
• Technology: recognizing and building arguments, creating and implementing action plans, analyzing visual data
• Leadership: assisting in organizing and planning, collaborating in group projects, participating in medical chart writing

Courses and Programs

The program offers various courses, including:

• RT3050 Clinical I
• RT3051 Clinical II
• RT3052 Clinical III
• RT4051 Clinical IV
• RT4052 Clinical V
• RT3005 Clinical Cardiopulmonary Physiology
• RT3111 Respiratory Care Procedures I
• RT3030 Pulmonary Diagnostics
• RT3112 Respiratory Care Procedures II
• RT3040 Respiratory Care Pharmacology

Alumni Success Stories

Respiratory Therapy alumni have achieved success in their careers, with some becoming clinical education coordinators, directors of respiratory care, and medical sales representatives. They attribute their success to the education and skills they acquired during their time at Georgia State University.

University Resources

Georgia State University offers various resources to support students, including the University Career Services, Center for the Advancement of Students and Alumni, and University Advisement Center. These resources provide career coaching, mentoring, workshops, and events to help students achieve their career goals.