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Respiratory Therapy

Degree Type
  • Bachelor of Science
Location
  • Radford University at Carilion in Roanoke, VA
Format
  • In-Person

Overview

The Respiratory Therapy (RT) program seamlessly blends classroom, lab and clinical components designed to prepare students for careers as respiratory therapists. There is a growing demand for highly skilled practitioners, and the RT program has the classes, faculty, real-world experience and state-of-the-art facilities to professionally prepare you.

students with professor in respiratory therapy lab

They Found Their Academic Home

Father and son complete Respiratory Therapy program together

Brandon Williams and his father Donald Tinsley speak about their love for each other but also their special bond pursuing the Respiratory Therapy program at RUC together.

Father and son in respiratory therapy program together

Discover the educational experience that fits your needs

Pre Licensure Entry to Practice Track
The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy Program is a four-year program that blends hands-on, laboratory and class learning. This program provides you with the knowledge, skills and hands-on experience that will help you begin your exciting career in the respiratory therapy field.

Post Licensure Degree Advancement Track
The Degree Advancement track is offered 100% online and is specifically designed to meet the needs of practicing respiratory therapists who have already completed or are anticipating completing an accredited respiratory care program with an entry into respiratory care professional practice degree. 

Why study respiratory therapy at Radford?

  • Participate in experiences with diagnostic procedures
  • Learn in state-of-the-art equipment and facilities
  • Select the track that fits your educational needs
  • Receive expert advising from a dedicated, full-time faculty member assigned specifically to you

Careers and Internships

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of Respiratory Therapists is expected to increase by up to 26% in coming years. Learn more about the career outlook for a respiratory therapist.

Program Goals and Student Learning Outcomes

Program Goals
To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).

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 (which may include an area of clinical specialization).

Student Learning Outcomes
The following ESLOs are the specific skills, knowledge, and abilities that students are expected to acquire by the end of the program. These ESLOs are aligned with the program goal and are used to guide teaching, learning, and assessment. They clarify what students can do after completing this program, and they provide a framework for evaluating the effectiveness of this program.

  1.  Demonstrate competence in the cognitive (knowledge) learning domain of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).
  2. Demonstrate competence in the psychomotor (skills) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).
  3. Demonstrate competence in the affective (behavior) learning domain of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).
  4. Develop a research foundation to promote leadership in the respiratory therapy field.
  5. Develop managerial skills to promote effective leadership in the respiratory therapy field.

Admissions Requirements

Freshmen and sophomore applicants follow Radford University admission requirements. Junior level progression and junior transfer students (based on cohort availability) must:

  • Have a cumulative GPA above 2.5
  • Complete the first two years of the POS 
  • Have a grade of  “C” or higher in A&P I and II

Accreditation

The Respiratory Therapy Pre-Licensure Entry to Practice Track, CoARC program number 200312, Baccalaureate degree, Roanoke campus, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).

The 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.

The CoARC’s outcomes webpage - https://coarc.com/students/programmatic-outcomes-data/

This program meets the educational requirements for licensure for every state.

Related Programs

  • 98% on-time graduation

  • 100% board pass rate

  • 100% job placement rate

“My experience in this program has been nothing short of wonderful. It helped guide me in finding what I am passionate about and what I ultimately want out of my future career. I’m excited about the positive impact I have and will continue to make on patients’ lives.” 

Rachel Warren, ‘23

rachel warren, arms folded with a natural background smiling at the camera

Ready to Study at Radford?

We want to get to know you better and we are excited that you are ready to take your next step and learn more about us. We are here to help you and look forward to working with you during your college search process.