Respiratory Therapy (BSRT)

Respiratory therapy is a growing field in the area of healthcare. The respiratory therapist is a health care professional who specializes in the application of scientific knowledge in providing and supporting the cardiopulmonary requirements for a wide variety of patients that include newborn infants, children, adults and the elderly. Respiratory therapists work under the direction of a physician to assess, manage, treat, educate and care for patients with a wide range of cardiopulmonary disorders, such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and congestive heart failure (CHF). The respiratory therapist works in a collaborative fashion with other health care providers to restore the cardiopulmonary health of the patient, in settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies.

The BS program in Respiratory Therapy is designed to provide a natural transition from an Associate’s degree to a Baccalaureate level degree and reflects a commitment by the respiratory therapy profession to increase entry-level standards to the Baccalaureate level. The BSRT at the University of Michigan-Flint allows therapists the opportunity to study advanced respiratory care in specialty areas such as critical care, disease management, and diagnostics.  Additionally, graduates can obtain employment as advanced clinicians, administrators and educators. The program helps prepared students to sit for the Neonatal Pediatric Specialty (NPS) credential, Adult Critical Care Specialty (ACCS) credential, Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist Specialty (RPFT) credential, and Sleep Disorders Specialty (SDS) credential, all awarded by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).

The program offers coursework online and affords practicing respiratory therapists the opportunity to complete coursework while working full-time. The 50-53 credit hour program can be completed in seven semesters (27 months) part-time which includes didactic coursework, two practica, and a capstone project.

Mission

The mission of the Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT) program is to provide graduates of entry level respiratory care professional practice degree programs with additional knowledge, skills, and attributes in leadership, management, education, research, and advanced clinical practice both to meet their current professional goals and to prepare them for practice as advanced degree respiratory therapists.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants for admission are accepted throughout the year for the following semester. (Application deadlines are posted on the UM-Flint website). Applicants must meet the following requirements to be considered for admission:

1. Associate degree in Respiratory Therapy from a CoARC accredited institution.
2. Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential, awarded by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) or Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) who is RRT eligible. Students admitted with CRT must matriculate to RRT prior to attending the practicum and capstone courses.
3. Documentation demonstrating certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Health Care Providers from the American Heart Association. This certification must remain current throughout the program and must be completed prior to clinical practicum.  

Transfer Credits

Students may transfer in credits from the Associate degree in respiratory therapy. In addition, students may transfer general education credits from an accredited institution.