Bachelor of Science (KUMC Campus)
KU offers a bachelor of science degree in respiratory care. Course work covers areas such as neonatal, pediatrics and adult critical care, management, education, sleep disorders, pulmonary rehabilitation, and cardiopulmonary diagnostics. Most students enter the program after completing the sophomore year of undergraduate study or after two years of community college course work. With an advanced curriculum and located at an academic medical center, students receive extensive experience in advanced respiratory therapy techniques. The program includes a semester-long clinical assignment during the senior year in the student's area of specialization.
Degree Advancement Program (Online)
The University of Kansas also offers a program for the respiratory therapist with the RRT credential to obtain a bachelor's degree. This program is perfect for students unable to be physically present on campus or those with schedule constraints which make traditional college class schedules a challenge. Courses in this program are Web-based and are available anytime from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection. Note: This program is only available to professional respiratory therapists having the RRT credential.
Concurrent Enrollment Option (Online)
Students currently enrolled in a regionally accredited AS/AAS respiratory care program that are interested in earning a bachelor's degree may be eligible to complete up to 3 courses (9 credit hours) of the bachelor's degree advancement program. Students must have completed at least one semester in their AS/AAS respiratory care program prior to applying to the dual degree option. Upon completion of the AS/AAS degree and after earning the RRT credential, students can matriculate into the degree advancement program and complete the remaining 21 credit hours to earn the bachelor's degree.
International Degree Advancement Program (Online)
The University of Kansas offers a program for those living outside the United States that work as respiratory therapists or as health professionals (ie: nurses, physiotherapists, medical assistants, etc.) who provide respiratory care services to patients in their respective countries. This program is entirely virtual with a blend of asynchronous and synchronous online learning and engagement. All classes are available as web-based and are available anytime from anywhere in the world where an Internet connection is available. The purpose of this degree advancement program is to advance students' knowledge and understanding of content that will assist them in advancing as professionals such as leadership, management, professional communication, research, interprofessional simulation creation and implementation to name a few. NOTE: This program is NOT a CoARC accredited entry to practice program nor a CoARC accredited Degree Advancement program and DOES NOT allow graduates to take exams offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care in the United States. Students must provide all applicable educational transcripts, credentials and licenses, and proof of English fluency for review before admission. Please see admissions requirements for greater detail.
Bachelor of Science (KUMC Campus)
To be eligible for this program, applicants must have completed two years of prerequisite courses from any regionally accredited university or community college. Interested students should contact an academic advisor at KU Medical Center for advising as early as possible in their college careers. Transfer students should be aware that all transfer courses for which they have requested credit must be equivalent to courses required at KU; otherwise, additional course work will be required.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants to the program must have completed, or be on track to complete, the required college preparatory courses with a minimum of C grade in each prerequisite course before entering the program in the fall. Students must have earned a minimum of a 2.5 GPA overall on all general education and prerequisite courses.
International students should review current requirements. International students, or those for whom English is a second language, may have additional requirements relative to language proficiency, residency, and citizenship status.
A background check and drug screen are required. Documentation of a shadowing experience is preferred. Prospective students should review the program requirements, including prerequisite course work, and complete list of eligibility requirements.
Prerequisites
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| ENGL 101 | Composition | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | Critical Reading and Writing | 3 |
| or BUS 305 | Business Writing |
| MATH 101 | College Algebra: _____ | 3 |
| MATH 365 | Elementary Statistics (*) | 3 |
| |
| BIOL 240 | Fundamentals of Human Anatomy (**) | 3 |
| BIOL 241 | Human Anatomy Observation Laboratory (** Preferred) | 2 |
| BIOL 246 | Principles of Human Physiology (**) | 3 |
| BIOL 247 | Principles of Human Physiology Laboratory (** Preferred) | 2 |
| BIOL 200 | Basic Microbiology (Must be 5 credits with or without lab) | 3 |
| BIOL 203 | Introductory Microbiology Laboratory (Preferred) | 2 |
| CHEM 110 | Introductory Chemistry | 5 |
| PHSX 114 | College Physics I | 3 |
| |
| COMS 130 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| |
| PHIL 140 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
| or PHIL 160 | Introduction to Ethics |
| 3 |
| PSYC 104 | General Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 104 | Elements of Sociology | 3 |
| HEIM 230 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| RESP 200 | Introduction to Respiratory Therapy | 1 |
Degree Advancement (Online)
A minimum 120 hours of college credit are required to earn a bachelor's degree from KU. Students will earn at least 30 credit hours during the respiratory care degree advancement program. Upon acceptance to the degree advancement program, students will receive 45 upper division credits applied to their KU transcript through the credit by examination process. Additionally, each transcript will be evaluated for appropriateness of course transfer of general education and elective courses.
Note: To be transferable, all prerequisite and respiratory care course work must be from an educational institution that is regionally accredited. This is not the same as national accreditation.
Eligible applicants must possess the following:
- Valid/current professional credential of registered respiratory therapist (RRT) from the National Board for Respiratory Care
- Associate degree (or equivalent) from a CoARC accredited respiratory care program at a regionally accredited institution
- Overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) on all transfer credits
- Student transcripts must document an individual course grade of no less than "C" on all transfer courses.
General Education and Elective Course Evaluation for Transfer to KUMC
- Eligible general education and elective courses will be evaluated by KUMC CredTran
- Courses not recognized by KUMC CredTran will be individually reviewed for transferability
- Minimum of 45 eligible general education and elective credits required for BSRC
Concurrent Enrollment Option (Online)
Students who are currently enrolled in an Associate (or equivalent) respiratory care program may apply to the dual degree program which allows eligible students to concurrently enroll in 1-3 courses (up to 9 credit hours) toward their bachelor's degree in respiratory care. Students must maintain the same GPA and C grade eligibility requirements as outlined in the degree advancement program.
Students may apply after completing at least 1 semester in their current respiratory care program. Eligible students will also submit a letter of recommendation from their current respiratory care program director. All general education and elective courses will be evaluated for transfer as outlined above.
International Degree Advancement (Online)
The University of Kansas offers a program for those living and working outside the United States that work as respiratory therapists or as health professionals (ie: nurses, physiotherapists, medical assistants, etc.) who provide respiratory care services to patients in their respective countries. NOTE: This program is NOT a CoARC accredited entry to practice program nor a CoARC accredited Degree Advancement program and DOES NOT allow graduates to take exams offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care in the United States.
Eligible applicants must provide all applicable official educational transcripts from their home country (in English) for evaluation and articulation. The applicant must have a minimum of 90 transferrable credits to include general education and healthcare professional track courses. If a student has fewer than 90 credits that are transferrable, the student may have the opportunity to take additional KU International Degree Advancement elective courses to ensure the overall total of 120 credit hours required for graduation.
Eligible applicants will submit a minimum of 1 nationally recognized credential identifying their current professional role and a valid license to practice in their respective healthcare field (or equivalent from their country of residence), and proof of English fluency (reference #4 from this link for English proficiency requirements) for review before admission will be considered. Qualified international applicants will participate in a virtual interview to further assess eligibility, English fluency and comprehension, understanding of program expectations. See application for additional application and admission
Bachelor of Science - KUMC Campus
Two years of undergraduate course work – including at least 53 credit hours of specific prerequisites – is required prior to entry into this program.
While in the 2-year respiratory care program, students complete 60 hours of course credits in a prescribed sequence covering five academic semesters. Students are responsible for completing additional electives to fulfill the university's requirement of 120 total credit hours for a bachelor's degree from KU.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| RESP 300 | Introduction to Respiratory Care Procedures | 4 |
| RESP 301 | Respiratory Care Evidence Based Practice I | 1 |
| RESP 302 | Respiratory Care Evidence Based Practice II | 1 |
| RESP 305 | Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology | 2 |
| RESP 306 | Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology | 2 |
| RESP 310 | Clinical Pharmacology | 2 |
| RESP 315 | Clinical Application I | 3 |
| RESP 325 | Mechanical Ventilation | 3 |
| RESP 326 | Mechanical Ventilation Lab | 2 |
| RESP 330 | Pulmonary Function | 2 |
| RESP 335 | Clinical Application II | 4 |
| RESP 340 | Mechanical Ventilation | 1 |
| RESP 341 | Respiratory Review II | 2 |
| RESP 345 | Clinical Application 3 | 3 |
| RESP 405 | Advanced Critical Care | 4 |
| RESP 410 | Neonatal Respiratory Care | 3 |
| RESP 411 | Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care Lab | 2 |
| RESP 415 | Clinical Application IV | 4 |
| RESP 420 | Health Care Management, Ethics and Law | 2 |
| RESP 440 | Health Care Leadership and Management | 3 |
| RESP 615 | Respiratory Review III | 3 |
| RESP 620 | Community and Global Health | 3 |
| RESP 625 | Clinical Application V | 4 |
| Total Hours | 60 |
Professional Credentialing
Upon graduation, students will be prepared to sit for the national credentialing examinations. To be employed as a respiratory therapist, graduates must pass this exam and will be recognized with the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential.
More information: please visit the program's website.
Bachelor of Science - Degree Advancement (Online)
This program requires a minimum 30 credit hours of respiratory care course work. Upon acceptance, students work with an advisor to organize a graduation plan and select a clinical specialty area. Specialty areas include neonatal critical care, adult critical care, asthma education specialist, leadership, and management.
To qualify for graduation, a minimum grade of C or better is required on all respiratory care courses. The university requires at least 120 hours of total college credit to receive a bachelor's degree from KU.
With the exception of the capstone course, all courses are offered in 8-week blocks. Therefore, students may elect to take courses during the first and/or second block each semester. The 8 week format is designed to provide an organized and manageable pace for the student. Students must complete all core courses and the capstone project course in addition to at least 3 elective courses (9 credit hours) from the list below.
REQUIRED CORE COURSES
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| RESP 450 | Chronic Respiratory Disease Management | 3 |
| RESP 480 | Simulation and Interprofessional Education (IPE) | 3 |
| RESP 495 | Management, Ethics, and Law in Respiratory Care | 3 |
| RESP 620 | Community and Global Health | 3 |
| RESP 650 | Medical Writing & Research | 3 |
| RESP 665 | Capstone Project (Students will complete this final course of the program in his or her chosen clinical specialty area.) | 6 |
| |
| RESP 460 | ACCS Specialty Credential Prep | 3 |
| RESP 465 | NPS Specialty Credential Prep | 3 |
| RESP 470 | AE-C Specialty Credential Prep (Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics) | 3 |
| RESP 490 | Special Studies or Projects 1 | 1-9 |
| RESP 630 | Lean Management | 3 |
| RESP 640 | Professional Communication | 3 |
| RESP 655 | Leadership Management | 3 |
Bachelor of Science - International Degree Advancement (Online)
Students who currently live and work outside the United States, and were educated outside of the United States, are eligible to apply for the online International Degree Advancement program. Upon acceptance to the program, students will complete 30 credit hours of coursework that mirrors the above Bachelor of Science Degree Advancement program. Note: This program is not accredited by the CoARC and graduates of this program are not eligible to take credentialing exams from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
Technical Standards
Respiratory Care Bachelor’s Degree Programs (KUMC campus and online)
The following technical standards apply to all Respiratory Care Bachelor's Degree programs within the Department of Respiratory Care and Diagnostic Science
The program prepares candidates to practice respiratory therapy within organizations and businesses. Graduates require knowledge and skills to function in diverse practice settings. An essential requirement for completing all Respiratory Care Bachelor’s Degree programs within the department is an ability to function within a clinical learning environment and to interact with a variety of interprofessional teams and patients. Candidates admitted to the program must be able to perform the following.
Successful completion of the baccalaureate program in Respiratory Care implies that the graduate will have acquired the knowledge and skills necessary to safely and competently deliver patient care as Respiratory Therapist provider. In the role as a health care provider, Respiratory Therapist be able to deliver urgent and non-urgent care to patients of all ages and in all settings. Including hospital, chronic care facilities and in the home. The current health care system also requires the respiratory therapist to be skilled in age-specific patient education. Therefore, all applicants and matriculating students must meet the expectations listed below. These expectations may be achieved with or without reasonable accommodation.
The following abilities and expectations are required of all graduates and matriculating students in the Department of Respiratory Care and Diagnostic Science.
Visual – Auditory: The applicant/student must be able to accurately observe patients from a distance or close at hand, correctly read and interpret digital, analogue or graphic gauges, scales and monitors, and recognize biohazardous fluids. The applicant/student must be able to hear audio and see visual alarms. They must also be able to hear breath and heart sounds with a stethoscope and see cardiac/pulmonary waveforms on monitoring screens.
Sensory-Motor: The applicant/student must have sufficient fine and gross motor skill capabilities to perform patient care procedures. These procedures include but are not limited to the following: palpating, auscultating, percussing the chest, administering medications using airway and endotracheal access, obtaining blood samples from veins and arteries, performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, turning and lifting patients, moving heavy, bulky equipment, maneuvering in tight places, and assembling and calibrating respiratory care equipment.
Communication: The applicant/student must be able to communicate accurately, orally and in writing, with all members of the healthcare team. They must also be able to perceive non-verbal communication. They must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients, families and health care providers.
Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities: The applicant/student must be able to comprehend and apply concepts to the clinical setting. This involves physiologic measurements, mathematical computation, information gathering, interpretation and analysis of data, and problem solving.
Behavioral and Social Attributes: The applicant/student must act professionally and exercise good judgement, critical thinking, complete patient care responsibilities, and maintain effective relationships with others in classroom, laboratory and clinical settings. Applicants/students must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. They must be able to adapt to changing environments, display flexibility and function in the uncertainties inherent to the health care setting. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest and motivation are all important personal important qualities.
TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR ADMISSION AND RETENTION
Technical standards identify the requirements for admission, retention, and graduation of applicants and students respectively. I have reviewed and understand the requirements set forth in the Technical Standards for admission to, continuation in, and graduation from the KU School of Health Professions Department of Respiratory Care and Diagnostic Science.
To my knowledge, I can meet the requirements set forth in the Technical Standards with or without reasonable accommodation. I understand that it is the responsibility of candidates needing accommodation to register with and provide documentation of their disability and specific functional limitations to the Academic Accommodations Office, (913) 945-7035 or cukoko@kumc.edu. Candidates are encouraged to engage in this process now, in advance of new student orientation and the start of classes. Candidates are also encouraged to review The Students with Disabilities Policy, which contains additional information related to academic accommodations and is available at:
https://kumc-publicpoliciesandprocedures.policystat.com/policy/13228748/latest
KUMC is an EO/Title IX institution - reviewed April 2023
