With a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy from Carlow University, you will receive a combination of academic and clinical training to master specialized respiratory skills to help patients with cardiopulmonary disorders. Respiratory therapists help treat asthma, emphysema and cystic fibrosis, among other disorders and health conditions. You will be trained to become an active clinician and upon completion, you will be eligible to take the National Board of Respiratory Care Examinations.
Bachelor of Science
On campus, some online
Oakland
Up to 90 credits
You will learn the fundamentals of respiratory care, relevant equipment, and patient management. You will gain an understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the cardiopulmonary system. You will learn about mechanical ventilation concepts in both classroom and laboratory settings, and what happens during adult, pediatric and neonatal cardiac arrest.
Required courses include Respiratory Care Pharmacology, Respiratory Care in Alternate Settings and Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology, plus courses in anatomy and physiology. In a practicum, you will work in a clinical facility caring for patients who are receiving drug aerosol and other treatments.
With a bachelor’s in Respiratory Therapy from Carlow, you’ll be prepared to work in a hospital, including the ICU, emergency room, and newborn and pediatric care units.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment rate for respiratory therapists is expected to increase 19% over the next 10 years, largely driven by the medical needs of an aging population.
The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care program, CoARC program number 200617, BS degree, Pittsburgh, PA, holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). This status signifies that a program with an Approval of Intent has demonstrated sufficient compliance with the Standards (through submission of an acceptable Provisional Accreditation Self Study Report (PSSR) and any other documentation required by the CoARC, as well as satisfactory completion of an initial on-site visit), to be allowed to admit students. It is recognized as an accredited program by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), which provides enrolled students who complete the program with eligibility for the Respiratory Care Credentialing Examination(s). The program will remain on Provisional Accreditation until it achieves Continuing Accreditation.
Visit CoARC website (https://coarc.com/)
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.
View CoARC outcomes (https://coarc.com/students/programmatic-outcomes-data/)
The goals of the Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care program are:
anytime
Fall, Spring & Summer
Liz Stadelman ’19 said her Carlow professors stressed the importance of learning neonatal heart dysfunctions, how to properly read an EKG and every cardiac normal value needed to properly evaluate cardiac illnesses. “This unit is by far the most intricate and difficult to work in, but my education from Carlow University has given me the necessary experience needed to succeed. I am forever thankful for my professors who truly challenged me to be the best Respiratory Therapist I could be.”
If you are interested in this major, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.