The application deadline for Fall 2013
has been extended until May 1!
Submit your application now!
Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care
The Bachelor of Science degree program in Respiratory Care prepares students for exciting and dynamic careers as advanced level respiratory therapists. Respiratory therapists are the allied health professionals who specialize in the promotion of optimum cardiopulmonary function and health. The Respiratory Care Program at the UT Health Science Center is designed to prepare excellent advanced level clinicians as well as providing a foundation for leadership in management, education, research, and clinical specialty areas.
Bachelor’s Degree Program
The Department of Respiratory Care in the School of Health Professions at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is dedicated to clinical and academic excellence in teaching, research, service and patient care. The bachelor's degree program is designed to provide students with an outstanding education in preparation for a satisfying professional career as advanced respiratory care practitioners as well as to provide a foundation for leadership in management and supervision, education, research and clinical specialization.
The bachelor's degree program involves motivation, curiosity, professional fulfillment and personal satisfaction. The work is both hard and rewarding. The BS program requires a minimum of 123 semester credit hours, including the Texas Core Curriculum requirements, program prerequisites, respiratory care coursework, and clinical practice.
The professional phase of the program, which consists of respiratory care coursework and clinical practice, is completed at the Health Science Center and affiliated clinical sites. The professional phase is approximately 20 months long and is dedicated to clinical and academic excellence. This includes approximately 1,000 hours of in-hospital clinical experiences. As a leadership program in respiratory care, the program is designed to provide graduates with the opportunity to gain the foundation needed to assume professional leadership roles in clinical practice, clinical specialty areas, research, education, and management.
Bachelor’s Degree Completion Program
Individuals that hold the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential awarded by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) and are graduates of a regionally accredited and CoARC-accredited program are eligible to apply for the bachelor’s degree completion program.
Individuals holding the RRT credential may be eligible to receive 41.5 semester credit hours based on the RRT credential. Such individuals must enroll in and complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework at the Health Science Center and must complete all Texas Core Curriculum courses before beginning the Bachelor’s Degree Completion Program. Applicants with the RRT credential must apply for admission to the Degree Completion program by the deadline of April 15 for fall admission.
The Department of Respiratory Care is dedicated to the philosophy and goals of the School and University. The bachelor's degree program is designed to offer the student planned learning experiences and to provide knowledge, skills and attitudes that will culminate in successful employment of the graduate as a respiratory therapist.
Curriculum & Course Descriptions
The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), and program outcomes data can be found on the CoARC website at www.coarc.com/47.html and CoARC’s contact information include; 1248 Harwood Rd., Bedford, Texas 76021-4244, phone (817) 283-2835, fax (817) 354-8519. In 2007, the program was visited and reviewed by CoARC and received a 10-year approval indicating full compliance with all accreditation standards.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care program are eligible to sit for the Entry Level Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) Examination and the exams to achieve the Registered Respiratory Therapist credential for Advanced Respiratory Therapists, given by the National Board for Respiratory Care. Passing the Entry Level CRT Examination is required for licensure in Texas.