Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy
The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy program at the University of Michigan-Flint elevates your current skill set and transforms your career prospects.
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Through UM-Flint’s RT to BSRT degree program, you can expand your professional network, acquire advanced clinical skills, and seek new career opportunities to provide holistic, patient-centered care.
Two Paths
Our BSRT program offers two unique degree routes depending on your educational background and scheduling needs. You can earn your bachelor’s in respiratory therapy through an online degree completion program or a 1-2-1 route with local community colleges. Whichever path you take, you can achieve a world-renowned U-M degree at a low cost.
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Why Earn Your BS in Respiratory Therapy at UM-Flint?
12-Month Online BSRT Degree Completion
UM-Flint created the online bachelor’s in respiratory therapy degree completion program for students who have already earned their associate degree and Registered Respiratory Therapist credential.It offers a convenient option for you and other working professionals who want to earn a bachelor’s to grow your careers. You can attend full- or part-time online classes and complete the program in as little as 12 months.
Level Up Your Credentials by Earning Additional Certifications
Our respiratory therapy program helps you earn your bachelor’s degree and empowers you to specialize your knowledge further and pursue additional certifications. During your time in the program, you can prepare to sit for a variety of credentials, including:
- Neonatal Pediatric Specialty
- Adult Critical Care Specialty
- Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist Specialty
- Sleep Disorders Specialty
All are awarded by the National Board for Respiratory Care.
Affordable 1-2-1 Pathway
If you are a high school student or recent graduate, you can pursue our innovative 1-2-1 path to earn your BSRT degree and become a respiratory therapist. Our program partnership with local community colleges saves you thousands in tuition.
- Year one: You fulfill your RT program prerequisites at UM-Flint
- Years two and three: You complete a respiratory therapy associate of science degree at the community college of your choice.
- Year four: You earn your bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy at UM-Flint, taking online courses while working in the health care field.
Advance Your Clinical Knowledge by Pursuing Graduate-Level Education
If you are entering the bachelor’s in respiratory therapy program with the intention of pursuing graduate education after graduation, the Department of Public Health and Health Sciences offers two unique pathways toward advanced graduate programs.
- If you are a respiratory therapy graduate, you are guaranteed an interview for UM-Flint’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant program.
- If you want to earn your Master of Public Health degree, you can enroll in our joint Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy/Master of Public Health program. Through this program, you can complete your bachelor’s and master’s degrees with up to 10 fewer credits than if you pursued them separately, saving you time and money.
Free Tuition with the Go Blue Guarantee!
UM-Flint students are automatically considered, upon admission, for the Go Blue Guarantee, a historic program offering free tuition for high-achieving, in-state undergraduates from lower-income households. Learn more about the Go Blue Guarantee to see if you qualify and how affordable a Michigan degree can be.
Curriculum Overview
UM-Flint’s respiratory therapy program curriculum builds upon your previous academic and professional experience and advances your clinical skills to the next level.
To earn your BS in Respiratory Therapy from UM-Flint, you must complete a minimum of 120 credits of undergraduate general education requirements and the respiratory therapy program requirements, which include:
3-6 credits
Foundations
9 credits
Health Care Foundations
21 credits
Respiratory Therapy Core
The total amount of credits has been decreased from 124 to 120 credits.
Before diving into your core respiratory therapy-focused classes, you enroll in foundational courses, such as a college rhetoric class, a math course, and introductory health care classes. Along with your general education courses, these fundamental educational experiences develop strong communication and critical thinking skills and support your more advanced clinical coursework.
Your respiratory therapy classes form the bulk of your program curriculum. In addition to learning the theoretical principles, you gain expertise in assessing, managing, treating, educating, and caring for patients with a wide range of cardiopulmonary disorders. From conducting medical research to utilizing leading-edge medical technology, you become a skilled practitioner with specialized expertise in critical care, disease management, and diagnostics, empowering you to provide the best care possible.
Through the high-quality respiratory therapy training you receive, you graduate with your bachelor’s degree, ready to secure employment as an advanced clinician, administrator, or educator in the health care field.
Career Outlook
Respiratory Therapists are an integral part of the health care industry and provide quality, life-sustaining care to all varieties of patients. Typically, they work under the direction of a physician in hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies with the primary goal of restoring patients’ cardiopulmonary health.
RTs assess, manage, treat, and educate patients with a wide range of cardiopulmonary disorders, such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and congestive heart failure, working hard to promote health and well-being.
As the American population ages and the prevalence of respiratory conditions increases, the demand for well-trained respiratory therapists grows. Through 2032, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates respiratory therapists’ employment to increase by 13%, meaning there will be about 8,600 openings for RTs each year.
Additionally, respiratory therapists earn a median salary of $77,960 annually. However, their salary range can fluctuate based on where they work, their years of experience, and numerous other factors, including their level of education. PayScale reports that the average hourly wage for RTs with associate degrees is $22. Meanwhile, bachelor’s degree holders typically earn $30 per hour, demonstrating how pursuing more advanced education bolsters professional skills and increases pay potential.
Learn more about working as a respiratory therapist.
Admission Requirements
UM-Flint’s BS in Respiratory Therapy degree program offers rolling admissions so you can apply anytime throughout the year.
If you plan to apply to the online BSRT degree completion program, you must meet the following requirements:
- Hold an associate degree in respiratory therapy from an institution accredited by the CoARC.
- Earn your Registered Respiratory Therapist credential, awarded by the National Board for Respiratory Care, or a Certified Respiratory Therapist credential and eligible for RRT. If you’re admitted with a CRT, you must matriculate to RRT before you take practicum and capstone courses.
You can transfer credits from your associate degree in respiratory therapy to UM-Flint. Additionally, you can transfer general education credits from a regionally accredited institution. For more insight, we recommend you use our credit transfer evaluator.
However, if you are a high school student planning to pursue the 1-2-1 BS in Respiratory Therapy degree pathway, contact an academic advisor.
Academic Advisor
Scholarships
Along with qualifying for financial assistance through UM-Flint’s Office of Financial Aid, the College of Health Sciences offers generous scholarship opportunities to help lower the cost of your U-M degree. With more than 30 scholarships available to CHS students in various programs, we are proud to provide additional funding opportunities made possible through charitable donations to the College of Health Sciences.
Accreditation
UM-Flint’s Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy Degree Advancement Program holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). This status confirms the program meets the requirements to enroll students and qualifies graduates to pursue the National Board for Respiratory Care credentialing examinations. The program will remain on Provisional Accreditation until it achieves Continuing Accreditation through CoARC’s outcomes-based accreditation process.
Learn more about the Respiratory Therapy program’s accreditation
“As a wife, mom to two boys and full-time respiratory therapist with an associate degree, I knew I needed to earn a bachelor’s to continue to have opportunities. I finished the program while nine months pregnant with my third son. I chose the program for the flexibility it had thanks to online classes. My instructors were very accommodating and reached out to make sure I was understanding the material. I have never had instructors work so diligently to make sure I was on track to graduate. After graduating, I was able to accept a new position. I am so grateful for this opportunity for growth and owe all of my success to the UM-Flint respiratory therapy faculty and staff.”
Merissa Tidey
Respiratory Therapy, 2021
Obtain Your Bachelor’s Degree in Respiratory Therapy
Ready to make a difference in the health care field and the lives of patients? Pursue your Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy at the University of Michigan-Flint and strengthen your clinical skills. With two unique degree pathways that suit a broad range of schedules, you can customize your education and student experience to maximize your time at UM-Flint.
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Looking forward to a future as a respiratory therapist? Take the next step and submit your UM-Flint application today!