Respiratory Care, B.S.
To ensure the respiratory therapy workforce is prepared to meet the growing challenges and demands it will face in terms of protocol-driven care and disease management, the American Association for Respiratory Care has called for 80 percent of therapists to either hold or be working toward a bachelor's degree. The degree provides opportunity for professional career enhancement and offers the foundation for rapid advancement in administration, research, and critical care.
This program requires a secondary admission process.Program Overview
The program is designed for working respiratory therapists who would like to advance their education and careers. Minimum criteria for program acceptance:
- Associate degree in respiratory care from a CoARC accredited
institution with a minimum GPA of 2.5
- Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) or Certified Respiratory
Therapist (CRT) who is RRT eligible
- Application for admission to GVSU
- Submission of official transcripts from all other colleges/universities attended
- Secondary application for BSRC program
- Personal statement of career goals and how this program will help achieve educational and professional objectives
Students who are not currently respiratory therapists and are interested in pursuing a career in respiratory care are encouraged to visit gvsu.edu/chpss to contact a College of Health Professions Student Services academic advisor.
Why Study Respiratory Care at Grand Valley?
- For students also working as respiratory therapists, the program offers flexibility with both online and hybrid formats.
- Students can complete the 45 required credits in as few as one
year/three semesters.
- Located in the state-of-the-art Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall in
close proximity to five hospitals, the Grand Rapids Medical
Education and Research Center, and many research, clinical, and
treatment facilities.
- Courses are taught by faculty members who meet the highest levels of professional standards, not graduate assistants.
- The College of Health Professions maintains a dedicated staff of academic advisors in its Student Services Office to meet the academic advising needs of its students.
Career Insights
This tool shows an overview of potential career opportunities for this major. Actual salaries, employment opportunities, and job titles may change over time.
Location & Format
All undergraduate students begin their academic career on the Allendale Campus. Students in this major continue their upper division studies on the GVSU Health Campus, near the Grand Rapids Medical Mile.
Formats:Coursework
Students pursuing this degree will need to transfer in an associate degree in respiratory care from a CoARC accredited institution, and can transfer up to 80 credits of coursework. In addition, they will need to complete 45 credits of GVSU respiratory care coursework. There is an option for GVSU students to complete the associate degree through a community college and return for the final three semesters.
Combined Degree Programs
Many GVSU undergraduate programs can be combined with an existing master’s degree program to save on tuition and get you into the workforce sooner. On average, you can save $8,500 by pursuing a combined degree and take up to four fewer courses than if earning the degrees separately.
Talk with an advisor about how you can build your combined degree from existing programs to further personalize your education and create your own niche area of expertise.
Admission Requirements
SECONDARY ADMISSION
Respiratory care requires a selective secondary
admissions/application process. See the Academic Programs section of
the catalog for details.
Helpful Links
For More Information
College of Health ProfessionsSchool of Interdisciplinary Health
Respiratory Care
gvsu.edu/sih
500 Lafayette Ave.
NE, Suite 106
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 331-5555