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Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Firelands

Respiratory Care

The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care program is designed to prepare students for higher learning in respiratory care beyond the entry level education required for the profession. This degree can be combined with the Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Care which will allow for employment in the profession prior to the completion of the Bachelor’s degree. There are multiple entry points to starting your career in respiratory care. No matter which route you follow, you will obtain the Registered Respiratory Therapist credential and can begin employment in the profession prior to graduation.

If you already hold the RRT credential and are a graduate of a CoARC approved Associate degree program, you can advance your education through the completion of the Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care. An advisor will complete a review of your transcript and provide you with a list of courses needed to meet degree requirements. Most, if not all, of the additional courses you would need to complete this program are offered online. You will not need to complete any additional clinical courses which will allow you to complete the degree from any location.

New first-year and continuing students can pursue this program while starting on the Bowling Green campus. While this is a BGSU degree, the professional courses in the Junior and Senior years are offered at the BGSU Firelands campus in a hybrid format utilizing a mix of online, in-person, and hybrid courses only requiring a student to be on the BGSU Firelands campus one day each week. The final semester of the degree is fully online. Students from the Bowling Green campus can complete this degree while remaining in Bowling Green. While clinical rotations are a required component of this degree, the program has location options across northern Ohio including the Bowling Green and Toledo area to meet your specific needs.

Steps to follow:

  • Apply to BGSU and select Undecided-HHS as your major.
  • Please contact Carol Puder, Program Director, at cpuder@bgsu.edu or Derm Forde, HHS Student Services at dforde@bgsu.edu to help navigate the process and for answers to your questions.
  • Complete the first 2 years of the degree at BGSU.
  • Submit an application to the BSRC program by April 1st of your Sophomore year to Carol Puder at cpuder@bgsu.edu.
  • Once accepted into the program, request a college transfer to BGSU Firelands and select the BSRC program as your major.
  • Complete respiratory care courses as a BGSU Firelands student under the hybrid format for the final two years of the program. You do not need to move to the BGSU Firelands campus although you will need to drive to the Firelands campus one day per week over 3 semesters.

Students planning to become a respiratory therapist will need to complete the Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Care (CoARC accredited hybrid program), obtain the Registered Respiratory Therapist credential, and complete the Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care. This can be completed in a 4 year time period. The Associate degree is interwoven within the Bachelor degree requirements. Completion of the Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Care is required to be eligible to take national board exams.

Students planning to become a respiratory therapist will need to complete the Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Care (CoARC accredited hybrid program), obtain the Registered Respiratory Therapist credential, and complete the Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care. This can be completed in a 4 year time period. The Associate degree is interwoven within the Bachelor degree requirements. Pre-professional courses are completed in the first two years of the program. While most of these can be taken online, some are required in person such as Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, and Microbiology. Respiratory care specific courses will begin in the Junior year under a hybrid format. Students will attend in-person classes one day per week at the BGSU Firelands campus with the remaining instruction completed online. The in-person classes will meet from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm throughout the Junior year and Fall semester of the senior year. The final semester of the degree can be completed fully online. Clinical education is also a component of this degree. Clinical sites will vary based on semester, type of experience needed, and student location.

New first-year and continuing students can pursue this program while starting on the Lorain County Community College (LCCC) campus. As an LCCC student, you can complete LCCC courses to meet all pre-professional course requirements for admission to the program. Once admitted, students will apply to BGSU Firelands to complete the remaining 2 years of the program as a BGSU Firelands student. The professional courses in the Junior and Senior years are offered on the LCCC campus through the University Partnership. While clinical rotations are a required component of this degree, the program has location options across northern Ohio in order to meet your specific needs. Please review the program curriculum pathways and additional information about this partnership. Students planning to become a respiratory therapist will need to complete the Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Care (CoARC accredited hybrid program), obtain the Registered Respiratory Therapist credential, and complete the Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care. This can be completed in a 4 year time period. The Associate degree is interwoven within the Bachelor degree requirements. Completion of the Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Care is required to be eligible to take national board exams.

Transfer students can pursue this program while starting on the BGSU campus, BGSU Firelands campus or at Lorain County Community College. For more information, please select the option above depending on which campus you plan to attend. An advisor will complete a review of your transcript and provide you with a list of courses needed to meet degree requirements. Course substitutions for transfer credits will be evaluated by the Program Director on a case by case basis.

Students must apply by April 1 for admission consideration. Late applications may be considered if there is an open slot. All admitted cohorts will start in the Fall semester.

For those RRTs seeking degree advancement, applications can be submitted at any time. These students can start the program in any semester.

Complete and submit the Respiratory Care Program Admission Application and return it to the program director, Carol Puder, via email at cpuder@bgsu.edu.

Why study Respiratory Care at BGSU in Ohio?

  • Specialized Curriculum: BGSU Firelands offers a Bachelor of Science program in Respiratory Care designed to provide students with a specialized and in-depth understanding of respiratory treatments and patient care. The curriculum is carefully crafted to cover essential topics and skills needed in the dynamic field of respiratory care. 
  • Experienced Faculty: Students benefit from the expertise of experienced faculty members who are not only skilled educators but also professionals in the field. The faculty's practical knowledge enhances the learning experience, providing valuable insights into real-world scenarios and challenges. 
  • State-of-the-Art Facilities: BGSU Firelands is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities that support practical learning and hands-on experiences. Students have access to cutting-edge resources, allowing them to apply theoretical knowledge in a simulated clinical environment, preparing them for the demands of their future careers.

The Respiratory Care program at BGSU Firelands is well respected across Northern Ohio and health care facilities actively recruit our students for employment.

Career - what can you do with a degree in Respiratory Care?

Graduates of the Respiratory Care program at BGSU Firelands are well-positioned for a variety of rewarding career opportunities in the healthcare sector. The program's emphasis on practical skills and theoretical knowledge ensures that graduates are ready to contribute to patient well-being through specialized respiratory treatments.

Career paths

  • Critical Care
  • Emergency Care
  • Pediatric and Infant Care
  • Home and Long Term Care
  • Pulmonary Rehabilitation
  • Asthma Education
  • Pulmonary Function Testing
  • Health Care Administration

Quick Facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Curriculum - what will you learn in the Respiratory Care program?

Benefit from the hybrid classroom experience

Students take a combination of in-person, online, and hybrid classes. Each hybrid course meets one hour per week in-person, with the remaining instruction completed online. All in-person components for classes are scheduled for the same day each week, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an hour lunch break. The remaining instruction is delivered asynchronously online.    

Clinical rotations start in the spring semester of the junior year, and they continue for three consecutive semesters (spring, summer, and fall). Generally, students attend clinicals two days per week at various locations for either an eight- or 12-hour shift.    

Students completing the associate degree concurrently with the BSRC will graduate with the associate degree in the fall of the senior year. The final semester of the BSRC program is delivered fully online. This allows students to take their board exams to get their credentials as well as work part-time for a hospital as a student respiratory therapist while they finish the BSRC degree.   

Respiratory therapists already working in the profession who are returning to complete the BSRC are generally able to complete any remaining courses for graduation in an online format. Degree audits will be evaluated for all respiratory therapists returning to advance their education as individual circumstances may vary.

Required courses

BGSU Firelands

Respiratory Care is part of Applied Sciences at BGSU Firelands.

Updated: 02/10/2025 04:23PM