Respiratory Therapy, B.S. (R) or (R, A, L)* - Radford University Carilion Site

The Respiratory Therapy (RT) program is a four-year program distributed over nine semesters. Foundational courses are delivered within the first two years. The blend of classroom, lab, and clinical components is designed to prepare students for careers as Respiratory Therapists. RT courses begin in the junior year and are interspersed with other foundational courses. Students wishing to decrease their course load in the Junior and Senior years may take some of their required foundational courses prior to beginning the first semester of their junior year of the program.

The Respiratory Therapy program requires that RT courses (with a RETH prefix) must be taken in the sequence listed. Students must successfully complete the first- two years of the plan of study before advancing to the junior year with a GPA of 2.5 or above. Any deviation from this policy must be approved by the Program Director. The student must achieve a minimum grade of C in the professional courses, as well as meeting prerequisite or co-requisite requirements in order to advance to the next semester.

This major fulfills the R, A, and L areas of the REAL Curriculum. These areas are developed through a sequence of progressive courses designed to enrich the students learning experience. Student’s need majors and/or minors to fulfill the E area to complete the REAL Curriculum requirements.

Writing Intensive courses are denoted below with a (WI). Two writing intensive courses are required to graduate, with at least one at the 300- or 400-level. The Respiratory Therapy major includes 3 credits of writing intensive courses.

General Education courses will be denoted below with a (GE). Students are required to take at least 30 credit hours of general education designated courses within their degree requirements. The Respiratory Therapy major includes 17 general education credits.

The Respiratory Therapy (RT) Degree Advancement (DA) program is designed specifically to meet the needs of current or soon to be practicing respiratory therapists who wish to obtain advanced training in Respiratory Care.  This fully online curriculum emphasizes:

• The history, current state, and future direction of the field of respiratory therapy.
• The evolution and current state of credentialing, licensing, directional organizations and related legal issues. 
• Landmark studies regarding clinical practice and the direction of the field.
• Educational standards, techniques, methods, theory and designs used within the educational domain of Respiratory Therapy.
• Evidence-based techniques and procedures that promote effective departmental management and leadership within the respiratory therapy field.
• Principles of research-based practice in the field of respiratory therapy. 

The degree culminates in a capstone course in which the student integrates and synthesizes core concepts of respiratory therapy into a managerial, educational, or research project.