Respiratory Therapy Program
Format: In person on the Armstrong Campus in Savannah
Credit Hours: 130
The application window is now open for the Respiratory Therapy program. Students must apply to Georgia Southern University and complete the Allied Health Centralized Application Service (AHCAS) Application. Applications are open until filled.
Major in respiratory therapy and take the first step toward working on the front lines of heart and lung conditions as a credentialed respiratory therapist.
As a respiratory therapist, your work will focus on assessing, treating and managing patients with acute or chronic heart and lung illnesses and breathing disorders. Respiratory therapists play a vital role in administering life-saving interventions such as acquiring and maintaining artificial airways and managing mechanical ventilation life-support equipment. Our program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, and will give you the training and hands-on skills to achieve the highest professional credentials available in respiratory therapy.
Graduates are eligible for two credentials after graduation, and would be eligible for three board sub-specialist certifications after significant experience and training under medical direction.
Ready to Apply?
This program requires a secondary admission. This means that you can be admitted to the University but will have to apply to the program as well. Please refer to the admission criteria on this page to learn more.
Or, you can:
B.S. Degree Program, Respiratory Therapy Major – Traditional Entry
Format: In person at Armstrong Campus
Credit Hours: 130
Georgia Southern University’s Respiratory Therapy Program offers a traditional entry program for students with no previous degree in respiratory therapy. This program requires in-person classes and laboratories, in addition to clinical rotations beginning in the spring semester. A high level of critical thinking skills, interpersonal and fine motor skills among others, are minimally required to be successful in the respiratory therapy program.
A bachelor’s degree from our accredited respiratory therapy program qualifies graduates for entry into the advanced practitioner credentialing system, leading to the highest professional credential available in the field of respiratory therapy.
Scholarship Opportunities
Traditional Entry-Level BSRT Program Admission Criteria
B.S. Degree Program, Respiratory Therapy Major – Bridge
Format: Online
Credit Hours: 130
Note: There are no in-person requirements. All students establish a preceptor/mentor at their home hospital/clinic to facilitate project completion for courses within the Online Degree Completion program.
The Degree Completion/Bridge BSRT program is for NBRC Credentialed RRTs with an AS or AAS in Respiratory Therapy who wish to complete their bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy while working in the field. This program is fully online, which allows working respiratory therapists the flexibility of completing core requirements and respiratory therapy courses. The Degree Completion/Bridge BSRT program is designed to strengthen the student’s professional career in Respiratory Therapy by contributing to the growth and development of respiratory care as a profession; educating respiratory care providers in a scientific approach to problem-solving and patient care; providing the interpersonal and communication skills needed to work effectively as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team; and foster respect, critical thinking, and a genuine desire for knowledge to enhance patient care in respiratory therapy. RRTs may receive advanced placement via equivalency credit. (Equivalent credit will be awarded individually based on the candidate’s academic transcript).
Degree Completion/Bridge BSRT Program Admission Criteria
Careers in Respiratory Therapy
The U.S. News has ranked respiratory therapy No. 36 on the list “100 Best Jobs in America” and No. 15 on the list “Best Health Care Jobs” for 2023!
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited Respiratory Therapy program qualifies you for jobs and career advancement into leadership roles within healthcare organizations, including:
- Anesthesiology
- Pulmonary medicine
- Physician offices
- Hospice care
- Nursing care facilities
- Long-term acute-care facilities
- Home healthcare services
In some hospitals, respiratory therapists perform tasks that fall outside their traditional role, such as:
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Smoking cessation counseling
- Asthma and cystic fibrosis education
- Disease prevention
- Case management
- Polysomnography
Program Outcomes
| Number of Graduates | Job Placement | Retention | TMC Exam High Cut Score | Graduate Satisfaction | Employer Satisfaction | |
| 3-year Average | 17 | 100% | 86% | 90% | 100% | 100% |
Professional Licensure
The Department of Clinical Sciences anticipates that graduates of this program will seek the following professional state licenses or certifications: Certified Respiratory Therapist, (CRT) and Registered Respiratory Therapist, (RRT).
The Department of Clinical Sciences has determined that the required classes and educational activities of this academic program will qualify a graduate of this program to take the exam for a Respiratory Therapist State License or certificate in the 49 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories: American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Certification is not required in Alaska. The credentialing process is a two-part, nationally administered examination. Part one, a comprehensive written exam, is taken after graduation. Graduates who pass this exam will earn the entry-level credential “Certified Respiratory Therapist” (CRT), and will be eligible to take the Clinical Simulation Examination. The entry-level CRT credential is required for licensure by most states and the Georgia Composite State Board of Medical Examiners. Candidates who pass both the Therapist Multi-choice Examination and Clinical Simulation Examinations will earn advanced-practitioner status, and the credential Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). Visit the American Association for Respiratory Care to determine the requirements of your state or territory.
Georgia Southern makes every effort to ensure information about educational requirements for licensure or certification is current; however, state requirements may change. Separate from educational requirements, state licensure boards may require applicants to complete professional examinations, background checks, years of professional experience, residence requirements, jurisprudence exams, training, etc. For more information, as well as for a list of applicable state boards, visit the Georgia Southern State Authorization and Professional Licensure Webpage.
For all Online Programs:
Federal Law requires colleges and universities to make certain disclosures to prospective students of these programs. These disclosures include information on the University’s authority to operate outside of Georgia, the complaint processes, adverse actions, refunds, and program closure.
For required disclosures about online programs offered by the University, visit the Georgia Southern State Authorization and Professional Licensure Webpage.
Accreditation
Georgia Southern University’s Respiratory Therapy program awards the Bachelor of Science degree and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), program #200277.
CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcome based’ process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented.
Do You Have Questions? Contact Us!
Department of Clinical Sciences
Georgia Southern University Armstrong Campus
11935 Abercorn Street
Savannah, GA 31419
Respiratory Therapy
Phone: 912-344-2550
Fax: 912-344-3472
Email: respiratory@georgiasouthern.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a respiratory therapist do?
The profession’s site is www.aarc.org and look for a video collection titled “Life and Breath” as well as”BeAnRT!” designed for college students. The Georgia Society for Respiratory Care is also a helpful source for more information. Take a look at Focus and The Advance for Respiratory Care Professionals to see student-oriented writing and professional development information.
When should I change my major to respiratory therapy?
Students who declare a respiratory therapy major will start as health science: pre-professional respiratory therapy majors. Students will be advised by professional advisors on their home campus. Once accepted into the Respiratory Therapy program the student will be changed to a respiratory therapy major prior to the start of their first semester in the program.
Please tell me about the community service requirement.
Prospective students must complete 20 hours of community service prior to their interview. Ideally, prospective students have 10 to 20 hours of observation at the hospital of your choice in the Respiratory Therapy, Sleep or Cardiopulmonary Department. A respiratory therapist or their supervisor must sign and initial your observation hours. If you cannot finish your community service before your interview, it must be completed before you start the program in the fall.
What are the academic requirements of the program?
Students interviewed for the program are usually late sophomores approaching 60-70+ hours of semester credit, and having completed the initial Area D sequence of science (Biol, Chem, Physics and Labs) and Statistics. The core curriculum guide is on the department website. Students can work with their advisors, and select courses with emphasis on completing the sciences by the end of their sophomore year. We recommend that students take the sequence of BIOL 1107 and 1108 and labs, Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Human Anatomy and Physiology II and labs, Microbiology and lab, and Physical Environment (no lab) prior to the spring interview. Additionally, your GPA should be at least 2.5 to be considered as a respiratory therapy major student (especially in the Area D and F sciences) and you should be near completion of all electives in Area A-E courses, to make you a more competitive candidate.
What does the interview process consist of?
The application process, College Application Services or CAS, starts in November and the deadline is March 1st. We interview in the spring of the year. You can interview as a provisional candidate if your classes are not complete. You will meet with students and faculty members at the 30-60 minute interview in the spring preceding the program’s start date.
What are the academic thresholds to establish who gets into the program?
Your GPA should be > 2.5 and you should be near completion of all electives in Area A-E courses to make you a competitive candidate for the Respiratory Therapy program.
What about my transfer credit?
If you have transfer credit, check the transfer credit link, choose your state and college for transfer credit. Ideally, classes should transfer as equivalent to a Georgia Southern course (i.e., BIOL, CHEM) NOT as an elective (ELEC). Discuss transfer credit concerns with your advisor.
What happens after I am accepted?
The program administrative assistant will contact you either by telephone or email, if you are a candidate for the program, followed by a formal letter. After acceptance into the program, you will receive an admissions packet of forms required by the department and university that is due back before the start of classes in the fall. The department will make several follow-up calls, emails and letters to be sure you have completed all courses. Then you will have a physical, a check on immunizations, etc.
Tell me more about financial aid and the course load.
The first fall semester after being accepted into the Respiratory Therapy program students usually take Medical Terminology (RESP 2110), Patient Assessment (RESP 3110) and Introduction to Intro to Research in Health Professions (HLPR 2000). Every other semester are full-time (> or = 12 hours). There are fees assessed by the program to cover materials needed in laboratories and safety equipment. Classes in the major will start in August, and we go 5 semesters, including the internship.
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Last updated: 7/24/2023