Dec 08, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Respiratory Therapy Major, B.S., Online Completion Degree


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Department Information


Department of Allied Health Sciences

Lamb Hall
PO Box 70573
Johnson City, TN 37614
Phone: (423) 439-5050
Web Address: https://www.etsu.edu/chs/allied-health/

The Respiratory Therapist applies scientific knowledge and theory to practical clinical problems of respiratory care. Respiratory Therapists are qualified to assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities. The Respiratory Therapist may be required to exercise considerable independent clinical judgment, under the supervision of a physician in the treatment of patients with respiratory dysfunction. The Respiratory Care Practitioner may perform the following respiratory care modalities: advanced airway management, pediatric and neonatal critical care, hemodynamic monitoring, metabolic cart studies, cardiopulmonary stress testing, and other advanced procedures.

Licensure requirements for respiratory care practitioners vary according to state statutes. In Tennessee, practitioners are required to pass the national examinations for certified and/or registered respiratory therapist respectively.  Students entering the online degree completion program for Respiratory Therapy should be licensed or license-eligible as Respiratory Therapists. 

Online Degree Completion Program Admissions Requirements
Students seeking admission to the Respiratory Therapy Degree Completion program must meet the following criteria:

  1. College GPA of 2.5 or better on a 4.0 scale on all transferable credit;
  2. Transcript(s) - proof of graduation from an accredited allied health professional program in Respiratory Therapy or hold certification in respiratory therapy;
  3. Licensed or eligible for professional licensure in the discipline.

Students that have successfully completed an Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy are eligible for enrollment into the online BS completion program. Regular meetings with the academic advisor for this program are strongly recommended.

Retention/Progression Policy

If a student receives a grade of C- or below in a required course in the major, the student must retake the course and meet the C or better requirement. 

Prerequisites for Respiratory Therapy Program

It is recommended that students complete HSCI 2230 - Introduction to Microbiology (4 credits) /HSCI 2231 - Introduction to Microbiology Laboratory (0 credit)   or a course that is transfer equivalent at another institution prior to enrolling in the online program, as this course is not currently offered online at ETSU. 

Degree Requirements: 120 credits


Compass Core Requirements 40-43 credits
Bridge Credit (Awarded for Associate’s Degree or Certificate in Respiratory Therapy) 43 credits
Major Requirements 35 credits
Free Electives 0-2 credits
Total 120 credits

Compass Core Curriculum  

These requirements include earning 40-43 credits in Strengthening Foundations, Understanding Natural and Social Worlds, Exploring Connections, Cultivate Artistic Awareness, and Growing as an Individual and Global Citizen categories.

Major Specific courses listed in Compass Core Curriculum Requirements:

Free Elective: 0-2 credits


No Minor Required


Additional Program Information


Upon completion of ALHE 3010  and ALHE 4070 , students will be granted 43 hours of Bridge Credit for their Associate degree or certificate work in Respiratory Therapy.

ETSU requires each student to complete at least 30 credits of instruction at ETSU and at least 50 hours at a senior level institution.  Bridge credits count toward the 50 senior institution hours requirement but do not count toward the 30 ETSU hours requirement.  Students should work with their academic advisor to ensure they meet these credit hour requirements. 

Additional Information


Click here to view Degree and Graduation Requirements  for all ETSU students.

CSCI 1100  or Proficiency exam: Must be completed to meet Bachelor’s Degree Requirements. CSCI 1100  has a required lab course, CSCI 1150 .

Most minors range from 18-24 credits. Those few minors with more than 24 credits may affect the number of free electives allowed.

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