RRT to Bachelor Science Respiratory Care (BSRC)
This program is perfect for graduates of a CoARC-approved respiratory program that have earned the RRT credential.
The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care Program is a cooperative effort between the Marshall University College of Health Professions and St. Mary’s School of Nursing and Health Professions.
The School of Respiratory Care offers the RRT to BSRC online program for a registered respiratory therapist who has an associate's degree and wishes to earn a bachelor's degree in Respiratory Care. The Respiratory Care coursework may be completed in two semesters of full-time study or extended for part-time study. The part-time track of study is recommended for Respiratory Therapists who are working full-time. Applications for the RRT to BSRC program are processed on a semester basis.
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for admission the applicant must:
- Be a graduate of a nationally accredited diploma or associate degree respiratory care program recognized by CoARC (Committee on Accreditation of Respiratory Care)
- Provide evidence of the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) RRT credential and be in good standing with the NBRC.
- Meet the general admission requirements of Marshall University.
- Have an overall grade point average of 2.0 or higher on all college work.
- Maintenance of a 2.0 GPA or better on coursework completed at Marshall University.
- Maintenance of a grade of "C" on each required non-respiratory course you are currently taking or will take prior to the semester you enter the program.
- If you obtained an associate degree from a community college, Marshall University will only accept 72 semester hours from that institution.
Program Requirements
All Licensed Registered Respiratory Therapists will be awarded a minimum of 40 hours of lower-division respiratory care credit upon successful completion of 12 credits of upper-level respiratory care courses. Prior to entering the program, a student must hold a valid unencumbered respiratory therapy licenses.
All RRT to BSRC students are required to meet Marshall University’s general education curriculum. In addition, RRT to BSRC students must complete a minimum of 120 undergraduate credit hours.
See below for numerical representation of program requirements:
120 credits (minimum required to graduate)
- 40 credits (respiratory care credits for RRT credential)
80 credits remaining
- 28 credits RRT to BSRC respiratory courses (see below)
52 general education and program required credits remaining*
*General education and program required credits may be fulfilled by coursework from associate degrees or other college work. Transcripts will be evaluated upon admission to the university to determine if previous coursework meets the Marshall University general education requirements.
Each semester you will need to consult with your adviser to determine which courses you will need to register for the next semester. RRT-BSRC students will automatically be enrolled into RSP-designated courses once you notify your adviser which RSP course(s) you want to take.
View the Courses in the Curriculum
Once you and your adviser have determined which courses you will need to register for, the student is responsible for registering for RSP non-designated courses (i.e., ENG, SOC, BSC, CNN, etc.). A guide to explain how to register for courses online can be found here.
You may track your path to success with DegreeWorks. For instructions on how to access DegreeWorks, click here.
Students receive Marshall University credit for all courses in the program. Graduates of the cooperative program receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Respiratory Care from Marshall University.