Respiratory Therapy (BS)

Program Description

Respiratory therapists evaluate and treat patients with lung and heart problems. They administer medications, manage airways and perform cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. Respiratory therapists play a critical role in healthcare and work in emergency rooms, intensive care units, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, and even sleep centers.

Learning Goals/Outcomes

Entry Into Practice

To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).  

To prepare leaders for the field of respiratory care by including curricular content with objectives related to the acquisition of skills in one or more of the following: management, education, research and advanced clinical practice (which may include an area of clinical specialization).

Degree Advancement

To provide graduates of entry into respiratory care professional practice degree programs with additional knowledge, skills and attributes in leadership, management, education, research or advanced clinical practice both to meet their current professional goals and to prepare them for practice as advanced degree respiratory therapists.

Accreditation Status

Entry into Practice

The Thomas Jefferson University/National Jewish Health, program # 200652, BS RT Entry into Practice, in Philadelphia, PA, holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).

This status signifies that a program with an Approval of Intent has demonstrated sufficient compliance with the Standards (through submission of an acceptable Provisional Accreditation Self Study Report (PSSR) and any other documentation required by the CoARC, as well as satisfactory completion of an initial on-site visit), to be allowed to admit students. It is recognized as an accredited program by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), which provides enrolled students who complete the program with eligibility for the Respiratory Care Credentialing Examination(s). The program will remain on Provisional Accreditation until it achieves Continuing Accreditation.

Degree Advancement

The Thomas Jefferson University/National Jewish Health, program # 510030, BS RT Degree Advancement, in Philadelphia, PA, holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).

This status signifies that a program with an Approval of Intent has demonstrated sufficient compliance with the Standards (through submission of an acceptable Provisional Accreditation Self-Study Report (PSSR) and any other documentation required by the CoARC, as well as satisfactory completion of an initial on-site visit.

Curriculum: 2 years, 60 credits

• Entry into Practice- A two-year Bachelor of Science program that occurs after a student has completed 60 credits of general education and prerequisite courses.

Curriculum: 2 years, 40-44 credits

• Degree Advancement - A two-year fully online Bachelor of Science program that allows licensed Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT) who have completed an associate degree in Respiratory Therapy at an accredited CoARC program to earn a BS in Respiratory Therapy.