Respiratory therapists assess and treat dysfunction involving the heart and lungs. Respiratory therapists work in hospitals, intensive care units, emergency rooms, air and ambulance transport, neonatal and pediatric units, patient homes, sleep laboratories, skilled nursing facilities, and in the medical device industry. They work closely with physicians to manage ventilators and artificial airways, administer prescribed inhaled medications, perform pulmonary function testing, and analyze arterial blood specimens.

Entry into Practice RRT

The Respiratory Therapy program at MU includes two years of pre-requisite coursework and two years (including summer semesters) of professional coursework, which can be completed in Columbia or at the program’s satellite campus at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. However, new students will not be admitted to the Mercy Program beginning Fall 2022. Students graduate with the Bachelor of Health Science (BHS) degree in Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences with an emphasis in Respiratory Therapy. Graduates of the program are eligible to challenge credentialing examinations administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC https://www.nbrc.org/).

Entry to BHS in CDS with an Emphasis in RT Program Goals

The goal of the Entry to BHS Respiratory Therapy Program is 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) and 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). 

Entry to BHS in CDS with an Emphasis in RT Expected Student Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate the ability to evaluate, comprehend, and apply clinical information in order to match patient needs with therapeutic interventions. 
2. Exhibit technical proficiency in all of the skills necessary to fulfill the role as an advanced level respiratory therapist. 
3. Display professional behavior consistent with employer expectations for a registered respiratory therapist. 

RRT Degree Advancement

A fully online degree advancement program is available for credentialed registered respiratory therapists (RRT) who seek a bachelor's degree. This program includes professional courses to enhance student knowledge in the areas of management, education, research and adult, neonatal/pediatric critical care. Students may transfer general education and respiratory therapy coursework from a regionally accredited institution/program prior to completing the core requirements of the program. 

RRT Degree Advancement Program Goals

This program provides 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. 

RRT Degree Advancement Expected Student Learning Outcomes

1. Utilize management and leadership principles to solve problems and improve performance. 
2. Demonstrate strategies and techniques to enhance patient education and rehabilitation. 
3. Employ research methodology to analyze relevant medical literature.
4. Integrate pertinent clinical data into recommendations for appropriate critical care interventions. 
5. Understand ethical theories and principles as they apply to patient scenarios.
6. Analyze multiple perspectives on current issues in healthcare. 

This is an emphasis area of the following major:

• Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, BHS

This major has the following additional emphasis areas:

• Clinical Laboratory Science
• Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound
• Nuclear Medicine
• Radiography